The end is upon us, dear readers! No, the Apocalypse has not come, and many of our favorite shows are still on TV (except for "Mythbusters", but that's another story). What has ended, however, is NaNoWriMo, known as National Novel Writing Month. The month of November is strictly devoted to churning out a first draft of a novel with at least 50,000 words. Having just completed the novel in the nick of time and beating the challenge, I can now sit back, eat leftover turkey and gravy, and reflect on the stages of NaNoWriMo writing. And what a long strange trip its been.
1. The Idea Comes To Mind (Sort Of)
That instant spring when you come up with a decent plot for your novel. I didn't create an outline for mine, but rather went off of the top of my head.
2. The First Word Hits The Page
As they say, there's a first time for everything.
3. First 1,000 Down, 49,000 to Go...
While reaching the first milestone badge is great, there's the sudden realization that you still have a loooong way to go.
4. Coffee Breaks Every Hour
I upped my caffeine intake to two extra cups a day, not including the sweet teas from Bojangles I would have for lunch.
5. A Plot Twist??
Every novel's gotta have em, right? The important thing to remember is that your plot twist doesn't come too early, or else it just becomes a side step.
6. Halfway There!
When you reach that precious 25,000 badge, you get a sudden boost in confidence, like a man in a bowler hat who cooks meth for a living (which should be made into a show).
7. Oh God, Fatigue...
As much as you love writing 1,667 words a day, there will come a point when you hit a mental blockage and all of the missing sleep catches up with you.
8. I Don't Think I Can Do It Much Longer...
The main problem I had was that I was nearing the very end of my story, yet I still had just over 10,000 words to go. There had to be a solution...
9. Wait, What If I Kill Him Off?
At some point, one of your beloved characters will have to be 86'd in order to give your plot some juice to it. Not only was it a tear-jerking scene for me to write, but coming up with how to do it kept me up.
10. It's The Final Countdown!
So you've finished up your plot, now it's time to go back in and add additional details and words in order to reach the 50,000 word minimum to win. Sometimes, you'll type just about anything.
11. The Last Word Hits The Page
NaNoWriMo was by far one of the most challenging personal contests I have ever done, but it was perhaps the most rewarding. It allowed me to work towards an end journey and mature as a student and a writer. Now that it is finished, I can focus on editing and seeking out publishers. So be prepared to see "The Guide" in bookstores near you in the distant future, and I encourage anyone to try NaNoWriMo out next year. Just bring your own coffee pitcher.
Competed in NaNoWriMo this year and want to discuss? Curious about how to get involved? Comment below or on any of the social media sites attached to this, and I'll see you next year!
