I’m starting to think that this month was a spectacularly bad time for me to decide to write 50,000 words in 30 days.
It started out great. Heck, I was even ahead for a while there, and I was cocky about it! And then reality hit, and along with it came a parade of lengthy meetings (including long drives there and back), an overnight visit to my grandparents who were so happy to see me that I feel I should be self-flagellating to atone for how little I visit them, and a multi-day overnight visit with my mom and foot-taller-than-me little brother (along with frantic cleaning before and after to give the impression that I am actually a sane adult).
In other words, well, I’ve written no other words.
The thing is, despite multiple plot changes resulting in more than one dream sequence that I refuse to throw away because I will not sacrifice those hard-earned words, my book actually doesn’t totally suck. And I’m bummed that I haven’t had the time I need to give it what it deserves.
But damn the torpedoes and whatnot — I’m going to bang out 50,000 words on this puppy whether they’re good or not, and whether they happen before November 30 or not (but yeah, still trying for that), because my book deserves it and so do I.
How’s NaNoWriMo going for you?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
last night i had to perform a little operation to resuscitate one of the major conflicts in the story and give one of my characters an opportunity to finally do some talking… it was great! (read: writing this book has been an agonizing experience in having to tell the details. OH MY GOD… sometimes i swear i feel physical pain.)
looking forward to swapping sagas – err, i mean, novels…
good luck to the NANOS!
It has to be good? I’m going to be happy to finish. Will mine be total dreg? Here’s hoping not.
As of tonight I’m at about 37,700. The goal for me is 50K by Turkey day. Or at least that’s the plan. I’m just over 12k from there and at 7 days I’m hoping it’s a breeze.
Biggest problem? Not wrapping up the story too early. I’ve got everyone headed to the big finale. Or so it seems.
The problem is as tamar put it, I’ve got to go back at some point and fix the plot holes, maybe breath some more life into characters, and put away those that aren’t adding bits to the story.
.-= Todd Jordan´s last blog ..Scrivener – Tool of choice for NaNoWriMo 2009 =-.
Awwww….You can do it of course! But thank you for sharing this. Good luck!:)
I’ve put down just over 33K words, but I must confess I started with about 14K. But it’s all about to go to pot – I’m headed to Vegas with the youngest child next week. No words shall be written, for what happens there apparently must stay there….
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Worthy Tip: The Follow-up =-.
Yeah, ditto here on my even thinking I could accomplish such a feat this November. I won’t list the myriad demands that are getting in the way, but almost all of them are valid excuses. But I’m in on the vow because I kind of like what little I’ve accomplished so far. November isn’t the end-all, be-all. There’s always December, and 2010!
.-= IrreverentFreelancer´s last blog ..The Ultimate Get-a-Clue Freelance Request for the Week of November 16, 2009 =-.
I’m training for the LA Marathon as well, and I have to say, the two activities do not mix. I’ve done the 50,000 words last year, and it would have been a double victory to get two in a row, but I’m way way behind and am tired and must sleep now…
Oh man, I had a post very similar to this last week, I think. I’m not going to be a “winner.” I’ve accepted that, but at least it got me to clarify my idea and focus!
.-= Kerrie´s last blog ..Day 124: Wednesday Workout Math =-.
Kerrie, that’s a great point. I may or may not be a “winner” at the end of the month, but this effort has demonstrated to me that I (a) have an idea for a great book and (b) it really could be great and (c) I actually want to write it. So it’s been well worth it no matter what!
I think it’s admirable that you took on such a goal, but let’s think about it… What is more important? 1) Work 2) Family 3) Writing. Granted, these don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but you should have a feeling for priorities.
Lastly, it’s one thing to achieve your goal of 50K words, but if they don’t meet your standard then you return to ground zero. Just my opinion.
Great points, Dena. But part of the value of NaNoWriMo is writing come Hell or high water and locking up your internal editor until the end of the month, so I’m trying to plug away nonetheless for what I know will be a worthwhile result. Besides, not sucking is the goal of National Novel EDITING Month in December. ;) Thanks for your comment.
You get it — it’s all about quantity, not quality. “Damn the torpedoes and whatnot.” When you silence the inner editor, you turn up the volume on your inner artist. My mantra for NaNoWriMo is “I’ll fix this in December.”
Wishing you nimble fingers over your keyboard and many delightful discoveries,
s.
I’m sure I hit 50,000 words this month, but it was for my freelance writing assignments for college textbook publishers, not a novel.
Maybe next year…
.-= John Soares´s last blog ..How to Get My New E-Book Maximum Productivity For Freelance Writers for Free =-.
You don’t want to just tap out anything though. It’s tough to balance life with work, but you don’t want to cheat either. Good luck in hitting your goal.
Did you hit your goal? How did it go? Why not continue aiming for 50,000 good words?
Fifty thousand words in thirty days?! What an incredible goal! I wish I’d discovered you earlier on and tried to match your challenge. I’ve been postponing the return to my most recent novel for about a month. Do you have any other challenges coming up soon?
.-= Steve McAllister´s last blog ..More than Ten Percent =-.
Hi, Kristen …
Winston Churchill wrote 6,000 words a day. He did so prior to WWII, while active in Parliament, while personally assembling and funding a European intelligence network that would survive the fall of threatened borders, and while entertaining heads of state, intellectuals and dignitaries on a nightly basis in his home. Wow.
Bill
I like to write long posts about 50,000 is going to be a challenge. My maximum is only about 2000 words per post article. Maybe you can write a 50,000 words post on how to a write a 50,000 words post : )
.-= Frank´s last blog ..Cheap honeycomb cellular blinds: where to buy =-.
Hope that it turned out good for you, eventually=) Time management is soemthing that can be totally out of your control for a freelance writer=)
.-= Alex Toll´s last blog ..Setting the Tone for Productivity =-.