(Hapuna Beach, The Big Island - Hawaii) ~ I'm on the water's edge with my draft - ready to start swimming...
The Short Version:
50,414 words in 19 days
I won NaNoWriMo!
(OK, so I only won a badge for my website and a PDF certificate, but I also have a draft of my first novel. How cool is that?)
The Longer Version:
I think anyone who earns a living by writing or teaching writing should be put in a special class of people, along with all artists. I look up them, I am inspired by them, and basically, maybe deep down, I’m envious. I love writing and am currently trying to find a way to add more writing to my life with eventually making money, once again, from my writing. Why not aim high? (In fact, if you want me to write something for you, send me a message via my Contact Me page!)
Granted, I have been employed as a full-time writer in a various biotech companies and sometimes while concurrently working as a scientist, too. But, I’d like to broaden my horizons and write for the general public, too, not just the science-types out there. (No offense, docs!) Maybe I have a book in me? Or???
I first learned about, and entered, the NaNoWriMo Contest as a suggestion from Suzannah at her blog Write It Sideways. Her blog helped me with some really great tips along the way. She was kind enough to exchange a few delightful, encouraging emails with me, too, which was really quite cool. NaNoWriMo, to me, was an experiment in writing—what could I learn from writing 50K words in a month?
I’ll get right to the point!
The five most important things I learned from my Writing Experiment:
- Discipline—It’s amazing what you can crank out when you set goals (e.g., time butt is planted on chair or word count).
- Don’t Procrastinate—Putting off until tomorrow what you can do today only makes tomorrow more painful.
- Build Support—Without a safety net provided by my friends (yes you!) and family, I would have quit at least a dozen times.
- Be Reasonable—This is really a sub-point to my first bullet, but don’t set goals for yourself you can’t meet. Writing a novel is difficult enough without having to answer to your own high-priestess and inner critic about not meeting a goal or deadline. Be gentle on yourself, set goals, but make them ladder rungs you can truly climb successfully.
- Hope & Healing—(Suzannah asked me if I’d mind writing about my NaNoWriMo experience for her site. Heck yeah, I was honored she’d ask! To read in depth about how my Writing Experiment affected me on the deepest level, Hope & Healing, go to Suzannah’s site today.)
I may have not yet published a novel, but I have some kick-butt skills regarding how to accomplish big projects. I wrote my Ph.D. thesis in 6 weeks, too (~120,000 words). Please tell me about a big project, which you’re really proud of, and how you went about finishing it! I’d love to know!
Create a great day!
For further reading, visit my two of my progress reports during my Writing Experiment:
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Well done, Lori. You’re a writing machine. In future you’ll have the confidence to know what you have done this time can be replicated again and again and even done better.
Hey Gordie, it’s always great to see you here. How’s things?
And, yeah, you hit the nail on the head – having finished NaNoWriMo gave me the first-hand knowledge that writer’s block is really just (mostly) procrastination. You know?
Well, teddy bear, I’ll be seeing you real soon, either here or over at LifeStyleDesign4U. Hope all is well!
~xo
I just wanted to say (again!) how proud of you I am. This is a HUGE accomplishment, and not everyone could pull it off. You’re so amazing and talented, and I’m so happy to know you! You rock!
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..Paying It Forward =-.
Honestly, aren’t you glad it’s over? I have a feeling I was driving everyone crazy with my little writing experiment. (ha)
Thanks for all your help and support. Everyone should have a jay on his or her side!
You amaze me, hero boy.
(P.S. Awesome [in the fullest meaning of the word] post Sunday!!! You are amazing!)
Lori,
You are awesome! In so many ways…today, though, as a writer! You DO have a book in you!
And…as awesome a writer as you are…it pales in comparison to the caring and beautiful friendship you offer. I am honored to be here today, to read these words, and to hold a special place in my heart for you…my friend…
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day =-.
Hi Lance,
Hello my friend. Thanks so much for all you’ve done for me. It makes me misty-eyed to think of the impact you’ve had on my life. Truly, truly, you are an amazing, compassionate man. Thank you!
Thanks for your support here, too, Lance. I will figure this out, I swear, if the last thing I do!
You are a light to the world, a light to me, a beautiful soul.
~xo
Lori, that is a truly amazing feat! That’s a whole lot of words in a very small amount of time. A whole novel! Geez girl, I’m most impressed. So awesome to see a goal like that achieved. Good for you!
Hmm, a big project I’ve undertaken? Well, the obvious and most recent one would be getting my blog up and running. It was a case of getting help (particularly tech help given I’m technically inept), having discipline to work on it every day and passion to keep going. Seeing it come together was really satisfying.
Great job Lori, you kick arse writing machine you!
.-= Sami – Life, Laughs & Lemmings´s last blog ..Kick Arse Question – Human Beauty =-.
Hi Sami!
I’m glad it’s over, and I’m also glad to not have to type mixed capitals so much these days (re: NaNoWriMo). ha
I’m really glad you’re continuing your blog, Sami, and thank you for your efforts to get it going. It’s unique (love the name!) and the appearance has kick, too! Awesome!
I know blogging isn’t easy, and is a true labor of love, so I’m holding my glass up to you, Sami, for doing such a kick-ass job. Hang in there; if you build it, they will come!
I enjoy your blog very much, Sami, thank you for hosting it.
Now…what to do with a 120-page manuscript!!?!
You kick serious butt… with a pen… I don’t know how well you’d do with a sword, but swords are for non-mighty people anyway.
I just left you a comment over at your guest post, but their spam bouncer is holding me hostage. I never can fool those spam catchers!
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..Net Worth vs Self Worth: The Passion Paradox =-.
Hearing I kick butt from one of my favorite warrior women is a huge compliment! Thanks, Lisis! Yeah, I prefer a pen to a sword, unless I’m dreaming, then I seriously kick some “a” – I become the Samurai Princess Warrior.
I see you made it though the spam bouncer over at Suzannah’s site, too. You’re such a sweet talker – were you like that in college, too?
I’m still working on my big project and it sometimes it seems like it will NEVER get done! Thank you for this boost of optimism and motivation.
P.S. Finishing a thesis is a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Go you!
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..The Controversial Way I Saved My Marriage =-.
Hayden,
Did I hear the words, “big project” coming from your mouth, Hayden? YOU CAN DO IT!! Don’t stop! Take it in bite-size chunks – I KNOW you will do it!
Thanks for the kudos – looking back, it was actually quite fun.
(Now, stop stalling and get to it, girl!)
Hi Lori:
Thanks for sharing this information! I’m sure you’ve learned more than you realize. I cannot tell you how much I admire you for accomplishing this. As much as I enjoy writing and coming up with posts for my blog, I know I could and should be doing more and I intend to do something about this. In any case, thanks for inspiring us to stretch ourselves!!
.-= Tim´s last blog ..The Magic of Showing Up =-.
You know, Tim, now that I’ve been away from the manuscript for almost three weeks, I’m realizing you’re right! I get these little inspirational moments and realizations from finishing NaNoWriMo – many of them actually. It was definitely worth the time and effort.
By the way, have you thought about trying NaNoWriMo in 2010? I think you’d really enjoy it, too!
Hey Lori, well you are in trouble now. You will never ever get away with being out of integrity ever again. We no longer expect any complaining, procrastinating or denial from a great woman like you.
Oh you soon have hero status and we make you live up to it. ha!
Congrats and what a way to end 2009!!!!!!
.-= Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Don’t let change in your circumstances fool you. =-.
Uh oh, Wilma, you’ve busted me.
Hero status, no WAY – maybe I can be hero-assistant status, tho? Can I be Bat Girl’s memoirist?
Thanks for your encouragement and for your comment, too. Wilma, YOU are MY heroine!
~xo
Hi Lori! I’m dancing in my chair for you – YAY! Way to go! This absolutely superb accomplishment of yours makes me feel like a real slacker! I abuse the freedom and time I have to write these days by a myriad of distractions, not the least of which is Monkey Mind, so my progress is slow. I wrote under such pressure when I worked for a newspaper (deadlines) that I think I’ve gone to the other extreme now – just la-lee-la-lee, another chapter almost done. I’m hoping to kick start 2010 and set goals that I am accountable for!
Hey anyone that can do the Nano thing has certainly a book in them, don’t you ever doubt that! And ya know what? It’s only the FIRST one – I’m feeling like you have even more! I’m going to Suz’s blog too. You are probably spot on getting support from other writers too. Friends are great, but other writers know what you’re going thru. Thank you a TON for this inspiration!
Hugs and BIG congrats
suZen
.-= suzen´s last blog ..Consenting to Feel Icky =-.
Yay, I got you to dance in your chair, Suzen!
Wow, you worked for a newspaper? That is soo great – how interesting! I know what you mean about deadlines; when I wrote for biotech companies, the deadlines were relentless. I think it definitely shaved a few years off my life. I hear you.
That said, I still thrive off of them (obviously!).
Also, thanks for the tip about getting the support of other writers. I think that is absolutely true – I guess I need to make more writer-friends now! Suggestions? Can you be my writer-friend?
You rock, Suzen, I just love when I see you here and around the internet.
Peace!
Lori
Hi Lori,
So absotively proud of you! The perseverance and dedication to completing a task like this is tremendous.
I think the tips are wholesome and real. I know they can be applied to a lot of different things, and that’s one of the things I like about them!
I’m in the middle of a huge ghostwriting project right now and this post has provided me the motivation to get off me hiney and get it done.
Cheers!
George
.-= George Angus´s last blog ..Writers, Buy This Book! =-.
Hi George!
That’s so groovy, that you’re ghost writing. I’ll have to email you off line to ask about the project – I’m really intrigued!
And just like Suzen said, please use me as a writer-buddy if you want a kick in the pants, an ear, or a shoulder to cry on (ha!).
Seriously, let me know how I can support you and your project.
We both know you don’t need me. But I’m here if you decide you need an ice-cold lemonade!
~xo
Hi Lori — congratulations on finishing your novel and I’m looking forward to reading it. As far as completing big projects, it was helpful to me in writing my own book to have a bunch of articles already done on some of the subjects covered in the book, which I think reduced the intimidation factor involved in starting from scratch. My next project is to write another book in a shorter period of time, without needing all those articles as sources, but I’m going to write a few — 3 or 4, perhaps — just to give myself a jumpstart.
Hi Chris,
I was hoping I’d hear from you and how you tackled completing your book! Yay! Thank you for adding to the conversation.
I found that having a plan (outline), which may be slightly analogous to you, “having a bunch of articles ready,” made all the difference.
There’s something foreboding about looking at a blank page and envisioning how that will eventually turn into a book, absolutely.
Keep me posted about your writing journey, Chris. I’m all over it!
YaHooo! This is totally awesome!
I also finished, but I didn’t win. My choice of writing a mid-grade meant that 50k words was just too long for the genre, but I’m proud of the story anyway.
And now … we re-write. Eek!
.-= Gayze´s last blog ..My Starlings Talking =-.
Hi Gayze, my NaNoWriMo writing buddy! Wow, it was just so great to have you to chat with and to cheer each other on!
Gayze, I have so much respect for you and knowing when to stop. That takes wisdom and maturity. Absolutely. I could imagine, if I’d have realized what you did, I’d have just charged forward without thinking – like a crazy bull – and ended up with 50K word of crap to pare down later. (Blegh!)
Bravo, girl, bravo for knowing how to manage the raging bull!
I think you’re the bee’s knees!
~xo
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