Day 30: I Won, Now For the Real Work

With a half hour to spare, I came in at 50,268.

So, another win for NaNo--3 for 3.

Even if I had stuck with the original problem premise, I'd still be nowhere near done story-wise. I'm somewhere in the muddly middle.

Not too sure what will become of all those words I wrote before I had my run in with the wall. Some may be salvageable; possibly even whole scenes with a little tweaking. But for the most part, I'm just accepting that I'm starting from scratch. Already have the first couple scenes sketched out for draft #2. For now going to take take a day off and recover. Will get back to the beast on Sunday at the last write-out.

And before I say goodnight, I'd just like to congratulate myself on actually sticking with blogging this little adventure all month. God, I can't believe it's been a month. Even if I didn't keep up with my daily word count as promised, I at least kept this up. Definitely a sign of screwed up priorities, but whatever, I'm done and it's over.

I promise to check back in occasionally and with hopefully more entertaining ramblings.

Night.

Day 29: 25-Hours To Go

Still have 6,912 words to go. And just under 25-hours to do them in.

Should be fine. I've had 7,000+ word days this month. I'm surprisingly calm...probably not a good sign...probably just a sign of denial.

Luckily, I have most of tomorrow free. So, the plan is to hole up in a coffee shop somewhere till I finish. Not staying home to write. I know I'll get nothing done here!

On a (professionally) productive note: went to a panel discussion on freelancing. I know I need to get going on freelancing. Definitely was a good kick in the butt. I have an idea for a piece that I want to try and submit before Christmas. Will start working on it after this weekend. Will definitely need to relax after tomorrow.

And on a happy note: rumors of a Radiohead tour next year. Really want to see them live.

Off to write...or probably bed so I can get up early to write tomorrow.

Day 28

I think I've got it. I think I've got the opening I've been trying to write. It just feels right. It feels different than all the others I've struggled with. I think I know where I'm going and how I need to structure this. Fingers crossed.

11:49 PM: 1,361 for the day. Only 6,912 to go by Friday.

Day 27

It's just been a long day. I've played therapist to a few too many people today. Ended up needing to take an hour drive just to clear my head and get away from everyone. Could have gone longer, but had to come home sometime.

One positive, I think the drive helped me get some clarity on how I need to restart with Chapter 1. I have some new opening lines and I think I like the direction they would take me. I think I've made it all more complicated than it needs to be. I need to go back to the original story I had before I started taking other people's opinions and ideas into consideration. Some suggestions were helpful; but I think the ones that got into the core of the plot and who the characters are got me into trouble.

I'm just emotionally drained. Add to it that I got up earlier that usual to deal with the smog check and car registration, and I'm kind of sort of dead.

So, alas, no words today. So, I have three days to hit 50K. Have a little more than 8,000 to go. I know I can do it, and I will. Just haven't been into it since the write-in.

Not stressing; just trying to let everything go today.

Day 26

Nothing today. Have to take my car in for a smog check tomorrow, so figure while I'm waiting, I can take my laptop with me and get some writing in. At least that's the plan.

Day 25

3048 words today. Went to another write-in this morning. Productive again. Am slightly ahead for the day.

Decided to just pick up where I left off while incorporating the changes. Not sure if anything that comes between now and the end of NaNo will be of any use; but I don't want to lose. Once I hit 50K I'll go back and start rewriting what I got out of NaNo and move forward again from there. Probably going to have to push back my end of year deadline for my first draft; but at least I have some momentum now and a better idea of where I want this to go.

Didn't hit 45K as planned today. Could still get there tonight if I focused, but really not feeling it right this minute. Maybe later. But thinking of reading instead.

Day 24

Still pondering and wandering.

Some ideas. Some notes. No words. Not worrying.

Finished reading "Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking." Not bad, but serious holes.

Dinner at The Palm and Clippers game. They lost. I think they also lost the last time I went. Oh well. Good distraction.