When December 1st Rolls Around…

Hi Readers!

December 1st has finally arrived, and a huge burden has lifted off of my shoulders. NaNoWriMo was a ringing success, that beautiful “Winner” bar glowing into my face at 8pm last night upon the completion of 50,000 words. A huge smile squished my cheeks back, and a camera flashed in my face. Did I become a celebrity over night, I wondered? No, no. It was just my goofy boyfriend capturing the moment. No, that’s what I thought, but he was just attaching my face to my phone number in his phone. Regardless, it was one of my most exciting NaNoWriMo wins.

So here it is. My web badge that gives me bragging rights:

It was one of the toughest NaNoWriMos for me yet. Smack in the middle of the month, days would pass and my characters would still be strolling down the street or sitting around the kitchen table talking on and on. I felt like I would never break out of the cycle. I’d keep writing and writing, hoping I would overcome the block I had reached in The Controllers of Zaraline. But thanks to my Monday blog subscriptions hitting my email, a few tips here and there reminded me of how to beat down the wall. Conflict. A writer’s best friend. The last half of November was filled with excitement: My villain breaking out of his shell and committing evil acts while also struggling with the desire to be a better person; Two characters taking a step up into important roles I hadn’t foreseen previously; Connections developing from beginning to end. It was overall a success.

Though I have reached the required 50,000 words to call myself a NaNoWriMo winner, my novel isn’t complete. I still have at least three chapters that are unfinished, and more to add on so that a few of my characters aren’t left floating in the middle of nowhere (this hits close to home, they may just be floating somewhere unknown). My goal this time around is to complete these chapters, add in what I need, THEN go back and read it over. I made the mistake of editing before writing the ending in my other work in progress. If I could turn back the clock, I would continue writing and writing until that wall disappeared. Then once the ending came to life I could go back and edit. It’s amazing the crippling effect editing can have on a work when you’re writing a first draft. There’s definitely still hope for my work in progress, and I WILL complete it. My creativity is surging right now, and that ending is bound to escape onto the pages of my computer.

Here’s to another year ahead to write, edit, and revise, then write for 30 days straight when November 2012 arrives. Congratulations to all of the winners of NaNoWriMo. Thank you all for your support. I look forward to sharing my two works in progress with you, when they’re ready to enter the big scary world.

Love,
Renee