Having spent thirty days hammering out a novel for Nanowrimo, I found myself far more exhausted than I believed myself to be. Several times, I have parked myself in front of my laptop with the thought process of editing. However, knowing that my deadline is just around the corner has done nothing to drive the editing process. So, I have spent the past week, sleeping, relaxing and desperately trying to fight of this years round of bronchitis. Now, having procrastinated long enough, I have dragged myself to my favorite Starbucks, purchased a green tea latte and a slice banana walnut loaf. And the procrastination continues as I choose to update my blog instead of editing this novel.
Although, I will continue participating in Nanowrimo for years to come, I do not believe that I will use it to write a novel that is suppose to be ready to send to the editor the next month.
-Lady Kaitlyn-
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
2012 Nano Ends
We gathered around a table, the eight able to be at the last write-in. Most of us far past the 50k goal but still attempting to actually finish our novels. I myself finished just before 8:30 having pushed past 100k. We cheer on the two at the table attempting to finish the Nano goal. There are two more in our chat room fighting for the end as well. Word wars are being pushed every half hour to increase word counts. Yet, nine o'clock strikes, the two at the table are now finished, but we have to change locations. The decision is made to go home and continue online to the midnight push.
I have to make a stop at the store to get cupcakes for my son, whose birthday will be forever pushed to Dec. 1. He had the audacity to insist on being born in Nov. and despite my pleadings and the doctors attempts, he was emergency c-sectioned out at 1:59 pm Nov. 30, 2011. The emergency c-section was due to his refusal to stay in any longer and his heart now where near able to survive a natural birth.
I make it home around ten and join the online push. I missed one of the nanoers passing her goal. We are watching the buddy boards as others in our region begin to verify their winnings. Last man sprinting at just under 2,500 words to go. One other finishing her novel. The count down begins ten mins left. Cheers for the last man as he announces his word count and verifies. We have at least twenty people make the goal.
Dec. 1, sometime around six, people begin gathering in the chat room. Everyone has spent the day napping. I myself managed to take a nap in the midst of celebrating my son's first birthday. Lots of pictures, a few cupcakes and a family meal. Everyone is tired. They discuss their goals for their novels. A few of us happy with what Nov. has produced and making preparations for publication. Everyone is giving their opinions. Personally, I believe one should walk away from their novels for at least a month before beginning the editing process, however, I am also aware that I have a Jan. 4th deadline to get my novel to my editor. Even as I type this I am considering the prologue that must be written and a mysterious meeting that will open my novel.
The 2012 Nanowrimo was just the beginning of what I hope to be a livable writing career. Continue to follow me as my process continues.
LadyKaitlyn
I have to make a stop at the store to get cupcakes for my son, whose birthday will be forever pushed to Dec. 1. He had the audacity to insist on being born in Nov. and despite my pleadings and the doctors attempts, he was emergency c-sectioned out at 1:59 pm Nov. 30, 2011. The emergency c-section was due to his refusal to stay in any longer and his heart now where near able to survive a natural birth.
I make it home around ten and join the online push. I missed one of the nanoers passing her goal. We are watching the buddy boards as others in our region begin to verify their winnings. Last man sprinting at just under 2,500 words to go. One other finishing her novel. The count down begins ten mins left. Cheers for the last man as he announces his word count and verifies. We have at least twenty people make the goal.
Dec. 1, sometime around six, people begin gathering in the chat room. Everyone has spent the day napping. I myself managed to take a nap in the midst of celebrating my son's first birthday. Lots of pictures, a few cupcakes and a family meal. Everyone is tired. They discuss their goals for their novels. A few of us happy with what Nov. has produced and making preparations for publication. Everyone is giving their opinions. Personally, I believe one should walk away from their novels for at least a month before beginning the editing process, however, I am also aware that I have a Jan. 4th deadline to get my novel to my editor. Even as I type this I am considering the prologue that must be written and a mysterious meeting that will open my novel.
The 2012 Nanowrimo was just the beginning of what I hope to be a livable writing career. Continue to follow me as my process continues.
LadyKaitlyn
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The 17th of Nano
The Nanowrimo community is now over half way through. Today's goal is 28,333 words. I, myself, am sitting at 42,526. The range in my Nano region is 12k - 42k, with most people sitting between the 30k - 35k range. Our write-ins have had great turnouts, we have had less dropouts this year than previous years, an word wars have been amazing at getting word counts up.
Word wars, a challenge that was begun last year by our Municipal Liaison, is a fifteen minute challenge to all who sit around the table, or internet in some cases. As is the case in many instances, people start to talk about their novels or productivity cats, don't ask. Someone, usually the person becoming highly annoyed, calls out '3 mins to word war,' the effect is immediate as people refocus their attention on their novels. Figuring out where they were, where they want the next scene to go, and where they are in their word count. People begin watching their clocks, "BEGIN." And for the next fifteen minutes there is silence and writing bliss. "TIME." Numbers range from 200 - 1100.
The person with the highest numbers gets a prize from the numbers bag, an assortment of candy, a coveted prize regardless of the bowl of candy sitting on the table. That person becomes ineligible until everyone has received a reward. This way the person writing 200 consistently gets a prize, despite the fact they will never have the best word count. "DING," someone calls out and glories in the congratulations they hear for hitting that next 5k milestone. They put a star on our star chart, physical proof to the world that they are progressing and they choose a toy from the star bag, cheap toys of ducks, army men and dinosaurs being the most popular.
Even as I write this, preparing for the this mornings write-in, bright and early at eight, which will not be done in the future, it is far too early in the morning for a Saturday to be awake, my fellow Nanoers are arriving for a four hour word sprint.
And with that I will end my blog because the noise has become too loud to focus.
-LadyKaitlyn-
Word wars, a challenge that was begun last year by our Municipal Liaison, is a fifteen minute challenge to all who sit around the table, or internet in some cases. As is the case in many instances, people start to talk about their novels or productivity cats, don't ask. Someone, usually the person becoming highly annoyed, calls out '3 mins to word war,' the effect is immediate as people refocus their attention on their novels. Figuring out where they were, where they want the next scene to go, and where they are in their word count. People begin watching their clocks, "BEGIN." And for the next fifteen minutes there is silence and writing bliss. "TIME." Numbers range from 200 - 1100.
The person with the highest numbers gets a prize from the numbers bag, an assortment of candy, a coveted prize regardless of the bowl of candy sitting on the table. That person becomes ineligible until everyone has received a reward. This way the person writing 200 consistently gets a prize, despite the fact they will never have the best word count. "DING," someone calls out and glories in the congratulations they hear for hitting that next 5k milestone. They put a star on our star chart, physical proof to the world that they are progressing and they choose a toy from the star bag, cheap toys of ducks, army men and dinosaurs being the most popular.
Even as I write this, preparing for the this mornings write-in, bright and early at eight, which will not be done in the future, it is far too early in the morning for a Saturday to be awake, my fellow Nanoers are arriving for a four hour word sprint.
And with that I will end my blog because the noise has become too loud to focus.
-LadyKaitlyn-
Friday, November 2, 2012
Day One: Nano 2012
October 31, 2012 began with me driving my husband to work because I would later return at three to take my boys trick or treating in a safe environment. After a couple of hours of collecting candy we returned home. I took a nap in order prepare myself for a midnight beginning to Nanowrimo.
20 plus people arrived between 8:30 to 12:00 for food, games, visiting. A couple were creepy and I must admit that I was glad to see them leave early. Fifteen minutes before the final count down 12 people sat down with their choice of caffeine, candy, snacks. I would love to thank the woman who brought chili with all the fixings to make frito pie.
Everyone is counting down the minutes. As it gets closer to the midnight countdown we begin teasing to see whose clock will make it to midnight faster. I win, but a fellow Nanoer is just a second behind me. Our countdown: 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 8 ... 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, begin.
12 people begin writing furiously. No one speaks for the first hour and our number call out begins around 1. Number of words written range from 500 to 2,000. I am sitting around 1,000 myself. I get up, grab some water, I can feel my blood thickening. I have diabetes and I have had far too much coke and candy. I use the bathroom and grab some more chili. Some people cut out early, jobs, children, tired, etc. Those of us willing to tough it out continue until two. We call it a night. Get what little sleep we can, live our lives until the next evening.
6pm we gather again at Starbucks. Some people cannot make it, but we get several new faces, once again our count of people is around 12 people. This time we are pushing three hours. We make jokes, help each other with character name creation, laugh, eat candy and write. Somewhere near the end there is a distracting conversation about Star Wars and the fact that Disney has bought out Lucas Films. Usually, we would call people back to focus, but it is almost over, and people are winding down. Number call outs begin again this time ranging between 2,000 and 5,000. The goal for day one is 1,667, the same goal each day, for 30 days in order to hit our 50,000 goal. Everyone has reached this goal.
I end at 3,815. Go home and sleep, only to prepare for another day of writing.
LadyKaitlyn
20 plus people arrived between 8:30 to 12:00 for food, games, visiting. A couple were creepy and I must admit that I was glad to see them leave early. Fifteen minutes before the final count down 12 people sat down with their choice of caffeine, candy, snacks. I would love to thank the woman who brought chili with all the fixings to make frito pie.
Everyone is counting down the minutes. As it gets closer to the midnight countdown we begin teasing to see whose clock will make it to midnight faster. I win, but a fellow Nanoer is just a second behind me. Our countdown: 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 8 ... 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, begin.
12 people begin writing furiously. No one speaks for the first hour and our number call out begins around 1. Number of words written range from 500 to 2,000. I am sitting around 1,000 myself. I get up, grab some water, I can feel my blood thickening. I have diabetes and I have had far too much coke and candy. I use the bathroom and grab some more chili. Some people cut out early, jobs, children, tired, etc. Those of us willing to tough it out continue until two. We call it a night. Get what little sleep we can, live our lives until the next evening.
6pm we gather again at Starbucks. Some people cannot make it, but we get several new faces, once again our count of people is around 12 people. This time we are pushing three hours. We make jokes, help each other with character name creation, laugh, eat candy and write. Somewhere near the end there is a distracting conversation about Star Wars and the fact that Disney has bought out Lucas Films. Usually, we would call people back to focus, but it is almost over, and people are winding down. Number call outs begin again this time ranging between 2,000 and 5,000. The goal for day one is 1,667, the same goal each day, for 30 days in order to hit our 50,000 goal. Everyone has reached this goal.
I end at 3,815. Go home and sleep, only to prepare for another day of writing.
LadyKaitlyn
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Nano Prep
Every October, I get the bug to start prepping for Nanowrimo. This year is no different. I spend a week contemplating the novel that I want to work on for the month. Log into nanowrimo.org. Register my novel idea for the year. Drop into the forums, say hi to returning nanoers, introduce myself to the newcomers, ask the Municipal Liaison (ML) what kind of help they need for the year. Personally, I am hoping to become a Co-ML for Nano2013. Log into the chat channel and wait as newcomers come in to explore what they will be getting into for the next month. And I become obsessed, talking about nothing other than my novel idea with anyone who will listen.
Unfortunately, for the the two weeks of my household being sick. One case of sore throat, three colds and strep. The only person not getting sick is the one child who is always sick, go figure. Hopefully, this household is recovering and there will be zero delays as Nanowrimo begins at midnight November first.
LadyKaitlyn
Unfortunately, for the the two weeks of my household being sick. One case of sore throat, three colds and strep. The only person not getting sick is the one child who is always sick, go figure. Hopefully, this household is recovering and there will be zero delays as Nanowrimo begins at midnight November first.
LadyKaitlyn
Monday, October 8, 2012
In the Beginning
I could never do anything the easy way or the normal way. I believe, that most people, even today, go to school, may or may not include higher education, find jobs, then start a family, raise family, retire. A life that I hope most people are happy living. However, there are those of us who, try as we might, cannot accomplish that line of thinking.
I finished high school, barely, thanks to amazing friends who pushed me hard my last six weeks. I tried college, failed, got kicked out of my home, spent the next three years giving my mom the finger as I proved that I could take care of myself by working in the pizza delivery business. (I have to admit that I miss the people I worked with, but very happy when I finally managed to move on.) Then, I got sick and realized that the life I was creating for myself was not the life I wanted. I swallowed my pride and had lunch with my mother. Got enough courage to explain that I wanted to go back to college and clean up my credit which was destroyed due to a relationship with a fiancee, therefore, I needed to move home. She let me, much to my surprise.
Things were going well. I cleaned up my credit was finishing up at community college and was beginning to apply to a four year college, when I met my first husband. My first husband was not a horrible person, he could be loving, caring and devoted, but us together was a train wreck, but we were good at hiding it. I pushed him to become the successful person I believed he could be and he did, but we grew to want different things and would not compromise to include or involve the other. I left. Turned out to be the best move for both of us.
I went back to college in the hopes of finishing ... over spring break, I got pregnant. The last month of the pregnancy was hard and I ended up having an emergency c-section two and a half weeks early. He came out healthy and perfect, we felt blessed. About the time I was looking to find a job to help my husband support our family, we were asked to adopt a relative. The catch was that the child was behind developmentally and they required a stay at home parent. After much discussion with my husband we agreed with one caveat. I would work on my novel, something I had been working on for the past three years, longer, if you include the beginning character creations.
I still have not graduated from college. I am on my second marriage. I have one biological son and another that I am working on adopting. I honestly believe that I am one Nanowrimo away from completing my first rough draft of a novel that I hope to publish.
Nanowrimo is short for National Novel Writers Month, which occurs during the month of November, where those who enjoy writing or aspire to be writers attempt to write a minimum of 50,000 word novel in 30 days.
Stay with me/Join me as I prepare and push through my next obstacle. Writing a novel.
LadyKaitlyn
I finished high school, barely, thanks to amazing friends who pushed me hard my last six weeks. I tried college, failed, got kicked out of my home, spent the next three years giving my mom the finger as I proved that I could take care of myself by working in the pizza delivery business. (I have to admit that I miss the people I worked with, but very happy when I finally managed to move on.) Then, I got sick and realized that the life I was creating for myself was not the life I wanted. I swallowed my pride and had lunch with my mother. Got enough courage to explain that I wanted to go back to college and clean up my credit which was destroyed due to a relationship with a fiancee, therefore, I needed to move home. She let me, much to my surprise.
Things were going well. I cleaned up my credit was finishing up at community college and was beginning to apply to a four year college, when I met my first husband. My first husband was not a horrible person, he could be loving, caring and devoted, but us together was a train wreck, but we were good at hiding it. I pushed him to become the successful person I believed he could be and he did, but we grew to want different things and would not compromise to include or involve the other. I left. Turned out to be the best move for both of us.
I went back to college in the hopes of finishing ... over spring break, I got pregnant. The last month of the pregnancy was hard and I ended up having an emergency c-section two and a half weeks early. He came out healthy and perfect, we felt blessed. About the time I was looking to find a job to help my husband support our family, we were asked to adopt a relative. The catch was that the child was behind developmentally and they required a stay at home parent. After much discussion with my husband we agreed with one caveat. I would work on my novel, something I had been working on for the past three years, longer, if you include the beginning character creations.
I still have not graduated from college. I am on my second marriage. I have one biological son and another that I am working on adopting. I honestly believe that I am one Nanowrimo away from completing my first rough draft of a novel that I hope to publish.
Nanowrimo is short for National Novel Writers Month, which occurs during the month of November, where those who enjoy writing or aspire to be writers attempt to write a minimum of 50,000 word novel in 30 days.
Stay with me/Join me as I prepare and push through my next obstacle. Writing a novel.
LadyKaitlyn
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