Taking a blog day off, but not a day off from writing Idle Hands for National Novel Writing Month.
Here are my stats for November 15, 2014:
| Average Per Day | 1775 |
| Words Written Today | 1508 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 26626 |
| Words Remaining | 23,374 |
| Current Day | 15 |
| Days Remaining | 16 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | November 29 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,461 |
We are half-way through National Novel Writing Month, where I (and 500,000 other writers) have challenged ourselves to write 50,000 words in 30 days…
So a good bench-mark would be writing 25,000 words in 15 days.
Thanks to an “internal challenge” I had with a couple of my “mentorees” through the NaNoWriMo site, where we challenged each other to reach 25,000 by Friday, I’m happy to report that I earned my 25,000 Writing Badge yesterday. Woo-hoo!
Here’s a graphic showing the four main statistics from the NaNoWriMo site. In the upper left-hand corner are the Participation Badges (completed) and the Writing Badges, displaying my latest accomplishment of 25,000 words. The next Writing Badge to earn is by validating my word count, but I can’t do that yet, because I’m not at 50,000 words.
In the upper right-hand corner is my daily stats in bar graph form imposed against an average line chart for where I need to be to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I’m basically right on schedule.
In the lower left-hand corner are all the statistics I’ve been reporting on daily through this blog; this is how they appear on the NaNoWriMo site. What a red-letter day! The number of words I have written exceeds the number of words remaining. And, finally, I’m tracking to finish ahead of schedule again (although Thanksgiving is bound to put a damper on that, so if I was ambitious, I’d aim to be at 50,000 words by the 26th.) Don’t want to get tripped up by tryptophan!
In the lower right-hand corner are the bar graphs displaying the cummulative word-count totals of all the NaNoWriMo participants in the Denver area. 14 million words and counting!
I wonder where all those people are going to publish their books? I know where I would suggest, but then again, I’m biased.
We’re on the downhill slope, fellow WriMo’s.
My November 12th blog was titled “The power of motivation” and within the body of that posting I wrote the following sentence: “Once I reach 50,000 words, I’ll probably stop.”
When I read my posting the next day (as I always do, to review it for errors after 24 hours have passed), something occurred to me for the first time when I re-read that particular sentence. I didn’t write, “If I reach 50,000 words.” I wrote “Once I reach 50,000 words.” In other words, I have never questioned whether or not I would write 50,000 words in 30 days. That has always been a forgone conclusion in my mind. I’ve been positive I would do it from the moment I signed-up.
Some might call that cocky; others might call it naive. I prefer “positive.” But, regardless of what you call it, visualizing the future without a shred of doubt has miraculous advantages in life; you do what it takes to “get there.”
I think this is also why I went through the exercise of creating a book cover image for Idle Hands. From the beginning, I have been picturing the end result. First, writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Second, revising and rewriting that first draft into a coherent novel. Third, submitting that novel to publishers, and then after they reject it (hey, it can’t all be positive), self-publishing it myself. For me, it is easier to picture that published novel in my hands if it has a cover. That’s going to be my reality. It just hasn’t happened… yet. But in order to get there, first thing’s first: writing 50,000 words in 30 days.
What does your future look like?
Okay, I rebounded from that horrible 0-word day, so here are my stats for NaNoWriMo for November 13th:
| Average Per Day | 1660 |
| Words Written Today | 2039 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 21584 |
| Words Remaining | 28,584 |
| Current Day | 13 |
| Days Remaining | 18 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | December 1 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,579 |
Even with writing over 2,000 words yesterday, I’m still on track to finish after the deadline. See what skipping a whole day of writing gets you? I’d better not do it again… The “fun” part is that both of the “word stats” are in the 20,000’s — I’ve written 21,584 words and the number of words I have remaining is 28,584. I’m looking forward to that “exactly middle” 25,000 word milestone, with a target completion date of November 15th. That gives me 2 days of writing to crank out 3416 words, or 1708 words each day. No problem-o…
… baby steps…
A week ago I mentioned one of our best-selling authors at Outskirts Press, Mirtha Michelle Castro Marmo, and her success with using social media. The Self-Publishing News blog recently interviewed her, and here are some helpful excerpts from that interview for those of us participating in NaNoWriMo (and for all writers, come to think of it):
OP: What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of becoming a published author?
MMCM: The most rewarding part is and will always be the ability Letters has to touch people. It’s crazy because I didn’t think people really read books anymore. But for me, having these girls go and buy my book, and spend their twenty dollars or so on Letters–it’s amazing, that someone believes in things still. People say my book has helped them heal, and that it has touched them, and that they have read and reread the book five or six times. It’s not a long book, but still! That’s the best feeling. A lot of girls and guys have hit me up, saying I inspired them to write again. It’s so great, because I’ve had people inspire me throughout my life, so it’s kind of like I’m paying it forward. I love showing people that things are possible. When I first saw Jennifer Lopez in a movie, you know, I was like–wow, a Latin girl on screen! I was being represented. It was so powerful. If I can be an inspiration to someone to write, to publish a book, that’s beautiful.
OP: What advice would you offer new authors?
MMCM: Go with your gut. Don’t write for what you think people want–write your heart. People receive honesty well, unless they’re your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. Just be honest in your writing, and then publish it. Don’t go to the coffee shop where people are writing scripts and things like that when you’re trying to write something heartfelt; the city noise and the distractions will prevent you. Take that time for yourself. Imagine you’re meditating with your computer, with words. Really listen to your soul, so you can express what it wants to say.
OP: What does the average day look like for you, as a writer?
MMCM: I make time to write, and obviously I also write whenever I feel something specific move me. I’m constantly thinking of new material, so I’m constantly on my phone. Some people might think I’m texting, but I’m actually writing. Discipline is super important. With acting as well, you want to go to class–you want to make sure you stay on top of your game by auditioning. It’s an entire job just to get the audition, and another job to book it, and then another job afterwards. The same discipline I follow as an actor I bring to my writing. I wake up early every day and try to write something, whether it’s one paragraph or a chapter. Each morning at a given time, I’m writing.
You can read the whole interview at Self Publishing News.
Mirtha Michelle Castron Mármol’s book, Letters, To The Men I Have Loved, has been one of Outskirts Press‘s Top 10 Bestselling Books every month since it was published in June. Mirtha Michelle Castron Mármol is known for her roles in the “Fast & Furious” franchise and the upcoming film, “AWOL-72,” and she keeps her fans and readers up to date on her activities through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Check out her hashtag, #MMCM, to learn more about her work.
I hate to change so abruptly from such an inspiring post to such a depressing statistic, but I didn’t get ANY words written to my book yesterday, so my NaNoWriMo stats for November 12 look like this:
| Average Per Day | 1628 |
| Words Written Today | 0 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 19545 |
| Words Remaining | 30,455 |
| Current Day | 12 |
| Days Remaining | 19 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | December 1 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,603 |
For the second time this month, the Stats are tracking me to finish AFTER the deadline. I’d better pick it up!
For the past 12 days I have been actively participating in National Novel Writing Month (along with some 500,000 of my fellow writers). NaNoWriMo, as it is known, challenges people to write 50,000 words to a novel in 30 days. I’d guess the majority of people who start the process may not successfully cross the 50k finish line, and that’s okay. At least they tried. But, impressively, many people make the attempt year after year. They keep on plugging along. As I quoted Ray Bradbury in yesterday’s post, “You fail only if you stop writing.” That’s not only true for National Novel Writing Month, but it is true EVERY month. In fact, it’s a good lesson for life in general: You only fail if you stop writing trying.
What I noticed as I was looking at other WriMo participants’ stats is that those writers who won usually stopped right around 50,000 words. They crossed the finish line, yes, and then promptly stopped writing their books. Their word counts rarely extended much beyond the 50,000 word requirement.
There are exceptions, of course. One WriMo wrote over 105,000 words in 30 days, but in general, the WriMos I researched who “won” did so by just squeaking past the finish line.
I’m probably going to “squeak” past the finish line, too. Once I reach 50,000 words, I’ll probably stop.
But should I?
Should any of the WriMo’s stop at 50,000 words? Should we stop writing on November 30th? Perhaps National Writing Month is only about cranking out 50,000 words in 30 days; but writing is about something more than that — it is about establishing a writing routine that is driven by a self-imposed goal (50,000 words) and a self-imposed deadline (November 30). These goals and milestones may not SEEM self-imposed in November, since NaNoWriMo is “throwing” this worldwide writing party, but the truth is, it IS self-imposed. There’s no one FORCING you to write 50,000 words in 30 days during NaNoWriMo. Those of us who are doing it, are doing it for ourselves. To see if we can.
What’s stopping us from doing the same thing in December? And in January? And February?
After all, that’s what a writer would do. As Richard Bach once said, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” Let’s all keep writing, even after NaNoWriMo 2014 comes to a close…
Here are my NaNoWriMo stats for November 11, 2014:
| Average Per Day | 1776 |
| Words Written Today | 2007 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 19545 |
| Words Remaining | 30,455 |
| Current Day | 11 |
| Days Remaining | 20 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | Nov 29 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,523 |
Outskirts Press has over 12,000 followers/fans on its Facebook page at http://facebook.com/outskirtspress — and some of our most popular posts have been inspiring quotes that we’ve shared to our writing community. As we begin the second full business week of NaNoWriMo, I thought I’d share a few quotes that seem particularly appropriate for those of us attempting to write 50,000 words in 30 days during National Novel Writing Month:
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” ~ Richard Bach
“If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.” ~ Dan Poynter
“Write your first draft with your heart. Rewrite with your head.” ~ Mike Rich
“Fiction does not spring into the world fully grown, like Athena. It is the process of writing and rewriting that makes a fiction original, if not profound.” ~ John Gardner
“You can’t think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block.” ~ John Rogers
“You fail only if you stop writing.” ~ Ray Bradbury
Keep on writing, fellow WriMo’s!
My NaNoWriMo stats for November 10, 2014:
| Average Per Day | 1753 |
| Words Written Today | 1730 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 17538 |
| Words Remaining | 32,462 |
| Current Day | 10 |
| Days Remaining | 21 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | 26-Nov |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,546 |
Judging from all the NaNoWriMo sponsors and all the “free” stuff those sponsors are giving away (ranging from 1 free book to 2 free books!), it’s clear that WriMo’s are like everyone else – they love a deal! During the days in October, when I began posting about my participation in NaNoWriMo, I mentioned the FREE CUSTOM COVER promotion we were offering at Outskirts Press if you began your self-publishing process before Halloween. Well, that promotion may have expired, but November’s deal is just as good. Whether or not you are participating in National Novel Writing Month, you are eligible to receive our free Amazon Extreme Package when you start publishing with our Diamond or Pearl full-color publishing packages during November. Among other goodies, the Amazon Extreme Package includes a free ebook edition of your book specifically formatted for the Amazon Kindle and distributed via Amazon. Get all the details, and the necessary promotion code here: http://outskirtspress.com/promotion.html
My NaNoWriMoStats for November 9, 2014 are below. I passed 15,000 words to my novel, Idle Hands.
| Average Per Day | 1756 |
| Words Written Today | 1378 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 15808 |
| Words Remaining | 34,192 |
| Current Day | 9 |
| Days Remaining | 22 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | November 29 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,555 |
I’m taking a “blogging break” today, but I’m still going to get some writing done on my novel, Idle Hands, and in the meantime, here are my stats for Saturday, November 8. It was a pretty productive day…
| Average Per Day | 1803 |
| Words Written Today | 2606 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 14,430 |
| Words Remaining | 35,570 |
| Current Day | 8 |
| Days Remaining | 23 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | November 28 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,547 |
I realize you don’t donate to National Novel Writing Month for all the “stuff” they send you in acknowledgment of your donation. You donate to NaNoWriMo because it’s a good cause.
But (and this is mostly just because I needed a topic to blog about today) I thought I would take a look back at all the “stuff” I was supposed to receive from NaNoWriMo in appreciation of the donation and see if it has all arrived…
I don’t have any idea if I received this or not. I probably did, in the form of some email with links to these webinars, although, I don’t remember receiving anything like that…
I received this, along with a hand-written card from Grant. Since I doubt I will be in Berkeley, CA prior to the coupon’s expiration date of 12/31/2015, and since this coupon is transferable, the first WriMo who contacts me through the NaNoWriMo site with their California mailing address can have it…
I received this. In fact, they were kind enough to allow me to feature two of my previous books on this bookstore, so I submitted Self-Publishing Simplified and Sell Your Book on Amazon.
It’s probably too soon to know if I received this or not, but I hope I don’t. I get enough stuff like this already.
I received some sort of rolled up poster in the mail, so I assume it was this…
Yes, I received this in the mailing tube along with the poster. I think the dog already go to it.
I received these.
I received these.
Yes.
Yes.
I don’t remember getting this, but perhaps it was in the email along with the webinars…
I don’t remember getting this, but perhaps it was in that mysterious missing email, too.
As I said, the main reason to donate to NaNoWriMo isn’t for any of those things. It’s to support a worldwide creative effort. As Grant Faulkner wrote in his note to me, “the world needs more creators.” Amen to that…
Here are my NaNoWriMo stats from yesterday, November 7:
| Average Per Day | 1689 |
| Words Written Today | 2179 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 11824 |
| Words Remaining | 38,176 |
| Current Day | 7 |
| Days Remaining | 24 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | 30-Nov |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,591 |
Yay, I passed 10,000 words. Woo-hoo! And look at that, I’m scheduled to finish exactly on time. I’d sure like a little more lee-way than that, especially with Thanksgiving approaching, so I should focus on getting a few days ahead!
Wow, yesterday’s word total update for my book, Idle Hands, was the lowest yet. Only 480 words! I felt positive I was going to earn my 10,000 word Writing Badge yesterday when I started the day with over 9,000 words, but other responsibilities took over and I was “lucky” to contribute any words to the cause.
Sadly, this makes my Stats for November 6 the worst yet. This is the first time the stats are estimating that I finish my book AFTER the November 30th deadline. Ouch.
| Average Per Day | 1607 |
| Words Written Today | 480 |
| Target Word Count | 50,000 |
| Target ~ Words/Day | 1,667 |
| Total Words Written | 9645 |
| Words Remaining | 40,355 |
| Current Day | 6 |
| Days Remaining | 25 |
| At this rate, you’ll finish | December 2 |
| Words/Day to finish on time | 1,615 |
I better pick it up! Perhaps a way to do that is to look at my writing buddies for inspiration. At the time I was uploading my sad, sad 480 word count, for a new total of 9645, some of my buddies had word counts ranging from 8710 to 33,322. And that’s not even including one of my buddies who has ALREADY written over 50,000 words. I checked her author website and her goal was to write 50,000 words in 5 DAYS! Now that is impressive, and inspiring.
I also remembered that I’m supposed to add an excerpt of my book to the NaNoWriMo, so I submitted this from chapter one:
She was beautiful. I had admired her from afar for far too long and now here I was standing right next to her. I hadn’t spoken yet. I was just… taking her in. Her aura. Her curves. Her style. The way she seemed to shine in the light. She was flawless. It may sound crass to say, but I longed to be inside her. (I loved that smell!) Hearing the noises she made when I pushed her hard and feeling the way she gripped; my mind reeled. She was definitely my fantasy and someday I was going to have her.
“She’s a beaut, isn’t she?” the Porsche salesman said as he approached from my left.
President of Outskirts Press 