NaNoWriMo - 18,014 words and counting...

Ok...I know...it's been a couple days since I last posted. I've been burning the brain cells as I race to keep pace for NaNoWriMo. I'm up to 18,014 words and still going strong. I've got about 2,000 words that I need get caught-up with over the weekend, but other than that the words are still flowing.

And I'm actually having fun doing this! It has pushed me to make huge strides in just writing, no excuses, no waiting for inspiration, but pure blood, sweat, tears, and creativity. And I'm actually REALLY happy with the content that is coming out.

I posted a novel synopsis and an excerpt on NaNoWriMo if you're interested in seeing what I'm up to: novel synopsis.

I'll catch-up with you on the other side of the weekend.

How To Write A Great Novel - article

The Wall Street Journal had a great article last week and I was finally able to read it over the weekend, "How To Write a Great Novel". As I was reading it, I pictured myself as a writer highlighted in a similiar article and imagined what might be said about my writing process. I was comforted in knowing that not only is the writing process as long as multi-layered for other authors as it is for me, but also that many authors have some quirky habits.

I have printed a copy of the article and have pinned it up in my office to remind me that although the writing process is a lonely process, writers from different genres have similiar experiences.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Writing Priorities This Week

"Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to do what they want to do." – Kathleen Winsor*

What a great quote to start off another important week in my writing.
 
Today is Monday, and everyone needs a swift kick in the butt for the first day of the week and I am no exception. It's the day that I review my schedule for the upcoming week, determine prioritites, and set a plan for what I want to accomplish. So, it's pertinent to remember that some tasks have real importance and others are just hiding behind a guise of importance. So what are my writing priorities this week?
1. It's week 2 of NaNoWriMo, and I have a goal of another 13,089 words. I held a steady pace last week, and only missed one day of writing (and was able to make up some of it over the weekend).
2. In continuing with my plan of submitting my work, I've got 3 contests I plan to enter this week (2 poetry contests & 1 photography contest).
And finally...
3. It's time to resume submitting to literary agents, so I need to finish a final revision of "Petunia Wiggles, Giggles, and Hops". Then it's time to send out my baby to the first group of agents I want to target.
 
It feels good to put the things "I want to do" before other things that only pretend to be priority.
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*"About Kathleen Winsor: American author Kathleen Winsor is best known for the racy historical novel, Forever Amber, which made a huge splash when it was first published in 1944, selling 100,000 copies the first week. It was banned in 14 states for its sexual content. The ensuing debate contributed to the loosening of restrictions that allowed works by D. H. Lawrence and Henry Miller to be published in the US. Winsor wrote a number of other novels, none as successful. She was born in 1919 and died in 2003." - quoted from Today's Inspiration newsletter, Waterfront Media, Inc.

I Couldn't Resist A Few Edits

Ok, I vowed not to do any revisions while I'm doing NaNoWriMo, but I couldn't resist last night. I had to tweak, and revise, and edit the story I'm working on...and luckily I was still able to make my word count.

And while I'm sitting here, I've been debating whether I should take the story in another direction as I'm not feeling like the plot turn I added last night is the exact way to go. So I may just do some revisions today too, but I still vow to get my word count where it needs to be.

My gut feeling is it's a needed direction otherwise I'm might get myself stuck too far into a plot that I'm suddenly not happy with...and then would come writers block...and disaster for completing my goal! So a little tweaking now, could help me make it all the way.

NaNoWriMo word count: 8419

Contest Alert - The American Voice in Poetry

Time to dust off your poetry. Here's a contest with a deadline of next week.

The American Voice in Poetry: the Legacy of Whitman, Williams, and Ginsberg contest is sponsored by The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. The deadline is November 15, 2009.

And here's my word count update for NaNoWriMo: 6735.

No Reading for One Month

There's nothing like opening the covers of a new book and preparing for the journey into the world that the writer has created. So it pains my heart to go cold turkey on reading. Yep, I've quit books - for one month. In an effort to focus all my writing energy to completing NaNoWriMo this month, I've decided that I won't pick up a new book until December 1st (or until I complete the 50,000 words needed to finish NaNoWriMo). Yikes - 1 month without my favorite characters.

It's going to be tough, but I need to do it so I won't be tempted to curl up with a book instead of curling up with my laptop.

I'll let you know when I start having withdrawals.

It's Tuesday and a Big 3...

It's a big day: voting in NJ, "V" premiers on tv tonight, and it's day 3 of NaNoWriMo.

Speaking of NaNoWriMo, I'm up to 3473 words and that's before adding today's count. And now I'm headed to the keyboards for another 1667 words...here I go...because if I don't hit my mark I'm not allowed to watch "V" (and for those of you who know me, you know I'm a die-hard fan of the series from the 80's).