I finished NaNoWriMo with a total 50,248 words in 28 days. It has been an interesting experience from which I learned much. My goal when I signed up was a 50k word novel or near-novel by the end of the month. It was great relief to meet my goal with two days to spare.

Kiliane’s Rage

I think the push to jump in the briar patch came from reading K.M. Weiland’s How to Outline for NaNoWriMo series of posts.  They led me to find out more about the challenge. Intrigued, I sought a topic. There is an artifact in my first draft novel  that a family reader said needed some backstory to explain its existence. Why not make that the foundation for a NaNoWriMo novel? I signed up and announced Kiliane’s Rage.
It would be the first volume in a two volume set if it was finished and turned out good.

What Outline?

I wrote Saving Delisanna without outlining it.  I did not want to write this one by the seat of my pants. *I had worn holes in them writing Saving Delisanna.* Since I decided late, I had five days to create an outline for a 50,000 word fantasy novel.  I developed a basic outline of three acts and significant plot points using Susan Bischoff’s The Story Toolkit Worksheets thoughtful questions.

Let’s Write

1 November started the journey using an outline lacking in one, I would soon learn, vital area — a detailed scene list. The first 12,000 words came quickly. I was ahead of schedule. I was also ahead of where my outline told me I should be for this word count.  The first act was complete minus details such as beats associated with dialogue or physical description of characters and locations. I gave myself something for the rewrite and edit.

Are we done yet? 

The story sped along as I wrote the next 10,000 words. The acts were in the rear view mirror and the pinch points a distant memory. I was screaming along ahead of schedule, barely. Day 17 at 28,928 words, I finished three acts, pinch points, climax and the denouement I envisioned for the novel. Alas, I had over 21,000 more words to write in the remaining 13 days and no scenes to write. I knew I could go back and fill in descriptive details but that would be tedious at this point.

More to write

Dropping a copy to print, I read what was written. There were scenes I could write to make the story flow more smoothly. They became fodder for the word processor as I used up 7 days and  12,605 words filling some of the voids. *I know I will find others when I edit.*

There were still almost 8,500 words to write in 6 days and Thanksgiving was one of those days. I thought I could finish before Thanksgiving but helping coach an out-of-state boys soccer tournament dropped my progress to 1400 words the weekend before. I had written something everyday in November and didn’t let family visiting from Illinois or smoking a holiday turkey prevent me from writing every day. Monday, 28 November 2016, I completed the challenge with 50, 248 words.

Did you learn anything?

Things I learned. I can write, in my opinion, a draft from a bare outline. I must train myself to include details into the story as I write. *I have to overcome tendencies developed the last 50 years writing terse, to the point communications for the military and federal government.* I must learn to outline though I can tell a decent story without one. No one, including me, wants a decent story. I owe me and you great stories! If I take the challenge next year I will be better prepared. In the meantime, anything else I attempt will start with a good outline including scene list.

Did you participate in NaNoWriMo this year? Use the comment form to tell me about how your challenge went this year? Get notifications when I post using the follow button on the bottom right.

Save

Save

Save