Writer's Wednesday: NaNo update

How's it going, NaNers? If you're doing NaNo, drop me a note, and let me know how it's working for you, or find me on the NaNo site as Rebecca Douglass if you want to buddy up. However much or little you're writing, it's all good--and probably more than you would without NaNo. I'll cheer you on if you are a rebel or a rule-follower.

I kind of messed up when I set up my project, and set the goal for the entire 80K that it takes to actually make up a novel in my genre (cozy mystery), so it's a bit of a stretch for me to hit the target every day (to say the least). I didn't really mean to do that, since I have every intention of pushing the writing on through December 3, at least--I'm going to be at the Hypatia-in-the-Woods Holly House artist's residency until then. I figure the residency will be a time when I don't have a lot to do besides write, especially if the weather stinks, so I can catch up while I'm there.

Meanwhile, though, the writing is actually going quite well, and I'm over 20,000 words into a novel that at least so far feels like it's going somewhere. Though it does occur to me that I need to get the perp into things soonest, and probably go back and add a bit here and there to get all my suspects more front and center. Of course, this point won't be 20K into the finished novel. I always seem to spend much too much time when I start a new book talking about stuff that doesn't end up mattering, or should be done later.

Plus, I made writing a little harder for a few days as I went on Monday and got both my COVID booster and my second shingles shot--two vitally important protections that nonetheless are costing me at least one day of full function.

The real issue with the writing, though, is my tendency to think about the flaws in the writing. This is a time for puking a great, messy, disgusting draft onto the screen (sorry about the nasty image!) and that's all I'm supposed to be doing. Not trying to decide if I've done it right. That I'm also working on trying to extend the outline a little beyond where I'm writing makes it harder, but that's what I get for starting ahead of myself! 

Tell me how your writing is going, or your reading, or whatever you are doing this month for *you*.

And here's a pretty picture to be a bit of inspiration:

So far, NaNo is in the early-morning stages, where we stagger out of our warm beds and stare, bewildered, at the possibilities before us, and try to frame a picture with our eyes still half shut.

©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2022

 As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated.

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