Well, folks, NaNoEdMo is over. Did I complete the challenge? I wish I could say I did, but I didn’t. I managed to edit five chapters, so 45 chapters short of 50. However, thanks to NaNoEdMo, I broke my 2018 editing-chapter record.
For months, it was a miracle if I edited one chapter per month, so to complete five and start on the sixth is something I’m proud of. Remember, a step forward, no matter how small, is better than not stepping forward at all. So, I have given myself a pat on the back for this success, even though it’s a small success.
So, what happened during NaNoEdMo? It was a slow start. Actually, I don’t even think I started it was that slow. I still had the holiday blues, so when it came to editing my novel, I struggled to concentrate and would spend most of my time daydreaming of golden sands, clear water, baking heat and vanilla bean cheesecake — the best cheesecake known to man.
However, after having a deep and meaningful conversation with myself (sometimes you need a chat with yourself), I knew I was wasting time, and I needed to stop with the excuses. So, I rolled up those sleeves and edited the hell out of my novel.
Even with my new found motivation, I wasn’t editing at the speed I wanted. This annoyed me, and it caused my motivation to slip. But, I reminded myself that while the second and third draft was done quicker than the fourth, the fourth draft and any future drafts will require me to work slower. I need to look deeper and really think about what I’m trying to say and how it’s coming across. It’s a lot to think about, and all of this requires time, and this time often includes sitting and reading a sentence over and over again. It’s a lot of work, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.
So, yeah, I didn’t reach my NaNoEdMo goal, but I did make progress. And, I found some of my writer’s mojo. I still have a long way to go, though, and I fear I’ll never finish, but all I can do is keep going. One day I will tell you all that I have a finished novel, and then it’ll be time for the third stage: submitting to agents.
Did you take part in NaNoEdMo or NaNoWriMo? How did you do? Let me know in the comment box below.
Keep writing, folks!
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