I’m in trouble again, not with the law or any other authority, but with my daughter, an authority in her own way. A year ago, I decided to become a NaNoWriMo Rebel, and I haven’t heard the last of it. This year, I decided to do it again, and the complaints and charges of “cheater” have been going on since October 11.
NaNoWriMo “Classic”
The traditional NaNoWriMo experience, from its origins in 1999 were to start on November 1st with a clean page and write the draft of a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days. Some people start with a detailed outline, some with just a few ideas in their head, and others somewhere in between. But the idea is not to start the writing until November 1st: that’s the classic and traditional part. And that’s exactly what I did for my first three NaNoWriMo experiences: they were great.
Last year, however, I noticed that my wife got this wistful look in her eyes knowing I would be mostly unavailable during the month of November and she wasn’t looking forward to it. So I hatched a plot: what if I started earlier, on the sly? That way, I could complete much of the work before November started, and I wouldn’t be holed up in a cave during that month? That was my first year as a NaNoWriMo Rebel. Of course, I ruined the whole idea of having more time available during November when I decided on the November and December Shor Story Challenge and wrote 50 short stories during those months. Plans of mice and men, I guess.
This Year’s Project
This year’s project was the second in the Stephanie Hart series, as yet unnamed. I finished it on November 4 at 79,696 words. Don’t be impressed, since I know people whose pace is faster than mine and who spend the same amount of time as me on rewriting. Maybe that’s not true, but it certainly feels that way; I did say I was a beginner, after all.
This novel tracks Hart as she works to find two missing girls who may have been abducted by a man who killed a girl in Indiana. At the same time, Hart is looking for the truth when the girls’ stepfather’s reputation is tarnished by a twenty year old allegation. The action builds and drops at various times, and I believe it’s an exciting ride. The novel even features a cameo appearance by Mitchell Street, a private investigator in another of my book series’.
Upping my pace
For the first four NaNoWriMos, I had a writing pace of between 2,000 and 2,300 words per day, which is respectable, I think. For some reason this year, that pace jumped to 3,000. I don’t think I was writing any better, but I was trying to spare my wife the time when I was writing at home in the evening and not interacting with her. Because of that, I used my early time in my office before working hours writing, and then spending time at the end of the working day before coming home and finishing up. The result was a faster pace. I’d love to say it was because I was becoming a better or smoother writer, but the truth is I am probably just as plodding as ever. And you know what? I can deal with that.
And while last year, I rounded out November with writing 50 short stories, this year my plan is different: I plan to write ten short stories during the next month or so, but focus more on copy for my two blogs, this one and College and Parents, so I can be ahead of the game. That will keep me focused on writing during November and December, and pay dividends later with increased traffic to my sites and—I hope—more book sales.
And if I had to be a rebel to accomplish this, so be it!
