Day 26 – Nanowrimo

I have had so much fun this year with my nanowrimo motivational pictures that I regret I didn’t start the process at the very beginning of the month. The photos were taken on the day and in most cases adapted using picnik. Some of the images are cryptic, but the process allowed me to stay in a creative zone, while not directly focusing on the novel. This was particularly useful when I had got stuck, or didn’t feel like writing – I worked on the photo for my Flickr Site.

With only a few days left, I am currently ahead on the daily word target. This year, I set 1700 words a day (close to the minimum required, but not an obsessive focus). With about 4K left to go, I want to just plow ahead and finish. I realise that there is a lot of editorial work to be done, and massaging of storylines, but as Nano veterans say – that is what the rest of the year is for.

Wishing all those close to the finish line all the best of luck. To those of you who have made it – congratulations on the win. To those of you who didn’t – do not despair – there is always next year!

Half way mark – Day 15

Just over halfway, with 25,500 word typed into what could be loosely called a manuscript, there is another 24,500 to go to reach the 2009 nanowrimo goal. Whether what I have written is half the story – is a completely different question.

This year I have approached Nanowrimo differently. Up until today, I have been writing snippets of story as ideas come into my head with little of no correlation to each other – apart from the main character.

Today for the first time, I printed off what I had written and started the exercise of weaving these meandering thoughts together into a story. I have a reasonable sense of who my main character is now. Over the next couple of days, I intend to be a little more structured in my approach.

Although I didn’t write today, I found that reaching the Day 15 goal of 25,500 fairly easy. Filling in the blanks is so much easier than conceiving the markers. I am curious to see how this approach will affect the direction of the story – what elements of the character will be enhanced or subdued as a result.

Before we know it Nanowrimo will be over!