Guy. GUYS. We have literally finished the whole first half of NaNoWriMo!

Despite doing NaNo for years, it never, ever fails to shock me how fast it blazes by. I’m a little stunned the whole first half is just…done??? Where did it gooo? (Oh right, it passed me by while I was cackling madly at my computer screen for two weeks straight. AHEM.)

But being as somehow we have ended yet another week, ’tis time for me to subject you all to yet another round of Christine’s NaNo Rambles and Nonsense! WHOOOO!!!

NANO ’21 WEEK TWO

MONDAY: DAY #8

Mondays are, well, MONDAYS and it’s always a mercy if I get any writing done on them. During some busyness today, I wrote a few words here and there throughout the afternoon, but it just wasn’t looking like any long bouts of writing was going to happen.

So imagine my surprise and delight when after supper I finally holed myself up in my room and ended up having one of my best writing sessions this month??

But I was also reminded of the power of short sprints. Because, even though it felt like I wrote nothing all afternoon, those small moments in which I did find to write added up to nearly 1k words. Sometimes you just have to let life be life and use those little pockets of time to your greatest advantage. Every single word counts.

As far as how my story went today… Well, three out of four characters in the scene I was working on for the majority of the day ended up crying, so that was a good time. Also Aelin tried to strangle someone, when just yesterday she threatened to stab a person with a fork. Seriously, I do not know what to do with this girl. At this rate I don’t know how I’m going to keep her alive. Or anyone around her alive. Sheesh.

WORDS WRITTEN: 3,087

TUESDAY: DAY #9

I think today forgot that yesterday was Monday, not today, because today also felt like one of those very Mondayish days. #rude (Literally any time I have a long and/or stressful day I call it a Monday. Anyone feel me?)

Once more, I had to find smaller pockets of time throughout the afternoon to dish out some words. ALTHOUGH I did manage to find a little bit of time to get out on my hammock for the first time this NaNo, and writing on a hammock out in the woods makes things 900x more inspiring. That’s a fact. And, as with yesterday, I was able to get a good chunk of words in by evening time once the day had settled. Which, really, is fine. Those quiet evening and late night writing sessions in my room are always my favorite. There’s something about the busyness of the day being over, the house quieting, and the world falling in sleepy darkness that truly spurs my imagination and allows me to slip effortlessly into my stories.

Today definitely took a bit to get my groove going because I was working through some BIG plot stuff and like I have no idea what I’m doing??? I still don’t know what I’m doing, but I thiiink my story has cracked open the door a smidgen and is at least letting me take a vague peek at its plot. Or more like allowed me inside except I’m blindfolded and am just guessing what things are by feeling their shapes. Thus I’m tossing all sorts of random ideas and devices in the story hoping it’s right and that it will come together into something coherent.

What even is this metaphor??

OKAY BUT SERIOUSLY. Most of the time my wild blindfolded pantsing ventures, while, yes, do end in some disastrous scenes that need serious editing, also usually bring about all sorts of fascinating ideas that even surprise me and end up being huge parts of the plot.

SO.

I shall continue stumbling around blindfolded and hope I land on gold and don’t trip in a ditch or something.

Seriously. These metaphors. I need to go to bed…

WORDS WRITTEN: 3,862

WEDNESDAY: DAY #10

After working through some plot things yesterday (and by “working” I, of course, mean randomly typing stuff and hoping and praying it’ll all come together in some form of a coherent plot), today’s writing went so, so much smoother. It also helped that the majority of today’s writing was dialogue, and as I’ve mentioned before, those scenes go MUCH faster, especially with these characters. It’s the plot work that is the thing that tends to slow me down. But every single one of these characters has become such a part of me, it takes pretty much zero effort to know exactly what they’d do or say in any given situation. Which. Just. I’m so grateful to have landed on a cast that brings me such joy.

Even if they exhaust me also but watcha gonna do.

WORDS WRITTEN: 4,044

THURSDAY: DAY #11

FACT: Cool, drizzly, windy weather ups the writing motivation by 87%.

WELL, GUYS. Today proved to be my second highest wordcount day yet! Somehow I…I pounded out 6k words??? And like I wasn’t even shooting for that it just happened?? I totally give all credit to the weather. It was the type of weather you only see in pretty writing aesthetics—a little cool and drizzly with bright yellow and orange leaves drifting out my window.

P e r f e c t i o n.

It may have also helped that the scenes I was working on today became waaay longer than I thought they would so I just…kept writing trying to make it to the end of them. XD And I did! Don’t get me wrong, they were enjoyable scenes, I just had no idea they’d be so LONG. #storyofmylife But scenes were completed, lots of words were written, and I am a happy Christine!

WORDS WRITTEN: 6,026

FRIDAY: DAY #12

TODAY. Today was a good day. After the gloriously cozy rain the day before, the sun was beaming all day today with nice enough temperatures for an open window and writing on the hammock (which is my faaaaave; work doesn’t feel like work when done on a hammock #protip)

For most of the day I worked on a chapter in a point-of-view I’ve never written before, didn’t even know I would write in. But this scene idea popped in my head and I thought I’d try it and see what happens and ooooooOOOOhhhh. It was super fun and I learned thiiings. That’s the fun of first drafting, guys. You just get to PLAY and you never know what you’ll uncover.

The words came so, so easy today and I had a lovely time.

Annnd one more thing occurred today…

I MADE IT TO 50K WORDS!!!

My 12th NaNo in a row has officially been WON!

ALSO. I won my 12th NaNo on the 12th, while last year I won my 11th on the 11th day. I am seeing a pattern here…

I’M SO HAPPY!

If you’re wondering, no, I am not done with NaNo. Farrrr from it. My plan is to FINISH this thing and I suspect it’ll be around 100k words (or more #halp) so this is really only the halfway point for me. If anyone wants to send coffee I, you know, wouldn’t complain and would love you forever.

AHEM.

But halfway or not, we have to celebrate the milestones! And I am definitely SO VERY EXCITED to have made it to 50k!

As a reward to myself I took the evening off from writing and watched the new Dune movie! Which was quite entertaining. I most shamefully have never read the book so I had like no clue what was happening (it was so confusiiing) and there were some slow bits, but the cast was great and I thought it was still absolutely worth the watch. Definitely a great way to reward myself and take a little rest and creative recharge (which I needed like DAYS go. Gee, I wonder why?? *laughs hysterically and glugs more coffee*)

All in all, day 12 was a MOST fabulous day!

WORDS WRITTEN: 3,010

SATURDAY: DAY #13

In which the Real Chaos begins

Ah yissss. Here we go. As if I didn’t have a delightful enough time with the story the previous two days, THIS DAY HERE was the icing on the cake. This is where the real fun began a.k.a. the big ol’ midpoint changeroo.

Though I am totally pantsing this thing like a mad blindfolded octopus, I did know of one certain thing I wanted to happen at the midpoint which’ll just make all sorts of fun disasters take place. I only thought there was chaos at the beginning of this story. *cackles*

Also look at me actually following proper story structure. Be proud.

This scene was very wild and action-y, giving me the excuse to play epic battle music all day which usually results in my fingers flying. And they did! Eventually I got to the point where I didn’t even have a guess as to how many words I had written, I was just typing madly, so caught into The Zone I barely knew real life existed. Which is the BEST feeling ever when writing.

I honestly feel like I haven’t really entered The Zone much with this novel (though I mainly blame that on some life stress going on and distracting me). So it felt spectacular being so immersed today.

Said scene did end up being way, way longer than I thought it’d be. But, as we’ve learned, that is the story of my life. (I should write an autobiography titled “This is Way Longer Than It Should Be”) I’m okay with it in this case though. It was a big scene with a LOT going on and I think it needed to be a good length.

I’m also 97% sure it is a HOT MESS. But, man, it was a fun hot mess.

WORDS WRITTEN: 5,893

SUNDAY: DAY #14

Today’s writing wasn’t the wild rush of the previous’s, but the words were coming and I was actually shocked how much I ended up writing today. It was a quiet, chilly, sunny Sunday, perfect for spending most of the time in my story. <3

I’ve also just entered a scene I actually sort of have planned! Okay, okay, by “planned” I mean have a SUPER VAGUE and incoherent image of even though I don’t know what’s going to happen and how it’s all gonna work. So, erm, “planned” as far as us pantsers define the word. *smile, smile*

Most of today was laying out the groundwork and building up to this vague scene that supposed to be a pivotal moment even though I’m just as confused as the character who is dealing with it. Soooo the next bit of writing is gonna be interesting.

But it’s allll good. I survived this week, yes? I’m sure I can figure this thing out and manage yet another…

WORDS WRITTEN: 5,001

WEEK TWO WORDCOUNT: 30,923

CONCLUSION

This week started out a bit rocky due to some life stress (actually, if you guys think to pray for my family it’d mean so much to me, we’ve been dealing with some pretty exhausting things these past couple of weeks), but I felt like I eventually really fell into the groove of this story and by the latter half of the week the words were just flowing. I’m incredibly grateful for that.

The biggest highlights:

• Making it to 50k!!!
• Having a string of fantastic writing days.
• Reaching that big midpoint twist (and having such a blast writing it!)

It proved to be a good week of writing, and I’m pretty happy with how the story has shaped up so far. Though I’m definitely excited to have made it to the halfway point. From here on out I think things are going to be a wild ride (ya know, more than it’s already been) and I am readyyy. *cackles and rubs hands together* (I mean, I hope that was actually the midpoint and this story won’t be longer than I already think it’ll be… #halpmeee)

We have made it, guys. That whole first half is behind us, the week two blues have been conquered, and the finish line will be in sight very, very soon. And just know, a lot can be done in two weeks. But whether you’re behind, ahead, or exactly where you want to be, please take a moment to look at the accomplishments of this first half. Every single word is a victory, but not only the words. It takes a whole lot more than just typing to create a book. Brainstorm sessions, research, edits, reconnecting with your story after a dry spell, even connecting with the writing community (which, I’d say, is one of the most important things). ALL OF IT. No matter how this second half shapes up, please remember what you have done and take joy and pride in it.

I hope you all have a most FABULOUS second half of November!

Here we go… Second half of NaNo, we’re comin’ for you!!!

Gimme all the details! How was your second week of NaNo? How is November treating everyone? Surely I’m not the only one who is SHOCKED we’re already halfway through it??? Let’s make this second half an awesome one!