I'm a winner

50,113 / 50,000 (100.2%)

I'm a Nanowrimo winner! Yay! First time in three years of the challenge and I'm really pleased.

The story is far from over and I still have no idea how it will end but to have written that many words in a month. Cool! (Plus the 5000 or so finishing off the other first draft).

I didn't think I was going to get the validation. Still having shocking thunder storms here so I didn't think I'd get the words typed up in time. But I managed to type up the last remaining words I wrote today, validated, got my purple winner bar, my 'winner certificate' and the icons.

And here is the winner icon!

One of the reasons why I have not written so fast previously is because I don't like letting go of the story, and I'm frightened that 'that's all she wrote', that I will never have another decent idea again. This month, I wrote without a plot, with just a vague feeling I wanted to capture about reliving youth through music, and from that the charactes and the situation developed.

'If you build it, they will come.'

If you face that blank page and just start writing, it will happen. Trust the universe!

Finally Kat gets some action.

47,193 / 50,000 (94.4%)

I said to my partner tonight that I needed to do his computer work before I started typing up today's writing, because if I started transcribing tonight, I would have to keep writing the scene until Kat gets laid. Yes, that's the direction we're heading in at the moment. And it's only taken nearly 50,000 words to get there, and that includes skipping scenes.

I'm sure that this is the longest time that it has taken for any of my main characters to have sex. Usually they've jumped into bed a long time before now. But she had some issues to sort out first.

It's 10.46 pm and yet again I have to work tomorrow, but I'm determined to make that 50,000 words and beyond.

So currently Kat and Matt (man I've just realised that rhymes so I'm going to have to change his name) are at a teppanyaki restaurant, then they're going to the observatory for some stargazing. It's been a long time since I have eaten in a teppanyaki restaurant - I may have to put it on my own agenda soon next time I'm in Sydney.

Sprinting to the finish line

45,395 / 50,000 (90.8%)

Closer, closer, closer. I can do this. Shame I have to go to work and talk to customers. But I'm nearly there. Just under 10% to write in two days. Course I can.

The good thing is that all 45,395 words are transcribed, so I won't have a mad rush typing the last 10,000 words of the challenge in a couple of hours - although I can type faster than I write, I can't type THAT fast!

And yes, I did write myself into the book as a character. It was strange writing about myself from the main character's point of view. But it was also fun.

Still on track but I need a secretary.

44,122 / 50,000 (88.2%)

Another rough word count as I still have 16 handwritten pages to transcribe. And I'm very very tired. I'm going to have to go to bed because I'm back to work 8.15 tomorrow morning.

I'm still certain that I will make the actual wordcount by November 30. The question is, can I get it typed up in order to make the word count validation????

It would also help if I didn't have to share the computer and then when I do get on it, have to make a heap of labels and crap. My head is in my novel. That's the ONLY place I want to be right now!

Breaking the 40k barrier

Woohoo! I'm over the 40k mark. 5 days left. Less than 2000 words needed per day. This is totally within reach. I'm looking forward to getting one of those purple 'winner' bars on the Nanowrimo site.

And yes, I have written myself into the novel. Which is very bizarre. Especially as I'm writing from Kat's perspective about me. I'll only appear in two scenes - the first of which has been written.

Word count is rough as the last scene is not yet transcribed and I will probably not be touching the computer again until tomorrow evening as I have my writers group meeting to attend. But my notebook will be with me. I'll keep writing, just in a different environment.

40,312 / 50,000 (80.6%)

Falling asleep

37,443 / 50,000 (74.9%)

As you can see from the above word count, I did not make 40,000 words last night.

Halfway there. But no cigar. But considering I was not in the mood to write and I kept writing regardless, I'm pleased. I'm almost past my total word count for last year's Nanowrimo - that is an achievement in itself!!

I've just typed up the long hand, and this is the result. When I went to bed last night, with my notepad, intending to keep writing, I was full of good intentions. However, my body knew better and I was very quickly asleep with the light still burning bright.

40K today. Got to get there and then zoom right past!!!!

Can't afford to even think about how few days are left of Nanowrimo. Just keep going.

Through the eyeballs of a prawn...

Finding it really hard to keep writing today...

Feel a bit down. Maybe it's because it's the day after my birthday. Maybe because I didn't want to move off that lovely percentile. Maybe it's because it's off-pay week. Maybe it's because I have two days left of my holidays. Maybe it's because there's a big hole in my entertainment unit where the television should be. Desperately fighting the urge to go off and watch Absolutely Fabulous instead of writing.

But I would really like to get past 40,000 words today. It's 3pm. And I'm aboutt to surrender the computer. I must be delusional.

Ever had a prawn's view of life? Well here it is, right through the eyeballs of the Big Prawn, Ballina.

My characters have just visited there and now they are at the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Maybe that's the problem. Kat and Alex are here in Coffs. I wish I could go have a drink with them. But maybe that's the answer to the block. Maybe I should go have a drink with them (although I'm not sure Kat's in a drinking mood at the moment. She's got a massive hangover.). Maybe I should write myself into the novel at this point. Yeah, why not? I can bump into them in Coffs somewhere.

35,195 / 50,000 (70.4%)

A suggestive percentage

34,496 / 50,000 (69.0%)

Check out that percentage!!! It must be all the sex the characters have been talking about. Woo hoo!

So I've been writing at the doctors, at the bus stop and again at home. Currently not jealously guarding my access to the computer because Robbie is away doing a radio shift. So I will keep writing until he gets back.

I've had plenty of shopping therapy today. Been into shops I've never entered before. Bought myself the new Absolutely Fabulous DVD (which I swear has not been screened on TV here), a new dress to wear to my cousin's wedding next week, plus the wrapping paper and card for the wedding present, and a couple of Christmas presents. I'm almost done with the Christmas shopping so I will be able to relax over the next couple of weeks.

And I came home to a couple of presents:

Season 1 of The Muppet Show

and the Alanis Morissette collection.

Oh yes, and I decided I might as well cook tonight. I can be spoiled on Friday evening.

It's my birthday and I'll blog if I want to

Today is my birthday, and I'm two years off the dreaded 40.

It's cool. I'm going to be published before I turn 40, and at the rate I've been writing lately, that is a realistic goal.

Hanging around an on-line community of writers has expanded my skills, developed my persistence, and inspired my creativity. I know now that writing and striving towards publication is not for the faint-hearted, it's not for the people who merely fantasise about writing a bestseller without actually doing any writing. It takes passion, and motivation, and kicking the procrastination bug out the door.

And there is nothing more inspiring than finding out that on-line buddies have got the call. These writers Lori A May and Heather Rae Scott have received their reward because of their perserverance and talent. They are my role models.

So, what exciting stuff am I doing for my birthday?

Going to the doctor. That's always exciting.
Writing (goes without saying during Nano) but waiting for the doctor's appointment is always an excellent time to get more words on paper.
Bit more Christmas shopping (almost done) and some window shopping.
And because my car is out of action, I'll have to work out the 'barely there ' public transport system of Coffs, to get back home.

Any celebration tonight?

We've postponed to Friday evening to go to the movies and dinner so I'm not sure what that means for tonight. It won't mean that Robbie will be cooking dinner for me. He doesn't do dinner. Just the occasional bacon and eggs for breakfast. But do I want to cook dinner on my birthday? Not sure yet. I'll have to report back tomorrow.

32,862 / 50,000 (65.7%)