I'm a ....WINNER

Yes, I have just completed over 50,000 words on my written piece of work (which maybe considered an unfinished and untitled novel) and can now be considered a WINNER.  Apparently only 19% of people who sign up actaully validate their 50,000 words. So I am very pleased that I am one of them.

I have a badge and everything to prove it!

Doesn't that look great?  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  Relieved that I made it given only about 19% of people who sign up actually achieve the 50,000.  Relieved that it is all my writing, I did not succumb to writing all the contractions (such as I've) out to the full words.  Apparently that can give you a lot of words. Nor did I write everyone's name out in full which was another suggestion I found when I was panicking about not making the 50,000 words.

So what have I learned over the last 30 days and nights?  I can write more (but probably not better) when under pressure. The goal was to write 1,667 words per day but at the end of Day 26 I was averaging 1,365 words per day which meant I was behind by almost 7900 words.

I'm not sure what I have written is fit for anybody except me to read. But I also know that is is not complete garbage. I know that I managed to write every single day. I feel great about that.  I'm also very impressed I finished with about 90 minutes to spare.

How did all the other people attempting NaNoWriMo go?

Expecting a bang but getting a whimper

November was going to be a big month here in our house. We have Girl Child's dance concert - had been Boy Childs too, until things got very messy about 8 weeks ago. Three shows held over two days, with a dress rehearsal and a stage rehearsal leading up to them. Then there was my long awaited MRI and finally the appointment that Boy Child had which got bumped from February to November after Dr Jesse rang and asked the specialist to actually read the referral.Then I signed up for NaNoWriMo. So November was panning out to be huge.Surprisingly, though if you don't count the bedtime head lice discovery and removal earlier this week, it's all be quite calm. A bit of an anticlimax, really. Of course we still have the dance concerts to do but even trial make up this year went much more smoothly than previously.I have written over 32,000 words on a something that could either be loosely termed a novel or 'word vomit'. I got my MRI and have a CD to prove that I have a brain. Unfortunately for me the slight brain bleed I was hoping for did not eventuate. Although, Dr Jesse did say my idea of just going in and whacking a clip on a tiny bleeding vessel or whatever was a bit too simplistic. I still have to see the Neurologist again just before Christmas but really part from having a brain there were no big flashing lights showing. Dammit!Boy Child had his appointment which went so exceeding well that he doesn't need medication or to see the specialist again. For which I am very grateful. And it was very nice to actually be able to be with Boy Child while he talked to someone about this stuff. Things were actually explained clearly. $400 or so for peace of mind was totally worth it.So the big things that I expected to end with a bang? Well, they really just wandered past with a whimper. Let's hope dance and NaNo do too. Write 3,000 words a day for the next six days, I can do that!Just let me have a nap first, okay?

NaNo-ing 2011

So it's the fourteenth day of November.  It's almost half way done and my NaNoWriMo is still progressing but oh so slowly.  I have currently written 16157 words is is slightly less that the 23,338 that I should be up to right now. On the plus side I am consistently writing at least 1,000 words every day.  Which has been great.

At the rate I'm writing my 50,000 words will be completed on or around 13 December 2011.  Which is great because at least I'll be finished in this calendar year.  To be a winner in NaNo terms I need to have 50,000 words written and validated on or before 30 November 2011. 

Apparently in Mr E.'s eyes to be a winner I just have to keep going.  Isn't that nice?  Everybody say Awww.  Thanks for the support and confidence, babe. Mwah!

This post is brought to you by NaNoWriMo: the leading cause of me second guessing myself and the cause of infinite amounts of whining about my lack of plot, characterisation and ideas since 1 November 2011!

Grumble Sunday 6 Nov 2011

Today I'm joining up with Madam Bipolar for Grumble Sunday.

Now I actually just feel a bit blurgh today so I thought this might cover it.

Today I'm grumbling about a few things so in no particular order they are:

Signing up for up for NaNoWriMo with no ideas. I had no characters and no plot just had a very general theme. I have become a compulsive word count checker and am behind my target of writing 1667 words per day. Apparently my average is about 1052 words per day which means I need to get a move on.

I forgot the date of a very important and long awaited appointment. It was in my calendar onto correct date but for some reason I thought it was the following week. Luckily they rang to confirm.

Health issues for family members - some major, some minor.

People who never answer their phones and when you do leave the number you have called from they don't bother to return those calls either.

Other people who are too busy being selfish to see what effect it has on the people around them.

Girl Child wanting to wear makeup for the pretend concerts she performs every day.

The grass that won't stop growing and me being too tired or busy or lazy to actually get it mown. Actually it's all three depending on the day.

Now I have unburdened myself I feel a bit better now. Do you have anything you want to grumble about today?

NaNoWriMo I signed up

Of course I have no plot, no characters, no ideas at all really. Well, there is this idea for a series romance book (think Mills and Boon) I thought about writing years ago but I think it's extremely a bit stupid now.

Sarah suggested I go back and check out my W.O.W stuff and I think that's the best way to go. But if anyone wants to donate an idea, a character or perhaps even a plot line just in box me. Does 'in box me' sound as dumb as I think?

What does this mean for you? Apart from picking your brain, I may be a little quite on the blogging front. After all, I have now have a deadline of 30 November to write 50,000 words. That's only 1,666 or so words a day. I can do that.

Image Credit

At least in Australia, I don't have to worry about Thanksgiving. Plus I don't even start to think about Christmas until December. I know most people don't actually finish and hardly anyone actually gets a published novel out of this, but I'm really only doing this to see that I can. I'm very undisciplined. I'm just wondering what things around the house are going to suddenly need to be done instead of writing every day.

Pass the paracetamol. If I think my head hurts now, then is going to really be pounding once the reality actually sinks in.