Nano day 29: WINNER!!!!

You guys.

I did it.

I DID IT!

On Friday, November 29, at 1:49 AM, I wrote the last words to my novel and won NaNoWriMo. This is the best, craziest, most wonderful writing experience I've had so far, and it's all because of this ridiculous challenge that I have always wanted to do but never got around to doing. I'm so thankful for everyone who has supported me and helped me through this month. I've had a wonderful time!

I just wanted to explode with happiness here before I go to bed. Not to worry, there will be a more in-depth reflection on this journey. But for now, thank you thank you thank you. And also YAYAYAYAYAYAY I DID IT I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID IT!

50,000 words in a month? Totally doable if you stick to it. I'm not saying it's a great or even good novel, but it's a novel all right, and I've never written such a long piece of anything before. I am so happy I decided to participate this year after several years of just wishing I had the energy to do it.

So, YESSSS!!!!!

Okay. Sleep time!

Nano day 17: More than halfway there!

We're now in our third week, and I'm more than halfway into my story. After flailing a little bit in my story and where exactly it was going, yesterday I finally settled on a new outline to follow and now I have the finish line in sight! I know where to go and what to do, and now I just have to write it. Finally, I've found my way again!

I am discovering how much I love outlines. It really helps to have a plan, at least for me, because I'm one of those people who like to know what I'm writing about. I've tried the write-as-I-go method before, and while it does get my characters to do fun stuff, the plot never goes anywhere. And this is just one of the few things I've learned this month about my writing habits.

I also learned that the afternoons are difficult times for me to write. Around 2-5 pm is generally a sleepy, lethargic time of the day for me where all I want to do is eat, watch TV, and sleep. I don't even get the reading bug around this time! And while I can work in the mornings, I find myself writing more quickly and easily at night after dinner. Of course this is the only free time I have from work and meals and sleep. As a kid, I did all my schoolwork right when I got home and did the studying at night, so this might also have carried on to my habits today. But just because those are the prime times doesn't mean I only write in these time slots. I got about 500 words in this afternoon after all, even if I was very distracted by the 49ers vs. Saints football game.

As for the atmosphere, writing with music or in silence is most conducive to getting into my story. It's hard to write with the TV on (which is what I do a lot anyway) because there are other story lines and actions going on. Lately I've been listening to a lot of soundtracks from Disney films and Pitch Perfect. But this doesn't help me write. It actually makes me stop writing so I can sing along and wave my arms and pretend I'm Mulan, staring into the river, lamenting about how I will never bring honor to my family. So I would recommend music that you cannot sing along to.

So how is my NaNoWriMo experience so far? I am happy to say I haven't hit any walls or encountered writer's block yet. The most negative thing I've had to deal with so far is just being too tired to write, and even then I just push through my exhaustion to get in some words for the day. I am discovering how inspiration works, too. I used to think it would hit you and suddenly everything in your story would come together, but I haven't felt this bolt during this whole month. What actually works for me is the experimentation with plot outlines. I try something out, and if it works, then something else pops into my head to follow that. For me, creativity comes from trite ideas that are used, then tossed, then exchanged and developed and eventually transformed into potentially good ideas.

November's passing by so quickly because all my attentions are put on writing my novel. Can you believe it's already the 17th? I'm working hard on this thing to try to finish on time. If you're writing for NaNoWriMo as well, good luck on the rest of November! We're halfway there!

NaNoWriMo Day 10

We're in week 2! I've heard/read a lot about the dreaded week 2, when the novelty of your story wears off and now you're heading towards murky waters. Here we go!

So far I've been keeping myself on track. I got through most of my outline I made in October of how the story was going to being and the adventures they go on -- but now I actually need to develop the story and the characters. I know what the ending is, so it's just getting the characters to that place now. I want to write a believable and gradual transformation in my main character, so that's taking a good chunk of my daily word count.

I've been tallying 1,667+ words almost every day. On Friday, I was only able to get in 900-some words because I had work and then had a birthday dinner to prepare. (It was a fantastic night and I don't regret not making my word count. Don't let writing rule your life and relationships!) But I made up for that yesterday and am pretty satisfied with what I'm doing in my story. It's kind of a mess when I think about it overall, but the point of NaNoWriMo for me is not to look back and to keep going. Material is better than a blank page!

I haven't hit the wall yet and I haven't gone crazy yet. Yay, success!

Update! What's going on, and is this NaNoWriMo Day 6?

Hello! If you are new here, then welcome to my strange little blog where I write short little stories and fun thoughts that come into my mind. I used to write a bit more regularly here in the past, and now not at all because I've been concentrating on my other blog.

But! I hope for that to change. See, the reason why I've been slacking here is because I felt for a long time that I just wasn't a writer. I don't know how to write, but I like to fake it. I'm not very creative, but I like to pretend I am. I'm not very dedicated, but I would like to be.

That last one is important, because I've decided to take on a ridiculous challenge this month. I've pledged an effort to try for a 50,000-word novel written during this month of November, and so far I've been pretty on track. Go, me! And as for not knowing how to write and not being very creative--I think these can definitely be developed over time and experience. Writers don't automatically become great at writing. Practice, practice, practice, my friends.

I've always wanted to do NaNoWriMo, but I never signed up because I felt too intimidated by the gigantic word count to even try. Last month though, there were new developments in my work life, with two internships coming to an end a new part-time position at a publisher. I knew that in November I would have more time to myself for self-improvement, and since my copywriting at least was getting tons better, I thought my writing deserved further exploration again. And hey, wouldn't it be perfect timing since NaNoWriMo was coming up? I decided to toss out my fears and just bite the bullet. So I've been writing every single day this month, at least 1,667 words! That's not to say I'm writing a masterpiece (toooooootally far from it, which I'm proud of). But writing a terrible story is better than not writing at all.

This is just a personal project for me, inspired by a national movement, to get the writing juices flowing. To keep myself on track, I asked my friend to do daily creations with me, except her project is illustration-based. It's just the 6th day, but so far we've both been keeping up.

I'll be blogging here sometimes about my NaNoWriMo experience and what I'm learning. And hopefully after this month is over, I'll be reinvigorated to write stories again. Can I get a high five? Anyone?

That's okay; I got it. I'm also learning self-sufficiency!