Whether you won or lost, what happened with your novel from 2008? Is it collecting dust on your hard drive or in a corner somewhere? Did you delete/trash it (horrified shudder)? If it was unfinished, did you finish it off? Did you start to edit it? For the really ambitious, was it polished and sent off to an agent, publisher, or contest?
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2006 - The Guardian - 24805 words
2007 - The Guardian - under 10000 words (try 2)
2008 - Broken Wing - 49251 words
2009 - Aisuru, To Love - TBD
32,816 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 20 33
To answer my own post, I "finished" my novel, Broken Wing but it was shy the 50k mark. Since then, I spent a ridiculous sum (IMHO - overcharged) to print it out in a coil bound format. For several months, I spent one day a week at the Casa Ole's at the mall editing the printed copy, generally doing one chapter at a time. Funny enough, most of the time I ended up with the same waiter, which was cool because he remembered what I ordered and that I was working and seemed to think it was cool that I wrote (even if it was "chick lit" LOL).
After I finished that, the goal was to start putting those edits back in the computer. So far, I've gotten two chapters and part of a third done. I'm hoping if I push myself, I can get the rest in before this year's NaNo, but I suspect that will be a pipe dream. :-P Still, on the whole, I'm pleased with the novel and I do eventually want to get it polished up and try to get it published. Still debating if I'll try to get an agent or if I'll go the self-publishing through CreateSpace or the like.
----------2006 - The Guardian - 24805 words
2007 - The Guardian - under 10000 words (try 2)
2008 - Broken Wing - 49251 words
2009 - Aisuru, To Love - TBD
0 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 06 09
I started, got a few days in ahead of pace, but then schoolwork REALLY picked up and even though I tried hard to keep pace, I couldn't. That and my laptop died. I had a backup, but always having to be sitting at a desktop got old in a hurry. I so abandoned the project a few days in and cut my losses. I plan on redoing that story this year, though, so I still have all of my notes and everything.
8,777 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 08 07
I stalled on my 2008 book about 15,000 words in. But, I have most of the plot done, and will return to it - eventually.
Although I've never won out of 5 tries, I have finished 2 of the 5, and sold one through my web site and Lulu. The best of the 5, which is about 30 pages or so from being done, will be something I send to agents/publishers. The second-best of the 5, too. The third-best, maybe Lulu again.
Building up a body of work is something that I think helps every author, and having unfinished work you can go back to with fresh eyes at a later date is never a bad thing. Even if you don't finish in November, NaNo is good for you as a writer.
This year, I have a big, life-changing event (a baby) to prepare for the first week in December, and either a minor life-changing event (unemployment) the week before or a less-minor life-changing event (transfer across the country), so I have little doubt my writing time will be limited. But, I'll do something, and at least have a start on a book that I can always finish later.
----------http://robbietaylor.net
43,026 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 13 36
Though I didn't finish my Nano 08, I did hit the 50,000 word mark, so I edited what I had and posted it to DeviantArt and a writing site I frequent. This year, if I complete my story, I'll go the CreateSpace route, if they offer it again.
----------Life would be so much better with a plot.
32,816 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 17 28
That is awesome, Robbie, that you've sold. How did you find the Lulu experience? Its one of several I've looked at and wondered about. I agree with you on building a body of work and on NaNo being good for you. I know for me, it helped me get past the hurdle of killing my work on research before I even got the story started, and its helped me get bacin into writing and revisiting stuff I started back in high school!
Congrats on the baby! :-)
----------2006 - The Guardian - 24805 words
2007 - The Guardian - under 10000 words (try 2)
2008 - Broken Wing - 49251 words
2009 - Aisuru, To Love - TBD
38,138 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 17 55
I hit the 50,000 words last year, but that was only about halfway through my story. I still haven't finished the second half, or even really edited the first half. I was considering finishing the story this year as a sort of second installment, but I've gotten a new story idea so I may try to run with it.
I did print out and bind the pages of last year's NaNo, though, to make it easier to go through and edit. Still haven't let anyone read it! :)
----------2008: Allayed Allegiance, ~52000 words
2009: Jóna, WIP
56,806 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 12 09
I finished each of my scifi books the last 3 years running.
Still editing.
I publish through lulu.
Will have to check the other places mentioned.
Published 10 poetry, 1 children's.
editing the 3 scifi, a mystery, 2 poetry, 3 children's and my unauthorized autobiography.
almost finished my first romance novel.
I was challenged to write it, and after reseach I went to the christian romance sub-genre.
I started 1st of oct, 2 more chaps and I'll be done with it, and ready for another scifi for nano.
It helps to be laid off this last month. I signed up for subbing @ CSISD & BISD.
Thx for the great ideas!
38,438 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 12 28
I actually broke the 50,000 word mark last year with my current storyline, but found myself not even reaching halfway through my projected outline. Since there's so much of the story left to tell, I'm picking it up this year right where I left off. Hopefully I'll actually finish with it this year!