I would answer that
question with “good!” Though I would have to clarify –does it mean I am keeping
up with the 1,167 words a day, or has the story progressed as I would like?
Then the answer is no and yes.
The word count progressed
well until about mid-month. It was at that time I realized this isn’t how I
write. I can’t just throw words down to meet a daily number. I was getting lost
in the story, and as the characters developed, they, too, didn’t like the way
things were going.
At that point I decided my
NaNoWriMo goal would be 25,000 (instead of 50,000). I was sure I could meet
that. Over the last couple of days I rewrote Chapter One. Moved what was
Chapter One to the end of the document with the hope I can salvage some of it
later. I tweaked the next few chapters for better flow and moved chapters
around. I now have a document that flows much better and I can move forward.
And, I wrote the last two
chapters. That will help to keep me headed in the right direction.
Although I can’t write in
the traditional NaNoWriMo style, I do appreciate their mission to get writers
to write and/or work on their writing every day. That is a great habit to form.
I was wondering how NaNoWriMo was going for you. Break-neck speed is supposed to encourage writers to write, without editing along the way, just let the words flow and edit later. But I agree with you: Meeting an admittedly arbitrary daily word target isn't the only way to make progress. I like that you're adapting the program to your needs and preferences! Characters need time to make their voices heard.
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