Cactus Watcher Strikes Again

Play the fight song, because I'm beyond 50,000!

Well not for November. But certainly in a reasonable time. I'm happy. Now I hope it won't take years to finish the rest!

For today 996 - For November 40,547 (total 50,141) and that's enough for awhile. ;o)

Well, I've accomplished something more than those 40,000 words in about three weeks. I finished the first part of the book. The question now is how to make the rest of it click so it's not all anticlimax. The focus is shifting. The action is changing from mass action to personal. I expect the going to become slower.

For Yesterday 1677 - For November 30801 (total 40,415)

ETA Is anyone else sad that in the new James Bond flick Casino Royale that the game has been changed from baccarat to Texas Hold-em' Poker? Granted the poker game probably does take more skill than baccarat. Baccarat is mostly luck and card counting. But Texas Hold-em' does seem to be a shift from the sophisticated past of Bond to trying to appeal to the Billy Bob set.

I went to bed early and slept late this morning. I had a lot of weird dreams during the night that kept waking me up. But for once I had no trouble getting right back to sleep.

I did fine yesterday evening in the writing department even though I quit early. I do feel like the quality of what I'm writing is suffering. I'm may quit when I have 50,000 total or before. It may be better to let this one sit than to find it irreparable later.

For Yesterday 2599 - For November 26,066 (Total 35,680)

I was cheerfully writing along yesterday, when I noticed that the passage I was on suddenly had much more the feel of the first volume. All it took was the decision to insert a little first person narrative. The first volume was full of first person narrative. I'd decided I didn't need to do that this time. In fact I wasn't going to use it at all. But it was so much easier to have the character say what she felt in one scene that I did it that way. The next scene seemed to flow easier and was much more what I like about my first volume.

I really feel like I'd fallen in the part two syndrome. Letting the energy of the first volume try to carry over into the second. It doesn't work that way and everybody who's seen a bad part two of a good movie knows it. I don't think the story I've written so far needs to change at all, but when this writing binge is over I think can and should refocus some of the passages with this character in them. I think it will make a world of difference.

For yesterday 2288, For November-20,207 (total 29,821)
I can safely forget about the book being finished at 50,000 words or less!

ETA: Thanks to mamculuna for your comments on "The Cadet!"

I made almost no progress in advancing the word count yesterday. But I did do a lot of good, straightening out the mess I mentioned yesterday. This is why NaNo isn't appealing to me except as inspiration. Sometimes getting it right is more important than getting words down. If it isn't right you come to a screeching halt because there is nothing that you can do ahead that will fix the mistakes behind you.

For yesterday 87 words, for November 16,047 (total 25,661)

I got my last political call of the day yesterday during Heroes. Fortunately, the ring came during the commericial break. It was a recording by my Senator asking for my vote. So, what commercial did I miss to take the call? The same Senator asking for my vote.

Compared to the TV ads this year the political phone calls have been a breath of fresh air. No negativity. I've had quite a few this season including two recorded calls from George W. and one from Laura.

Heroes was a set-up episode. Not much surprising. I do hope this trend toward zillions of people having special powers ends soon, though.

As promised my word count went way down yesterday. I have a monster ballot to fill out so I may be gone for a long time voting. I should buy groceries, today, too.

Yesterday 923 For November 13038 (total 22652)

Okay so my word count is a little padded today, because of a scene I cut from my first novel that was supposed to go in the volume I'm writing now. The scene is not much more than a 1000 words but it does look scary when added in the total.

It's that time when most people in NaNo are already realizing that it's going to be tough to get to 50,000 words this month. My grand total may look pretty good for less than two weeks. But I have to admit that my ability concentrate at this level is only good for about two weeks. I'm starting to desperately want to do other things. If I don't take a few days break soon, my mind will automatically slip into neutral and I won't get much done any way. So don't feel bad if you are behind me in word count. I have to work the way I have to, but that means flirting with burn out constantly.

As some of you know I wrote a story for wisewoman recently. It took a long time to finish and did not end up as long as I'd wished. I'm not unhappy with the end product, but it showed me I can not write in a linear fashion on this kind of thing. Too many good ideas come after I've written quite a bit. It's too easy to make a major mistake as I did in the recent story. Because I was writing in installments I had to do some fancy footwork to make it work out instead of fixing it at the source. My current book is complex. I haven't begun all the threads much less gotten them to weave together. Chances are its going to be insanely long and unpublishable like the first one. But, I know over time I'll be glad I put the effort in.

Not-NaNo word count for yesterday 3973 for November 10,068 (total 19,682)

PS mamculuna, I got your message. My provider seems to be having trouble with outbound email this morning. But I'll try to get it to you later today.

After duncing around most of the afternoon, I went into a writing trance last evening and wrote quite a bit. How much isn't important because in the end I think most of it will have to be cut.

But it did bring into focus that many of us don't have the luxury to spend a whole evening zoned out. I'm about the only one who doesn't work, and most of you have family responsibilities. I just want to say that if you are currently writing some project, don't let an arbitrary goal discourage you. Writing is work. There are always passages that are a drag to write. But don't confuse a slow passage for a project you've changed your mind about. If life gets in the way, don't force yourself too hard. None of us is Dostoevsky and none of us needs a novel done in two weeks or else! Write as much as you want to, instead of as much as you think you should.

I had an average number of trick-or-treaters (about 20). Candy was outrageously expensive this year at my favorite store, so I didn't give out as much as I have in past years. I had about the same amount left over as usual (way too much for my waist line). I usually have a cup of hot chocolate late in the evening this time of year. I had one last night before I sampled the candy, which was a very good idea. The candy tasted good after the hot chocolate, but I wasn't interested in eating any more. The hot chocolate many have a lot of calories, but I'm sure it's less than gobbling down a big handful of candy.

As I've said other places I'm writing this month, but not officially in the nanowrimo. The working title is The Black Spider and it is a part of the series of stories I've written including the way over-long novel Midnight and Noon.

Since I'm in NOTnano I can say I started the book last week and my word count as the month starts is 9614.

ETA - I just noticed that now when I hold the cursor over my icon, a little box pops up telling me, it's me. WOW! (Please somebody take the keyboards away from the LJ 'design' people, before someone really gets hurt!)