December? + life lately

I don't know what the weather's like where you live, but around here, it's been 60+ degrees the last few days. Definitely not typical December weather. Which means that I'm not exactly in the Christmas mood. I've done a little bit of baking, and our decorations are up, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas yet. Maybe I just need a trip to Walmart. 

On November 28th, I won NaNo. I've enjoyed all the critique I've gotten so far, and I'm actually ready to start editing. However, I'm making myself take the month of December off, because I know I need to. My novel, A Broken World, finished at 25,601 words, just 601 words over my goal. Victory! All of my crazy scribbling before November really did pay off. For those of you who did NaNo, did you win? How did the month go? I'd love to hear about it!

Anyway, here's some pictures from life lately. Enjoy!

{and to all of my 61 followers, THANK YOU!}

{of writing}

Basically this post's title describes my whole month. November is the month that I write far more than any other month.
So far, NaNoWriMo is slipping by flawlessly. Of course, this *is* only the 5th day, but it seems to be going well. I hit 4500 words earlier today, so I'm right on schedule. It's following my outline well, and I've only had a minor character change so far.
Tonight I just thought I'd share some bits'n'pieces from my story, and some of my inspirations (via Pinterest).
Here goes.

"Trains roared through the station and people filed by us. To them, we were two children sitting on a bench. Perhaps we were waiting for a parent to come home on a train. Maybe we had come on a train and were waiting for someone to pick us up. I don't think anyone ever assumed correctly—that we were two children, all alone in the huge world, talking about our dear deceased parents and wishing someone would show interest in us."

"A feeling almost like liberation spread through my chest, though at the same time I was sad for Aunt Lillian."

 "Bridgett, promise me that you'll never work in a factory, Mama had said. Promise me. Even if you're out of food, and have no money, please promise me you'll never work in a factory. Factory jobs are practically a death sentence, and you'll have to be there to watch out for Tommy.I knew I could never work in a factory—I'd feel horrible breaking my promise to Mama. But I wouldn't tell Aunt Lillian that."

 "I was only 13 years old, his only living relative, and completely responsible for him now."

And now, my inspirations, via Pinterest.

 

By now, you probably have a pretty good idea what the main conflict of my novel is. Oh, well.

>>If you're doing NaNo, how is your novel going?

I'm crazy excited right now.

NaNoWriMo is two days away--or, in other words, my creativity will only be here for two more days. Then my creativity, along with my sanity and logical thinking, will depart for a 30 day trip to the Bahamas.
This'll be my third year competing. I have about three thousand different things going on during November this year. My word count goal is 25,000 words this time around. I have most of the plot and characters worked out. I feel crazy and excited all at once--hence the title "crazy excited". I'm giddy, and nervous, and ready to squeal (because NaNo is only TWO DAYS AWAY, for crying out loud!).
Here are a few of the things I'm doing to make it through this wild, zany adventure.

Mid-NaNo Letter.

This morning I wrote a letter to my mid-NaNo self. :) Hopefully it'll help motivate me when I open it, come November 16th. I'm also writing a letter to myself at the end of NaNoWriMo, as a winner (hopefully!).

Major Plotting. 

This year, I've done a LOT of pre-NaNo plotting. Last year, I basically just filled out a plot rollercoaster sheet, and while it did help some, I still had some pretty major plot holes in the middle of NaNoWriMo. Plot holes are a major inconvenience, and they can be a contributing factor to the infamous Writer's Block. They can also cause damage to the Creativity Cart.

Character Chats.

In other words, getting to know my characters. The better I know them, the less likely they are to do something unexpected in the middle of my novel--like jumping out in front of a bus. Or touring a giant dill pickle factory.

Candy Stash.

My family doesn't trick-or-treat, so I'm on my own to create a candy stash. What am I stocking it with? Chocolate, cocoa mix, skittles, starbursts, malted milk balls, and more chocolate. (this step is optional--I'm actually not stockpiling that much candy because sugar gives me headaches)

>>Are you doing NaNoWriMo? If so, what are you doing to get ready?

(oh, and I'd love to be NaNo friends--comment with your username if you'd like to, too)