Yea...NaNoWriMo Kick My A**

Well, I can't really say that...entirely, that is.


NaNoWriMo is truly about the journey. About learning about yourself as a writer. About your ability to sit down and bang out 50,000 words to form a novel.

What are my lessons? I learned about 4:

1. I can't just write out 50,000 words in a month

2. I learned that my family will get in way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

3. I learned that my job will get in the way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

4. I learned I get in the way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

Now mind you, I have an entire book, no entire series, all planed out. But...the pressure of trying to bang it out (and not fully bang it out either, just enough to get to 50,000) put a damper on my imagination. There were days where I would sit in front of my laptop and want to write but nothing would come out. Writer's block is detrimental to NaNoWriMo. You can't afford it.

I knew where I had to get to at the end of the brick road. But the putting it down brick by brick and having to skip bricks just to get to the end didn't work for me. So the 50,000 threshold eluded me.

So where does this leave me? Same place I was. The novel will get done. Just not done in a month. My current track record is three months, so I estimate about January. Which will be great because I'm going to my first writer's conference in New York in January (applause, applause, thank you). However, more on that later.

Am I glad that I went for NaNoWriMo? Absolutely. It got me to put down the plans for this series I'm writing and I think it's going to be a hit. Then that could be the ego talking.

Will I go for it again? Eh...why not? Everyone needs a good ass-kicking every now and then!

NaNoWriMo: Post Week 1; Writer's Conference

So...

Yea... This is what I should be feeling, exhausted but invigorated. Heavy but light. Drained but completed. All those opposite words. The reality of it....not so much.

Couple of things I have figured out this past week.

I have a lot of ideas, but not enough time to put them down on paper. My supposed schedule went out the window with work, family and other stuff came into play. Out of the 10K words I should have down on paper, I only have a little more than half.

Unacceptable.

So Week 2 is all about tweaking what needs to be tweaked, running away from all other things and locking myself in some Panera Bread somewhere and getting work done.

Hopefully I will have redeemed myself this week - cross my fingers.

In other news, I have decided to attend my first Writer's Conference (the crowd cheers).

I'll be attending the Writer's Digest Conference in January in NYC. Really excited about the networking that will be taking place, learning more about the craft and getting some pointers from agents and publishers attending.

But before I can really use it to its full potential, this bloody manuscript needs to get done!!

Sigh...Ok..I'm going.

Words of encouragement are always welcome. I've told my other readers that it gives me the mojo to keep going!

Today's Music: Katya's Theme

I have previously said that certain pieces of music can allow you to tap into a feeling, a story or possibly a character. The song which I think truly captivates my female lead in the new novel is "My Heart Asks Pleasure First." The rich undertones truly captures the sense of wistfullness but strength. Carefree but meticulous. Generally a case of opposite:. Katya's innate sense of duty but reluctant acceptance.

Enjoy it!

It is on!

Today marks the beginning of a glorious era... The start of my new career as a sleep-deprived author. Ohhh, I'm getting shivers just from the thought of it!

I'll be giving you weekly updates on my state of mind and how far I am going. The only thing is I will not be able to post the book up on here. To ensure that this book is publishable, it will need to remain in the shadows. Just so I can convince a potential agent/publisher that it has a market.

But that doesn't mean I won't drop a tidbit here and there. Teasers, yes, but it's something!

Ok, here I go, jumping in the deep end of the pool.

Hopefully, I don't drown!