NaNoWriMo » Ramblings of an Amateur Writer

NaNoWriMo – Update 2

Nov 092010

Yesterday started the second week of NaNoWriMo. I have to admit, I’m quite pleased with my progress thus far. My original goal was to write 2300 words a day, five days a week, and leave the weekends for other things.

I kept my 2300 words/day goal, though at times it was a struggle. On top of that, I deviated from my weekend plans and decided to do the 1667 goal set by NaNo. Technically I did my 1667+ words over the weekend, but the NaNo folks must not have been hip to the end of Daylight Savings cause I ended Sunday short and started ahead on Monday.

Oh well, everything’ll be back on schedule today, and my words will have evened out. So, how many words did I get the first week? According to my count, my Sunday ended with a total of 16042 words. Not bad.

On top of that, I managed to finish polishing a couple of chapters of Shadow Cat. Still waiting for the beta feedback though.

This week, I plan to continue my awesome progress with my NaNo novel (Alley Cat) and incorporate the feedback I received on chapter 10 and 11 of Shadow Cat. What say you about the cover art for Alley Cat?

NaNoWriMo – Update 1

NaNoWriMo 1 Response »

Nov 022010

So yesterday kicked off the first day of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). To help keep me on track, I’m going to post updates every Tuesday on my progress, starting today!

My first day of NaNoWriMo started of quite well. I figured I’d get a head start on the task and typed in my first words a bit after midnight. It was late; I faltered. With a little over 600 words under my belt I hit the sack.

I rose when the sun was at its highest, ate a late breakfast (cause I’m a late riser and all that), and got started. By five o’clock with many distractions and much needed breaks, I threw in the towel. But I’m proud to say I had over 3k words written when all was said and done.

I feel like a writer again. I probably haven’t written this much in a day since I first started querying Shadow Cat. I’m so glad those days are over.

Three cheers for NaNo! And good luck to all the participants!

NaNoWriMo: I’m Starting to Cave

Author Tidbits, NaNoWriMo, Writing 1 Response »

Oct 232010

I’ve been telling myself, I don’t have time for NaNoWriMo. I’ve got to get the edits done on Shadow Cat.

Okay, I’m starting to falter in my resolve. I have three books planned for the Shadow Cat series. Obviously, Shadow Cat is complete but needs editing. I started the 2nd book, so it’s really a no-go for NaNoWriMo. However, I have still have the last book. It’s outlined, but I don’t think I have a single word written of it. Oh how I’d love to have it finished and only have to worry about edits for it.

Here’s the thing. Can I force myself to write without edits? The whole idea scares me. I hate failing. A little over a week left to decide. Holy Cow. Well, I put my name on the list ReenaJacobs. Big surprise there.

I’m thinking I should at least try. See if I can do the straight through without editing thing. I wrote Shadow Cat by the seat of my pants, and it took me 2 1/2 months to finish it (about 80k on the first draft). I didn’t know enough about writing to worry about editing the hell out of it.

Maybe NaNoWriMo is what I need. A 50k goal, no editing, just producing. Screw quality, just get the story down. Maybe this is what will get me stoked about writing again. Cause I’m telling you, my drive has waned.

Buddy a Newbie! —> ReenaJacobs

Well, if I’m going to do this, I need to work a bit more on my outline.

Good luck to all who are giving NaNoWriMo a try. Hopefully I’ll see you there…once I gather my courage and motivation.

NaNoWriMo 2010

Author Tidbits, NaNoWriMo, Writing No Responses »

Aug 062010

I’m a newbie author. I spent one month (August) in 2008 dabbling with Shadow Cat while out of work, then set it aside for a teaching position. The following August I picked up Shadow Cat again and started writing seriously. I finished it in October and heard about this cool thing called NaNoWriMo–National Novel Writing Month. I wanted to participate in it but got so involved editing Shadow Cat, I didn’t want to take the break needed while on the roll. So NaNo came and went without me.

This year, I’m doing it! Yeah, we’re still in August, but I need to set my goals earlier and publicly or I know I’ll cop out. I’ve thought about it what I’d write for a while and came up with…NOTHING! Here’s the thing, I’ve got lots of book ideas, but I’ve started them all. NaNo is about completing a book from beginning to end within a month’s time.

Then I remembered! I do have a book which is outlined but not even started. The third and finally book idea for the Shadow Cat storyline. I’ve only written about 10k of the sequel to Shadow Cat, but I know exactly where it’s heading and how it’s ending. I’m typically a linear writer so hadn’t really considered writing the novels out of order. But really, with the entire series outlined from beginning to end, nothing’s preventing me from writing backward.

So that’s what I’m doing for NaNoWriMo this year. So if I disappear for the Month of November, you know where I am.