I'm alive!!!

I SURVIVED NANO!

Phew. I have to admit, I didn't think I could do it, since I suck so hard at concentration. But I crossed the finish line a day early.

Is it good? Actually, parts are, yeah. Of course, 50K has shown me that I'll either have to cut my hero's POV down significantly or remove it altogether. There will be other parts to be cut and rewritten and cut again, unless someone wants to read a 200K fantasy novel (or I find suitable places to end for a duet/trilogy). But it was worth it to get the idea bug out of my brain.

So now, I get to finish my Duality edits, finish the first draft of Spark, and while editing Spark, finish this one. I love the idea, love the characters (really love my hero), and can't wait for it all to come together.

Would I recommend NaNo? Well, yes and no. I'm a pantser by heart, but I had some groundwork done for Blade (it really needs a title, y'all) already, so I was prepared. I had mythology, background info, etc, and without it I would have crawled into a hole and rocked back and forth until the nice men in white coats came to take me away. So, if by next November (or any time, since NaNo lives in our hearts always), you have an idea you've tinkered with, laid some groundwork for, wanted to get out of your head, then what better way to see if it is workable than to try NaNo?

I had a lot of fun, a lot of frustration, and a lot of chocolate. But I loved it.

Can't wait for next year!

Checking in.

Just a friendly check in. First, I'd like to say hi to my new followers *waves maniacally*. Thank you for being willing to join me on this crazy journey. It's kinda strange to think that 101 of you actually read the randomness that is this blog, but I certainly appreciate you.

Second, Nano is going well. At my current pace, I'm scheduled to finish on the 26th, but I'm gonna try to hit 50K before then so I can spend the rest of the month recovering. But this has seriously been a fun experience. I'll definitely participate next year if I'm able.

Third, I wanted to point your attention to the new Denburylicious badge on the right-hand side of your screen. This provocative gentleman is the hero of Leanna Renee Hieber's new YA book Darker Still. I encourage you to check this book out. It's the beginning of a new series for her, and she's an incredibly talented writer. So show her some love on Twitter, like her on Facebook here, here, and here. And if you still need more Leanna, check out her official website here. I thank you in advance.

All right. I'm off to write more words. Be good, and I'll check in with you soon.

Facing the Blank Page

Today starts NaNoWriMo, so thousands of writers are looking at blank pages and blank documents. Some may be excited--new pages, new characters, new opportunities. Others may be anxious and a little scared; after all, the same things to be excited about are also unknowns, and we all know how often characters decide to go against what we've chosen for them (and if that happens, just go with it and adjust because nothing's worse than forcing a character to do something he doesn't want to do).

And if you're like me, you're kinda scared. Starting over is difficult. That first blank page can be intimidating. However, keep in mind your story and your goal, and NaNoWriMo will be a cinch.

My blogging may be a bit sporadic through the month. I'll update when/if I can, but this month it isn't going to be a priority. I know I'm not the only one. So, if nothing else, I'll catch up with you guys in December.

Happy NaNoing!