Okay, I'm sorry, 'you-know-who,' for posting this yet again this year, but in the interest of inspiring those who are lagging way behind and feel they are on an impossible quest, I offer the now traditional, "It ain't over till it's over motivational posting."
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Ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seat belts for the "write" of your life:
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 10:38 pm Post subject: Hello. My name is Dianne and I am insane...
I certainly hope I beat out everyone here, if only because I would never, ever wish my last 48 hours on anyone! (And I will *so* not be doing it ever again -- next year I keep going *early* in the month!!!)
As of 10am yesterday morning (11/29) I had a mere 17,843 words.
As of just before 8pm tonight (11/30) I finished, at 50,005.
For the non-mathematically inclined, I consult my handy dandy spreadsheet to report that that's
13 hours yesterday, for 12,313 words
and
10-1/2 hours today, for 19,858 words
My wrists may never recover, I doubt my brain ever will, and I must admit that while the first two thirds are solid, the last third is... um... wandering off into the extremely creative territory (read: Fox Mulder, time travel, aliens, and a very large T-rex!).
But damn, I did it!
Going off to collapse now...
_________________
Dianne la Mercenaire ~ Champion of Procrastination!
Winner 2002: Corpse In The Closet
Winner 2003: My Life As In My Tyme
"Good intentions are no substitute for action;
failure usually follows the path of least persistence."
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As you can see, nothing is impossible. It ain't easy, but it ain't impossible!!! Be proud, Dianne, you are still my all-time champ and hero!
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Winner 2001 - The "M" Word
Winner 2002 - Running Time
Winner 2003 - Changing Time
Winner 2004 - Time Out
Winner 2005 - Buying Time
Winner 2006 - Finding Time
Winner 2007 - Fireballs
51,943 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 10 23
Thanks, Fred, you are most awesome - so is Diane. :-)
50,161 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 10 44
Thanks. I'm stocking up provisions for such a batch of long nights this week having finally gotten to 25,020 last night. Only about 25,000 words to go. Goodie.
I wrote most of my novel last year (first timer 2006) in the last 1.5 weeks, but this is even more pressure. My characters are being stubborn at the moment; I'm about to bring in their under-studies. Well, better write now and not jabber, but I appreciate the inspiration! Here's to 6,000 a day at least as I unthinkingly gave away 6 hours or more on Thursday the 29th. Hopefully, though, that will be a refreshment for the last big push.
Thanks again. Lord, help me.
80,300 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 18 19
Thanks. I trust the fire has been lit under your you-know-whats, and you will both put the pedal to the metal and cross the finish line with the rest of us. Happy writing!
50,141 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2007 - 00 31
Awwww... ;-) Hey, if my insanity can inspire anyone, more power to you!
It's true: It ain't pretty, but it can be done.
D
~~~
Participant since 2001 ~ Winner since 2002
50,161 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2007 - 00 42
Thank you for all the encouragement and examples.
Have gotten to 28,477 today and just logged that in although I am not going to bed until I hit 30K, but the counter will add today's to tomorrow if I wait until after midnite. So I input the right number now...want that graph to go up, up, up to 50K by the 30th.
For some reason "huff and pull and blow the house down" came to mind -- I guess that's how literate I am after tons of work on this novel today..exhausted I think they call it. Still 1523 to go tonight. Plus 5K a day until Friday.
On your mark, get set, go.
Glad your wireless is now fixed, Veganfred. Keep on keeping on....
80,300 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2007 - 15 42
Who would have thought that I would have to get inspiration from my own posting?
Well, Dianne, thanks in some part to posting this topic, I realized that my ending word count goal was not very realistic. Therefore, I upped the ante and gave myself a good dose of, 'better write until you can't write anymore,' because finishing early was no longer the problem I was facing, it was more like finishing the story by the deadline at all.
With that and your efforts somewhere in my mind, I set a goal of six hours or 60K, whichever came last. In two sessions yesterday, I put up 4862 words in 5 1/2 hours between 3-9pm, then from 12:30-3am I added another 2583 for a total of 7445 words for the day and a grand total of 63257. Hey, I was on a roll. That brought me within finishing distance and made up for the pathetic 56 words of the previous day. Now after today's nearly 1-hour think tank shower, I have the rest of the story laid out; now all I have to do is write it. Not sure how much I'll write today, but I think that I need at least 5K more, but it's possible I will have to hit 70K. Ugh! So much for my early wordiness again. When will I ever learn? Maybe I'll be a winner tonight; not really sure yet.
Here I go again. :-)
50,141 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2007 - 23 22
Well, considering I've written almost nothing in the past two days, I may be right there with you if I don't kick in some serious wordage before I sleep tonight!
We never learn, do we? ;-)
~~~
Participant since 2001 ~ Winner since 2002
50,161 / 50,000
Nov 29, 2007 - 01 08
Just a caution mark. I kept being concerned that my profile chart kept updating my word count on the wrong day. BE SURE YOUR TIME IS SET CORRECTLY. I went to tech forum and thankfully corrected my information or my deadline would have been tomorrow at midnite (the 29th) rather than Friday the 30th at midnite. I can't make it by tomorrow night, but I hope to do so by Friday night. That is if my numb butt and legs doesn't win instead with all this typing.
Having fun trying to keep up with my characters schnanagans or something like that....Yipppeee. Isn't "Book Land" surreal and fun! Tap, tap, tap.... --Me
80,300 / 50,000
Nov 29, 2007 - 03 53
Well, considering I've written almost nothing in the past two days, I may be right there with you if I don't kick in some serious wordage before I sleep tonight!
We never learn, do we? ;-)
It would appear not. If I could get just a little computer / Internet cooperation, I will be happy and done. I spent another hour plus on tech support tonight because of connection problems. Somehow with several computer lockups, reboots, document recoveries, and signal dropouts, I still managed 5K. Looks like at least another 5K to finish. Ugh. Now instead of my usual place in the dining room, I am forced to be in my den, hardwired to my DSL modem. :-( Screw you, wireless routers and tech support, I will not be denied.
I seem to be running out of vacation fast. Oh well, I was only going to start cleaning and fixing stuff around here anyway if I finished early. Not a huge incentive, is it?
Winner 2001 - The "M" Word
Winner 2002 - Running Time
Winner 2003 - Changing Time
Winner 2004 - Time Out
Winner 2005 - Buying Time
Winner 2006 - Finding Time
2007 - A Kid Grows in Brooklyn
80,300 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2007 - 22 22
I certainly hope I beat out everyone here, if only because I would never, ever wish my last 48 hours on anyone! (And I will *so* not be doing it ever again -- next year I keep going *early* in the month!!!)
As of 10am yesterday morning (11/29) I had a mere 17,843 words.
As of just before 8pm tonight (11/30) I finished, at 50,005.
For the non-mathematically inclined, I consult my handy dandy spreadsheet to report that that's
13 hours yesterday, for 12,313 words
and
10-1/2 hours today, for 19,858 words
My wrists may never recover, I doubt my brain ever will, and I must admit that while the first two thirds are solid, the last third is... um... wandering off into the extremely creative territory (read: Fox Mulder, time travel, aliens, and a very large T-rex!).
But damn, I did it!
_________________
Dianne la Mercenaire ~ Champion of Procrastination!
Winner 2002: Corpse In The Closet
Winner 2003: My Life As In My Tyme
"Good intentions are no substitute for action;
failure usually follows the path of least persistence."
Well, at LONG last I am done; I am just about to validate mine. I matched you hours as I wrote for 13 hours yesterday and put up 11K on the button - both personal records. In the past three days I had a total of 23,500 words in 27 hours. I filled in with about another 1K today and now have a painful (oh my aching wrists) 80,250 words - another personal best, bypassing my previous high of 75K in 2004. Now I know how you suffered for your art, Dianne. One can never truly know what it's like until they've walked a mile in your shoes. I feel like I just walked five, and you were wearing stillettos.
Winner 2001 - The "M" Word
Winner 2002 - Running Time
Winner 2003 - Changing Time
Winner 2004 - Time Out
Winner 2005 - Buying Time
Winner 2006 - Finding Time
Winner 2007 - Fireballs
50,141 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2007 - 22 29
Well, at LONG last I am done; I am just about to validate mine. I matched you hours as I wrote for 13 hours yesterday and put up 11K on the button - both personal records. In the past three days I had a total of 23,500 words in 27 hours. I filled in with about another 1K today and now have a painful (oh my aching wrists) 80,250 words - another personal best, bypassing my previous high of 75K in 2004. Now I know how you suffered for your art, Dianne. One can never truly know what it's like until they've walked a mile in your shoes. I feel like I just walked five, and you were wearing stillettos.
You weren't supposed to take it as a challenge, you twit! ;-)
*shakes head* 13 hours of writing in a day has got to be covered under the Geneva Convention...
But congratulations!
Lizbetann is tappity tapping away ten feet from me with something like 1500 words to go. She also did a serious marathon today. I hope you've both learned your lesson! (But seriously doubt it. ;-)
See you at the TGIO tomorrow!
D
~~~
Participant since 2001 ~ Winner *AND STILL CHAMPION!* since 2002
50,417 / 50,000
Dec 1, 2007 - 02 38
Thanks Dianne (and Veganfred and others) - totally inspiring. just retired from the same thing myself. Not sure if I will ever be able to write again as I have a crook in my neck and a cramp in my wrist, but I made it through, the last two totally crazy days not withstanding.
Not recommended for anyone. Only the strong of heart can withstand such endurance. Thought I was getting the ball started early. Only discovered Nanowrimo after November had already started. In the end it didn't matter. The bulk was done at the end. The very end. Up until the last two minutes to midnight, uploading hell.
Not sure if I will ever be able to show anyone else, let alone read my own writings, but hell - I finished! Got the certificate.
Cheers to us!!
80,300 / 50,000
Dec 1, 2007 - 14 55
You're welcome, author.
Welcome to the boards. I am glad that you pulled it off, especially the last minute uploading part. Boy, that would've totally sucked if it didn't make it in time. :-(((((
I hope you will be able to join the party with us this evening in Hollyweird.