Monday, November 23, 2015

NaNoWriMo Tag!

Can you believe we are almost at the end of NaNoMoWri??

Good news: As of today, I will be making my 50,000 word goal. If all goes well, they will be written by the time this post goes up!
Bad news: I still have a good 10,000 or so words left before my novel is finished and I don't think I will be able to finish this month. I still have a lot done though, so I won't complain.

My goal was to at least make my word count by the 24th because my husband and I are leaving on the 25th for a long weekend trip. I am happy I made this goal.

Shay at The Story Goes  was kind enough to tag me in these two NaNoMoWri tags. I thought I would take a break from my writing to answer these questions. 

First NaNoWriMo Tag

1. How many times have you done NaNoWriMo?

This is my first time!

2. How did you first find out about NaNoWriMo?

I don't remember . . . I think someone mentioned on Facebook a couple of years ago. I always wanted to do it, but I finally got the motivation this year. My wonderfully supportive husband is the one who has been pushing me the hardest.

3. What was the name of the first novel you attempted with NaNo?

I am so bad at coming up with titles, but the tentative title for my current book is Starving.

4. Give us a 1 sentence summary of what you’re writing this year.

The exact specifics of my plot keeps changing (yes, it changes even now). The basic synopsis is this: Emma is a lonely sixteen year old girl who hates living in her own skin and spirals into an eating disorder.

5. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

I guess the best advice that I have heard time and time again this year is to just write and don't worry about editing myself. The whole no editing thing has been tough.

6. Did you ever take a year off from NaNo? Why?

Since this is my first year, I guess you could say that I have taken the past decade off. Ha

7. What's your biggest inspiration when figuring out what to write?

My imagination! Really, I hate this question. Sometimes a book idea just pops into my head. One idea I have was inspired by an episode of Law and Order: SVU. Maybe that will be one that I work on next year?

8. Read us the first sentence from one of your novels.

I'm so sorry. No, that is not my first sentence. That is me apologizing because I am just not ready to share my work yet. Maybe another time. I am way too self-conscious right now.

9. Why do you love writing?

I love the power of creating characters and getting them to do whatever I want. I feel like I am a God! Muwahahaha

Next Tag

Write Fuel: What do you eat or drink while writing?

Usually just ordinary water. Sometimes, I will eat an Italian pocket coffee. Those are little pieces of chocolate with a shot of Italian espresso inside. HOLY YUM!! Too much caffeine can give me a migraine, so my limit is one. My husband can always tell when I have eaten a pocket coffee. I am super duper hyper.

Write Sounds: What do you listen to while writing? 

whatever is on TV, usually Bob's Burgers or Family Guy or even Friends reruns, depending on what time of day I am writing

Write Vice: What's your most debilitating distraction? 

The Internet!! There were a couple of days where I kept surfing the Internet after only writing a few words. 

Write Horror: What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you while writing? 

Nothing, so far (knocks on wood), but I did have a scare. I typically save my book in two places: my desktop and my external hard drive. One day (about 27,000 words in or so), my computer went wonky and the screen went black. We had NO IDEA what was wrong. Luckily, we were able to reboot it and were able to get it back up and running. But I was panicked because I realized that I hadn't backed up my book to my external hard drive in about 10,000 words. Lesson learned. 

Write Joy: What's the best thing that's ever happened while writing or how do you celebrate small victories?

Not really sure about the best thing that has ever happened thing. The main victory I celebrate is meeting my daily word goal. The way I celebrate is to read a book. Yes, I celebrate my writing victory by reading someone else's work.

Write Crew: Who do you communicate with or not communicate with while writing? 

I don't really communicate with anyone while I am writing. I am a solitary writer. My husband can see when I am writing and he is nice enough to give me space during that time.

Write Secret: What's your writing secret to success or hidden flaw? 

I can't even tell you my secret to success, mainly because I don't have one. My hidden flaw is dialogue. I have realized that I am horrible at it. Sometimes, I just let my characters say the first thing that comes to their (my) head. Some of the dialogue is good and some will need to be edited.

Write-spiration: What always makes you productive?

Setting a goal. If I have a word count goal, I am usually very good at making it. I tell myself that if I don't feel like writing after my goal is met, I can read or surf Facebook as a reward. More often than not, I end up writing more than my goal.

Write Peeve: What's one thing writers do (or you do) that's annoying? 

I guess the one thing I do that may be annoying is talk about how bad my work is. I am sure my first draft is far from being ready for publishing, but I know there is some good stuff there.

Write Words: Share one sentence from a project, past or present? 

As I wrote earlier, I am way too self conscious to share any of my work right now. Maybe getting some self confidence is in order.

I tag anyone who is participating in NaNoWriMo to do these tags! 

Tell me . . . are you participating in NaNoWriMo? If you are, how are you doing with your goals. You can add me as a buddy here!



13 comments :

  1. Congratulations on reaching your NaNoWriMo goal. That is wonderful. It comes at the worse time of year for me, so I've never finished. I tried this year, but life is just too crazy. I don't mind, though, because at least I have more words written than I did before.

    Maybe you can set a goal for yourself in January to complete the remaining word count.

    Hope you'll check out my musing at http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2015/11/musing-mondays-november-23.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cheryl! I think this time of year was bad for a lot of people. Good luck with finishing. I think it will be a resolution for the New Year to finish my book. Hopefully I can finish it soon!

      Delete
  2. Congrats on completing NaNoWriMo! I did it in 2010, and already had five published novels out there, but wanted to jump-start the next one. I did go on the finish that novel and published it last year.

    Good luck and enjoy the journey.

    Here is my MUSING MONDAYS POST

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant to say "I did go on to finish"

      Delete
    2. Congrats in finishing your novels and getting them published. That is awesome!! That is the dream for me. :)

      Delete
  3. Congrats on making your word count goal!!! That was a fun tag. Good luck on finishing up your book!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. (I so might do this.....I love it!!!)

    I really hope you share your work one day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Lyn! Hopefully, I will gain the confidence I need soon. I mean, the whole point of writing is to share it, right? :)

      Delete
  5. "I feel like a god" Haha, yes, this is why we all do it, yes??? I agree with hating the question about how you find inspiration...like it comes up all the time and I feel like EVERYONE has the same answer, being everywhere and anywhere.

    Oh my god, I need this pocket cofffee, I NEED it. Setting a goal is what makes me most productive too. I used to think I'd be bad on deadline or whatever but then I realized I am so much more productive, I don't think I've ever really not met a goal except for the few times I don't meet a word count by the end of the day. But I always meet the big goals like finishing by a certain day. =)

    I'm glad you did these, it was so much fun! And congrats on winning NaNo! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Shay! I really appreciate all your encouragement. It helps, believe me. :) Setting a goal was absolutely necessary for winning NaNoWriMo. There was only one day where I did not meet my goal and that was because I had a horrible migraine for most of the day. It's kind of hard to write when you are in excruciating pain. I still wrote a little bit when I was feeling better though. But other than that, I would just tell myself to do my word count and then I could stop after that if I wanted to. But there were many times where I would just keep going because I was on a roll.

      Delete