NaNoWriMo Is Over

Well, I actually intended on updating my blog during NaNoWriMo but sadly that didn't happen.  I'd also intended to continue updating my 365 project during NaNo & that didn't happen either although I somehow managed not to drop the ball.  But the outcome of the challenge?

I won!

(& the certificate to prove it!)

I'm not entirely sure how I managed it, I haven't read through anything I've written yet, mainly due to the fact that I haven't actually finished with the novel!  But I half expect to find lyrics of Christmas songs and such in there where I was trying to keep going.  One night I even managed at least 7,000 words!  & even though NaNo is over, I still find myself thinking about my novel all of the time!  Trying to decide what I should do with characters, how they should marry or get engaged or what they should do.  It's a bit crazy really, I never thought this would take over my life as much as it has.

I'm hoping to keep going until it's finished and toying with the idea of turning it into a script in April when ScriptFrenzy kicks off! I know, I know! I clearly know how to try and stress myself as much as possible but you know, it would be fun and I can picture certain actors/actresses as certain characters!

But until that time; I'm just going to concentrate on finishing the novel and trying to make it work.  I'm even stealing tiny ideas from other places.  The engagement that will shortly be happening is springing from an idea in Love Actually (the bit where Andrew Lincoln turns up on Keira Knightley's doorstep with boards and music)

&& what did I choose as my idea for NaNoWriMo?

Well it's difficult to describe but it's called Fields Of Gold and is about 3 women of different ages who are all related but don't always know so and there are loads of secrets! & love and happiness and arguments and ends in death.  Fun times!

Fingers crossed I can finally get it finished!

Listening To: Love Actually
Mood: Satisfied

NaNoWriMo & 365

As some people know, at the beginning of this year I decided to undertake a 365 project (via http://365project.org/) where I would take a photograph a day for a year, some days have been harder than others but I'm almost at the finishing line, it has been a brilliant project and I've enjoyed it so much that I may just have to do it again next year! (Crazy? Yes!) But whilst juggling that ball which is always difficult, I've made an even bigger decision which is going to really put the pressure on! But *insert drumroll*

I am going to be attempting NaNoWriMo (via http://www.nanowrimo.org/) - National Novel Writing Month - where I (& many others) will attempt to create a 50,000+ word novel in 30 days during November. Sounds interesting, right? & with only a few days left of October, you would think I'd be ready & raring to go? Sadly not! A couple of weeks ago I had an idea and loved it so much I wanted to start there and then.  Except when I tried to put together a plan or plot what may happen to the characters in my idea - nothing happened. I couldn't decide where to begin - present day, past day, future day? I couldn't decide where it was going - happy, sad, exciting, good, bad? & I certainly couldn't decide an ending - happy, sad, eventful?

I wish I could say I'm getting closer to a solution or an idea that may actually be developed into a 50,000 word novel.  But no; so I have 4 days in which to come up with a proper idea (somehow the tiny idea in mind will not be suitable!), a plot, a plan of what will happen and a title. How to come up with any of these things? I wish I knew! I looked at idea generators in the hope they would suggest something but the only things it suggested was:

•  Photo 14 - Look at the 14th photo you come across and write about how you were feeling at that time.
• 10 Reasons To Share A Room With Your Best Friend - I struggled to get past number 6 before my brain got tired!
• 10 Random Words - Taking inspiration from ten random words in the dictionary.
• Write A Letter To Someone You Need To Spend More Time With - I don't think that could be turned into a 50,000 word novel!
• Write a story with the first line "It was never going to be an ordinary day."

Now the last idea was my favourite, I absolutely loved the line so much that I would love to use it as my first line, but trying to think of an idea or storyline to fit in with it is not as easy as it may seem. I even bought a new notebook with "All Big Ideas Start Small" written across it, hoping it would be some kind of inspiration but sadly not.

The next 4 days are going to be filled of fun and dread whilst I attempt to find some inspiration before 1st November! Fingers crossed!

And if, during November, you find me somewhere with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other, I will be attempting to balance both projects with daily life.

Listening To: Video Killed The Radiostar - The Buggles
Mood: No Inspiration =[