I’m behind but Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude

I woke up early and pounded out enough words this morning to get me to 27,500. I know, I know, on day 27 of Nanowrimo one should be considerably farther along if one expects to win. Well, I’m not by nature an ultra competetive person, but I am a person who aims to do very well. I compete with myself and treat myself miserably when I lose. How’s that for a conundrum? Sometimes I think for my anxious psyche there isn’t any such thing as winning.

The most important thing to me about this years nano is that I’m fully engaged in the story I’m writing. It keeps me up at night, tortures my sleep, and fills me with dread and urgency as I approach the climactic scene.

I’m taking time out today to say thanks — thanks to Kathy, my family, friends, to readers and writers. Without the lot of you the world would hardly be bearable. A good book, good food, and a day with loved ones is the essence of nirvana. I hope everyone has a day filled with good words today. (And if you’re a nano-er like me, that you are blessed with thousands of them.) : )

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nano hell

Are you writing a novel? Are you enjoying the process? I’m at 9,700 words and behind schedule, but intrigued and scared by the words that I write. Nano certainly brings out the dark underbelly of story telling for me. If under normal circumstances I could be accused of letting my characters off easy, one would have to withdraw the charge with my nano novels.

I’m not sure if it is the stream of conscious writing, or the disquiet of attempting to write a novel of 30 days, but there’s something about Nano that leads me to take my sweet, innocent and nice main characters and force them to face the bleakest and most terrifying faces of humanity.

I’m not even sure if, without nano, I’d have the courage to write the things I’m writing now. My non-nano novel is much nicer, and less successful.

Anyway, I hope all you nano writers out there are having fun, or at the very least, are getting lots of support for the writing you are doing. If you are already in the middle of the dark forest, remember that you will most certainly find your way out in the next 20 days. You will not be lost there forever.

It’s Nano Time

Over 100,000 writers have officially started their November novels. I’ve written 1800 words and already I’ve been through an emotional ringer. My character is recovering from the trauma of being kidnapped and held hostage for 8 days…her coping mechanism is to wear a blindfold and to visualize the world as good and beautiful.

As I’ve talked about earlier, this idea came to me after I was diagnosed with Juvenile Macular Degeneration. Normally, I’m a writer who relies heavily on the appearance of things. This nanowrimo will be a great challenge and excellent practice for me. It would be virtually impossible for me to write this novel without focusing on the taste, smell and texture of things. I’m now acutely aware of every reference to the way something looks.

Are you participating in Nanowrimo? It’s early yet, but are you learning anything new about yourself as a writer? Do you like the story you are telling?