Reflections: 2013 – Part 3

Writing & NaNoWriMo …

I have to say this was a “banner” year for my writing. I couldn’t have hoped for better. I couldn’t have anticipated this “growth” either. 

I had a few new ideas that didn’t quite get “outlined” the way I wanted them, but at least I have the ideas down. I even have two new ones that I began 2014 with. 

As many of you know, in 2011 I took part in my first EVER NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal? 50,000 word in 30 days. That first year, I barely made it under the wire (50K on the 30^th).  Yes, I was in school, but I believe there were a lot of things that could have perhaps made it better or at least helped me be more productive.

In 2012, I managed 50,200+ words with three to four days remaining. Not bad, but I knew … I just knew I was capable of more, or at best, better performance.

Enter 2013!

Yeah, I’m still tooting my horn :) I know, I should get out of the “gloating” phase. It’s been over a month, but I find the accomplishment so … stunning. I knew I was capable of doing better, I just didn’t know how well I could do.

152,521 words! That’s for those who might have missed it.

NaNoWriMo stats, November 2013
(link: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/medwards429/novels/love-honor-serve-protect/stats)

That’s a triple (and then some) NaNoWriMo! That makes up for 2011 and 2012. I reached the 50K goal November 10^th, and eight days later (November 18^th), I reached 100K. I’ll admit that reaching the 150K+ mark took a bit longer (had 148K on the 29^th). But, it was worth it. 

That’s the kind of progress I want to see and do, and it's what makes it SO worthwhile. It's a challenge. Some you win, some you lose. 

I really credit all those hours at Starbucks and the music playlist I made while outlining the story. The playlist has grown and changed, but most of it has remained the same.

Of course the Starbucks visit are fewer and fewer between. I’m hoping that this year I will be able to get back there (and I might be making one real soon) ... even if it is once a week (though twice is nice and “preferred”). I never thought I could write in public, but that was what helped me progress as much as I did. On those days I could easily average 5000 or more.

But, I also need a better laptop as well. My current laptop is approaching four years old. After being dropped, tossed in a backpack countless times, buttons replaced, cooling fan replaced, and the DVD “drawer” door falling off … I think it’s time to retire it. 

For those of you who may not know this – it also went through 18 months of college work and papers. So, I think it served me quite well. I might keep it as a back-up until I can fix the “back-up”.

As for the back-up to the current laptop, I had a BEAUTIFUL purple HP – the screen needs to be repaired. It was “cracked” and although it still works, I’d like to repair it. There is only so much money in the household though. 

Anyway … back to “NaNoWriMo” (sorry about that deviation) …

Unlike most people after NaNoWriMo, I didn’t walk away from the story after the event was over. Not even for a breather as they recommend. 

Why? The story was far from being “done”. It wasn’t even halfway. In many ways, I think it was just starting. So, I kept going.

I also have to admit, I was in love with my characters. Well, one of them at least :) So, it wasn’t a chore to tell their story. I found that I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning, turn the computer on, and see what they were up to.

There were times I’d only manage a few notes here or there, or even 100 words … the point was – I kept going. I didn’t stop. I was disappointed with some of the days, but I kept writing.

And, yes, I am still writing EVERY single day. Even if it’s not on the computer, I’ll make notes or plot out “scenes” for my stories, whichever one comes to me when it comes to me. I can’t always plan which story, that’s not how my brain or the creative muses work. The NaNoWriMo one is taking precedence though :)

As much as I would LOVE to publish it, it’s mainly going to be for me. It’s a therapeutic/cathartic story I started back in 2000/2001. At the time I was going through some changes and adjustments, more so after 2/18/2001 and 9/11.

I connect with TV shows that have a meaning in my life or time. Often, they inspire me to write about it, or something entirely different. I can’t control where the “plot bunnies” take me. There was an “old” TV series being shown in syndication at the time (2000/2001)I re-connected with it, and thus some of the 2013 NaNoWriMo story started there.

Back then it was in bits and pieces, as if a puzzle. I shredded the remnants in early 2013. 

I know, as a writer, that is a HUGE no-no. Trust me when I say that it was for the better. There was no beginning, no connections, no end, and no outline. There was nothing bit disjointed bits and pieces. It was in some respects quite useless.

But, it eventually, everything came back around and back together. And, I re-discovered, re-connected, and re-introduced myself to that same series once again. This time, I started to shape the frame, add in the bits and pieces that were needed to build on it, then the discarded/shredded parts came back, along with a great ending that was planned out.

It’s as my mother always told me “if it’s mean to be … it will happen”.  I’ve lived my life with that. Be it faith or be it karma, I figure if something is meant to happen it will. Or, if we’re meant to have something … we will.

But, another reason I won’t publish it … I don’t own the copyright to the characters or the series. I feel the reason I had to write this story was not only to complete something, but to remember what it was that shaped the interests I developed, and who I became. It’s a loving “thank-you” to the characters and perhaps the actors. Please don't ask me to discuss which series it is based on (or about) though, or what the story is about. 

I will state that the theme is about saving people. It's about loving them not just during the good times, but in the absolute WORST of times. Letting go of the inner demons that try to keep us from what we deserve, and … learning that love changes with the seasons and tides of our lives. In the end, true love prevails despite all adversity. Sappy and soapy ... I know. But, the them is saving each other through love, patience, kindness, and strength.

I am also, as time and plot bunnies allow, working on other projects – outlining, planning, making notes and doing research. It’s amazing how much time it all takes. On December 30^th, I spent over 10 hours just writing (maybe taking 1-2 hours of that for eating and social media, if that). 

That’s another thing I learned this year – writing is VERY time consuming. And, you have to have support from your family (as well as friends). That’s why I “plan” my days/weeks in advance – so I can get done what needs to be done.

As far as CampNaNo for 2014? I’m thinking up something, doubt I’ll EVER repeat the historic success of NaNoWriMo – 2013 again, either during Camp or November’s NaNoWriMo. I’m not a defeatist, just a realist.

But, I know what I am capable of, so I'll give it a shot :)

POST NaNoWriMo Life …

So, how is the novel doing?

Because of certain things that happened in December, I wasn’t always able to continue from where I left off on story, or let's just say ... in the order it should be in the story.

Mostly, I would write “scenes” as I was inspired (or when plot bunnies attacked). Some of those notes, which were for later chapters, I typed up in a separate document to copy and paste when I get there. That is where I did the bulk of the Post-NaNo writing.

The story is still being continued though. I managed to add an additional 23,382 words to it (that’s as of right now). That's an average of 390 words per day (63 days).

The handwritten notes (for future chapters) totaled over 50K words.

POST-NaNoWriMo, I added a TOTAL of  words to a story that even if I added that in … it still wouldn’t be “half-way”.  Adding up ALL the work I’ve done:

NaNoWriMo – 152,521

Post-NaNo – 56,525 (average of 897 words per day)

That brings us to … 209, 046 for the story so far. 

Now, here is the kicker … I did do some “pre-writing” in October to get my bearings, and to “flesh it out”. Most of that is for future chapters as well, and that was 54,118 words.

Total words for October, November, December and January? That's around 263,164 (give or take a few, depending on how you count them).

I have a feeling this is going to be a whopper of a story before it’s done. My mom has referred to it as either “War and Peace” of a police story or a “Gone With the Wind” police story. 

Then again, a 15-year story often is a “saga” – you can’t just jump from then (whenever then is) to now (the now in your story) without  telling how the characters met, expand on their lives, include some intrigue/upset/heartbreak/catch the bad guys, and wrap it up believably. It's not going to be just 50,000 words or 300 pages. 

The goal, when finished ... is to design some artwork for a cover, proofread for errors, edit, revise, and save it as a PDF so I can read it through the NOOK or KINDLE APP on my iPad. 

Then ... to move on to another story. Then again ... I could always do some “shorts” (short-stories). Again, I can't control those plot bunnies :)