Day 25

50917 words, 26 stories

2008 Nano is complete with 1 day to spare.

I can breathe now. But not for long. I plan to continue writing, just not so roughly.

See you in December.

Day 24

No one said the last 2K words would be painful. I am so close and I WILL MAKE IT. But tonight's 580 words will need some MAJOR polishing and maybe a plot. grrr.

Tomorrow is preschool, I will be forgoing my nap for words. I just hope the baby plays nice.

Day 23

No writing done, but it's the Sunday before a Holiday, did not figure I would.

Word count for the day 0. I think it may be the first day I actually did not contribute a single word. I should go check that out.

Anyway, I hope it will end up being a nice recharge event.

Day 22

When: morning (up until 12:30)
Where: home some, then Barnes and Noble for 1.5 hours.
What: Write in, Thanks Neva!
How: I went to bed with a lack of ideas, and laid there thinking. This morning, I wrote the sandman into my story and gave each of my characters a dream sequence. 13 characters average 250 words per plus transitions.
Why: Because I wanted to
Adapt? I think I pulled this out of my subconscious Because I now vaguely remember someone telling me about a plot ninja "write off your last scene as a dream." This just goes to prove. Every snip it of life is story fodder.

Word count for the morning: 3208 (Total 46145)
Word count for the evening: 1912 (but I deleted 160 or so that was covered elsewhere for a total of 47897.)

Day 21

2169 words tonight
42933 words since 11/1

I am reaching the end of my marathon. 50K is right around the corner and I am feeling the urge to let up. I have 5 days to write 7K. I need to keep up my pace in order to finish and have time to verify before I leave for BFE. I need to sprint to the finish line. It helps a little being able to watch the word count deficit get less and less. Seeing the finish line within reach. But the double edge sword fights it's way in.

"You are so close, just take a break."

"Well, mysterious voice of reason. I denounce you. I will rest in 5 days. When I cross the finish line I will slow down and then I will rest. Until then, sit down and be quiet, mommy has work to finish."

Day 20

1100 words and each one a struggle.

Day 19

When: 6:30-10:45
Where: Write in @ Bear Rock Cafe until 8:30 (home to finish)

We did a Word War. I had 764 words in 20 mins, other counts were 801, 787 and 715.

Words tonight: 2906
Total Words Count: 39645 (yes, very close to 40K and you might have continued, but I am a very tired momma.)

19 stories written. A bit over 10K words to finish. Roughly 6 days to do it in.

Day 18

A friend and I met at a local ex-Seattle's Best for peace and writing.

Work count: 3561
Total: 36660

Apparently it was good for both of us. She's a mom too and so getting out of the house did well for both of us. I enjoyed the company, we did not speak too much, but it was nice having someone at the next power strip that was fighting to wrangle words to paper too. THANKS!

NaNo realization: My house is not the best place to write. Distractions are too loud there. Yes, I can ignore them, but they are still thee. I did not realize how much faster and easier the words could come just be being elsewhere.

Day 17

I have written 1300 words so far today. I plan to write more after the girls are in bed.

Current word count: 33028
Goal for the evening: 34K+

Update: Got to 33132 Before I got too angry to write.

Someone dropped a box of computer trash on my door step Sunday. (A friend whose name I will not slander) There was no note, not explanation, nothing. K had to hunt this person down only after I get more and more steamed about it. Like I do not have enough to do that taking on someone else's chore is fun for me.

Why drop something off for me to freecycle or recycle or trash when you could damn well do it yourself? I have spent well over 2000 words venting about this. If I could have written my anger into my story, you better believe it would have flowed easily.

NaNo Tip: If your mind gets hijacked by your day not working out, hijack it back by writing it in...or at least try your damnedest.

Day 16

I knew it would be another no writing day. I did manage to get about 1K words done before we had to leave for the day. So, I think that is good overage. 1K is better than 0

Day 15 -Another MIlestone

I am officially 60% done. I made 30K words just now. I did it. With only 40% left, I will not stand in my own way. Each word closer to 50K makes me jump for happiness. I did it. I am doing it.

When: 1350 words during the girls nap time. 1650 words after they went to bed. (The trip to grandma's fell through)
What: 2 complete story arcs
How: Distracted by party planning and watching Eli Stone (yeah, I know, I shouldn't have)

Adapt? There is always room for improvement. I improve on little things that I can't even recognize. I have figured out what makes me go and what stands in my way. I am learning about myself in a way I have not learned since I became a wife and mother.

I am learning to be Me again. Thank you to NaNoWriMo. Thank you to all of my writing buddies. Thank you to my cheerleaders.

Day 14

Goal: 2k words (28K total)
Word Total as of this writing (27179)

I plan to write more before bed, but I wanted to do the housekeeping stuff first.

I did not get any writing done until after the girls were in bed. I stopped last night's writing mid story and was worried I might have a hard time picking it back up. It started off slow tonight, but I did catch up to the pace car and I finished that story. I have tomorrow's story in mind, it came to me while I was in the shower, so no pen to jot it down, of course. Should have used the wet erase makers cause now i have a shimmer of plot in my head, but it's not near as detailed as it was.

I will have to think on it and jot some notes down for writing tomorrow morning. The girls will be going to their grandma's house with DH. (Thank you!)

My goal is to write and get my quota done as early as possible and then get ready for the party @ 2. Last time they left for the morning, I wrote roughly 3K. So I think tomorrow will be a good day to get a bit further ahead.

Here's to hoping anyway.

Day 13 -25K

I made it to the half way point. There is no going back now, I can can only go forward. Just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing.

When: 10:30-11:30 and 8:00-9:00

Word Count: 25537

Day 12

Word count so far: 0.
To make my goal by the 28th, I have to write 1720 words every day until then. This makes me happy. Cause I can have nights like tonight and still make it.

My toddler and her daddy are fighting over bedtime. It makes me cringe. I don't know why I have this psychological reaction when I am the by stander. It makes me physically shaky. It is not like I expect it to escalate to the horrible things that go through my head. But I am seriously thrown off my game tonight.

If my NaNo was for adults I could turn the bad things into the book and go with the flow. But the nervous on eggshell feelings in my house do not belong to faery tales.

I'm trying to figure out how to write through this. But at least I am ahead of my goal and have a reasonable word count per night even if I don't figure it out before I pass out from exhaustion.

Front Loading is the greatest advice thus far. Yet another reason, I am thankful or my mentor.

Update: 646 words forced onto the page today (23275 total)

Day 11 -plans

I plan on trying out a write-in tonight. It's at the the Pflugerville library from 6-8pm. I'll have my mac and a green shirt with "Good Witch" on it. If you see me, feel free to stop by. I like knowing who is watching my progress. It helps with accountability!

I will be putting dinner in the oven so that it will be ready when K gets home. I will pass off the baby and hug the toddler good night and go write my heart out. I am thinking of leaving a little early, if my MIL is available to watch the kids between me leaving and K getting home.

I did not go to the 12 hour lock in because of the timing and I didn't think I would get much done with the distraction of fun/crazy people around. However, the Saturday morning I sent the family away I got a lot done, so I am going to see if sitting in a room with a lot of other writers will have the same benefit.

At the very least I will meet some cool writer types, I guess. But i do need to get one it.

My goal is to write 3K words today and get ahead if I can.

Expect updates after write-in.

UPDATE:
Only 5 people at Write-in, 4 serious contenders, 1 curious non-Nanoer (I am fairly certain she was not yet NaNo)
word count ranged from mine (20K) to Superman (310K). The other 2 were 30K and 48K. Holy padded word count batman.

I wrote 2200 word in 2 hrs at the write in and finished up another 1400 at home. (Needed to finish the arc.)

Word count: 3630 tonight (22593 total)

Day 10

I lost my place in my record keeping. I apparently wrote on Day 10, looks like quite a bit, but I can't remember doing it. NICE!!!

Word count: 18993

Day 9

Day 9 was book club. It was a scheduled off day, but I still manage to write 302 words. That's 302 words I did not count on!

Day 8

When: 8:30 - 11:20
Where: same spot.
What: 1 story line
How: I sent my family away today. K took the girls to his mom's house so that I could get stuff done. I needed to write, of course, but I also need to do some cleaning around the house for book club tomorrow. Since the writing is the top priority, I needed them out of here or neither thing would get done. I also tuned my living room stereo in to my yoga itunes playlist. The natural sounds really helped center me and propel the writing. Since the main theme of my NaNo project is nature it got me deeper in the story.
Adapt? I would love to send the kids away more often. I think I will be doing this each Saturday until I leave on my trip at the end of the month. I love my kids, but they take too much concentration and steady writing is not really possible with them around. They will get older and it will be easier, but for now they have go to go, go, go.

I thought about keeping the baby, but I am glad I decided to send her with K. I am so very proud of myself for today's writing. Even if I do not get any more words out today. I have accomplished a lot today. And I now KNOW that I can get to 50K, I just might have to send the distractions to Nana's house.

Time to check in with my mentor, then off to have lunch and clean for book club.

Word Count: 15471 (2567 this morning)
I plan to write more during the day, my personal goal is to meet 16K today.

Day 7

Daughter meltdown tonight. She was OCD about a water cup and clingy and 2. I have found that writing when upset is hard. Writing when the kids are screaming is even harder.

But, as my mentor (Devon) suggested, I pushed on through as if my bills depended on it. I actually have one thing up on that account. I will still eat if I do not write. (Thank you husband.) However, I have found that a writer will slowly go insane if she stops writing. I am having to write myself out of a padded room. Giving up a dream is the worst thing a person, namely me, can do for herself. Without a dream, I have no goal to work toward, no reason to strive for goodness, no way to soar. I might not write to eat, but I write to live.

Write like your life depends on it. I will.

Word Count: 12766 (1690 today)

Day 6

When: 10:30 - 11:45, 3:00-5:00
Where: same place
What: At noon I had 3 partial stories. 339, 23 and 448 words. The first began last night and did not resume. The second was too quiet compared to the third one that was yelling.
How: As fast as I could because I had some place to be at noon. And tonight is date night. I wanted to be at least @ 11K before I had to leave.
Why: I refuse to sit idly by and beg a story to be written. That's not going to get the word count done. I can be nice in December. For now, keep my fingers speedy or off with your head.
Adapt? The story that ran today was 1800 words. This impressed me immensely seeing the other stories average out at 1400. This story also happened to be the beginning. I have been writing without knowing where things started and ow they got to me. So, now I have a base to jump from.

Word count: 11076 total (1854 today)

PS.. I love all of you for commenting and sharing your wisdom. I hope to keep up with all my nano friends after this month has passed. But for now? Write like the wind!

Day 5 (Begin Rant)

I announced my word count in IRC today and was asked. “Watchya writing about.” Before I could even answer my inner critic was personified. “If it’s like most of NaNo it’s crap.” Wow, how hateful This bitch doesn’t even know me or what I am writing.

Shame on me for letting it get to me, but my word count has not moved since then. Having my critic personified and talking to other people about me and my writing. That’s debilitating. That’s down right evil.

(end rant)

Good think I wrote 1500 words before that episode.
Word Count: 8801

Day 3 & 4

When: I have 2 times that are working for me. Early morning, while kids sleep/watch cartoons and after they are in bed. T/Th I don't start until after my oldest in in Preschool. But that worked well for me today.
Where: Same place, on my laptop with my buns on the couch.
What: still no novel yet, but I have written 4 children's stories in 4 days. I started my writing dreams writing as a child, maybe that's just the type of writer I am. It would explain why the novels always lose my interest.
How: I had help with the planing. My daughter loves faeries. I wanted something timeless like Milne created with Christopher Robin. Husband said try this. I did and 4 stories later I have a rhythm.
Why: When I wrote the first drafts of both novels I always said I'd finish before my kids were born, or before my oldest turned 1. I knew I was writing for my kids, but the topics were my topic not theirs. I think maybe I just woke up smarter on 11/2 when I decided that this year's Nano would include children's stories
Adapt? I'm little disappointed there's not yet a novel in me trying to get out, so I will continue thinking plot lines in my head but I am happy with this clip. Each story is roughly 1500 words. Obviously it would be nice for them to want to be 1700, but you know how that goes. I tried to pause in the middle of 1 story today and was not able to clear my mind for other tasks. 2 stories a day is not a good pace though. Even my Nano mentor is not writing 3K a day. My personal goal is 2K/day. I need to find away to adapt to word count vs content. 50K is about 34 of these stories. I think I will be researching selling/publishing after Nano.

Who knew I had this in me? I might have but I am still pleasantly surprised.

Word count: 1601 (7472 total), 1 story (4 total)

Day 2

No writing today due to Ren Fest. Had fun, but need to catch up.

Day 1

When: 7:45 -9:30 (1470ish words) 4:00-4:30 (450ish words)
Where: Couch, kids playing under feet
What: Started with 'F J' Fictional account of a woman's battle with depression (ended up being too closely related to my life and my life does not have a satisfactory ending yet. When the critic arrived to chop it to pieces, I allowed it. But only because there was something much more fun in the wings waiting my attention. I ended my writing today with a children's story that will either develop into a series for NaNo or 1 of several unrelated stories. It's all about words on paper and whether it one story or many, I think it counts. Possibly, when this children's story is finished (It's about half.) The novel will be able to take center stage.
How: Beginning in the deep end. Ending in the baby pool.
Why: Found it easier to finish typing a thought with the children interrupting when the sentences are smaller and the plot not so convoluted.
Adapt? I like the idea of starting in the morning. That way I have all day to get back to it if the morning dawns with needy children. I do however think I will work on it a bit each night before bed as well. Either finish up on my goal, or get ahead for the next day. I do need to think of things the kids can do while I type. I fixed the baby swing outside, so on these cool mornings we can go outside. It's much easier for my toddler to entertain herself outside and I think I can swing the baby with a push or two between paragraphs.

Tomorrow, there will likely be no post and likely a shortage of words on paper, due to Ren Fest. I have charged my Clie to use during the 2 hour drive. But thumb typing is not a method for speed.

Hope you all had a productive day!

3 days

When: November 1, 2008
Where: Anywhere, everywhere.
What: Words, 50K of them
How: that is the question many of us are asking.
Why:To prove to myself I can make it as a writer with deadlines and have 3 kids (2 plus husband.)
Adapt? I need to get 2x18 inch length of chain to lower the baby swing on the deck. I hope to spend mornings outside in the backyard, writing as well as I can in the glare off the computer. The 2 yr old playing happily however and the baby swinging. It's been nice temperature wise, a bit chilly in the a.m. which is good to wake up a caffeine free writer. I will not be starting at 12:01 11/1. Being a mom, I need to get a good night's rest before I attempt to be mom+writer, so I will be starting around 7:20 am instead. The baby will still be sleeping and the 2 yr old will be eating breakfast and watching cartoons. I will warm up my spot on the couch, eat cereal with my fingers, drink a big glass of water and write about 2K words. At least that's my plan. That's where the future 'Adapt' will come in. I will not be sticking with 1 plan the whole way through, unless it works. And the first plan working 100% is not realistic. I will prevail.

Preparations of the Writing Kind

When: Sundays @ 3pm (Usually)
Where: Friend's House
What: Writing Workshop
Why: I need accountability. Plain and Simple.
Adapt? K's got the kids, I have to drive to someone else's house and listen to him leading the discussion. This is good stuff and I can coast and write. Today I am a bit bitter because the individual in question is afraid of commitment. He cancelled yesterday because he's sick. I'm okay with that. He'd said he'd get me info so it would be like we didn't miss a week. Um yeah, no call, no email, I think he'd better be hanging his head over the toilet...wait he probably is. Workshopped called due to 48 hour hangover.

Preparations of the Family Variety

One of my obstacles for NaNoWriMo is of course the family and taking time back from them to use as my own. My first step is feeding them, because hungry families make for cranky families and cranky families equal less time for mommy.

Solution. November is Crock-pot Month. I will be finding many recipes for meals that can be combines in one big pot and left to cook without my intervention. Little Bitty Miracle Meals. This idea is so appealing to me, I might do it more often.

Now, anyone know how to freeze enough PBJs for a 2 yr old for a month?

Introduction

This is just a documenting site for my trials during the 2008 NaNoWriMo. Don't expect glitz or sparkles or magic dust. Expect cold, hard, dry facts.

When: When I wrote my quota.
Where: Where I wrote my quota.
What: What was my quota, what I needed near me (or had without being able to get rid of-this will become apparent.)
How: How I wrote my quota. (Fast, slow, easy, hard, etc)
Why: Why did I try this?
Adapt? Things I will try next time.

If you stumbled in, sorry, better luck next click. If you're here for inspiration, advice, etc, I hope you find something to help!

See you in November!