Yolanda Ridge

It’s NaNoWriMo confession time…. my word count total (drum roll please)…

12,000 words.

Shocking, I know.

My congratulations to all the writers who achieved their writing goals this month.  I’m sorry I can not count myself among your ranks.

Here’s are a few of the reasons that NaNoWriMo didn’t work for me;

1. In addition to being novel writing month, November is also the start of cold and flu season.  And those pesky germs are hard to avoid when you have two 6-year-olds.
2. I was invited to do two presentations this month – both very exciting opportunities for me!  But they both required preparation (if I could add the words from my power point presentation to my total count I’d be up there… but still nowhere near 50,000.)
3. I didn’t outline.  And I’ve learned that I need to do an outline because I can’t keep writing if I know there are major plot points that need to be changed.
4. I didn’t do enough research.  This was my first attempt at writing historical fiction.  As I started writing I realized I had to know more about the time period to get the voice right.  And there is no point in getting the words down if the voice is all wrong – in my opinion.
5. I am a bit of a control freak.  I can’t stand piles of laundry, a dirty house, or store bought meals.

Not rocket science, I know, but that was my experience.  This year.  Maybe I’ll give it a try again next year – with a different outcome.  But I’ll probably wait until those 6-year-olds are a little more capable of fending for themselves.  In other words, give me a decade.  Or two.

That’s not to say that I regret participating in NaNoWriMo 2012.   I’ve learned that the writing process is different for every person and for every project.  I know my writing self a little better now.  Plus, I got a lot of work done.  Even if it doesn’t show in the word count.

I’ve just decided to enter the race!  This will be my first time participating in National Novel Writing Month.  I haven’t outlined.  I haven’t finished my research.  I haven’t stocked my freezer with food so my family won’t starve…

But I am determined to finish the first draft of a historical middle grade novel that’s been floating around in my brain for way to long.

Let the games begin (but not before I finish the laundry!)

One of my favourite children’s book blog is Literary Rambles.  I especially love the agent spotlights and the tuesday writing tips.  Check out my recent contributions on August 7th (tip#138) and July 23 (tip#136)… hope you like them!