I'm a winner!

That's right! I'm a NaNoWriMo winner! This past November made the fourth year that I participated and the second year that I actually completed the word count goal! In celebration, and to break the, forgive the pun, one note posts that I have had as of late, I would like to share some random facts about my writing. (Most likely none of the things I share will be unique to me, but I would like to share anyways.) I love writing, I love reading about other writers experiences and I also loved writing about writing. Therefore, this post is born.

(Just never ask me about any details from my writing, for I will not answer you!)

Be warned, this will be random and scattered because I only finished WriMo yesterday and so my brain is still recovering. :D

Part 1: Where I Write Professionally and Calmly

(And share some of my favorite writing quotes that I've discovered on Pinterest!)



I saw this a few days before WriMo started and I was like,
"Well, that is just very encouraging." :/

Going into NaNoWriMo, I had less than a half-baked story. I was still gathering the ingredients on day four, which was when I finally decided to start writing this story in my head. This was in a way, following the same pattern I had set myself last year before November started. But last year I had more of an outline. This year not so much, but I wrote anyway!

A little randomness about my writing, I finished my first 'book' when I was around 11. Naturally, all the characters involved not only share names with close family members but the story itself is far to close to reality and its length more closely resembles that of a short-story than a novel. This book was also not my first attempt at writing, I have been writing for as long as I can remember, well, actually, not quite that long. You see I had to learn to write before I could 'write'. :)

This is, awesome! It explains my mindset perfectly!

The 'second' book that I ever finished, that I often refer to as my first to keep confusion down, I finished in my junior year of high-school. That book has since, died in the editing process. It served its purpose and it taught me a lot but a time of parting did arrive. I can still remember every detail about every character and side-plot but I will most likely not return to work on that project.

One small edit, I think there should be an
's' in there. World-s! Anyone with me?

Now, I have said that I have participated for four years in NaNoWriMo, but it has only been within the past two years that I actually reached the goal. Until last year, I thought this goal was insane! 50,000 words. 50,000?! But the years leading up to 2014, I didn't really try because I thought the goal was impossible, only to finally decide to give it a go and come up a victor. And finding out that I had only written part one of the novel I had concocted in my head. That was a strange idea. 50,000 words, and still not done? Sheesh! (For those who may be wondering, that book has not been abandoned but it is in critical condition after several and sometimes on-going surgeries.)

Moving on from 2014 to 2015, with my tossed together idea for a story. I have started more stories than I care to admit...all of them had some planning, no matter how small, involved. This book, not so much. That scared me all through the month as I sat down to get my word count written to stay on track. Everyday wondering if this would be the day that my ideas dried up.

Thank heavens for the principle of that last quote! I think the reason that I have gone so long without finishing another book is because of the perfection that I require on even the first drafts. I had to toss this idea out the window to reach the goal this year. It's going to be fun reading through for editing only to find that I have filled in a gap with the word 'thing' so that I could move on, having no other word to use at that time. :)

I think this is one of my favorite writing quotes!

And I finished the book! I didn't/don't know what to do with myself! But I have finished my second book! (Do a small happy dance...where no one can see me!)

Part 2: Where I Explain What Things Really Looked Like With Gifs and Pictures

You have been so good to read about my little writing-ness so now I want to explain to you how things really happened. :)

 

The first few days go something like this. Beginnings are hard for me!

 

 

Now that we're getting to know each other, my characters want to talk to me all the time. Including when I have purposefully taken a short break from writing. :)

 

It's the worst at night!

 

What happens when I thought I knew what I was writing... Only to figure out that I actually have no idea what just happened. But, I'm okay with it.

 

 

The doubt and the confidence spikes.

 

I am strangely excited for Kung Fu Panda 3. The trailer just gives me the giggles.

 

And then, the face you make before heading for the final word count! On day 26 I had only written 32,128 words and I had been fighting some serious writers block. But after using the trick mentioned above (namely, being okay with finding the right word later), I made my word count goal!

 

Thanks for reading all this random dribble. Writing about my month has helped relieve some of my excitement, but not all of it. :) 

 

The moral of this post: just write. Give yourself something on paper to work with! Or in other words:

 

 

Yours truly,

Cordy

 

P.S. Now that I have finished November I should have more time for a little blogging. :)