Still Going, but Embarrassingly Slowly

I'm up to 60,000 words and not quite done with the story. It could easily end up in the 65-70,000 range, which would make it an actual novel by something other than the NaNo definition.

I'm pretty disappointed at how slow it's going, particularly since I just proved to myself that I can hack out 2,000 words a day for 25 days straight. Ah well. I suppose there really is something magical about November and that NaNo synergy.

Disappointment

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed in myself. I realized about a week ago that my chances of finishing were a little less wonderful than I'd hoped they would be at that point. I thought I had completely steeled myself against the possibility of not winning. I didn't think it would bother me that much.

It does bother me though, and it's not just because I don't get the nifty winner's icon. It's because looking back at my wordcounts for the month, and knowing how many words I cranked just in the last couple of days, I know that I could have won, I should have won, and, really, I sort of gave up before I even started. I think that by expecting to not finish, it became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy and that just ticks me off.

The good news though, is that I managed to get to over 42000 words which is about 36000 more than I wrote on my first attempt at NaNo two years ago. Plus, I actually really like the way my story is developing and I plan to continue working on it until it's actually complete. And even more important than liking my own story is the fact that I've let my husband and my 16-year-old daughter read what I've got so far, and they both like it too. (and that's sayin' something since both are avid readers and both tend just a little bit toward brutal criticism when they feel it's warranted.)

So overall I guess I'm disappointed with my effort, but still happy with my results. I guess that will have to be enough for this year.

I did it!

I'm at >50K words and still plugging. Thanks to PK for the suggestion and the encouragement along the way!

A

Rearrangements

I hope no one minds, but now that there are several winners among us (with plenty more to come, I have NO DOUBT!!) I've added the Winner icon to the sidebar. As you can see, I stuck the "Participant" icon up at the top; then comes the list of our names, with the winners icon at the bottom. I thought it made for good symbolism.

Finished

I finished, but I don't know how I feel about my story. It needs to sit and ripen for a while, I think, before I go back to finish it off.

I've gone through periods of thinking that it will be the best thing ever written, to the worst thing ever written, to "it's okay, I guess." That's where I've settled lately.

It's hard to finish without the looming deadline facing me. I know this from last year. I still need to get the 2006 NaNovel out the door again to see if I can get representation for it; I've only collected one agent's rejection letter so far. I'm sure there are many more to go.

Are we there yet?

I've reached 46,750 with two days to go. Still plugging away though I realized my story will not be finished at 50k. It still needs an additional 20-30k at minimum to wrap everything up. So, I decided to begin my own KeGoWrimo (Keep Going Writing Month). I'm afraid if I stop I'll lose steam. Anyone with me?

Pk's!