My intention is… and I may look back on this and give a hollow laugh… my intention is that in November, the National Write a Novel In a Month project (You don’t necessarily write a whole novel, you aim for 50,000 words) I shall get up and by 7 o’clock be showered and dressed and sitting at my computer, pounding merrily away and heading for the daily target of 16000 words.
When I was teaching, I was up at 6 o’clock every day, so I know I can do that bit; a couple of years ago I decided to give up alcohol for the period of Lent (I’m not a Christian but it just seemed a convenient amount of time with a set start and finish) so I know I can set myself a target and stick to it, and for a year or so I was the 750 Words site, where you have to complete 750 words a day for a month, and i also did that for several consecutive months, so I know I can write every day… also I manage to blog every day, don’t I?!
So, in theory, it might be difficult, but I can do it. Now the problem is of what to write? A little while ago I listed some ideas:
- the Radwinter family, combining my interest in genealogy, my love of mysteries, and plenty of characters.
- a lonely man is wandering around a river estuary then goes to the pub… that’s it.
- driver on a busy motorway sees something, swings over to the hard shoulder and jumps out and runs back along the carriageway and vanishes…
- writing in a different genre… dare I try something historical?
- … or a more recent historical novel set in the seventies…
- … or a completely different genre such as steam punk…
- … or fantasy
- wait until November 1st!
Since then I think I have abandoned the Radwinters for this project, the novel would show amateur genealogical research which would take a lot of preparation and planning… and actual research.
The lonely man might be a goer, he doesn’t know where he’s going, and nor do I! Ditto the vanishing driver, her friend doesn’t know where she’s gone, and nor do I!
Writing about recent history might be possible, but I only have the bones of something more distant, even the C19 distant, and I wouldn’t have the time to research all the supporting detail
Steam punk… I wouldn’t know where to start!
Fantasy… well if I read one more word about Harry Potter, vampires or trolls I think I might throw something!
So this leave me with the strike of inspiration a week tomorrow! I’ll keep you informed!
(Oh, and by the way, I intend to keep blogging, but I might not manage it as frequently!)
Lois Elsden 
I love the vanishing driver idea. Good luck with daily target word count (No way would I manage that or get up that early.) Only seven days to go!
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Oh, thanks! Are you doing it too, Katie?
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I am. I’ll probably be winging it even though I have the intentions of doing the exact opposite. 🙂
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I’m fortunate that I no longer work… or maybe that just means I have no excuses… nowhere to hide!
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Ignore my last comment, I see that you are!
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I’m still trying to figure out my NaNo schedule. I cyber school my son, so that is at least 6 hours every day gone. Plus, I have to leave time for my blogging, freelance writing, and all the normal daily tasks. Oh, and I’m hosting Thanksgiving for my family this years. I’m all ready on my idea, and I’m hard at work on an outline. Now if only I could write in my sleep…lol I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I really want to push myself hard to see how far I can go. I wish you the best of luck, Lois! 🙂
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Good heavens, Amanda! I wish you all the luck – and I’m sure you’ll do it because you are very determined, but what a lot of things to be juggling!
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What is your nano name?
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My NaNo name is ardollak. What’s yours? I’m much more excited than stressed because I’ve been trying to finish a book since middle school. Maybe this will get me there finally or at least get me close, so I can finish later.
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Oh good luck! I’m sure it will, I’ll find you ad buddy you!
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