30K IN A DAY

It's day 23 and I'm still not at the 70,000 marks yet. Last year I finished with 110K this day. Which means: serious catching up is about to be done.

so today, I'll be home, with nothing pressing to do except to write a book. And it'll be a challenge, because after a point, fingers get tired, mind gets emptied, book gets hated, and life gets in the way.

But I can do it. I can write 2000 words in 30 minutes, so surely, with a little effort, with a little persistence, with a little more control and determination, I'll be back on track and accomplish something worth bragging about.

Is it weird that I'm somehow totally excited?

And afraid...and worried. but that's nothing compared to the elation I'll feel if I do this. Okay, no more blabbing. I think it's about time to get started...I have a long day to go!


For the NaNo forums, if it actually starts working:

Well, it's Thanksgiving, and since I'll be home all day and I'm in serious need of catching up (for my 150K goal!), I'm determined to get where I need to be. And 100K is where I want to be.

I can write about 2000 words in half an hour, so statistically, it's totally possible to write for....six-eight hours and do this. But there is the issue of food and (minimized) procrastination. I figured if I broadcast this to the world, it'll help me settle down and write.

Anyone else crazy enough to join me?

I'll let you guys know how it goes. I'm very curious as to how much I'll actually accomplish...

Yay.

So I'm now at 50,021 words.

Which means that, technically, I've won NaNoWriMo, but for me, I've still got a long way to go.

I guess I'm pretty happy with the novel thus far. There's a lot of repetition and stuff like that, but from me it's to be expected.

I'm not really worried about what's going to happen next, as they always seem to work out.

I'm not feeling especially cheerful about my win, however. But this whole year of NaNo has been a little lacking in excitement and the fresh eagerness I displayed year one and two, basically. It's like, the third time around, so I expected to win and finish and do everything according to plan. Although, I really am behind. I will catch up over thanksgiving break, that's a promise.

So: yay.

Week of Terrors

Ugh, the dreaded week two. I'm really, really feeling it this year.

Yesterday and the day before that, I wrote exactly zero words. And I'm supposed to be writing exactly 5000 words a day to meet my goal...I've been so confident about my achievements last year and the year before, I really don't think I'm trying as hard as I could be this year. But, I'm sure when it comes down to it, I would stay up late the very last night and type continously for however long and get it done, if that's what it came to. But I'm also pretty confident that I can catch up over Thanksgiving break. Even when I take away procrastination time, school work is pretty annoying.

In any case, at least I sort of have a story. It's about this guy who's utterly in love with this girl who's (probably) going to die in the next thirty days, and he's basically trying to stop that from happening because...well, he's in love, right?

So far I have no idea what genre this would be. It's pretty ridiculous in its descriptions, but also kind of deep and literary, but also pretty horror-like. Hmm...

2006!

Tomorrow, huh?

I'm not at all prepared this year. Not the remotest ideas as to what this novel will be about...not even a hint of a title, character. Or even genre.

I have, however, found a couple of interesting writing programs that might be of help. That is to say, they might help me from procrastinating and getting distracted by everything constantly. Maybe.

I also have a brave but accessible goal of 150,000 words in a month. Plus a lot more school work and outside time consuming things.

I'm hoping this idea for a book will come before tomorrow morning, when I'll brave the freezing/tiring cold morning air in hopes of pounding out word counts.

So wish me luck.

The End

Word Count: 110,470

Well, that's it. I finished. The story and all.

And I don't feel happy, not at all. In fact, I kind of feel like crying. It's over too soon, too fast. I didn't even get a chance to say good bye! I don't want to give out spoilers for future readers, but I might change the ending in the rewrite anyway, so let's just say that there are very, very few survivors. Out of all those characters I spent less than a month fleshing out and getting to know, all those characters I talked to and explored, most of them are gone. Forever. And I'm not sure I like them, away, like that.

The ending feels so empty...more suited for a short story, then a novel. And to think, just earlier today, I was happy that my characters finally decided to take action and do what they want to do! I wish I didn't let them do that...or perhaps I would have more words to go, more time to spent the next week. But I suppose, it's all over. I wrote the end. There's no sequel. No more.

I'm not sure if it's healthy to feel this sad after finishing a novel, but I suppose I'll feel better tomorrow...either that, or expect a crazed post informing you I've deleted the last twenty pages and plan on creating a new, happy ending!

...but most likely not.

I really had wanted a happy ending, though. I wanted something out of this, and what does my characters give me? Death, that's what. And a lame lesson that fail to make sense. Perhaps, January, the rewrite will make it all better...yes, I have hope. I have faith.

Because, it's been a long, interesting journey, and I've arrived, safely, on the other end. And although those plot points I wanted, those mysterious characters I never revealed much about exposed themselves a little too much, I got them through it. I got myself through it.

And I think I'll congratulate myself, somehow. And anyway, this is good! Now I can proudly slap the label of "tortured artist" and walk around whining about how sad I am that my novel is finished.

Thanks, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving. And good night.

Ahem. 100,000!!!!!!

Word Count: 100778

YES! YES! YES!

I have nothing else to say. Except to inform you that the story still isn't finished...but...let's see...100,000 words in 23 days! I am in a whole other realm of happiness right now. I am amazing. And fantastic. I now own every bragging right in the universe.

YAY!

Get Out of This Place While We Still Have Time

Word Count: 95,768

An averge 5,000 today, although now I know that there's a very good chance that the novel isn't going to be finished at 100K. There's still another whole group of characters I haven't touched on, and other plot ends to tie up...I'm just going to try and finish it before December comes. It's crazy.

5,000 more words and I'll be finished! That's such a sparkling, happy thought. I guess I still need to figure out a celebration method, though. Oh well.