. . . if I use NaNo’s validator, 50,298 words.
Phew! I’m done. It’s 11:46 p.m.
I’m bone tired. But happy.
Tomorrow, or maybe the day after, this will have sunk in.
For now, I just want to say thanks to everyone who encouraged me through this crazy adventure.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It’s been an incredibly busy last week of NaNoWriMO. But the end is in sight.
I posted 46,690 words tonight. Tomorrow I will be finished. I’m thinking I’m going to surpass the 50,000 word mark by just a little bit.
The ending of my book has been harder to write than I thought. The beginning and middle were easy by comparison. But, I like the way it’s turning out.
What I’m also liking is that my normal life is just there on the horizon, and after midnight tomorrow night it will be within my grasp.
There is much decorating to be done, and the possible painting of a bedroom. As well as baking, as in Christmas baking.
Then, too, there is Christmas shopping to ponder. Usually, I am all done, but for a few small things by this time. This year, with all the upheaval and uncertainty that has been part of my existence for the last few months, I didn’t do any shopping. So, over the next few weeks I’ll have to dig deep and get out there and brave the — dunh-dunh-dunh — malls. I hate the malls during busy holiday times.
Enough whining! I must go to bed. My eyeballs feel like little balls of sand.
Here’s to 5oK! and freedom!
Well, there are only 9 days left in which to complete my novel. I am at 32,317 words. I’m hoping I’m going to make it.
If I sit down each night and pump out at least 2000 words I’ll do it. But, I’m wondering if I’ll be able to tie it all together in a mere 18,000 words.
And, I can’t believe I’m saying that.
Twenty-one days ago I didn’t think I had it in me to write this much, to keep a story going for this long. But, miracle of miracles, I have.
I won’t pretend that it’s all good — because I’m sure as hell it isn’t. But, I’ve managed to allow my characters to develop lives of their own, and I’m still not quite sure how they want those lives to finish. (They’re not going to die, they just need to tie up all the loose ends and let me get back to my regular life.)
And here’s the funny thing. Having done this challenge and proven to myself (oops, I’m being a little presumptuous, here) that I can write a novel, I don’t think I can go back to my ‘regular’ life. At least, I hope not.
I find that though I am looking forward to the end of NaNoWriMo — it is hard to sustain this pace, and I haven’t always been able to drag myself to the keyboard (I missed 2 days) — I am looking forward to ‘what comes next’.
If I can do this, I tell myself constantly, then I can find time every day to work on the many projects I’ve got tucked in drawers and file folders. I can pull out my notebooks and pluck one of the many ideas from off the pages and turn them into something.
And who knows? Maybe I’ll even see some of it published.
That’s what this challenge has done for me. I’m so glad I decided to take the plunge.
It’s been a tough week as far as writing time goes. There has just been so much else going on, none of which I will bore anyone with.
Suffice it to say I can’t wait for the weekend.
I am hoping to get to 34,000 words by Sunday night. Then, there will only be 10 days left in this challenge and the big push will be to finish the book realistically. At the moment I’m contemplating writing complete gibberish just to say I managed to write 50,000 words, but my conscience won’t let me. Damn thing.
It’s tougher now than I thought it would be. Trying to weave that cohesive thread throughout a story that’s coming directly off the top of my thin skull is more than just a little challenge.
Anyway, I’m tired, so I’m going to bed.
Thanks to all those who have wished me well. I appreciate it immensely.
Well, it’s half over. I can’t believe how fast the time is going.
I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying this.
But, a bit of a setback. I’m only at 22,999 words when I should be at 25005.
I tried tonight to get there, but unfortunately I had other commitments (damn, double damn!).
I’ll just have to write like a fiend for the next few days and try to make up for lost words.
Personally, I’m liking my story. But (another but) I’m beginning to find it a little tougher to manage my story line. Because I’m writing off the top of my head I sometimes forget little details like what’s that guy’s middle name again, and how many kids did I give that person?
It’s all good though, I can go back after the month is up and straighten up all those details. I hope.
My big concern right now is: Will I be able to finish this book in 50000 words?
Hmm….
Twenty one thousand, two hundred forty words! Holy crap I can’t believe I’ve written that much!
I’m a few hundred words behind where I ought to be, but I’m still feeling awesomely good about this.
Yesterday and today were not very productive as far as writing goes. In fact, I deliberately took yesterday off to get out of the house for a while. Much needed, let me tell you.
I bought a miniature pre-lit tree to put all of Tim’s Star Trek and Star Wars ornaments on. I’ve been wanting to do that for a few years, so, now I have no reason not to create a special ‘space’ tree. Think it will be fun.
Today, my son and his children came for supper. I had to do some housecleaning before they got here because this writing thing, well, it takes up a lot of time, especially when you’re not used to writing a novel.
Speaking of novel writing I got to listen to an interview of Stephen King on CBC on Thursday. It was fantastic. I hope, someday, to be able to see, or even better, meet him. Can’t wait to get his newest book: 11/22/63. Sounds like a brute of a novel — 850 some odd pages — but that’s what I like about King, he can write these giant books, that when they’re done you’re still left wishing it hadn’t ended.
But back to my son and grandchildren’s visit — I baked cookies and we had a pork picnic roast with sauerkraut and potatoes, and carrots, cauliflower and snap peas. Hailey didn’t care for the sauerkraut, but Timothy actually liked it. Ethan, well, he ate the meat with applesauce, but being two he has a mind of his own, and it wasn’t on eating supper tonight. It was a nice visit. Tim and Landon watched parts of the football game and then the hockey game. The kids and I did puzzles, coloured and generally had a wonderful time.
I’ve had four glorious days off work, and tomorrow it’s back into the trenches. It was lovely while it lasted.
Have a good week everyone.
I saw something very sad tonight — a young man was walking with what I can only assume was his daughter — she looked to be about 3 or 4 years old. What was sad was that he was paying absolutely no attention to the little girl, because he was texting on his phone.
What does this say about our younger generation of parents and the generations coming up behind them?
I see this all the time — mothers with their young children in malls or parks or walking down the street; fathers pushing strollers or grocery carts or sitting in restaurants — their kids neglected while they either talk on their phones or text on the things.
In Alberta we have enacted a distracted driving law to keep people from using their mobile hand-held devices while driving.
How about a distracted parenting law? So that kids can grow up feeling and knowing that they’re more important than the ping or notice on Mom or Dad’s phone, i-pod, or Blackberry.
Florence +the Machine; this generation’s Kate Bush.
Both of these artists — Florence Welch and Kate Bush — are true artists. Their lyrics and musicality transcends into theatre and myth.
I was obsessed with Kate Bush over 30 years ago; now along comes this amazing talent and I find myself becoming obsessed again.
It’s a wonderful feeling.
Here it is:
When you shave your legs who do you do it for? Yourself, or your husband/boyfriend/partner?
Just thought I’d share these final photos of my garden. I didn’t spend a lot of time in my garden this year — too much rain, not enough time, away for a good portion of the summer, many excuses, none of them particularly good, but she still rewarded me with some beautiful blooms and scenery.
These pictures were taken last week — before the really heavy frosts started hitting us.
All That Matters 