I'm a Novelist!

Yay! I finished writing my 50,000 words last night (50,055)!! I have been officially informed that I kicked butt this month by Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month and inducted into the winner's circle at NaNoWriMo.org, a place where fireworks burst overhead in the November sky to celebrate my victory. I cried.

My story isn't all written yet. I'm a long way off from "the end" but I got an awesomely spectacular start.

Chris Baty gave back my Inner Editor last night, which he confiscated at the beginning of week one. I'm planning on deleting everything my Inner Editor would have if it were with me during my 30 days of literary abandon, reorganizing my chapters, and continuing from there. I don't know how many words that will leave me with, but I'm not counting anymore. I like my story and I want to see it through to the end.

I don't know if I'm ready to show it to anyone... I don't even want to post a synopsis. Yet.

Side note: Isn't the winner's badge above hideous!? I got a winner's certificate, too:


It says: "One brave Writer. One impossible deadline. One crazy month where 170,000 people set out on a journey to the furthest reaches of their imaginations. Most turned back along the way but not you. You had the vision, dedication, and creative drive to make it to the 50,000-word finish line and beyond. You did an amazing thing this November, novelist, and the Office of Letters and Light congratulates you for it. Your victory shall be entered ino the official records of National Novel Writing Month, where it will stand for all time." (awww...)

Working on my NaNo Novel

I just passed the half-way mark in my NaNoWriMo novel. That feels good, but I only have a few days to get to my 50,000 word count goal. I'm still having an incredibly good time writing my story. Its an interesting experience to stand by and watch what comes up on my screen. My characters are not who I thought they were, and the story line itself could go any where at this point.

I have no illusions. This is one "craptastic" mess of a novel, but I don't care. I'm writing, and it feels gooood. I set my sights on 50,000 words and even though I'm discovering new levels of "suckitude" on my way, I'm going to get there.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Pumpkin cake!

Here is the yummy pumpkin cake recipe Dad made for Mom's birthday. Give it a try if you're looking for something unusual and tasty.


Halloween Sweets and Treats

This link will take you to a slide show at countryliving.com. Skip over a few slides until you get to this one. SO good!