I started NaNoWriMo last night. At midnight to be precise.
I have some pretty lofty goals this year. I am not only trying to hit 50,000 words in 30 days (which is the NaNo goal), but I am actually trying to hit 70,000 words in those same 30 days. The reasons for this are many. I have managed to win NaNo every year I’ve participated, usually in 21 days or less. That tells me I have the capability to do more.
That’s a very good thing because I have several projects I need to make progress on. The first and most important of these is, of course, the third book in my Mik Murdoch series. The book is targeted to be about 65,000 words and the first draft needs to be complete by December 31st. That alone should tell you where the majority of that 70,000 goal will be going towards.
It isn’t the only project on the go however. I have three short stories for three separate anthologies to write as well. Each of those stories will be between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Even if I don’t do anything else, that puts me past the 70,000 word goal.
And that still isn’t everything. I want to write at least one and maybe two new episodes for Champ McKay: Texas Space Ranger (Wattpad). Each of those needs to be around 2,500 words.
So, clearly I have my work cut out for me. In order to achieve my goals (or at least give them a very good try), I’ve broken my daily word count into three goal levels:
- minimum daily threshold (1,667 words) – this is the recommended minimum number suggested by NaNoWriMo. If you achieve this average daily number, you will hit 50,000 words by the end of the month.
- daily target (2,333 words) – this is my own goal. In order to hit the 70,000 words in 30 days, I need to average this many words.
- stretch target (3,000 words) – every goal needs a little bit extra. If I’m able to average 3,000 words per day, I will finish the month with 90,000 words! That might actually see a couple of the aforementioned projects finished.
There is something very important I want you to recognize in those numbers. Each level isn’t substantially higher than the one prior. Even still, the results are significantly different. For a mere 666/667 words extra per day I can add 20,000 additional words in a month. For those of you who want to become full-time writers, that is an extra novel every 4 – 5 months. Again, I use the word significant.
So, I’m going to be adding a couple more trackers to my sidebar (to the ones already there). One will be NaNoWriMo progress. The other will likely be short story trackers. I’ve already got the Mik Murdoch 3 tracker there. If you’re interested, keep track with me. I can use your encouragement should you wish to do that too.
And, if you are also do NaNoWriMo, join me as a friend. You can find me under mplested.
