NaNoWriMo Progress - Half Way: National Novel Writing Month is a Learning Experience

Posted by Jennifer Jensen Dec 1, 2008

(Written 11/17/08, edited and posted 12/1/08.)

I knew NaNoWriMo would be difficult, but . . . wow!

Halfway through November, I’m at 31,028 words. I have to be – I lose the whole last week of November with guests coming. That required a jump from the usual 1,667 words a day up to nearly 3,000, which was far more than I ever thought I’d have to do.

I’ve also discovered I write in short scenes. My articles here are 400-600 words, and since children’s lit often runs to shorter scenes anyway, that has become a comfort zone. Unfortunately, that means my 3K goal takes several gut-wrenching sessions throughout the day.

It’s been more difficult without a defined plot. I found that I need time to think, to roll ideas around in my head. And I wanted to come out with something that was at least headed toward a publishable novel, instead of off-the-wall scenes written just for the sake of wordcount.

My smoothest time writing is when I’m in a character’s head. I can ramble on in someone’s thoughts, and I discover more about them as I do. But after Week One, I realized I have talking heads with not much happening . . . b-o-r-i-n-g! My thinking time in the shower sometimes gives me another idea or two, and then I’m out of steam again. I take Sundays off, and they’ve turned out to be good subconscious time, so by Monday I have several more plot directions to follow. Still don’t know if I’ll like where it’s going.

The only reason I’ve made it this far is an online “meeting time” with friends in the States, where we report in, encourage, and crack the whip. Thank goodness for writing buddies!

Eight days left - wish me luck!