November is National Novel Writing Month. To celebrate, an organization called NaNoWritMo (can you see where they got that?) holds a month-long event every November for writers to write 50,000 words. Since the books I write are usually around 65,00 words, that’s almost a whole novel written in a month. Their website makes it easy to track your progress and connect with other writers who are feverishly writing along with you. That way you’re accountable for how much you get done, or how much you don’t get done. There are no prizes, just banners and bragging rights for completing 50K words in November.
I tried this once before and failed to reach the goal. I haven’t done it for a few years because I mean really…November is the worst month to do this in. There are two holidays, and Hubby and I travel a lot this month. It’s very hard for me to keep writing 2,000 words a day with all that goes on. But you know me, I’m a sucker for doing things the hard way. I signed up for this year’s event. A writer friend of mine in Idaho is encouraging me on as we both try to meet the goals.
I’m planning to unpublish my book Blessings From the Wrong Side of Town and turn it into a series. I have the second book plotted, and that’s what I’m writing during NaNoWriMo. The outline is done and I’m filling in the blanks. That should have been easy, but the characters keep taking me off in different directions. “You’ve been outlined!” I tell them. “Stay on track!” But they don’t listen and take me away from what I had planned for them. (I’m not insane; fellow writers know what I’m talking about.)
I did very well the first few days, surpassing my goal of 2K a day. I was trying to get far enough ahead that when I missed a day, it wouldn’t hurt me too bad. But the pressure to sit still while there are things to do and places to go is bothering me. We plan to go see my folks, Daughter, Son-In-Law, a football game, and other sights. I have a laptop so I can write as we drive, but it’s hard to get into the “writing zone” in a moving vehicle. If it weren’t for NaNoWriMo, I wouldn’t have to worry about it, but I feel pressured to meet the goal.
I wish they’d made January the novel writing month. I don’t have much planned then and the holidays are over. It’s much more relaxed, and free time comes more often. But no one ever listens to me (they didn’t even ask me), and it remains in November.
If you see me and I seem irritable, you can bet I didn’t meet my quota for the day. Please pardon me. I’ll be better in December when the pressure is off.