Sunday 28 November 2010

I Did It!

I completed my Nanowrimo challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I actually rather enjoyed it and am still continuing to write the story. Whether anyone will ever want to read it is another matter. It was good to allow myself to write whatever I fancied, rather than trying to conform to writing guidelines. I also allowed the plot to develop organically rather than planning. The starting points were a song on a Celtic CD I had in the car and a very short story I wrote two years ago.

It turned into a time slip murder mystery. I am beginning to wonder if this is my genre, as I have another half completed manuscript of a similar type but in a totally different setting.

2,000 words a day are very possible. My ironing pile suffered, hence the five hour ironing marathon yesterday. In general, however, my housework still got done, as it was useful thinking time.

I already had a good practice of being a “waiting” writer. By that I mean I write when I am waiting at the doctor’s, dentist, hairdressers, outside school, during Daniel’s piano and swimming lessons and even if a friend is getting a coffee in the cafĂ© and I am keeping the table. I think that Nano has focussed my mind and made me even more fastidious about this practice

The exercises at writing class could generally be adapted to be part of the plot of the Nano novel too. It will be interesting to see if my new word count regime continues. They say it takes 21 days of repetition to create a habit. (And yes I have written over a 1000 words today!)

I have to say that the word count could not have been achieved without the support of my family and friends. My husband was particularly helpful, showing an interest in my word count, cooking meals and even on occasion taking over my turn at reading the bedtime story to Daniel when I was in the flow.

My writing buddy, Ellie Swoop, was always there when I needed a moan or to talk through the plot. (I hope while I am writing this that she has written her last 2,000 words and achieved her Nano target too. I’m looking forward to the celebration!)

One of the best things has been the caring comments of my new friends on Facebook, many of whom were met because of the New Voices competition. You know who you are and thank you

9 comments:

  1. Well done, Morton! Yes, I believe it does get you into a good habit. And 1000-2000 words a day is doable. I've been a bit slack lately with my writing, but assignment finished, and will be forgotten for December, I'm going to concentrate on finishing my New Voices novel.

    January, I'll pick up my 7th assignment.

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  2. Well done Morton - sounds like a fabulous achievement and I hope you are rightly proud of yourself.

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  3. Well done on finishing. That's great! When I did Nanowrimo I found it very liberating to just write, without thinking of which magazine I had to please or which competition my story might suit. I didn't finish though - so big congrats to you because I know from experience how hard it can be to reach that 50k.

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  4. I am in total awe! Well done you! Am also incredibly impressed with your ironing stamina - five hours?! *Shudders*!

    Best,

    Rach.
    XX

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  5. Hi,
    Thanks for the comments. I've been really lazy for the last couple of days (apart from the ironing), but those characters are nagging me again! Nanowrimo certificate proudly displayed in my study - let the editing begin! Mx

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  6. That waiting writing is the thing that I fail to do. I spend so much of my life waiting to pick up or drop off kids. Or now that we have a driver, waiting for a kid to get home. I think that will be an early New Year's resolution: take better advantage of all of that empty time.

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  7. It certainly works for me, even if I am just writing about what I can see around me or transferring my mood to a character. My problem is finishing things off!!! Lol. Mx

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