T-Dawg’s Blog

There’s no way I can Nano Nano tonight. Leaving school for three days to go be in a family wedding in California. No use trying to force it — I’ll just write double the amount when I’m on the plane. I love what this challenge is doing to my life, so I don’t want to spoil it by making it stressful. Off to do sub plans…Ugh!

I started to think I would bomb out on the NaNoWRiMo word count after one day, but I ended up going to one of my favorite little places after school for a mini writing marathon with myself. I started writing a fictional account of what I thought my father was thinking when he was a young Dad on a weekend getaway with my mother in Palm Springs. He was on my mind because today is his birthday and he’s been gone now for  8 years. It’s amazing how the words add up once you get going. So… I am now at 3414 words for the NaNoWriMo contest, and I’m feeling a real sense of accomplishment. 

It’s nice to just go off and write for awhile after work, even though there’s the initial feeling of guilt that I should be doing stuff for my students. Most of what I wrote was babbling stuff, but there were a few lines/paragraphs I know I will return to once I go  back to edit in December. A friend of mine came and sat next to me and started reading what I was writing. “Wow, that’s heavy stuff,” he said. “Go away,” I said, and put my laptop cover down. He walked away shaking his head and laughing.

I have a few friends and one student who are joining me on this crazy quest. I think there will be some days when it will be easier to churn out more than I did today. I’m heading for a family wedding next weekend in California. The family scene always gives me plenty to write about. Look out!

So…. I’ve decided to participate in a writing challenge for the month of November. Hey, it’s only 50,000 words — a piece o’ cake, right? My goal is actually 30,000 — or about 1000 words per day. That’s what several of my students are shooting for as well.

Some of my cohorts who are also doing this challenge already have 2000 words posted! They began writing last night at midnight. I went to bed.

The clocks were set back last night; I have an extra hour… 

Ok, I’m off to write a novel. Hey, this post alone just gave me  96 words!