Week 1- Started at 64,497 - Ended at 81,093 - Wrote 16,596
That's pretty awesome, right? I got 7 chapters written out of the 15 I had left. That's right, I got almost halfway through my entire November goal in 1 week. I had some really great writing days, and some pretty bad writing days. The good news is that I'm still writing.
Looking forward, I have 8 chapters left of Powerful. Only 8. I'm 80% of the way through Powerful. It's kind of crazy for me. The fact that I'm right in the middle of the climax and coming up on the resolution is surreal and kind of terrifying. The last time I hit this point in my writing, I was in 8th grade.
Usually with my writing at this point I stop writing because I'm unhappy with what's going on. Either something in the plot or some characters bother me to the point where I can't continue writing. But right now, I am feeling more motivated than ever before to get to the end. For the first time, I feel a desperate need to get to the finish line because it is so close.
Another thing I've noticed is that compared to last year, I'm booking it through my writing. By this point last year, I'd written just over 6,000 words and only two chapters. I've almost tripled that this year. Isn't it crazy what time and practice can do?
When I put Rose on hold for Powerful, I worried that I was going through the motions of writing again. I spent a lot of time convincing myself that moving onto a different story was a good idea and not me doing what I always do when I get a newer story going that seems more exciting. Finally seeing that pay off is rewarding.
But I know that all my work with Rose was not a waste of time. Writing anything is never useless. I learned so much about my writing style and story plotting, and without everything I learned I never would've been able to make it this far in Powerful. Along that same line, without all the practice I had disciplining myself to write and actually practicing the writing, I wouldn't have made it this far in Powerful this fast.
As with any skill, practice is essential for improvement. I cannot emphasize that enough. Last year I struggled to write two chapters in one week. This year, I wrote three chapters in one day this week. That is visible progress due to practice.
To anyone who is struggling with writing because they don't think they are good enough, just keep writing. The things that you learn by writing are essential to keep writing successfully. The only way you can improve is by working at it over and over again. It may be hard, tedious work, but in the end, it is worth it.
Here's to another week of NaNoWriMo! Good luck to everyone participating! Keep writing and get that word count up!
~Allie
3 comments:
Hi, Allie
Wow! So thrilling to see so much progress!
You are like a novel. Right now you have us in suspense as your writing experience hits its climax!
Will you continue to build from your past experiences and move forward past this point where you derailed when young? We, the "readers" are pulling for you and your success will have us celebrating.
It's the story of a story; a story of a novelist who completes her novel.
Because of things going on in my life, I had to step back this year, but I plan to start my own personal NaNo in January and follow Sarah Domet's "90 Days to your Novel" to bring my novel from 30K words to an 80 to 100K words or so, completion. That is a rough estimate on how it is sizing up so far.
Anyway, I am sending a wish for your success on its way! Keep us posted! I love a success story and I know I am looking at one playing out here!
Yours,
-William
I'm going through a similar NANO journey to yours. I know that everything I've done up to this point has fueled the way my writing is turning out now. It's extremely exhilarating.
Good luck Allie - I'm not doing NANO, but will keep an eye on your progress with interest!
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