(This is the third time I'm typing this up. I hope I don't lose it again. Actually, I'll just write it in Word first.)
I am writing a novel. Or rather, I am trying to write 50,000 somewhat connected words. I’m doing the project through the National Novel Writing Month program, known cutely as NaNoWriMo (see my entry on this http://www.progressiveu.org/190000-nanowrimo-write-your-own-novel-in-30-days). I made a commitment 10 days ago to give this a try; so far I have yet to put down a single word.
Yesterday, or maybe it was early this morning, oh, no, yesterday morning… (::laugh:: we’ve crossed into a new day.)
So yesterday morning, I found a new technique of motivation—Progressive U. I, like many of you, am addicted to reading and writing at
Progressive
U. I figured, why don’t I capitalize on this obsession and convert some of this energy into words for my novel?
So here is the plan:
-Every time I post an entry, I will obligate myself to write 400 words for my novel.
-Every time I post a comment, I will write 200 words for my novel.
-Every time I read a post, I will write 100 words for my novel.
-I will then post each writing segment on this page as a comment so everyone can monitor my progress.
This way, I will either have to quit Progressive U or get more successful at putting down words for my novel. I need to average 50,000 words / 20 days = 2,500 a day now to make my goal. It’ll be hard, but I’m going to get more disciplined to make it.
The other thing to keep in mind is that NaNoWriMo values quantity over quality. They just want people to get disciplined to put 50,000 words down; they don’t care whether or not the “novels” actually make any sense. So the bits you will find on this page will be filled with mechanical mistakes, plot irrationalities and narrative non-sequiturs. Please don’t be so harsh about that.
Keep reading and come back often! You guys don’t have to be cheap with motivational speeches and pep talk either!
That is a great idea and if I had the time, I would join you. However, I use all of my free time on this site, I've even screwed over Myspace to spend free time on ProgressiveU.
Good luck with your novel!
Good for you. I'm not dedicated. I started my first novel six years ago and now I'm still on the fourth page.
"Not another blog on abortion!"
Progressive U action: Posted this entry
Target: 400 words
Segment Text:
White. That was the only thing Mitchell Landon could think of when he tapped open that wing-encrested door and first laid eyes on Vianca de Lacrim's room.
Everything in the room was white. White-washed walls with not a single speck of blemish blended into the soft ripples of her cloud-like bed adorned by white pillows not unlike clouds themselves. The entire bed is shrouded in a mist-like canopy, opaque but ethereal, white but transparent. The armoire was white with a white framed mirror, a giant mirror that glared with whiteness. In it, the desk was white. The computer was white. The television set and entertainment center were white. The bookshelf was white. Even the thousands of books that weighed down the shelves were each meticulously wrapped in white.
It was as though the room were a winter wonderland; every crevice was covered by a fresh coat of snow. But it wasn’t winter cold. No. The room was glowing white, softly white, a white that reminded of the shine of a new sun glistening on the snow, confirming once more the farmers’ wisdom of warmer days after a big snow.
The whiteness made the room seem holy, as if it’s the sanctuary of an angel. In fact Mitchell felt ashamed at the sight, finding himself somehow unworthy of even taking a step into this palace in the clouds.
Current Segment Word Total: 227
Current Novel Word Total: 227
~*Visit me at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sweetvoiceofharmony *~
Progressive U action: Posted this entry
Target: 400 words, 173 words to complete segment
Segment Text:
A soft sob behind him broke his trance. The quiet, gasping cry silenced itself as soon as it was released, as if trying to deny itself the right to an existence. But the sound waves pushed forward and ringed resonantly in Mitchell’s ears, ears trained over the years to be sensitive to such nearly unnoticeable sounds. He gathered himself and turned around gently.
Current Segment Word Total: 290
Current Novel Word Total: 290
~*Visit me at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sweetvoiceofharmony *~
Progressive U action: Posted this entry
Target: 400 words, 110 words to complete segment
Segment Text:
The woman behind him had turned around first, dabbing at her eyes with a silk handkerchief. She took a small step away but stopped, letting loose another muffled groan. She bowed her head of golden curls, sinking into silence.
Mitchell walked softly towards her and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “Cry, Mrs. de Lacrim. Just let it go.” He told her in a murmur.
The woman turned around and looked at him deeply with her crystalline blue eyes. Her delicate nose quivered a little, the look of misery filled her exquisite face.
“Oh Detective Landon!” She gasped breathily, finding her voice.
Unable to hold herself any longer, she threw herself into his arms and buried her head there, letting tears burst through like a torrent imprisoned behind dams.
Current Segment Word Total: 420 -> Segment 1 Complete!
Current Novel Word Total: 420
~*Visit me at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sweetvoiceofharmony *~
Progressive U action: Commented on Abortion Poll
Target: 200 words
Progressive U action: Read Abortion Entry
Target: 100 words
Progressive U action: Commented on my post on NaNoWriMo
Target: 200 words
~*Visit me at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sweetvoiceofharmony *~
O.K. So this year I failed to meet the challenge and write 50,000 words. That's fine. I'll try again some other time. I would really like to read some of the novels that were written in this fashion though.
~*Visit me at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sweetvoiceofharmony *~