Now that it's over

My final word count for NaNoWriMo was 18,835. It's a long way from 50,000, but I'm pleased anyway. Considering how much time I actually spent writing, I think I did pretty darn good!

It feels good to be able to work on the book without the pressure of NaNoWriMo. But at the same time, that pressure was a big part of what kept me going during November. I'm grateful for the challenge it gave me, and that I have a new novel in the works that shows promise.

If I had to guess right now, I'd say that half of what I've written is going to get tossed out. Even as I was writing during those crazy weeks, there were times when I knew I was writing something--anything--just to keep the story going. There is a draft to finish and then the work really begins! Scenes will be cut or moved, dialogue polished, all those "telling" paragraphs rewritten to show the story happening.

I wonder how much of that I can get done in December?

Now, join me in congratulating Daughter #1! She joined the Young Writers Program for NaNoWriMo and set a goal of 20,000. She did it! She wrote a little over 20,000 words of her fantasy novel. This is her second time participating in NaNoWriMo and her first win. So, congrats J!