Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Technically a Loss, But Still a Win

http://cfiles.nanowrimo.org/nano-2013/files/2013/11/2013-Winner-Square-Button.png

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.

12 comments:

  1. Hey, I call that a win. You hit the total, and seriously, who can argue with that many raw words? Way to go!

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    1. Raw is a very nice way to put them :). Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. 37,000 sounds like a LOT to me and another 17,000--wow!

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    1. I 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.

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  3. Sounds like a win to me, Johnell! Good for you for taking up the challenge and allowing it to move your forward.

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  4. That'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!

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  5. Congratulations on accomplishing so much!

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  6. Johnell, 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..." = )

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