First Major NaNo Setback
Well, I’m glad I worked hard the first several days. I missed three days due to a cold and and I’m behind. Now I’ve lost my lead and I’m going to have to go at a pace of 1766 words per day just to finish on time.
On the other hand, I have 100 pages of final draft novel done. I’ve renamed it and everything. Which, honestly, is my priority this month. All I want for Christmas is a shiny package to send to agents.
Well. And an agent. And a publisher.
And a pony.
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer, writing for magazines and RPGs. I am a wanna-be fiction writer with several short fiction, comic scripts, and one novel sale. Playing For Keeps will be out August, '08.
JRMurdock | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
A PONY! Weeeeee….
But seriously, this is week 2 of NaNoWriMo. I’m also slightly off track due to unforeseen circumstances, but I’ve also got 1 dead character I need to account for and three really strong characters and a forth that’ll be brought in to explain the dead body and a reptillian snout found next to the body…well, half body.
What does that mean? I do believe that I’m due for at least one or two surges this week. Surges? Yes, days where I’ll pump out at least 5K. My goal for the second week of NaNoWriMo is to be at 30K. If I hit two of three surges, I’ll be there. 5K is only 2 chapters and I can do one chapter in a sitting.
The beauty of that? You can too. You Mur, can wrote like a manman (or woman). Your word count has pushed me to keep up. I’ve been trying to get ahead of you the entire time and haven’t done it yet. Please don’t slow down now. 2K per day. You CAN do it! You’ve been doing it. I’m sure if you tried, you could get to 3K per day and get ahead of schedule in no time at all.
I’m on your tail! I’ll catch up to you if you don’t get a move on.
newsjunkie | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
One finished novel and several rejection slips later, i too earn my living from writing for newspapers, magazines and taking photos. J K Rowling apparently had 12 rejection slips. I’m up to 6 for my novel. What about you? Should we stop at 12 or what? I’m not sure. No silly, twelve hundred i meant! Anyway must get back to work -
PaulJ | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
“Well. And an agent. And a publisher.
And a pony.”
Don’t forget the Mini Cooper….
Mur Lafferty | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
Paul- my four-year old spilled hot chocolate in my Toyota this morning. I’m quite willing to wait a couple more years for the Mini.
revmerrill | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
I have other projects and NaNoWriMo just won’t happen this year. The 1500-word short story will. Personally, if I had a place for a pony, I’d go for that and figure riding would spark more creative thoughts and writing. Well, I should be writing on my projects.
Anonymous | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
Ponies for everyone, yeah Ponies!
Eveline | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
I missed 2 days, and it’s a struggle to get back on track, but… I’m sure I’ll manage. I just love Nanowrimo!
Good luck Mur!
JRMurdock | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
I’ve got an 8 year-old, Mur, trust me, it doesn’t get better with age.
Two words (or is it one?) Scotch Guard.
dunhamrc | Nov 9, 2006 | Reply
I have definitely hit the second week wall. I basically skipped a couple non-consecutive days cause I was dead tired after work and errands, and my daily count has also gone down. Guitar Hero II coming out yesterday has not helped. (Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’! Woo!)
As I struggle to put enthusiasm into it the quality of what I write has gone down, which creates a negative feedback loop. I just spent 500 words on a guy re-arranging the family jewels in his pants. My shame is deep, burning, and abiding.
But I am trying to ‘accept the horror’ - as you nanomonkeys put it so well. This draft is going to be craptacular, might as well embrace it.
It felt so good to finally overtake you - don’t rob me of that victory by giving up!
Really, thanks for the inspiration.
Scott Roche | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I had a surge last night after a weekend that had little productivity ang a sub one thousand word Wednesday. I’m back on track and a hair ahead at 18946. You can do eet!!!
P.G. Holyfield | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
Can’t help you with the agent and the publisher… maybe the pony?
Great job with the editing! I don’t know how you got so much done with everything else you’re doing.
Lisa, Paper Chaser | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
Go NanoWriters! Go!! And I hope you get your Christmas wish, Mur.
Koda | Nov 29, 2006 | Reply
Okay, I know what a “nanowriter” is, in real, down-to-Earth” terms, but what is nanowriter in the context you’re using?
I’ve spent many years writing, editing, and designing at newspapers and magazines. I have two books in the works. The problem with them is that I have them in mind, I have a lot of thoughts for them in place, but I’ve not committed to writing them in my heart. There is the difference.
All that said, the funny part of it all, well, the sick and ironic part, I suppose, is that I write well over 6,000 words EACH day about the very subjects of the books — both of which are non-fiction — yet I don’t put the words together, in a single file. I generally write emails to individuals, challenging them to do this, try that, or check out something else in life.
Now, if I put all the words together that I’ve sent off in email in the past 30 days, I would have more than enough for two books, I am sure, with very little overlapping content. That’s a scary thought, huh?
As far as my online name, you know what they say: Online you could be a dog and no one would know.