So, I made it through ten days of Camp NaNoWriMo virtually unscathed. Seriously, nary a scratch. I have surpassed the 10K mark, rounded the corner of my first turning point, and am quickly closing in on 11K words written.
A couple of days ahead of schedule.
How the hell did that happen, you ask?
Especially, given my overall track record of self-sabotage?
A few things:
1. I let go of a plot point that I have held onto since Retribution’s inception. I can be a sentimental person. The very first thing I jotted down about Anna has stuck in my mind, and has become an extension of who she is to me. The problem – it is always this plot point that causes me to write myself into a corner. It just doesn’t work. I have finally found the strength to banish it completely.
2. I have accepted that every sentence, every paragraph, every scene is not going to be a work of perfection – yet. I have long understood that a draft is just that, a draft. It’s not meant to be print ready, or even good. I think we are all familiar with quotes reminding us that books are not written, they are rewritten. I get it, but I’m an overachiever. Just another flaw to add to my growing list of personality quirks. You might think this would work in my favor. I mean, after all, when I think of an overachiever, I think of someone who has the drive to do anything and everything. I think for me though, my overachiever habits lend to my ability to move on from something I think is structurally flawed. I obsess and work tirelessly to fix a badly worded scene, paragraph, sentence at the detriment of the work as a whole. It is my Achilles heel.
3. I am allowing my DVR to do its job. The Real Housewives of (insert random city here) aren’t going anywhere. I can watch all of my brain cell sucking trash TV on May 1st.
Alright, so where do I stand as I begin day 11 of this challenge?
10,871 of 25,000 words written.
Write on happy campers.
Write on.
Of Bears and Boating 