In which I finish a long story

Final word count: 20,331 words.

Last year's final word count was around 5,000. So I've made significant progress. I wrote more days than last year, I wrote more consistently than last year, and I didn't give up on the story totally like I did last year. No, I didn't make the 50,000. But that's ok. I did finish the story I was telling. So, am I a winner? You tell me.

Still like the ending. Still hate the rest. Such is the writing life.

Will I ever share it? I don't know. I really don't.

For next year, I will start spewing half an hour a day. I'd so trained myself into the 15 minute mode, I couldn't seem to go on for more than 15 minutes. So look to see more ramblings about writing idea things here.

There also has to be some balance between the way I write well and the way to write a lot... I'm going to work on that. I don't think I can spew out junk and be happy about it. But I have proven to myself that I can spew out junk and finish the damned thing.

More musings later. I am going to take a break for a bit, but check back occasionally.

In which I'm a third of the way there

Too bad the month is more than 2/3 over, though.

But...

This evening's word count: 4012 (!!)
Total Word Count: 16670

So, I now only have to write 5555 words a day to finish on target. Because I didn't make it to 5334 words, I'm still increasing my word deficeit I guess... But I'll try again in the morning.

Snippet:
“No matter. It’s my job to catch the fallen ones.” Danny J shrugged, but she could tell that somehow she had hurt his feelings. He held out a cup of green liquid.

In which I fall even farther behind

Total Word Count: 12,658

According to my NaNoWriMo report card (a cool Excel file that gives you all sorts of stats on your progress):

You're falling a little behind. But don't worry, just try to write 5334 words a day and you'll still make it.

Ooookay. I'll try. But I've lost my momentum, and I'm massively distracted. But no work for 4 days might help a bit.

In which I struggle to catch up

Just a quick note to say that yes, I am still writing. I'm over 12,000 words now--I'm at least 25% of the way there. (Still not enough, but I haven't given up hope yet!) Will officially update everything soon, I promise. Got a little side tracked by life, work, and a few new pet projects.

In which I pass the 10000 word mark

Woooo!
Daily word count: 1,120
Total word count: 10,394

Snippet of the (other) day:
“You go on believing that as long as you can. Ain’t happened yet, is all I say.” The woman gave Calli an awkward pat on the back. “You’re dead to the world now, girl, and if Danny J has anything to say about it, and his word is law here, you’re going to stay dead to the world.” The woman stood up.

Snippet of the day:
“Well.” Danny J looked Aristotle up and down. “I could leave you here with the dog after I pull the girl away from him. In fact, I as good as promised him he could hunt you down. I think he’d enjoy tearing out your liver. He likes liver.”

In which I am and am not the Energizer Bunny

Still going...
But not still going tonight.
Sleep, here I come!

Daily Word Count: 1759
Total Word Count: 9274

Almost where I should've been a week ago! But hey, it's my highest word count so far. Still not quite enough to make up the deficiet (I should be averaging about 2000/night according to the NaNoWriMo report card to make my goal). That report card is pretty cool, though.

Ok, off to go to sleep--I increase my stated age by a year tomorrow, and my old bones can't take these late nights anymore....

In which I continue to stall on the plotline

Daily Word Count:540
Total Word Count:7515

Still falling behind on the quota. Still moving forward on the total.

Today's snippet:
She nodded and closed her eyes. She didn’t think she’d fall asleep, but she had the feeling if she didn’t at least pretend, Danny J would make her regret it.

In which I doze off

For yesterday:
Daily Word Count: 567
Total Word Count: 6975

Well, I really wanted to break the 7000 barrier last night, but I literally fell asleep at the keyboard. Woke up around 1 am, went out quick to see if there was an aurora, 'cause missing yesterday's totally killed me, and went to bed. Still feel like I was up all that time this morning, though. Just gotta give up this nasty sleep habit I have... 2 hours should be enough for anyone!

Today's (Yesterday's?) snippet:
“You aren’t Justin,” she croaked. Her throat and mouth felt like someone had been feeding her cotton balls mixed with Saltines and sand.

In which I press onward, albeit slowly

Daily Word Count: 794
Total Word Count: 6408

Slow, slow, but going...

Today's snippet

The pit bull looked up longingly at his master, and growled again. It was about time someone gave him a decent quarry. Aristotle was dog meat. If he was lucky, that is.

In which I break last year's word count

Daily Word Count: 1543
Total Word Count: 5614

Missed yesterday- migraine was not helpful. But got a lot done today. Still not sure I like where it's going. I'm not even sure I know where it's going....

Snippet of the day:

When he mentioned the joint and the soup line, and the fact the man reminded him of a wizened old monkey, the security guard nodded. “That’s Stinky George. You can’t trust what he says. We’ll check out your story, son, and take a look around, but if you’re getting your information from Stinky George, you’re probably better off heading home and waiting for her to show up there. She probably just got tired of waiting for you, that’s all.”

In which my word count is not divisible by three

I hate when plot points happen even if you were trying hard to avoid them...

Daily Word Count: 705
Total Word Count: 4071

Deficeit: lots o' words, but hey, I've got some for each day. Already doing better than last year on that count. Another thousand or so words, and I'll have passed last year's score. Maybe tomorrow I won't have the migraine, too.

The only snippet I think I can share from today:

And in the rainbow was a snake, a cobra, dancing with fascinating eyes staring at her, hypnotizing her.

In which I throw a pity party

Well, maybe since I slept last night I can stay up later writing tonight. I just jumped in with Aristotle, but things don't seem to be improving much. Of course, I haven't given it much of a chance yet....

Daily Word Count: 667
Total Word Count: 3366
Word Count Deficeit: 1624

Got my work cut out for me over the weekend, looks like.

Daily snippet to share:

The boy reached out and grabbed her upper arm, pinning it to the wall. “It’s your eyes, girl. I can see myself in ’em. Proves I’m real.” He leaned in closer. “The guitar guy is good, but we could be better.”

In which I move elsewhere

Ok, that title's not about writing. I hope things are different when I wake up. Did not make my daily goal- was too busy indulging in vain hopes. I will try to catch up over the next few days, but I'm feeling pretty discouraged at the moment. Not about the writing, at least, not much about the writing.

Today's count: 974
Total count: 2699

A snippit of dialogue I feel like sharing for no particular reason:

“Didn’t some snake kill Cleopatra? Should I beware of snakes?”

“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. She just makes the stuff up. You’re much more likely to be burned by vicious menus.”

In which I should not stop to think too hard about what I'm doing

Today's Word Count: 1725
Total Word Count: 1725

Snarkiest sentence:
He watched her vanish, as tense as his guitar strings when he plucked the upper harmonics out of them.

Thoughts:
Um, ok, there's a reason this blog is titled what it is, you know...
My mantra?
Keep every word, and keep on going. Time enough to cut after November.
This better improve once Aristotle and Danny J get into the act. Right now it reads like the world's soppiest teen romance....

In which I make a token start

I officially hate my current beginning, but hey, I've started!
I expect to increase the word count more significantly later today.