Cashing in my Do Over card

Last night I went to a write-in to write with fellow NaNoWriMo-ers. I didn't get off to a good start this year - I was very indecisive on what to write about and didn't start writing until the 2nd. And when I did write I got about 300 words of background information, nothing I could really use for a story. So I thought that the self-imposed mandatory writing period would be good for me. I'd finally sit down and focus on the story, because to do anything else (besides the occasional writer chatter and coffee sips) would be a waste of time. It was, after all, a half hour's drive out of my way. (It actually took an HOUR to get to the coffee shop because of frelling traffic! Ugh!)

I was at the coffee shop for three hours. In the first hour and a half I wrote about a thousand words. Not too shabby but no where near where I needed to be at. Especially since I'd just written two versions of an opening scene, one with my old Main Character and another with the Slightly Modified Main Character I'd suddenly decided was necessary in the second hour. I liked the change but I still wasn't happy about the story as a whole. I spent the next hour and a half complaining about it by writing up a very whiny woe-is-me-I-suck-so-much blog post (which I deleted before ever posting). At the end of the un-posted rant I came to the conclusion that I should change my story topic completely. Ditch the old and come up with something new. I felt better when I reached that decision, even though that meant starting at Word Count Zero on Day 4. I also had no idea what I was going to write about next. But I had faith I'd figure it out.

My faith was rewarded quickly enough. This morning, inspiration hit. I was in the shower, where a LOT of good ideas hit me (I swear, I think I should call my muse Moaning Myrtle because she always shows up when I'm in the bathroom). The new and improved story idea is a combination of the very first idea that I had, that I thought was so frigging' brilliant until I looked at it closely, and the latest idea I had, the one I was struggling with at yesterday's write-in. And this new idea? I'm totally in love with it. I think it'll be a blast to write. And at this point, that's all I'm looking for; something I'll enjoy spending time with for the next 26 days.

I did a bit of research earlier today. I'm letting it all stir about in my head for now. Then tonight, when I have a couple hours all to myself, I'm going to write like some kind of crazy writing machine. Well, after I do a bit of homework that is. Then the writing is on! And tomorrow, after a brief jaunt to the school library to research an upcoming paper I'm heading to another write-in. Hopefully the next one will be more fruitful. I'll be bringing my homework with me though, just in case it isn't. :)

By the end of the weekend, if I want to be on par word count wise, I should have 10,000 words written. That means, to be caught up I'll have to write more than 3,300 words over the next three days. Eek! This will certainly be an interesting weekend.

Days left of NaNoWriMo: 25.5
Total Novel Word Count: 0 (but its a happy zero. for now, at least. heh)