Last year I signed up for nanowrimo. And finished in 21 days.
It is an interesting concept. Basically it is a dare. You dare yourself to write 50,000 words towards a novel, hopefully including a beginning a middle and an end – in one month. The month of November. No-one but me reads it. No-one even particularly cares if you get the 50,000 words, except you. Me. And when you load your novelette at the end of the month and the machine counts it and you have enough words, there is the sound of many hands clapping and you get a cyber sticker. But they will never know me. The challenge of nanowrimo is a personal challenge. I challenge myself. The BEST kind of challenge.
But I wrote very fast last year which is not unusual for some people we know – I love Bills writing – especially his poetry ( I have linked you to his new photography blog because I love that too and he gave me my Camera House – so it seems just as appropriate) but pretty unusual for me. I am not usually a fast writer – I blame Bill for that too. He taught me to type with my eyes closed.
So this time I have started 10 days late to up the ante somewhat. There are 30 days in November. So I have 20 days to write 50,000 coherent words.
It was rainy yesterday then it snowed. Not a good day for drying winter hay but a great day for writing.
I love a challenge. Don’t you love a challenge?
I do write, every day, of course. The big work is progressing. But nanowrimo is like a wee holiday because it is writing without pressure. It is just words. 50, 000 gorgeous words.
This story has a working title of The Thoroughly Modern Witch. It is about a mother and her teenage daughter. Though set in an inclement, volatile future with a supporting cast of beautiful old retainers in a deeply gorgeous crumbling estate falling slowly into the sea. There are cows of course – sheep, and dogs and a black cat. And an island. Enchantment. Banishment, and English teachers. But mostly it is about a girls awakening to her mother’s power. And a mother who will take on a lion to save her daughter then a daughters discovery of a fierce will to save her family. And that daughters need for her father and as the mother and daughter finally join forces the enchantment lifts and they seek him together.
So I may be a wee bit absent in the coming weeks, but deeply present all at once.
And oh yes, I will still be here with you every day. The farmy must go on you know. Just a few less words on the blog pages and a little less editing!!
Have a lovely day
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
78 responses to “nanowrimo without the capitals”
a challenge to write. i’ve written so very many words but never an all-at-once story.
maybe i shall lay my head down, much like wee marmalade, and ponder this……..
Happy writing, c.
That sounds like writing a thesis.
I think you should make sure someone reads it – the challenge is good but an audience can tell you whether it’s good or not 😉
Love your outline – that’s a story I’d read!
Your weather is at my house this morning – very cold rain right now, snow and sleet in another hour…Maybe we’ll make popcorn or something…
Ah….Love seeing the goldilocks windows in action.
Oooh, what you’ve shared about your story idea sounds so good!
Hope you’ll add some time to polish and share it some way.
I was surprised to read
> because it is writing without pressure
as my impression was, that most participants join because of the pressure.
And your post was a reminder that I wanted to write a NoNaNoWriMo post on my blog.
For me the pressure of word numbers is not a real pressure, more of a challenge. i find the pressure of going back and making sense of it, editing, then the terrible question of will there ever be an agent for me or a publisher and so on.. to be real pressures. the writing is much more joyful. c
Like one of my profs used to say…rewrite, rewrite, rewrite!!! Then rewrite again! LOL Never give up! There will be a reader for it! 😉
I love a challenge too! Mine at the moment is not as exciting as yours though. I am cleaning out every cupboard in my little cottage, checking “use by dates” on food, throwing stuff away I don’t need (being strict) and putting pretty shelve liners in before putting every thing back. This is a once in a blue moon challenge as it is a task not on my favorite list! Must admit I find your challenge much more interesting and one I should contemplate for myself. Actually I have a personal ‘diary’ on my PC that is addressed to my granddaughter, and I have been filling that up with stuff from my past, pieces of knowledge that I have found helpful, write ups of family members etc. I aim to leave it for her when I pass on. Need to go update that as I haven’t written in it for a while.
Happy writing Celi!!
I love the idea of writing for your grand daughter.. I look at my pantry and think the same thing, it needs to be completely emptied and cleaned and rearranged.. I might undertake that challenge in december. but good luck with yours.. not my fav either.. c
Brave Celie. Lovely indoor piccies, specially Boo and Marmalade. I probably write that amount of words in a month, but not a novel. I did it three years ago, and the novella is in my fiction page as Anne’s Fortune, but it is nowhere near 50,000 words.
Enjoy your day, but I hope somehow the hay dries. It’s very wet again here.
Love,
ViV
Love the ideas for your story Celi! Sounds like it will be a page turner!!! Also love the shots of the Coupe, both inside and out! Stay warm my friend! xo
Good luck, love. I know you will do well. By the way, the view in the last shot should open out to the sea. Just saying.
Oh, I and I haven’t decided my blog will be a purely photography blog. I think it will be more about my life, with pictures. Like yours, I suppose.
That makes sense, a fluid blog with words and pictures, as mobile as a life, I like it.. c
When the fields are full and the wind blows…like the waves on the sea…undulating and rolling to the shore! We may be landlocked, but in our hearts we are still on the coast looking out to the sea. 😉
Good morning Celi ; Well that’s how novels start. To be honest that sounds like something i would buy to read!! no light thing to say for me; cause i hate to read! there are not many books that i will read, just ask Missy. as for your writing ( i do enjoy it ) your skill and art is worthy of at least the start of a online book for starters to test your skill many authors today start out is cheaper. try it !
be a blessing mike
Anne McCaffery the pern novels and David Eddings the belgariad are my favorites .
i do Love a good adventure
hey how in the world did you get big dog into the house?
JOhn pulled and cajoled and I snuck up behind him and pushed, once he saw his blanket waiting he stumbled over there and settled down to be wrapped up, it was 21 when we got up this morning, way too cold for that old dog.. c
Your story sounds wonderful! Happy writing Celi! You will, as you do with everything else, do a stellar job!
Just so long as we get a few shots of our precious Marmalade over the next 20 days, everything will be perfect. 😉
I wonder how many words you have written today…
🙂 Mandy xo
I saw your word count yesterday. You are amazing! GO! you can do it! I love the personal challenge, too.
are you still one of my buddies? I must loook, how are you doing?.. c
I AM one of your buddies! I sent you NaNo mail yesterday. Unless you delete people, all of last year’s buddies stay on your list. You can’t get rid of me without trying! Muah-a-ha!
Ah yes, i went and looked, I had forgotton abut that and voila there you are, I must go and look for your message, I am just working out how to run the nano page again, a year is a long time for a paddington bear brain! c
I love your story line. It also sounds as if one could unravel lost truths in the writing of it. I love the idea of plunging into it with no other intent than the writing itself. I think all tasks are good this way, simply for the love of the action. Enjoy.
Good luck with the writing.your story line sounds interesting. I tried the November writing last year, but managed two thousand one hundred plus words and dried up! It is still there somewhere in the bowels of my computer, one of these days….?