Another NaNoWriMo Has Come and Gone

It has been a while...a long while since I posted on this blog. NaNoWriMo is now over for another year and I have another rough draft of a novel. I love November and the frantic writing to reach 50,000 words before the end of the month. I love that it pushes me to ignore the inner critic and just write. At times the writing can flow so easily that I feel I am taking dictation instead of making up a story. Other times, I struggle to find the next word.

This year’s NaNo novel is now resting in a file on my computer while I finish edits on 2008’s NaNo novel. Once that is in the hands of beta-readers, I will move on to editing this year’s novel. 2009’s novel will be last in line.

I did have a small meltdown a few days ago. I sent a few chapters out to some friends to get their feedback. Once the chapters were sent, I immediately wanted to recall them because I was convinced they had suddenly become garbage writing. In reality, I was too tired after November and really needed to take a break. I also picked up a new novel to read and loved the author’s description. In comparing my writing to hers, I found mine lacking. I eventually calmed down and realized that the author with the great description has two decades of experience more than I do.

I have taken a break from writing the last few days and have been catching up on things in my life that I let slide during November. Tomorrow morning I will be up bright and early (3:30 or 4:00) and at my desk editing my novel. All is well.