Ok- I admit it.  I can never remember the name for the writing challenge this month.  I have a good memory for some things, a lousy memory for others. But the point is:

Who’s working on their novel this month?

You all know I want to finish my novel.  You should also know, that after taking a writing class, I scrapped my initial intent to write the novel in 3rd person and switched to 1st person.  This requires a lot more than changing a few words.  This requires changing everything.

The upside:  I am so much happier with the way my character is developing.  I’ve brought a relatability and an intimacy that the character was lacking, and I felt I needed.  In third person, my character seemed cold and sterile.  In first, she is almost charming.  I know!!  I’m writing a charming character!  I didn’t think it could be done, but it just might!!  I’m also doing that talk to the screen type of technique.  I sort of have the narrator talk to the reader of the book, so they’re in on the secret.  Spoiler alert:  my book contains a secret.

I’m still having issues with giving details.  I realize that details are essential to a novel- they paint the mind picture for the reader.  I just don’t know how much to dole out at a time.  I don’t know when I’m being top heavy with adjectives, so I tend to minimalize.  Yes, I know- bad idea.  I know what’s in my mind- readers don’t.  Now- there are often times I think that no one in their right mind should be in my head, but that’s a whole other story.

I’m liking my character.  She has many of my good traits- think tea and organization.  But her bad habits are WAY different than mine.  She is much funnier than I am.  It’s amazing to me that I, the least funny person in real life, can write characters that are funny.

But anyway…..

Oh- my teacher suggested that I don’t use …… or -.  Now, if you’ve read me for awhile, you know that I can’t write without these devices.  So, the hardest part of my novel writing experience may be not using ….. or -.  Seriously- I tried writing yesterday and these things just magically appear on the page.  I will need to attend ellipses anonymous.

But the good news.  I scratched out 1700 words yesterday (on my novel, excluding my blog ).  yay me.

Alas- writing month should really be in February, when I am hunkered down hibernating.  November in New York is glorious, and I plan a lot of outings.  Think of it as a squirrel storing nuts for the winter- I store memories to get me through the arctic NYC winters where I need to walk everywhere, every day.  I need memories of ballets and concerts to motivate me out the door.

So today will be a Good Luck to all of you writing 50,000 words this month.  It’s a big task, but I know each and every one of you is up to the challenge.  I look forward to reading every novel once it’s published!!!  And there are a few of you I will be requesting signed copies from.  Jay- that’s a hint…….

What to expect from me?  Probably a daily word count.  I’m sure I will tell you when I’m at a crossroads.  I will not be blogging on the weekends.  I have a great deal of trouble writing Saturday and Sunday when my family is around (they really are annoying) and I will be spending my alone time working on my 1700 or so words.

Here goes nothing!!!

 

50 thoughts on “The Write Month”

  2. I’m in with you! I’m writing more a series of non-fiction essays that could become a novel. Or blog posts. I’ve been threatening my family for years to get all the hilarity that passes for family gatherings and make them into a book. Everyone is afraid, lol. I’ll e looking forward to reading your funny character.

    Btw, I can introduce you to a woman that I edit and the two of you can form that Ellipses Anonymous group. I have at least gotten her (over the last 4 years of writing) to use no more than 3 dots for ellipsis. And I ration how many ellipses she can have on a page. I’m much better at teaching and correcting writing than actually writing.

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  5. Congrats on yesterday’s word count and good luck on NaNoWriMo! I am trying to decide if I am going to participate this year, I have as a Rebel for the past two years but I really should get past that and write a book. I wonder if re-writing a previously written chap book into a novel would count? Anyway, my speed and daily word count has improved since being a part of the challenge (and others) for the past two years. I look forward to your progress and will be your cheerleader if you keep going!

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  6. Ah NaNoWriMo! Stands for NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth. I’ve known about it for a while but never participated. Several of my friends do it. However, this year I decided to join not by way of challenging myself on my word count, but to see just how much I write on my blog daily, since I’m still in the midst of my 365 day challenge. There’s a website set up by the organisation for NaNoWriMo where you can register for an account and keep track of your daily word count and connect to friends and other people doing the same thing. So I’m trying that, with my blog name as my user name. Good luck!

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      1. Yeah, I only discovered the official site today. It’s basically like a voluntary peer pressure group. Like weight watchers for writers, only instead of trying to have lower numbers you want higher ones! 😀

        You can find me there under The Feathered Rose. I suspect if you put your user name on your blog, anyone who is following you and is also has a NaNoWriMo account will help keep you honest! ❤ Of course, I'm starting this just as I'm feeling at my lowest in terms of inspiration and motivation. I have ideas for posts but no energy or time (or inclination to find either) to write them up.

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  11. I wish you the best of luck with all the writing. I’ve never really thought I was capable of writing a novel so I’ve never tried to complete this month. I hope that you make great progress with your novel… :).

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  12. Well, it’s more than obvious that you have a flare for fiction if you can write “arctic NYC winters..” That’s a warmed over east coast conceit. The coldest mid- January Manhattan morning is a spring day here in a Windy City minus 30 below. That said, here’s to you riding that daily word count hot streak through out noveling in November.

    Good Luck.

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  15. What a great challenge you’ve taken on- my stress levels would explode this month- I wish it was in January here in Australia, when all I want to do is stay inside with the aircon and avoid the 40 degree day… Good luck!! What a ride it’s going to be, and I look forward to hearing about it : ) G

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  16. Oh good luck! I am taking part for the first time and starting a new novel I finished the other one just in time last week! 😂 Juggling the challenge with the blog is proving interesting so far plus I am in vacation at the end of the month and have some heavy volunteering commitments so I have no idea how it will pan out in reality but the good intention is there!

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  17. Good for you doing your own version of nanowrimo. Good luck. I agree that it should be in Feb. I don’t know why it is it in November with the holidays and stuff. I wrote 895 words yesterday and going to write some more right now. I’m glad you are enjoying writing your novel. Can’t wait to read it. 😊

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  18. You give me hope, maybe I can continue with my character as I was and I am writing in the 1st person also. I will try to schedule writing into my day so I can get over the hump and maybe it will start to flow again.

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  22. Yup, not really someone who’s ever been able to write every day, so challenges like NaNoWriMo would always be tough. And like you, November is not a good time of year for me. I like the sound of February, or even January when I’m all spent out and *need* to say home. I have this idea that the originator of (and the keen adopters to) NaNoWriMo are doing it to aviod all that family stuff … how wise are they! 🙂

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