Tag: nanowrimo

Today was a very good day for writing. It could be even better, maybe, but I think I’m done. My word count since I started at about noon stands at 4,785, which is more than I’ve ever written in a single day before. Counting this post, editing, notes, etc., it’s well over 5,000.

Storywise, I’m done with Chapters 2 and 3. Our hero (antihero?) has been in a bit of a scuffle, he’s ratted out a narc, and he’s getting ready to sneak into what’s essentially a police station. That’s not where I imagined this story would go when I first came up with it. But that’s how it is sometimes. That’s both the best and worst thing about the “organic” storytelling style I have: you never know where it will take you.

Previous word count: 6,160
This session’s word count: 4,785 (new record!)
Total word count: 10,945
Daily average: 3,648

A fruitful day today. I seem to be recovering from whatever sinus malady has been afflicting me the last few days. The dizzy spells are becoming fewer and farther between, so that’s good. And Nocturne is coming along nicely. I got most of Chapter 2 done today. It’s still in the expository phase right now, but I’m closing in on the main plot hook.

Previous word count: 2,650
This session’s word count: 3,510
Total word count: 6,160
Daily average: 3,080

And so it begins.

Nocturne is a bit different from last year’s Otherworld #2 (now called “The City and the Hill”). It’s going to be a mixed 1st and 3rd person, with the 1st person stuff told as kind of a flashback sequence. It’s also shaping up to be a bit dark, probably darker than even I like. We’ll have to see where the story takes us, as I don’t have a lot of plans for it yet—another way this year is different.

Today, I wrote up the Prologue, which is a 3rd-person intro to the story proper, and the very short Chapter 1, told from the title character’s POV as if it was in his voice. With any luck, the meat of the story starts tomorrow.

This session’s word count: 2,650
Total word count: 2,650

And…that’s a wrap.

First of all: Happy Thanksgiving! Second of all: it’s done!

That’s right, the story is finished, and with 4 days to spare. Never thought I could do that, but now I know I can. I’d like to do some nice stats and all that other stuff, but I’m done with writing for a while, and I’m going to take a much-needed break. One filled with turkey and dressing and potatoes and pie and all that other wonderful food that only comes around once a year.

Regular posts should start back up next week. December 1 is a Tuesday, and I don’t normally post on that day, so we’ll get back in the swing of things on Wednesday the 2nd. Of course, that’s assuming that these software updates I’ve been putting off for a month don’t go haywire. Debian Testing is a harsh mistress.

This session’s word count: 2,629
Final word count: 54,030

After midnight, so the day changes.

All that’s left is the last third of Chapter 8. It’s basically an epilogue, setting things up for Episode III, whenever I decide to write that. (Maybe I’ll start next month.)

I’m going to bed for the night. When I wake up, there’s only one thing left to do: Finish the drill.

This session’s word count: 880
Total word count: 51,401

The first goal, 50,000 words in a month, is done, and with time to spare.

That doesn’t mean this is the end. No, Chapter 8 is only halfway finished, so the ultimate goal of a complete story in a month remains on the table. I plan on writing more tonight, so I’ll be inching closer to that one. I wanted to post this now, though, as proof.

This session’s word count: 844
Total word count: 50,521

Note that this word count is as counted in Vim, the editor I use for writing. It may not be 100% accurate, but I think there’s enough leeway that I can confidently say I have reached 50K.

So close, yet so far.

Chapter 8 is getting there. Call it a third of the way done. It’s the first and only recycled POV of this particular story, the same character as Chapter 1. Not sure why I picked her, but that’s how it happened.

Looking at what I have so far, I’d say about two more full writing days should do it. Of course, real life can intervene, and two “full” days can easily become six “partial” days, so who knows? But look at my word count! So…close…almost…there…

This session’s word count: 2,350
Today’s word count: 49.687

That’s a wrap for Chapter 7, and for November 22. Huh, 22, 7. Almost like…pi. I better stop, before I make myself hungry.

Anyway, it’s coming down to the wire. Eight days, one chapter. 50K shouldn’t be too hard, but bringing the full story to a conclusion might be. We’ll just have to wait and see.

This session’s word count: 998
Total word count: 47,337

I intend to write some more tonight, hence the “early evening” title. Dinner and TV will come first, since it’s Sunday.

Chapter 7 is mostly done. At most, I need two more scenes. Chapter 8 shouldn’t be that hard. (He says hopefully.) If my luck holds—there’s no reason to think it will—then I’ll have a lot to be thankful for this Thursday.

This session’s word count: 1,548
Total word count: 46,339

Another day of grinding today. I’m that much closer to the end, though, and now the story is starting to get interesting enough that I might get to Episode 3 sooner than I had planned. Like “next month” sooner. We’ve got a long way to go before that point, though.

Call it halfway for Chapter 7. It’s really a little more than that, but the scenes I’ve written are longer than average, so if feels shorter overall. I doubt I’ll finish it tomorrow, but Monday isn’t out of the question. Then it’s on to the final chapter. Thanksgiving is looking like a realistic goal, but I know better than to get too optimistic in my planning. Things have a tendency to go wrong when I do.

This session’s word count: 2,579
Total word count: 44,791