50,000 Words Day 29 (It was supposed to take 30 but I got it done in 29!)

Well, if you haven't been following this blog up until today, you don't know that I have been writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days using No Plot? No Problem! novel-writing kit by Chris Baty. For the last 28 days I have written every day.

Today on day 29 I wrote 2868 words. Over the last month I have gone through 8 yellow pads of paper and 9 blue V7 Precise Pens. Yes, I have been writing by hand. I think better that way and then I transfer it to the computer, However, I have a lot to transfer at this point. (Most of it.) Today is day 29, not day 30. My total word count is 51,609!!!!!! (Fire works are going off in the background, mostly those kind that start with little white pops and then scream into streams all over the place. They're my favorite.) My story is not done. It was to cover 4 generations up through WWII. I only got into the 3rd generation with tiny drips and drops of the 2nd generation. There is enough material to do at least another novel or two.
So, I am on to the editing process. Maybe the stuff that I didn't get into the novel will be added during this part of the process, who knows? I will say this. I am proud of myself for completing the process, whether I do anything with it other than edit it for my own enjoyment. I can now call myself a Novelist. By the way, when you see me at church tomorrow, I will be wearing my official Novelist button. Thank you all for your encouragement!

50,000 Words Day 28

I stopped writing because I wanted to prolong the burst to the finish line. I wrote 3229 words today bringing my total to 48,741 words. I know I will cross the finish line one day early. The program I have used is called No Plot? No Problem! novel-writing kit by Chris Baty. I read an article today in a magazine called Mental Floss. The article is called Write That Book and it spells out the habits that many famous authors used. The habits are all part of the program that I have been using.

Today I wrote about extremes- happiness and horror, sadness and sublime, a wedding and a tornado. The end of this storyline is just around the corner and then I need to finish one more.

50,000 Words Day 27

Today I had no problem with completing my word count and exceeding it. I wrote 2909 words today, giving me a grand total of 45,512 words! I have three days left and I know that I will finish the task. If you are reading this blog for the first time, I am writing 50,000 word novel in 30 days using the program, No Plot? No Problem! novel-writing kit by Chris Baty. Today is day 27.

It is actually very freeing to know that I have done this and not stopped part way through like a thousand other projects that I have started and not completed over the last many years. There are so many unfinished projects. They come in all categories. I have an entire drawer in my craft room, (which is an unfinished project in itself.), an entire drawer filled with uncompleted sewing, embroidery, crewel, and needlework projects. I have boxes of quilts that I haven't even started-pieces cut out, all ready to stitch, just not done. I have unfinished manuscripts. I have paint that has dried up because I never used it. Always waiting, waiting for the perfect time, the perfect mood, the perfect environment, the perfect... Well, this time I didn't wait for all things perfect. I just did it or at least I am doing it and will complete it on Sunday, if not before. I'd like to be able to finish it in 29 days but no pressure.

I finished the storyline with the murder mystery in it. It actually tied together a couple of storylines and ended up with three seperate murders. I know, it all sounds hokey, but I think it is going to be an entertaining book when I am done editing it. At least there is one thing that I can say about it, it will be finished!

50,000 Words Day 25, 26

I haven't posted since Monday. My instructions for week four were just to get to 50,000 words so I am writing. As of tonight, my total word count is now 42,603! I can see the finish line! If you haven't seen this blog before, it is about my journey to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I am using No Plot? No Problem! novel writing-kit by Chris Baty.

Today I came close to completing a major knot in my storyline-just a small detail and that one will be done tomorrow. I have three story threads to complete. One of them may just have to wait until the next novel. It may be too big a piece to complete. I don't know. I'll let the characters decide for me. No working title yet, but it will reveal itself to me. Telling this story is like piecing together a quilt. The pattern gets picked out. I think that this one is a Crazy Quilt. Then you follow the pattern using fabrics of different colors. The colors are usually divided into light, medium and dark. The prints are usually divided into small, medium and large. Even a Crazy Quilt has a pattern of sorts. I am now finishing up my blocks and have started laying them out to find the best contrast and combinations of colors. The people are divided into different categories and different personalities. Then they are put into different situations ranging from joy to trauma. In a few days I'll let you know how it turns out.

50,000 Words Days 19-23 summary, and now 24

I have not posted in a few days. Needless to say, I had my mind on other things. My friend Michael passed away and I had the opportunity to help plan and play the piano for her service and coordinated the music that she wanted played. This is someone I loved. I have prayed for her recovery. Her recovery came in the form of God's arms wrapping around her and taking her home to be with her daughter, Meadowe and son-in-law, Rob. I am writing this book, in part, because of her encouragemt. I am the person that I am, in part, because of her impact on my life. I haven't posted,but I have been writing. I should say that my characters are telling their stories, because all I have to do, is pick up my pen and the characters have just started talking. That is not the way that I started out. I had to work hard to come up with the dialogue. Now it just comes without thought.

Over the last few days I wrote 5212 words which brought my total up to 35,833. Today I wrote 2376 words for a grand total of 38,209 words on day 24. I thought I only had 5 story lines to finish up but, I find that I have after completing two today, I still have 5 story lines to complete including a murder mystery that as yet I haven't solved. Well, I am satisfied that I am keeping to the task. My week 4 instructions are just to get to 50,000 words and more if I can. 6 days to go. Again, I am using No Plot? No Problem! novel writing-kit by Chris Baty. Here is an excerpt from today:

Malcolm whispered to his horses as he led them out of the stall, following behind the groom. "Be proud my boy. Hold up your heads. Prance for me boys! They walked into the ring. They did him proud as a gasp could be heard when the crowd got a good look at his "proud boys." They pranced a syncronized manner all around the ring. He drew them to the center and opened each of their mouths showing off their healthy teeth. He lifted each leg, showing the crowd their manicured hooves. The auctioneer started giving their statistics and then the bidding started. "Who will give me $50? Yup! $75? Hey! $125? Yup. $250? Ha! $500?...On and on it went. Malcolm just stood with his face buried in between his boys heads, whispering how much he loved them; how much he appreciated them, thanking them for saving his family farm and how he would never forget them. He prayed for God to give them a kind master and then suddenly he was being tapped on the shoulder. "Sir, you are done. Come this way." Done, what had happened? He was startled,"What happened?" The room was in an uproar with men shouting and hats going up in the air. He walked the boys out of the ring and once again, they pranced for the audience. A new roar went up and applause exploded! "Well done my boy! Well done! Edward grabbed his arm with his father coming up and grabbing the reins, helping him walk out through the crowd. They walked back to the stables. "I don't know what happened! I just kept whispering to the horses trying to keep them and mysel calm. What happened?" Daniel spoke up. "What happened? You are kidding? Your"boys" made history, that's what happened! Two major horse handlers, representing major horse farms got into a bidding war! I've never seen anything like it and probably never will again! Your "boys" went for a record $1500!

50,000 Words Day 18

Names, names, names! I am sick of thinking of more first, middle and last names. Every time I think I have a long enough list, then I run out of names. You don't think about this kind of stuff until you start writing. You need first names for women, children, men, last names for everyone and often a middle name. It is hard to keep track of so, I have lists of families to keep them correctly configured. Anyways, I completed my words for the day. Finished up one of the hanging chads that I had and it is late. My count for today was 2103 and I am too tired to give you a total but it is more than yesterday and my computer keeps acting up, freezing or the mouse gets lost. So I am shutting it down without giving you the figure but it is more then 32,000, that I know. so no picture and no number and no motivation. Frustrated with my computer.

50,000 Words Day 17

Today I spent time with my grandbabies, thanking God for their health, their laughter, their minds and imagination. I wrote after coming home and the characters again, told me their stories. My goal was 2000 words. I completed 2129 words. My total on day 17 of my 30 day journey to write a 50,000 word novel is at 30,361. This week, the number seem to jump exponentially rater than slowly like week two, exactly what Chris Baty, the creator of No Plot? No Problem! novel writing-kit. He said this week would flow with words and story lines would come together miraculously and that is exactly what is happening.

I have five storylines that need to be completed. Each of them small parts of the larger whole and necessary to the overall tale. All have been started, some even almost done. None of them follow the other. They are all at different points in the story. There is one however, that may take more words than I have left. That is okay. I just am surprised by it. When I started this project, I thought 50,000 words would be more than enough to complete my tale, whatever it ended up being. Whatever I end up with, I think will be pretty amazing.