NaNoWriMo Update — Day 25
Challenge Yourself
The NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for the month of November 2023 is almost done. This month has flashed by. Thankfully, I’ve been able to concentrate on the writing in my book every day. I prepared by scheduling articles to be published on Medium every other day during the month. Occasionally, I’d write updates as I am doing now or something that occurs to me that is fun.
On the 25th of the month, I am at 43,764 words. The goal is 50,000 words for the competition. I’ve got five more days and 6,236 words I need to write. I am ahead of schedule and seeing as it’s only 9:45 am in California right now, I might plow back into it this afternoon.
I could finish in two or three days with a couple of good writing days. If I am, I won’t stop writing and will continue because I’m actually aiming for at least 60,000 words in this book. It would be better to have 70,000 words, but I won’t decide that until I’ve hit the 60,000-word mark and if I have run out of things to say. Having a 60,000-word book will result in a paperback about ¾ of an inch thick. I like to envision how my books are going to feel in my hand. I know it’s an estimate, but that’s how I work.
The first time I participated in NaNoWriMo, it was difficult. Over the years, it’s gotten easier to manage until now, I don’t think much of writing a nice 2,000 words in one day. The way I look at it is if I can do it, I’m pretty sure anybody can. I mean, those of us with full-time jobs are generally spending eight hours a day working away at them. It is the time before and after and whatever days off you get that can be devoted to writing.
This is where, as a writer, you decide to allow the time you spend with social media to wither away somewhat or the time you spend watching YouTube videos and movies to be less than what you’d formerly spent. Just think of it as growing up. Remember how, as a teenager, you might have fallen into the classification of a couch potato? Right, that is no longer an option because you are a writer. If you are retired and don’t have a job, this becomes your job.
Just think. Google says we generally speak at 100 to 130 words per minute. Some people speak faster than that. I think my husband does. But figure if you talked 100 words a minute. In 20 minutes, you would have spoken 2,000 words. I know it takes me longer to type 2,000 words. Sometimes, it is fast; other times, it takes me longer.
The Links NaNoWriMo — It’s free. April, July, and November every year.