Winner, NaNoWriMo, 2012!

Finally, after three failed attempts, I did write 50,000 words in 30 days (well, 29 days to be exact).  It wasn't easy, and a lot of the book is not good.  I have, in fact referred to a good bit of it as "literary pink slime".

But aren't all first drafts?

I'm going to have to pull between 15,000 and 20,000 of those 50,000 words out and replace them with much better words in the near future. And I'm still only about two-thirds done with the novel, so I'm still writing like a fiend.

But I'm finished with paralegal school this week, too, which will free up much time to put toward getting that done.  I'm not touching the pink slime yet, until I finish a first draft that can at least give me a solid idea of the story.

Thanks to all who supported me and cheered me on.  I'm relieved to know that I can actually do it.  For a while, I didn't think it was possible for me.

Giving Thanks

I'm thankful for the end of the National election.  I am thankful for the outcome of it.  I'm thankful things seem to be progressing.  I'm thankful for my job and the people I work with. I'm thankful I've found my niche there.  I'm thankful that, as hard as it can be at time, I get to be in Sylas' and Savannah's lives every day.

I'm very thankful that there has been a cease-fire in the Middle East.  I'm also thankful that things seem to be turning around for the economy.  I'm thankful there's an Occupy movement.  I'm thankful I have a home.  I'm thankful I've got over 25K of my novel written.  I'm thankful I have supportive people who cheer me on.

I'm blessed. I'm fortunate. And I'm thankful.

Love and peace this Thanksgiving.  Please... stay out of the stores.  Stay home with your families and let Walmart, Best Buy and Target employees do the same.

Mahalo.

NaNoWriMo - Update

A little bit behind, but not so much I can't catch up over the holiday long weekend.

Day 16:  20,626 words.  (I should be at around 26,666 by now.)

I wrote 4,013 words yesterday. Wow! Doubt I can do that again today.  I really do have to get some work done at some point.

I made the mistake of actually THINKING about the book today.  Never a good idea on a first draft.  I must remind myself that I am just the writer.  I have no idea what the book is about yet, or where it's going, or what it's trying to tell me.

My job right now is to build a world and people it with interesting characters, and they will tell the story when they're darned good and ready, and not before.

Breathe... in... and out....

P.S. Have you heard? Barack Obama is the President of the United States for the next four years.  Yay!

NaNoWriMo - Update

So far so good.

Day 2, 4,103 words.  According to the NaNoWriMo word count api, if I continue at this rate, I'll be done by November 24.

I have no idea what I'll end up with by the end of this month, but maybe it'll be something worth reading by the end of this year.

Oh, and...

It's my birthday today.

Happy birthday to me.