The folks at https://www.grammarly.com/grammar-check have put together this handy infographic to help you avoid these five mistakes in your NaNoWriMo novel.
But don’t stop and look for them now. Wait until December or even January to proofread your epic tome. Get the words “on paper” first then proofread and edit in the coming months.
Week 1 of NaNoWriMo is behind us. I hear you breathing a sigh of relief. I am, too, well sort of.
How did you do? If your plan is to write 50,000 words this month, you should be sitting at a word count of about 11,667 (based on 1,667 words per day). But we all know that we have days where there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish that goal.
I ‘fess up. I’ve not been writing 1,667 words a day. Most days, I only manage 500 or thereabouts. But as I’ve said in a previous blog post I’m only striving to write every day.
I’m pleased to say that I have written every day, which was my goal and at the end of week 1, I’ve written 5,906 words.
I hear you scoff at such a paltry number. To me it’s huge! After all, I’ve written every day this month. And so far I’ve stuck with the piece I’m pantsing. Things have been coming together for me on this piece really well so I’m happy to stick with it.
Today was another great day for me, but it falls into Week 2 so I’ll save my progress for another post.
How did you do the first week of #NaNoWriMo?
How do you? Does your writing process change just because it’s November and #NaNoWriMo?
My process definitely does. I usually write in fits and starts. And I use that term loosely. I write until I get bored with what I’m working on. Then I’ll go off and read for a while (like half a dozen books) before I even think of ‘putting pen to paper’ again. By which time, I’ll start something else.
So I’ve managed to write four days in a row and amass a whopping (tongue-in-cheek) 4,272 words.
I have two projects I can work on during NaNo. I’m pantsing the one that’s currently getting my attention.
The other I’ve plotted and outlined to death. But when I open that document up, knowing what comes next… I wonder at the wisdom of why is that in so-and-so’s POV? Wouldn’t it be better in someone else’s?
While I ponder those issues, I’ll continue with my pantsing. Or should I call it plantsing? Or plotsing? I know the ending – just don’t know how I’m getting there. But that’s the fun isn’t it? Knowing where you’re going and enjoying the ride and the surprises along the way?
Day 1 of #NaNoWriMo went extremely well for this writer. As I said in yesterday’s post, I’m not aiming for the magic 1667 words per day. I just want to make myself write every day.
So how did I do, I hear you ask? Drum roll, please…
How about 2350 words. Not a bad day’s work, if I don’t say so myself. And today also included three loads of laundry washed, dried, folded and put away and making a curry for supper.
Speaking of curry, it’s been simmering in the crock pot all day and it smells delicious.
Tomorrow will be the true test of my writing every day resolve. It’s back to work so will have to squeeze in words over my lunch hour and when supper is cooking. After that, my poor brain and eyes will be done for the day.
And this post is 163 words in length. Does that count towards my daily word count? I think so. #amwriting
T’is the day before #NaNoWriMo and all through the house…
No one is awake – not even your spouse.
Okay, so that’s a bit over the top but it is the last day before National Novel Writing Month (aka #NaNoWriMo) begins.
Have you girded your loins (perhaps an exaggeration), got your ducks in a row, an idea outlined, characters created and the like?
50,000 words in 30 days? I hear you gasp and quake with dread. But don’t think of it that way. With a mere 1667 words every day, you’ll reach that goal.
My goal for #NaNoWriMo is to write every day. I have two projects on the go – one which will only be about 15,000 words at the very most but with it and the other project (which is outlined to death), I could possibly come up with 50,000 words. I figure when I get bored or run into a wall, or the voices in my head quit talking to me (yes, I hear voices), I can switch off to the other.
Are you taking part in #NaNoWriMo? If so, I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Let me know in the comments.
Good luck everyone at reaching your writing goals!
Yep, I’m writing. As a matter of fact, I’ve got two projects on the go at the same time. Well, sort of at the same time.
Shadows From Her Past (the sequel to A Shadow in the Past) is comfortably ensconced with my beta readers. So while I’m waiting for feedback from them before moving on to the next revision, I plotted another book.
Plotting for me is huge! I’m more of a pantser but I have to know where I’m going so maybe that makes me a plantser?
Anyway, I had started this project a while ago and it languished in the dark recesses of my hard drive. I wrote the ending but that was about it. So while I had lots of time (well not lots but you get my drift), I went to my trusty software Storybook Pro (similar to Scrivener) and plotted my little heart out from beginning to end.
My writing has changed (hopefully for the better) a lot since I originally started this project so a lot of things have changed since that early draft. Some of the characters are new, some aren’t. They’re older now – thirtysomethings – but essentially the plot remains the same.
The ending will remain the same just improved (I hope) because my voice has developed and I’ll be able to pack more oomph into the emotional upheaval.
So all that being said, this work-in-progress (currently known as Second Chances) is sitting at … drum roll please … 5133 words. I know it’s not much but every word counts. I’m thinking this one will come in at about 85,000 words when all is said and done.
And what is this work-in-progress about?
Here are two versions of my two-sentence blurb.
#1 Katherine Murphy lives in fear of losing her partner when the helicopter he’s on ditches in the North Sea on a return flight from the oil platform he works on. Will he perish in the crash or will they be given a second chance together?
or
#2 When a helicopter ditches in the North Sea returning from the Alba Ecosse platform, Katherine Murphy lives in fear knowing that her partner, Jared Martin, is onboard. Will he perish in the crash or defy the odds and survive?
Which one do you like best?