Friday, November 28, 2008

I won!

Every year for the past decade, the indefatigable Chris Baty holds NaNoWriMo: National Write A Novel Month. With pep talks which manage to be actually inspirational and not cheesy and with various deadlines, Baty and his crew get a wide variety of people to actually write a novel in one month (a novel, for purposes of NaNoWriMo, being defined as 50,000+ words of new text written all in the month of November, which is about 150 pages).

I myself had a long abandoned half-written novel and a sense of guilt. I felt like I would never write fiction again. At the last minute, I signed up for NaNoWriMo, skeptical of whether I'd be able to do it, but starting from word one. Around 20,000 words, I came up dry, unable to think of anything else. But I got back into it, kept going, and ended winning NaNoWriMo with a couple of days to spare.

My novel isn't actually done. It needs another 75-150 pages. But it's moving along, it's plowing along. It has a plot, and there is an ending in mind; there will just need to be a lot more writing done before the ending is put in place. (You can read a short excerpt over at NaNoWriMo). I've never felt so creative in all my life. I've been sculpting in my twice-a-week classes as well as writing, and I love my little sculptures. I feel positively glowing with radioactive mutant writer strength. How I love NaNoWriMo. Now if I can just finish this book on my own, without those delightful peptalks and helpful deadlines.

14 comments:

hughman said...

congrats!!! this is pretty awesome!

Anonymous said...

I love it so far. Where and when can I buy it?

Anonymous said...

its great!
one question.. what does "subliminate" mean? i cant find the definition anywhere. the closest thing i could find was "sublimate"

the Drunken Housewife said...

Shoulda been "sublimate"; I just fixed it. I need a copy editor.

Missy said...

Good for you! I look forward to reading it!

:-) Missy

hughman said...

ps. i hope to think i inspired the name "hugh"! it would be my second book reference!

the Drunken Housewife said...

What's funny is that I wasn't consciously thinking of you, Hugh, but I think it was a subconscious decision. When I did think of where I'd gotten it from (a cross betw. Hugh Grant and Hughman in my subconscious), I left it in.

kaila said...

That, is why I keep coming back. Congratulations! If I can ever finish The Gone-Away World, I look forward to reading the finished product.

Carol Ann said...

I like it so far!

Anonymous said...

Ah, Carole, how you keep me looking up to you! It's great that you are getting the recognition you deserve, and won't it be fun to identify yourself at school meetings and social gatherings as a novelist. See if the bloody judgmental posh hags will be able to walk away in search of corporate conversation now! Fun read, and I look forward to reading the rest!

Seriously said...

Congratulations! And with two short people at home. I am impressed. Are you going to finish it? Submit it? If you need a copy editor, let me know. :D

I topped out at 29,000 and am so disappointed. Ah well.

Hope said...

Congratulations! I finished a book, too, thanks to their wonderful pep talks and some butt glue.

Anonymous said...

wow congratulations!

autiej said...

If you need a copy editor (or if anyone here does), please let me know. I'm very experienced in writing and copy editing and am always on the lookout for the next great read - and I always only charge $1 a page or $1/300 words. Congrats on your book, by the way! autiej@gmail.com