Nov 13th: 24185 (target: 21667)
Nov 14th: 26009 (target: 23333)
Nov 15th: 27681 (target: 25000)
Nov 16th: 29389 (target: 26667)
Nov 17th: 31069 (target: 28333)
Nov 18th: 32798 (target: 30000)
Nov 19th: 34531 (target: 31667)

It becomes increasingly obvious (to me anyway, with my advantage that I know what plot there is still to come) that this story is not going to be finished in 50,000 words.
The three options I can see are

a) Make a push to get it done in November, when I am committed... to writing, not an alsylum. (Though if I seriously make this my target, the second could easily apply.)
Pros: I'm already writing, I'll keep my momentum. Cons: I may cut down on what I write to get the damn thing done, I'm struggling some days to hit my minimum as it is. If I try and extend that, it will be painful.

b) Do the 50,000 now, and then keep going after November with whatever is left.
Pros: It means November is still likely to be won, and I'll be a big chunk in. Plus, it'll be more relaxed. Cons: It will be more relaxed. The drive will be gone and I may very well tail off.

c) Do the 50,000 now, and then take on the rest next November.
Pros: When November ends, the euphoric bliss at being Done with the whole silly idea of NaNo will be enough to ride out for a good while. I'll have next years NaNo sorted. Cons: It's cheating. I may lose all momentum, and interest in the story and the characters, and decide I hate it. And then the 50,000 words become so much wasted time and lost sleep.

So, any opinions out there? Am I missing a sensible option through lack of thought and hope, or should I throw my lot in with one of the above and hope the pros steamroller the cons?

Nov 10th: 18940 (target: 16667)
Nov 11th: 20633 (target: 18333)
Nov 12th: 22356 (target: 20000)

It's becoming hard going. The beginning, where I had my ideas and I was full of keen, it all just poured out onto the page, and I had created a two day buffer in five days. My average word count was in the 2,000's.
Now, it's an effort to get the requisit 1,667 on paper (or harddrive); it feels a little like I'm writing for the sake of the word count, rather than the story.

And yet, there's enough left that my characters have to say, have to do, and have to realise, that I still have hope that it will change; that I will make it through this middle phase of "why the hell did I decide to Nano?"

Fingers crossed

Nov 7th: 15136 (target: 11667)
Nov 8th: 15435 (target: 13333)
Nov 9th: 17265 (target: 15000)

Sunday saw me so tired that I couldn't even reach 300 words before falling asleep, and swallowing one days worth of buffer. Still, I had 2, and that's what it was there for. Now need to build it back up again, but I can do that. I hope.

In other news, tired, very very ired in general. Hoping it will pass in time to do what needs to be done.

I haven't been posting public progress for the last few days, because I was getting very tired with 8am starts and then staying up to keep writing.
So, for anyone who's missed them desperately:

Nov 4th: 9344 (target: 6667)
Nov 5th: 11675 (target: 8883)
Nov 6th: 13345 (target: 10000)

6,737 - 1 day ahead. Have tweaked earlier stuff slightly, but cba to repost just now. Maybe when draft 1 is finished and reviewed.
Slightly worried that plot hasn't happened, merely exposition, and uninformative exposition at that
I'm hoping the next chapter, when the characters meet, may start stuff happening

Word Count is 3804. I hope to do a little more later, but considering todays target is 3333, I'm happy enough.

In other news, life continues much as before. I'm sorry there's not many entries - any time something interesting does happen, I tend to procrastinate until writing about it no longer seems appropriate.

I am thankful for my family, and for my friends, and for Peter, who all put up with my brand of crazy and disorganisation.
One day, I plan to be better.

And my word count is 1475

I'm not sure I like what I have written. But I have more of today, once I have slept, and it's a start.

So, November looms and once again I am attempting NaNoWriMo. This year I’m upping the stakes and attempting to do all 50,000 words in the same story; this could end very, very badly, but I’m going to try anyway.

This years attempt is Superhero based, working on the idea that, when the Incan world calendar resets in 2012, super powers will develop, and an industry will spring up around them – following the rule that you should write what you know, if by “what you know” you mean “taking my experience in a call centre and mangling it horribly” and by “following” you mean “vaguely heading in the suggested direction”.

I've already written the first two and a half chapters in my head a dozen times over, so in theory, tomorrows word count should be solid. In practice, what goes down on paper will probably feel thin and poor compared to what has been scrolling through my mind.

As you can tell, I'm not overly optimistic. I can’t guarantee that this will be successful, or that I’ll get to the end (or 50,000), but if anyone wants to come along for the ride, if you leave me a comment I will set up the filter. Will probably do what I did last year - daily entries under an LJ cut - except unlike last year there may be some random end points. Updates on progress (when it happens) are likely to be public; it’ll just be the writing itself that’s on an Opt-in basis.

Of course, it starts on the day I’m helping GM, so this could be a sign of things to come…

http://www.feywinds.com/comic/page.php?id=123

Just because this is damn near perfect.

Peter got it too

THIS JOURNAL IS MINE NOW! MINE, I TELL YOU! I CLAIM IT FOR THE GLORIOUS EMPIRE OF PETER!!!!!11!!ONE!!

<ahem>

In other news, Caroline has managed to acquire swine flu, so this is a public service announcement to pretty much cancel any Caroliney-goodness that you might have booked for the next 3-5 days.

PJW

Right - Food is happening at Botellinos at 7pm. People to meet there by 6.50pm, pls?
I have down as attending:
Myself (just as well really)
Peter
James
Warren
Judith
Elizabeth
Lucy
Dan
Tim
Greg
Louisa +1
Doug
Rachael (work)
Marcus
Dom
Rachael

Drinks will happen after this - if I say 9, at Weatherspoons, does that sound completely stupid?

(*Edited to remove the second Greg. Even if it is my birthday, I'm not that lucky)

Right - plans.

Have decided against the idea of a masked party; that I am saving for my 25th. You have all been warned in advance.

This year I am having drinks, followed by food. I have provisionally booked a table for 20 at Bottelinos on the Saturday 25th July for 7pm.

What I need to know is who is interested in what.

If you'd like to come to the meal, please let me know within a week so I can confirm numbers for that booking. An actual - not optimistically inflated - number would be good.

If you just want drinks, that's good too - firmer plans will be made for that later.

So, has vague ideas of celebrating my birthday when it rolls round.
Toying with the idea of a masked party
What I need to know is, who would be free on the weekend of the 25th July, and what they'd be willing to do.

I know, it's ages away, I got ideas in my head, and this is the best way to deal.

Discovered a very fun distration in the way of this animation maker. Do I took one of my nano stories and got :
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090619194016287

http://www.freerpgday.com/

... ... Peter won't take me.

I may go anyway. Even if I'm not used to the car yet. Free Roleplay gear is worth a crash or two, right?

http://mybrute.com/team/41360

'cause, you know, I could

sensory_stimuli

Outdoors

The mountains stretch up and down all at once, racing away from each other into the blue yonder; the summer fresh sky and the mirrored water.
Clouds wreath around the mountains in this world and that; solid and foggy all at once.

I often used to wonder what it would be like to touch a cloud. They looked so soft, so springy. I would picture sinking my fingers into them and enjoying the yielding texture of teased cotton wool against my hands. Squeezing them and watching them bounce back out.
Reality and experience and science and logic stole that wonder away from me. Clouds are damp and wet. Just water.

The lake is just water; so says logic and the rest of that bunch. But right now it looks like the rippling portal to other dimension. As though you could walk off the shore and through the surface into a different world. The gentle swell of the water only adds to the illusion of something magical.

If I push the boat out now, will I glide into a new world, where everything is as vibrant as this one but touched with much needed change, or will I shatter the illusion and leave reality as the only thing to see?

Logic says…

Logic be damned.

Come explore with me. Come wonder.

Where: 1 Avonwood Cottage (BA2 9AA)
When: Saturday 9th May, 18.30 (6.30pm)
Why: Beltaine (slightly late but never let that stop a party)

What: Picnic style thing in the garden, moving inside as it gets too cold/dark.
I will be making smoothie, and vaguely alcoholic alternative, possibly cake, and other picky food.
Please feel free to bring along anything you feel appropriate food and drink wise, and come prepared to talk, laugh and jump Bel-fire.
Also, any suggestions of what should be provided foodwise will be taken on board.

How: With good company and good cheer (fingers crossed!)