This is my final NaNoWriMo 2009 post. I stopped at 20,033 words and happily so. I thought I would manage 50,000 in a month, but although I didn’t “win” officially, I still feel I have won. I have 20,000 words on my novel, a decent idea that excites me and a goal for finishing it in 2010. I can share that my novel’s working title is “Mandala” and it is a parapsychological thriller…more to come in 2010!
Here’s the video and the text is below.
- I am learning all the time and I love it! Writing is a life’s work which makes it so amazing. NaNoWriMo taught me so much and I have such a long way to go. Isn’t that wonderful! (and it gives me lots more to share with you as I learn)
- I am an outliner. You may have guessed this by my writing style (bullet points, short posts on specific subjects) but I didn’t know it until this month. I need an outline to follow and then the writing is much easier. I couldn’t hack jumping around so much and the story was not complete in my head so I didn’t know what to write. Once I plot it out, it comes much more easily. Plus, this is how I wrote my non-fiction books so why not the same way for fiction? This post from Scott Westerfeld on Pace Charts also convinced me this is ok.
- I like to model success. When I started blogging, I learned from the top bloggers including Yaro Starak and Problogger Darren Rowse. I paid for the courses and the books, learnt and then put into practice what I learned. I model headlines and if I find ideas that are great, I steal them (in the Picasso sense – see this post before you harangue me!) So I want to model success for my novel as well. I am going to study some top thrillers, work out how they are paced and written and then model on them. Expect some posts on that!
- I have a plan for 2010 to finish this novel. I am already planning my time for 2010 and the novel is the big project in terms of writing. This blog, the podcast, twitter and speaking all remain but this is my main writing project. I have been looking at some short courses where you actually work with an editor on your manuscript as opposed to a degree style course where you learn literary device. We shall see how that ends up. [ I have now signed up for Year of the Novel with the Queensland Writers Centre - fantastic!]
Great posts from others during NaNoWriMo:
- Doyce Testerman had some amazingly funny as well as inspirational post – check out his full list here.
- Debbie Ridpath Ohi on the InkyElbows blog has posted NaNoWriMo inspired cartoons every day – check them out here
- I also enjoyed the series of tips from Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier, both Australian writers
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What you say is so important. You sound like a winner @ 20K words. Some who didn’t reach the 5oK may feel they have failed to reach their target. Some may miss the opportunity to pat themselves on the back.
You offer leadership. You appreciate your own effort. You are ready – in the right frame of mind – to move forward and develop the project into something even more wonderful.
You’ve learnt from the experience of writing in November. All the positive messages you offer yourself and share with us help foster a community of support for you.
I too came up short of the 50,000 words. I don’t even know how many words I wrote in my Moleskine Notebook. 178 pages of handwriting. An epic poem I have finished. I’m now publishing it in draft on my blog – in 33 Cantos (yes, same as good old Dante). Now that I have your self-praise, I’m strengthened on my resolve to appreciate my effort.
I’ve lost track of the days until you go for a holiday, but you’ve left your influence behind you.
Thanks for the lovely comment Paul. I’m so glad that I can help you and others by sharing the journey. 178 pages in a Moleskine of epic poetry sounds fantastic! (I use Moleskines too!) Poetry seems to be taking off very well in the print-on-demand area as well.
Thanks, Joanna