So… If you read my last post and were waiting for weekly updates, you probably noticed I didn’t write any.
I really did intend to write an update every week. You can see at the end of this post I had written two days worth… and then I stopped.
About a week before NaNoWriMo, I started reading Story Genius –How to use brain science to go beyond outlining and write a riveting novel — before you waste three years writing 327 pages that go nowhere by Lisa Cron.
Well, when I started applying her technique, I found that the scenes almost wrote themselves. It’s such an effective method for me, but it takes some time to set up.
If I had found this book two months before NaNoWriMo, I’m pretty sure I would have won, and then some. And because I was following the new technique, I didn’t want to just write anything just to get my word count. I wanted to write something that I could really work with.
I still managed to write over 11,000 words. I’m happy with that considering how my month went with family issues and getting used to a new job, and the fact that I’m still learning this structured approach to writing.
I feel more confident than ever that I can and will write this novel.
I’m hesitate to set another deadline… but what the heck. How about I aim for finishing this novel for an e-book release date of December 1, 2019.
This may not be realistic considering my day job is starting to ramp up a bit. But I want to try.
The more I’m getting into my story, the more I’m falling for my characters and the more I want to see what’s going to happen.
I’m looking forward to sharing Melissa with you.
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Day 1
word count: 1708
I was worried before I started writing that I wouldn’t be able to.
I get to work about 45 minutes earlier than I need to. It just makes it easier with traffic and all.
So as soon as I got to work, I just powered up my laptop and started writing like it was my job. And just like that, I wrote over 760 words in about 30 minutes.
Then, I wrote for 20 minutes during lunch and got to 1248 words.
And then, when I got home, I cuddled with Chris a little, prepared a snack, and wrote for 30 minutes, bringing my total up to 1708 words for my first day.
When I stopped I felt like I could have kept going. But I wanted to pace myself, so I stopped. I’m trying to prevent NaNoWriMo fatigue. I don’t know if it’s a thing, but I don’t want it to become a thing for me.
My plan is to pace myself during the week getting to a least my daily 1667-word goal, and do a little binge writing on the weekends to try and get ahead of my writing goal for when, you know, life happens.
Even though it was a successful writing day, I’m still not sure I’ll be able to write tomorrow.
Day 2
Word count: 2134
I was tired today. I wrote for 30 minutes this morning, but it felt a little forced. I tried to write at night, but I could only manage 7 words.
I did do some planning though. I’m not officially counting that, however it will help for the rest of the writing.