Month To Date

Hi, folks! As you can see from my word count progress bar to the left of this post, I am now all caught up for my NaNoWriMo writing goals (and then some). I'm really excited to cross the 50,000 mark, but the joy is not just in the destination--it's also in the journey. Specifically, I really enjoyed expanding my writing experience this year by attending "write-ins" where like-minded writers get together to pound out some words on the keyboard (or notepad, as the case may be). Here are some of my interactions with the writers in my area this month. Not exactly a play-by-play, but I hope it gives you a taste of the fun we have.

Tuesday, Nov. 3

Hey, everybody! It was great to meet all of you at the write-in. I hope you all made some decent progress! I did almost my full word count for today in that one sitting, so I'm pretty happy with my performance tonight. I'm looking forward to another write-in some time.

Betsy, I think you've kind of become our unofficial chapter president :-)

I like having a pre-planned meeting time for lots of us to plunk down a couple thousand words. I can bring that big bag of candy again if anyone's interested in measuring their wordcount in M&Ms!

-Andrew (the argyle sweater guy)

Monday, Nov. 9

I came, I wrote, I conquered!

Good write-in tonight, and thanks, Betsy, for getting it set up again. I also appreciate the great idea you gave me for my story, and then all the other brainstorms that spawned because of that one!

So, the victory wasn't so much in the sheer number of words, but in the great ideas I have lined up for the days ahead. Mankato area WriMos rock!

Monday, Nov. 16

Hi Everybody!
I was really glad to have the write-in tonight! It got my creative juices flowing and I not only managed to pound out 2100 words, but also kept the great ideas flowing. Too bad I'm just so busy that I can't write as fast as the ideas are coming! But if you're behind on wordcount, too, just keep at it! I'll be noveling whenever I can steal a few minutes over the next two weeks. We both can do it!

Even though I have to leave early on Mondays, I could do with another write-in a week from tonight (especially the Mocha Mondays deal I just found out about!).

Later that week...

I did an experiment today to see whether or not writing at a coffee shop was making me more productive. I went to my campus library to write for an hour and a half before going to work, and much to my surprise I got out over 1800 words in one sitting! So, between Dunn Bros, the library, and my house, I'm pretty sure that I need to get out and write more. [The atmosphere really helps me get "in the zone."] Either that or it's the big, comfy chairs...

Monday, Nov. 23

Thanks for the fun times, everyone! Yes, tonight was a good night, not just for wordcount (I added a piddly ~500) but for the fun conversations. I like meeting up with everyone and talking about writing, writing tools, weird dreams, and other totally random things.

Tonight I was writing down the web address of a streaming music website (www.grooveshark.com - awesome site, by the way) and borrowed someone's pen to write it. I accidentally took apart her ball point pen! I was embarassed, but when I explained it was because I was so used to my fountain pen with the screw-off cap, she totally understood. Then the embarrassment went away because I knew I was hanging around with the right crowd!

It has been a very enjoyable year for me to do NaNoWriMo again. The joys, heartaches, pains, triumphs are becoming more familiar every year I do this, but I don't think the thrill of coming over the hill of 40,000 words and seeing the finish line will ever grow old.

As a group we've also discussing some kind of regular meeting throughout the year to encourage each other and get ourselves motivated to actually edit our spectacular piles of garbage later in the year. (After all, "The first draft of anything..." as Vonnegut said.) That is something I would love to work toward, especially since I believe we have a lot to learn from each other by sharing tips, styles, excerpts, and support and encouragement.

So, that's my month so far! I hope you can bear with me through the last week of this insanity. Wait... Actually, I'm beginning to think that this insanity will last long after November is over. This isn't something you can do and not be changed forever.