Post NaNoWriMo

     Today is the last day for the competition.  Many people are finishing up their novels and many more have given up completely.  I am glad that I'm done and already have my noveling winners certificate hanging on my wall of fame.
     I work so hard and with such singlemindedness throughout the month, that when the competition is over I go through a variety of different feelings.  At first, I'm just so glad to be done.  It's great to take that first night to just relax.  I don't write, I don't even crack open my laptop.  I don't think about plot lines or characters or what direction the novel is moving toward.  I putter around the house and put things away, marvel at all the extra time I have, take out the trash, water my plants.  Just relax and get back to normal daily chores.
     But then Day #2 hits.  I'm not a big fan of Day #2.  The main reason is that I feel like I'm at loose ends.  The novel is done.  It's too soon to start the re-write.  I've put all the art projects that I usually work on away, so that I can focus on my novel.  In order to get back to work on those art projects I have to get them back out and re-aquaint myself with where I was at in the process.  This requires some thought and planning, with a brain that's fresh off noveling so this becomes to much trouble to pursue.
     Now I'm cranky and out-of-sorts, so I try some special activities.  A special supper or a trip to browse through a bookstore, a long walk, anything to take the edge off.  But of course, nothing works.  I just have to get through the cranky phase and move on.  Sometimes this phase can last a few days. 
     So, I'm glad that the novel is done, more or less, and I'm not anxious to get back to it just yet.  But there's always that cranky period to get through and that part I'm anxious to move past.  I keep on moving forward . . .

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011

NaNoWriMo #27

     WOO HOO!!!  WINNER!!!   Yes!  I did it.  Another successful National Novel Writing Month has drawn to a close.  My official word count: 51,747 words.  The official count on the website is always different.  (Last year I actually gained a few words.)  This year I lost 10 words.
     This year, it was touch and go.  I had so many distractions and so many obstacles to overcome.  2011 has been a rough year all the way around.  It seems to be wrapping up a bit better, though.  And at the end of November, I finished my novel.
     Not only did I finish my novel, but I learned a lot more last year than I thought I did and this year I have created a trilogy.  I've always wondered how an author goes about deciding whether a book is worthy of more than one story.  This year I discovered just how multiple books come into being.  I didn't set out to write a trilogy, it just happened.
     So, there is the original story, which I unfortunately did not get completed, although I know where it's going and where it will end.  Then there were two characters who entered the story and demanded their own story.  They convinced me that they could add to the original story and once they fleshed out the story were worthy of their own book.  By then another character showed up that didn't really have a stake in the original characters but was more interested in what the two new characters were doing.  His back story convinced me that he might be in line to have a story of his own.  So, I guess I'm set up for several more years of NaNoWriMo. 
     I can't believe that I did it, again.  I won.  Yeah me!!!  Now it's time for a nap. 

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011

NaNoWriMo #26

     Nothing to add to the word count yesterday.  Saturday's are not very good day's to write.  They could be, if I'd organize my day better.  But really, everyone needs one day where they don't get right into the day immediately and can take some time to just putter about the house and relax.  With that said, writing generally relaxes me more than anything else that I do.  Except maybe when I'm on a deadline, like I am now.  Sometimes the deadline is not as relaxing.
      I should finish my novel today.  Or part of it.  Rather than "finish it" let's say "reach 50,000 words".  I really think I'm looking at a trilogy.  I also have a thought that this story may change considerably during the re-write stage.  I have all kinds of things cooking in my brain right now.
     See you tomorrow at the finish line . . .

 © Lydia Lowe  11/2011 

NaNoWriMo #25

      I'm now up to 49,643 words, having logged 1,660 more last night.  I am so close.  Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to write today.  But hey, that's O-Kay.  I'm very close.  Tomorrow I'm going to finish this up, at some point.  It won't be the actual ending because there is too much story left to tell.  I'm just going to write until I get to an ending point that sounds good.  Probably a chapter ending.
     While I wrote yesterday I kept the thought of a trilogy in the back of my mind, and I think that I've figured out a way to do that.  Remember Devlin from a few posts back?  Well, he was just going to be a brief plot point in the story.  But I think I'm going to have enough back story on him to give him his own story.  It's all tangled up with Gwendolyn and Zelda and not as much with Ann and Ann Marie.  Perhaps that's how I'll end my story, with Devlin's back story.  I just hope Devlin doesn't bring a bunch of his friends with him or I may never be able to end the original story!!! 
     I can see the finish line from here.  It's just so beautiful. . .the sunshine beaming down on the tape across the road up ahead.  Sprinting towards the finish line . . .

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011

NaNoWriMo #24

     Logged another 3,320 words on Thursday.  I now have a back story for Zelda.  Back stories take up a lot of words.  In the re-write, I'm sure the back story will be abbreviated or even eliminated for Zelda and Gwendolyn.  These are more character studies than actual story plot points.
     I'm slogging through the word count and getting the novel written.  I like it better when the plot is moving, fast.  The first draft is always going to have issues.  I'm just getting the story down and trying to find out what the story is about, who the characters are, if there are any other characters that want to spin-off.  Apparently there is another story within this one.  I'm wondering if I could possibly make this into a trilogy?
     Hmmmm. . . could this be a three-fer ???

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011

NaNoWriMo #23

     I forgot to update my word count last night.  Honestly, this is the first time that has happened.  Updating my word count is what I'm all about.  So, my word count, which currently sits at 44,663 words, is two days worth of word count.
     I am so tired.  I've come a long way but I'm tired.  I've got 5,337 words to "win".  The end is in sight.  I have the day off tomorrow and I'm going to try to finish my word count.  I don't know if that will happen right now, but that is the plan. 
     The 50,000 word limit is a far cry from the finished story.  My novel grew the more I wrote and turned into something that I never expected.  I learned a lot more last year, when I wrote my first novel, than I realized.
     Needing a nap, or a good-night's sleep, or both . . . 

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011

NaNoWriMo #22

      I added an additional 1,660 words last night.  Slow going since the big word send up last Saturday.  So maybe I'm not adding huge numbers to my word count, but I'm consistent.  Sometimes slow and steady is all you need to win the race. 
     I have this evening and full days; Thursday and Friday.  I'm sure I can push forward to the finish line with that strategy.  I'm hoping that this weekend I can finish up.  The finish line is closer all the time.
     Gwendolyn did produce a new friend, Zelda.  Those two are something else.  I have got to write their story next year.  I thought I would take a break next year, but these two characters arrived out of nowhere with a story of their own and they've been hinting that it needs to be told.  Hinting?  Did I say that?  I guess if you can call grabbing the front of my shirt and shaking me while repeating "we need a spin-off", hinting. 
     Then there was the mysterious Devlin, who was watching the watcher who carelessly left behind something of value.  What's that all about?  Did Devlin leave something behind or was it the watcher?  That's unclear at this point.  Devlin's not a bad guy, he's just named that way!!!  HA! HA!  (I love that line from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"  Jessica, the pin-up girl says, "I'm not a bad girl, I'm just drawn that way".)  I think I've trotted that reference out before.  Sounds very familiar.
     Headed toward the finish line. . .

© Lydia Lowe  11/2011