The Challenge

I've always wanted to write a novel.  I absolutely adore reading, and that has naturally led me to try my hand at writing as well, though so far I've met with little success.  I've started one or two stories, but I always wind up getting severe writer's block.  Next thing I know, I'm on Pinterest or watching Ponies on Netflix.

I've discovered what I hope will be a solution to my problem: NaNoWriMo.  I've just recently learned that November is National Novel Writing Month and that there is an entire organization out there devoted to helping writers (like myself) write that novel they've been dreaming of.  How?  By challenging writers to write 50,000 words in the month of November.  30 days, 50,000 words, one novel in one month.  The website (nanowrimo.org) sets up a word counter and everything for authors to keep track of their progress towards the 50,000 word goal.  People from all over the world participate in this every year, and this year, I am too!

There are several rules involved:
1.) You cannot use any prose you've written before November.  November 1st should be the actual start of your writing.  You can use any notes and planning from before, but the writing part has to start on November 1st at the earliest.
2.) You also have to reach 50,000 words by midnight on November 30th.  It doesn't need to be edited or anything, it just needs to be actually written.  Submit your novel to the word-counting judges, and you can be a NaNoWriMo winner!
It's basically as simple as that!  I mean, it can't be one word repeated 50,000 times or anything like that, but I figure that sort of thing is glaringly obvious.  There's no judgement on quality or anything more than the word count, which leaves the author free to do whatever they want with their novel!

I started late on Day 3, so I'm rather behind on my word count right now, but I'm confident I can catch up.  I've never been so excited and confident about writing!  The different areas even hold write-ins for local Wrimos to all hang out and write together!  They'll be holding a few at my university, and I certainly plan on attending!  I've even got my best friend involved, and we're sort of having a word war between ourselves :).

I started writing just yesterday, and NaNoWriMo says we authors should be aiming for about 6,667 words by midnight tonight.  So far, in two days, I have 3,468 words, which I like to think is pretty good.  I wouldn't allow myself to stop until I reached the halfway mark for where I'm supposed to be.

My story is a unique take on certain aspects of Lewis Carroll's Wonderland that I'm calling (for now) Curious Nonsense.  That's definitely just a working title, since I don't think it fits my story at all.  I might post a couple excerpts every now and then, though I don't want to spoil anything ;).

I'll start off by giving the logline (a 10-second summary) of my story:
"When a disastrous accident threatens the imminent collapse of two worlds, the woman responsible must race a power-hungry maniac to recapture the only creature that can restore balance."

I've got most of the story arc planned out as I would like it, which is more than I can say for most of my other attempts at writing.  I think I rather like the pressure that comes with this challenge :).  I guess that's not surprising since I'm definitely a write-a-paper-the-night-before kinda girl.

Well, I suppose that's it for introductions!  My next post will probably be an excerpt from my 3,468 words so far.  I sure hope I can complete this thing and win!

Good luck to all the other Wrimos out there!

~Victoria