Tag Archives: National Novel Writing Month

Book, Creative Writing, Editing, NaNoEdMo, NaNoWriMo, Writing

NaNoEdMo 2012

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In November 2011 I tried my first NaNoWriMo. I was not properly prepared to do so only deciding two weeks prior to attempt this. What happened was a month long of worry, stress, lack of sleep, physical pain due to my illnesses and my mood being out of whack. When it ended I was not sure if this would be tried again. If so then better preparation would have to be in place. But what I got out of it was a novel over 50k long and one I have added to since then.

In February a friend informed me about NaNoEdMo for March. I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for me to edit my book from November. I mean after all the only the thing required was to log in 50 hours of editing in the month of March. That broke down to 97 minutes per day.

Easy! I can do that. After all I had survived NaNoEdMo 2011 and won. I totally underestimated my hatred of editing. While it is necessary function for a writer, it is one that is loathed to all depths of the word. But by March 30th I completed the task of this particular frenzy. My novel that is 132 pages, though it is not complete yet, had 101 pages edited. For me that is a big Homer Simpson WOOHOO!

While this is just my first draft and revision the feeling of getting this done is priceless. On Sunday I woke up expecting to edit and realized that the deadline was done and over. I could now concentrate on other aspects of my writing. But the empty space stayed with me the whole day feeling the need to sit in front of my computer and edit. Curses I thought to myself. The fiend won’t let me go so easily.

Author, Blog, Bonding, Creative Writing, memories, NaNoWriMo

Oh What A Night

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The date: November 20, 2011 The time: 4:35pm

NaNoWriMo 2011 is a writing frenzy where writers attempt to write 50k words in one month. This has been my first year trying and it has been phenomenal. I don’t recall ever being this sleep deprived in my life. While my novel that I wrote for November is about 75 percent done in theory as of today I have the word count of 50,263. The last 2500 words did not come to me easily. I struggled. Of course life being the way it is the minute I realized I had cross the magical barrier two ideas popped into my head that I could add to my book. Why did you decide to show up NOW was what I thought. The word count has been validated but I still plan on writing until the end of November. But no longer do I have to get up at 5 am so I can write on this book.

But getting the word count is not the only way I have won. This has made me write every day since I started the frenzy. It got me focused on a story that I been meaning to put down on paper for well over a year now. Also I have met some amazing people along the way who have been funny, supportive and just down right awesome. People who I will remain friends long after this adventure ends on Nov 30th. It has been an incredible ride and I have taken away from it so much more then what the website could ever promise me. I am not sure if I will do this next year for my life has been on hold for a few weeks now but I would not change it for a thing. This has given me the confidence that I can do this and that writing is not a passing fad that will disappear in a puff of smoke. To all the people who have helped me I thank you. Also I am here to encourage you, have your back and pick you up as you work toward your own personal goal this November. Good luck everyone.

Blog, Creative Writing, NaNoWriMo, Writing

Midpoint of NaNoWriMo 2011

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It is the midway point of NaNoWriMo 2011. The adventure has had its ups and downs during my first attempt at this mash dash frenzy to 50K words. My goal has remained the same. I want the story that has been in my head for the past year to be placed down on paper. If I get a good portion of it written then I will consider myself a winner. If the word count is accomplished that is just icing on the cake

The two things that I have stuck to has been:

A/ Getting up at 5 am and writing for a straight hour. It is the best time of the day when my hands and joints are not hurting at full speed. The end of the day they are screaming bloody murder. Also life has a way of getting in the way and before we know it the day is already gone.

B/ A good NaNo buddy of mine named Ruth gave me a great tip. Before the month of November started, write down 30 plots I could write about. I would pick one each day to write on and stick to it until I got a word count I was happy with. That way I would not sit in front of the computer twiddling my thumbs.

At the moment my word count is 34,295 on day 15.  I am tired and sleep deprived and I honestly can’t wait for November to be done. I need to get back to my projects that had to be push to the side due to this adventure I have embarked on. Will I do this next year I do not know but if so I will be better prepared.

I have always looked up to people who have written full blown novels that had word counts that overshadow my small words. Yet here I am with the word count slightly over 34K and still climbing. I have amazed myself and yes I am pretty darn tooting proud at the same time. Another perk of this NaNoWriMo has been my ability to show myself I can do it like the others and that at the end of the day is the best reward of all.