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Saturday, November 8, 2008

NaNoWriMo Day Eight

NaNoWriMo Word Count

Goal:
regular daily goal = 1667 words
Total word count goal for eight days = 13,336

Actual:
today's word count = 1,793 words (for today and yesterday.)
Total word count = 7,865

I'm still off by 5,471 words

What I learned: write something every day, even if it's crap. Writing every day keeps you connected to your story, characters, the flow you are moving in, your pacing, your voice, etc. Taking off a day or so in-between, no matter the reason (good or bad, avoidable or unavoidable) does make it so much harder to get back in to the story again.

Downside: I am so far behind! But I know I will catch up. I do have later chunks of my story written, but needs to be revised, so when I get to that part, my word count should jump back up. Also, although I am striving to show and not tell as much as my earlier draft, I am noticing I have a lot of back story. Too much back story. In one chapter, I have six paragraphs of back story. That can create a slow and boring reading experiences, so I must be careful of this!

Highlight: I'm writing again! Nothing else matters, as long as I just keep writing. Eventually, all these other things will be worked out in subsequent drafts. So... just keep writing, will hopefully be my new mantra I can stick with...

5 comments:

Jean Wogaman said...

Sheri, thanks for sharing the lessons you are learning from your Nano experience. It's really helpful to those of us who aren't able to participate this year.

PJ Hoover said...

You are doing so great!

Casey Something said...

You're doing great Sheri!

I keep falling prey to telling rather than showing, especially since I'm dwelling less and less on quality and just making myself write every day.

It's not easy! I agree though, writing every day makes it easier to pick it up the next day and so on.

Keep at it! I love your updates.

Casey Something said...

I just awarded you an "I Love Your Blog" award if you're interested!

Hope your NaNo writing is going good this weekend!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Thanks Jeanie. I am so glad you are finding it insightful and not boring. One never can tell, can one...

PJ - you think so? I am so glad to know that even though I am behind the word count, I am still doing well. I plan on catching up Monday. I am home alone all day and salivating just thinking about it! I might not even waste time showering!

Casey, HOLY CRAB LEGS! I just went to your blog and well, HOLY CRAB LEGS! Your word count is crazy, insane! I'm not worthy. Although, I am very competitive in a healthy way, so now you have inspired me and kicked my lazy butt! Now, I really am salivating for tomorrow.

And thanks so much for the award. I am so honored. I've never been awarded an award before... I'm over the moon! Now to figure out how to get the pretty little think displayed on my blog….

“Personal limitation exists only in our ideas of who we are. Give up all notions of who you are and your limitations will vanish.”

- Anonymous