50,034 wds.

The End. Fade Out. Finito.

There was a time when I never thought I'd see the number 50 followed by 3 digits. This last week has been a finger blister frenzy of novel-writing bliss, that proves it's all possible. That the novel does rest in you, and now I look forward to surprising myself, and intimately following a new cast of characters, as Nanowrimo 2005 departs tonight at midnight.

It was a dark and stormy night...

48,564 wds.

Drum-roll.

45,029 wds.

Unstoppable. Train. Countryside.

43,853 wds.

The pages are flowing like an unstoppable October flash flood as I gear up for this November by finishing last year's Novel. I'm like an unstoppable novel writing train, plowing through the countryside. I'm shooting to top 45K today, leaving me with only 5K to go, and two days to do it.

41,471 wds.

I've had inspiration for my November Novel (of 2005). First, like most of my short stories, it must be first person. Only so I can insert the cutting wit of a bitter narrator, which I have an easy time writing, because, well you figure it out. Second, because it will add a tone to the story, that my idea wouldn't have in a more factual third person narrative. (Of course, the factuality is probably my own fault as an author, but what can you do.)

This also means I must finish 2004's at all costs, so I can move on with 2005 before my inspiration wanders. But we already knew I must finish at all costs.

40,605 wds.

Cruising.

This will happen. I'm not giving up like last November, and I don't want to start this November on a failure. I know it's possible to write 10,000 words in a weekend. Nay, in two days. This is my chance to prove it, and set the record right, for November 2005: The November to end Novembers.

37,222 wds.

Well, the wheel of creativity has been turning slowly. Time for the 5,000 word day to save me from doom, which is okay, because I want to practice a few of these anyway, to know that they are possible, and only somewhat miserable. Oh, and I have no idea what I'm going to write this November. That's par. No worries. As I feel like my last endeavor is dragging, because I'm board with the people, and with the predictable conflicts, I'd like to find something closer to the heart, a subject I'm interested in exploring, and I'd like to find some characters that are more quirky. Maybe those faults with my current story are the faults of the author, and not the potential of the story.

This is a good point to talk about accountability. As a writer, as a self-employed writer, you have to hold yourself accountable, or else you can find that you've let a perfectly good month slip away without much productivity. Making achievable goals and recording them goes a long way into keeping on task. Nanowrimo is all about word count accountability.

In other news, I've began writing nightclub reviews for a web site. It's been a fun, and rewarding experience. In the other half of my writing life I'm building my clips, thinking about other articles and how to approach the markets, and trying to stay accountable.