Thirty-one days ago I made the formal decision to participate in NaNoWriMo.
Twenty-seven days ago my personal life really took a turn for the worse. It wasn’t anything to do with me, not exactly, but it was something I would have to deal with personally. It was me or no one.
Nineteen days ago I asked myself (for probably the hundredth time) if I really thought there was any chance I could win NaNoWriMo this year. I had already committed. I was going to give it my best shot. I just didn’t see a way to the finish line except sheer dogged determination.
Day 18, not even two-thirds of the way through the month I hit 40,000 words. That’s 80% of the way to goal.
I believe I am not only going to hit 50,000 words, I will surpass that number. Mostly because one of my other goals was to get the first draft of Scouts of the Apocalypse: Zombie Masters done in November. Because I am working on more than one project in November this year, my Scouts 3 total isn’t quite as healthy (although I am at the 50% mark with that book).
I know I’m not the only one who has had to battle to get to this point. I know as sure as I’m sitting here typing this that others have had their fair share of challenges. I salute you all and encourage you, no matter what your word count, to keep plugging away. Whether you “Win” NaNo or not, every word you add to your WIP is a word you can edit later and is a word closer to completion.
Writing is a journey. It’s not one book and done. It’s what can I do better next time. And the time after that. And the time after that.
My first published novel, Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero was a NaNo novel. It underwent at least six major rewrites and dozens of edits before it was ever accepted by a press. It had even more edits before it was published. It still has warts but it has been enjoyed by hundreds of readers. One day that number will be in the thousands.
I am very proud of that book. And it was all because I dared to take the NaNoWriMo challenge some twelve years ago. I now have six books in print and this one, Scouts of the Apocalypse: Zombie Masters will be number seven (or maybe eight). I know this because my publisher already told me to write it. My publisher doesn’t care how it gets done whether I do it in thirty days or three hundred (although I know the publisher wants it sooner than later).
NaNoWriMo is helping me do that.
Challenges for the Day
Errands to run. Dinner with friends. Gamecube with the kids.
Number of Words for the Day: 2,447 words
Second best writing day. I have been quitting my day (usually) with something left. I’ve been trying to leave myself a place to start the following day. It has been working thus far.
How I Hit my Word Total for the Day
All of my writing came about at about 7:00 PM. I closeted myself away while the family played Gamecube. My reward would be to play with them when finished. I gave myself that reward about ninety minutes later.
Today’s Goal: 2,000 words
Canadian Football League Western Final to watch with friends. They’ve been inviting me to come to a local pub for the past month and I haven’t been able to make it. Today, I will.
Number of Words to Date: 40,142 words
This is the beginning of the final push to hit 50,000 words.
A Key to my Success
I have been very fortunate. My wife and family know how important this is to me and have always been supportive of my NaNo efforts. This year is no exception. They allow me to remove myself from life for a little while so I can sit down and write.
