I WROTE A NOVEL!!
50,000 words seemed like Mt. Everest a couple of weeks ago. I posted my word count on Facebook every day, and (more importantly) I wrote every single day. Some days were better than others, but each day got me closer to the goal.
Credit must certainly go to the folks over at NaNoWriMo. The idea is to write 50,000 words in the thirty days of November. There's no cash prize, no publication deal, no special accolades. Their method helps writers to set a deadline and meet it. They send out motivational e-mails. They help you track your progress. So many of us are lousy with deadlines--my life is filled with half-completed projects--so having this kind of support was critical in getting this far.
Credit must certainly go to the folks over at NaNoWriMo. The idea is to write 50,000 words in the thirty days of November. There's no cash prize, no publication deal, no special accolades. Their method helps writers to set a deadline and meet it. They send out motivational e-mails. They help you track your progress. So many of us are lousy with deadlines--my life is filled with half-completed projects--so having this kind of support was critical in getting this far.
It's by no means complete; it's a first draft. There's a lot more to be written, there are things to be fixed, and I'm sure that others' comments after reading the manuscript will help me to develop it further. My next step, however, thanks to the advice found in On Writing by Stephen King, is to put the manuscript aside for a few weeks, let my writing batteries recharge, and then continue to develop it into a book I can shop around for publication. I hope to be at that point by June.
In the meantime, I can go back to blogging. Sorry I was gone so long.
In the meantime, I can go back to blogging. Sorry I was gone so long.
