So as most of you know NaNoWriMo has kicked off. This year is my first year participating so I have no bench mark to compare the process to.
For the month of October I researched and outlined three ideas that I have wanted to explore. Two of the projects really struck a chord with me so they got a little more research and more in depth outlining. The third idea was something my children wanted me to write. This left me in a bit of a difficult situation choosing which idea would grow into a novel during NaNo.
One of the other things I did in preparation for NaNo was prewrite all my Wednesday and Friday blog spots so that the blog would go on even when I was tied up working on my NaNo novel. One thing I ask is that my readers are patient if they comment on something and I do not comment back right away. I promise I am not ignoring you, I adore the comments but I am probably just really busy.
I also will be putting on hold all my reading for the month. No novels and limited reading of the blogs I follow. I will have a lot of catching up to do come December.
So how am I getting one with NaNo so far? Well actually quite well. I have been ahead of my minimum word count goals each day and have started writing early in the morning again which has helped. I hope I can keep that pace up but only time will tell.
In case you are wondering, I finally chose which one of the ideas to work on the morning I started NaNo. I debated flipping a coin but in the end I sat at the computer with a blank screen in front of me and told myself to think of a sentence. That first sentence related to one of the three novels and therefore was the one I decided to go with.
How about you? Are you doing the crazy NaNoWriMo thing? How is it going?
Into the Sun 
I knew since about March what I would be writing for NaNo. In fact, I was just waiting for it. So far I’m ahead, because I did some awesome writing counts yesterday, but unless I can write some more today, tomorrow will be a different story.
I HAVE to get some more writing done.
Good luck with your novel. I think of the extra words I have written now as a bank for the more difficult days ahead. I always write my novels first half fast but slow around 35k to 40k words.
Not doing the Nano, Billie Jo…but good luck with yours!! (Good way to decide which one to focus on.)
Thanks Cynthia!
I feel your pain, Billie Jo. I had my sci-fi novel all plotted out, sat down to write and realized I just wasn’t ‘feeling’ it. So I went with a back-up fantasy (possible YA?) idea I’ve been kicking around for a while, and just started going. Now I’m up to 13,000 words and have decided I made the right decision. 🙂
Best of luck to you on your own, and to you also Misha!
I’ve been doing NaNo every year since ’06 and I’ve won all the even-numbered years. This is the year I win an odd-number, this I vow!
Some folks swear by doing a little each day; I’ve always been the type that races as far ahead as I can manage in the first week because I’m going to run out of steam somewhere around the midway.
I’d love to track your progress, if you don’t mind a stranger as a writing buddy! My username is Shadlyn. 🙂 If not, I’ll still eagerly follow reports on your blog.
Oh, that reminds me. Anyone and everyone is welcome to chat/hang out/watch progress. On NaNoWriMo my username is MichaelLyons (tricky, huh?) and you can also follow my progress here: DWE – NaNoWriMo edition.
The more writing buddies the better as far as I am concerned. I will look for you. 🙂
I’m doing NaNo this year for the first time also. I thought I’d subscribed to your blog previously, but I found I’m not, so I signed up. Keep us posted on your writing progress this month.
I will try to post progress reports at least once a week. Good luck with NaNo Patti!
This is my second year with NaNo, and so far I’m just about breaking even. Getting into the swing of it takes me a little time. Good luck, Billie Jo!
Good luck to you too Selena! I did not know you were doing NaNo. That is great.
It is. I hope you have a good time with it. I managed to finish a novel last year. Needed LOADS of editing (still doing that!), but it definitely gave me a kick start!
I’ve struggled to find time this week for mine, but I’ve got about 2500 down already, most of which was done at work while I was slacking off 🙂 I anticipate a big jump in numbers over the weekend however.
Good luck to you Billie Jo!
PS: I’m kaiteesquiggle
I added you to my buddies list Kaitee. Good luck to you too. I hope to have one good writing session at the weekend myself.
I’m envious of all the preparation you did! Blog posts and THREE ideas? Way to go! Steady on, Robin
Thank Robin. Great job on your NaNo word counts already!