The NaNo gods can judge me and perhaps find me wanting, but I feel like a winner. Okay, I didn't get 50,000 words on one novel, I got 37,000 words of an entirely new novel, plus about 17,000 words of a previously started novel ready to add to the greater whole.
I'd originally signed up for NaNo thinking it would be the spark I needed to finish a MG novel I'd started over a year ago.
I printed off 176 single-spaced pages of the manuscript I'd mished and mashed into a possible story, and started trying to put it all together. But I wasn't recreating a lot. I realized NaNo wasn't the the right forum for this, so I stopped at about 17,000 words.
It wasn't a total loss, though. I had enough direction now to wrangle the rest of the mishmash into a revise-worthy draft. So thank you NaNoWriMo, for that.
But I'm stubborn and I didn't want to give up my 50,000 word quest, so I dusted off an old YA novel idea and started writing. I hammered out 37,000+ words (cringe-worthy ones at times, but hey).
I wanted to make that magical number, but the story wasn't asking for anymore. It's now ready for its own intensive round of revision.
So technically, I failed. I didn't fulfill the requirements of NaNo, but two revisable drafts later, I feel okay with that. Besides, I don't think my house can go through another month of such intense writing without the dust bunnies taking over.
So NaNo gods, judge me kindly...and thanks for giving me the kick I needed to get two stories ready to revise.
P.S. If there was a prize for the cheesiest first draft, I'm definitely a winner. Got to get me some crackers...Happy Thanksgiving.
Hey, I call that a win. You hit the total, and seriously, who can argue with that many raw words? Way to go!
ReplyDeleteRaw is a very nice way to put them :). Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou're a winner in my book! =D
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteWell done, and who's counting? ;)
ReplyDeleteGood point.
Delete37,000 sounds like a LOT to me and another 17,000--wow!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I'm most proud of those 37,000 words. Right now, they're pretty lousy, but I have them. A real-live revisable draft! I'm excited now but once I start tearing into it...maybe we need a NaNoRevMo.
DeleteSounds like a win to me, Johnell! Good for you for taking up the challenge and allowing it to move your forward.
ReplyDeleteThat's still definitely a win. I don't think the 50K has to be for one book. You wrote the target amount. You won. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on accomplishing so much!
ReplyDeleteJohnell, You wrote WAY more than 50,000 words, so you are definitely a winner! You should be VERY proud of yourself! November is one of the busiest times of the year at my house, so I am always so impressed with the NaNo participants. I keep saying "one year..." = )
ReplyDelete