Well, I have to say I was terribly skeptical at the idea that I would get any writing done during this journey (in case you’re wondering, What journey, check out the post from two weeks ago).

There have been many things to sidetrack me and my writing before the start of this journey, and I feared those things would keep me from writing. I think, in the end, writing kept me from being too sidetracked. Good ol’ writing. Always looking out for me.

The goal of this journey is to write an 80,000-word novel between now and November 25th. This comes to about 520 words a day, every day, until then. Including today, I should be coming to the table with a minimum of 7,800 words. I come to the table with a whopping 10,347 words!

I am beyond excited and happy for myself. To cross that first 10k mark is an exhilarating feeling.

Right now, because I didn’t have a fully-fleshed out outline, like I normally do, I’ve been fearing the writing is crap. Now, I do profess–and often–that writers should come to the page with editor off and realizing that the first draft will probably have a crap factor attached to it. This is a bit different. When I come to a writing project with an outline, there is a confidence that exudes from me because I have visualized the story for months, have edited in my mind too many times to count, and have a paper representation of that visualization. I know the writing will need to be tightened up, but I know also that the story is there. This go round, without the outline, I feel like I’m flailing a bit, and I so don’t like that. Once I finish this chapter I just started on, I will probably go back, read, organize what I have, see where I need to go with the next chapters, and move on.

What I am learning about this different process is that sometimes, you might just have to switch up what always works for you, and when you do, that means you need to find ways to be comfortable in that new writing situation to get some good writing done. Without a full outline, my “being comfortable” is writing a few chapters, going back to read and make sure it makes sense to me before moving on.

Before I cross the 15k mark, however, I do foresee me sitting down and outlining the rest of the story. It’s just what I do.

For now, I will revel in crossing the 10k and be ready to write my 520 words tomorrow!

Oh, and just in case you didn’t know. This book is the second in a series I hope to write called the Double Inkwell Mysteries. The first book in that series is already out, Death at the Double Inkwell, and you can read/listen to excerpts, read commentaries about the book, and get the link to buy your own copy of the book here on my site through this [LINK].

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A group of my sister-friend-writers have been wanting to get back into writing for some time, but life kept getting in the way. Life and discouragement. We have been talking to one another, trying to encourage each other to pick up the pen (or put fingers on keys) and get to writing. Instead of constantly saying this individually, we have decided to go on the journey together and encourage as we ALL actually write.

Today starts a five-month journey to writing a novel. From June 25 to November 25, each of us will be writing an 80,000-word novel.

So, we have 154 days (520 words a day) to get our books done.

And I’m thinking in these small increments, too. I have so many things to do with class and research and work that I can’t think of having to write a lot every day. 520 words is a little more than two pages a day. I write more words than that just in the tweeting I do. Surely I can do it for my writing career.

And I’ve found for myself that writing these days isn’t just about passion. I’ve become pretty pragmatic since I started doctoral work, and I realized that for me, writing has to be about more than passion, just as a relationship has to have more than love/attraction. There has to be a means to an end, and I’m not just talking about finishing the book. I have several books, good books, on my computer, hoping to see the light of day. I’m not into (anymore) wanting to write for my laptop, so I need a reason to write this book, and I have one.

This book will be book two in the Double Inkwell series I have always wanted to do. Now that Death at the Double Inkwell is out [order HERE], I have a reason to write the second book — and interested publisher.

And so today I started the second book titled Into the Web.

Today, I wrote 602 words. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s a start, and more importantly, I succeeded in accomplishing today’s goal.

It’s all about the baby steps.

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Through my alma mater, McNeese State University, I will be offering my four-week Writers Boot Camp!

What is Writers Boot Camp?

Do you have an idea for a story but are unsure where to go now that you have this idea? Then you need Writers Boot Camp! From idea to outline in 28 Days – all you need is a valid e-mail address and the desire to pen YOUR story! WBC is a four-week intensive ONLINE program in which writers will work one-on-one with the instructor to develop story ideas into novel outlines, thus preparing you to finally write a first draft.

Every Monday, students will receive, via e-mail, a weekly assignment that will help them build upon their ideas, culminating into a completed story outline. On Sunday, students will e-mail their assignment to be read and critiqued by instructor and returned.

Upon completion of the class, instructor will help students develop a writing schedule to assist in completing a first draft!

Dates: March 8, 15, 22, 29

Registration Deadline: February 22

Through the school, the price for the four-week Writers Boot Camp course is only $69!

There are four (three if you’re not in Lake Charles, LA) ways to register for the course; check out this [LINK]!

Look forward to getting literary with you!

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Didn’t think it would happen.

Waited ’til the last minute to even participate and had no real idea what I would write about, but after completing NaNoWriMo the last four years, I just felt the need to do it this year. Would feel like a failure if I didn’t.

The first week was like gangbusters. Wrote a little over 21,000 words that first week. The second week, cleared 30k. The third week, I peter out a bit as school and stress weighed heavily on me. Fourth week, came back and hit that last hurdle and cleared 50k. Total, 50,043 was hit tonight.

Is the story good? Hell, it’s not even a story any more. By week three my interest in the story peter out, so I began jumping into various sections and just writing, so right now, I have a mess, and I probably won’t even go back to it. But it did get me to writing even during the stressful first semester of my doctoral work, so that at least tells me that if I’m more structured I can write something good during this time.

I’m proud of myself. Now, to finish the semester and get into a new project!

Want to hear an excerpt of NaNoWriMo project, Educating Sophia? There’s a new excerpt below! You can check out the first two excerpts at Shon Bacon @ PodBean!

Excerpt Three of Educating Sophia

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Well, today, I wrote about 2,100 words, and my total NaNoWriMo word count is 10,050.

Proud of self. Have written and not let it get in the way of ALL the other things I have to get done.

In the midst of writing today, I got a bit stressed; this is why I need an outline, LOL

I didn’t think I would hit the 10k, but then I had a bit of inspiration, something to add to the story…and thus the beginning was changed, too.

Instead of just showing you some words on the screen, I decided to create a podcast of me reading the first pages of my NaNoWriMo ‘09 project, Educating Sophia.

I hope you enjoy it.

Leave comments!

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Yep, me.

It’s been a thought of mine for a while now – publishing my own work. Me and a partner-in-crime are hoping to publish our first project at the end of the year.

Here’s dilemma one – I have a lot of books, but have no idea which one to publish first, LOL

This is where YOU guys will come in. Between Friday and Sunday, I will post the first 1,000 words to five books, and I’m hoping that you all will read and make comments on which beginning you liked the best….based on some of your thoughts and my own, I’ll pick the book to launch our indie publishing endeavor.

Be on the look out,

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