End of Semester, End of NaNoWriMo
Well, in a very loose sense, I completed my NaNoWriMo goal. I added about 30,000 words to my novel’s manuscript. I did not, however, reach the 50,000 word goal which, as I have continued to add to my novel, I can see I probably would have come pretty close if I had written every day. My novel is currently at just over 90,000 words, and while some of this might be edited down, most of it will remain. Fantasy books are often 100,000 words or more, so this is on par with the genre.
It’s interesting, seeing how the writing process changes at different points in the drafting phase. Even though I’m on the fourth draft of this manuscript, I am still adding chapters and going through with heavy revisions on others. I currently have about five chapters that need to be either written or heavily revised before this draft is complete, and I swear to god, these last chapters are proving much more difficult to write than the rest of the novel combined. I don’t know what it is about ending this book, but it is getting under my skin. That’s not a bad thing, but it does mean that I struggle more to get the words onto the page.
Still, I’m on track to complete this draft by December 15. At that point, I’ll send it off to my beta readers and focus in on the chapters and scenes that need the most revision. Hopefully I’ll have those revisions done by the time I hear back from my beta readers, and can then begin my sixth draft which will be my first line-by-line edit. Descriptions, imagery, word choice — these are the things I will focus on extensively in the sixth draft, and should give the manuscript a more polished feeling. Though I’m not sure it will ever feel “done” to me.
I’m debating on whether or not to push back the publication date. I feel like, once my first line-by-line edit is done, I’ll need to take at least two weeks away from it before doing another line-by-line edit. Regardless, the book will be published next year before May, which I still cannot believe. Then, I’ll be working more consistently on the sequel. Hopefully, by next November, I’ll be ready to draft the third book in the trilogy for NaNoWriMo 2023. But, we’ll see.
It’s also the end of the semester which means I’m working on two different research papers. One is for my magical realism class and the other is for my working women’s class. It’s been an interesting semester. I’ve enjoyed my classes and the books we’ve read. I’m not going to lie, I’m looking forward to winter break. And I’m excited that I’m nearly done with my second masters. I doubt that I will get another degree after this one. I’m ready to let my life get consumed by the books and writing assignments I most want to read and write. If I’m going to be anywhere near as prolific of a writer as I hope to be, I’ll need all the extra time I can get. Although I will say, working full time, being in school full time, having my debut book of poetry published, reading 75 books, and writing a whole ass novel all in one year — fucking hell, I’m unstoppable. If I can do all of this in one year, just imagine how much more I’ll get done when I’m out of school!
I really, really love how my life is going. I have been stressed for the last several weeks because work has taken me up to Seattle every week for the last six weeks, and the drive is exhausting and I hate being away from home. The exhaustion has meant my mental health isn’t the greatest, but I’m doing what I can every day to help take care of myself. My partner and I have a truly loving, caring, supportive relationship and I love him more and more every single day. I’m doing this writing thing. I’m actually sitting down and making it happen. I’ve never gotten a novel into a fourth draft before, and I still can’t believe I’ve done it now. I’m 34.
Life isn’t perfect. The continued targeting of LGBTQIAP2S+ communities is heartbreaking and makes me genuinely afraid for my personal safety. The systemic racism that runs rampant through every part of our country, the negative impacts of climate change, the absurd prices of rent, the skyrocketing prices of healthcare, medications, and other medical costs, the homelessness and poverty crises, and the unwillingness of our supposed progressive government to actually resolve these issues, weighs on me every single day, as I’m sure it does a lot of us. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. Even debilitating.
But there is beauty, too.
This weekend I saw that an adult I knew when I was a teenager in church came out as a lesbian. Her wife is a trans woman. And it fills my heart with love and joy and excitement and determination and resilience to see people embracing their true selves, living an authentic life, and spreading love and light in the world. Because even though there is a lot of hate and darkness around us, we are filled with love and light, and that is stronger and brighter than any darkness. In Brooklyn 99 after Rosa comes out as bi, Captain Holt says, “Whenever someone is honest and open about who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.” It’s so true, and I revel in that.
Let’s spread love today.
