JamSmooth.com » nanowrimo

I won NaNoWriMo!

Jam — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:09:39 +0000

I just crossed the 50,000 word threshold for National Novel Writing Month. Amazing, challenging, mind-altering, eye-opening all describe this experience. I’m so glad I took on this challenge.

The story is not finished yet. I have the ending and I know where it’s going. I’ll finish it up this week. After that I’m going to take a break from the story. Then in January I plan to come back, edit, rewrite and maybe publish it myself? We’ll see.

I still see this story as a film and my dream would be to see this on screen. After all it has a soundtrack.

Thanks to all of those supported me and those who didn’t. I used it all. If I can do this, anyone can do it. Give it a shot next year.

Progress Definitely Not Perfection

Jam — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:06:19 +0000

As of last night I’m 22,065 words into NaNoWriMo. I will be at the halfway point soon. I’ve written a lot of crap. Letting someone read this first draft is akin to waterboarding. However surprises appear each day I write. My mind must be working subconsciously because I get ideas out of nowhere, while making tea. “Oh I could write about that!,” I think and a new path will flash before me. Characters appear that I never imagined when I first started.

I’m enjoying the process. The discipline of writing every day is challenging yet it is also fulfilling. This process is showing me that I had time in each day for something creative, I just didn’t take advantage of it. Having a deadline, a real deadline, makes all the difference. The pressure of 50,000 words by November 30th applies more each day. All that matters is getting that magic number of 1,667 words a day.

Another thing I’m learning is focus. Focus is king. Distractions taunt me every time I write: Twitter, Facebook, E-mail, Digg, iTunes. When I’m at the coffee shop I check out every person that enters. I have to overcome all that just write. The bottom line is word count, not quality.

Will I finish? I hope so. I’m one of those folks who have to finish what they start. I’m not sure how I’m going to crank another 28,000 words out of this story. I have a lot more to write about but 28,000 words? Do I have it in me?

Thankfully I have my good buddy JeHerv along for the ride. NaNoWriMo also releases podcasts and pep talks to keep you writing. They know this is no easy task.

If you’re rooting for me thanks. If not, thanks, I love to prove people wrong about me. 16 more days, 28,000 more words and we’ll know if I have my first novel under my belt.

NaNoWriMo and JamSmooth

Jam — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:07:47 +0000

Never one to run from a challenge, JamSmooth has officially signed up for NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. The challenge is to write a 50,000 word, 175 page novel in one month. Last year there were over 100,000 participants and 15,000 finished.

Thankfully my good buddy over at The Arc Of Time has joined the challenge as well. We’ll be able to encourage each other.

The timing is perfect. I recently began thinking about an idea for a screenplay. This will force me to write it. I’m excited about this challenge. When the novel is done (and edited) I’ll put it somewhere you can read it.

Wish us luck! We start in 4 days.