NANOOOOH!
Ooooh. My brain hurts! It’s been a minute since I’ve given an update on my Nano writing but that’s because I’ve been WRITING AND WRITING AND WRITING.
Today’s word count: 45, 159!! I wrote 3555 words today and my brain is mush-eyyyy! I had another emotional write…crying all over myself as I unfolded a character’s death. Damn. Writing is physical! Emotional! Exceptional!
Here’s where I’m writing today. At home, with the dogs, and with Charis (Cotter) on Facetime for our annual writer’s retreat which is virtual this year.
The Christmas tree is up so the house is super festive and cozy! Santa’s coming! I’ve been writing at various locations this month…at Tim Horton’s with Christian (CM Forest – Hi Christian!), at Suede, at home…and this past Thursday, I hosted my first Write-in at the Lodge at Lakeshore!
I took to the comfiest sofa ever for most of the day. Stopping to pee and eat and quick-visit with the other writers who shared the space. 
The sofa! It was such a beautiful experience writing at the lodge. Its spacious, wood-heavy, coziness was perfect for writing. I felt like I was in a Hallmark holiday film! Throughout the writing time from 12pm to 7pm, people came in to write, read, journal or be creative – paint, think, dream, meditate, walk. The energy was electric but calm with each of us working on our creative projects. Thank you to Jenny and the Lodge at Lakeshore team for making our stay so special! We’re doing it again THIS THURSDAY from 12pm – 7pm, so if you can make it – do!
I wrote over 6,000 words that day! When I got home, I was utterly exhausted. I’d made it to the end of my uber-outline – the characters told me their endings and I felt…both sad and relieved. The mysteries we solved together, and it was a big moment to let settle. So I did that…and didn’t write another word for three whole days! I was on an eleven day writing spree, but the truth was that I needed a break when the endings came. We all did – that is – me and the characters. And so I used this past weekend to catch up on all the other things in my life that were waiting. The guilt of not writing began to creep in last night, but I promised myself and the characters that this week would be filled with ample writing time every day, and we’d be back at it. I slept hard and well. And this morning, I awoke to a nervous tummy because…chapter one! Back to the beginning for another round, this time, the filling in and scene finessing for the first draft (second?) that I need for the Humber course – deadline January 2024!!!
I felt…almost shy…cautiously welcoming the characters to come back to the beginning with me…and if we could, without the dreaded pressures of Chapter One. I did a quick journal to settle my mind and belly, and then got to writing. The magic continues, my friends! Chapter one is nearly done…and the story is blossoming in a way that makes my heart and soul feel bursting with gratefulness to be a writer, a creative, a storyteller. I hope you feel this too as you write and create!
IN OTHER NEWS…
I am extremely grateful to the Ontario Arts Council, Recommenders’ Grants! Thank you! 
Thank you to Dorothy for her sweets sharing and Puffs Plus sharing – these tissues are truly incredible!
Lady bug, Lady luck – keep it comin’!
This was my kilometer (odometer?!) reading on November 17!!! Am I in magical alignment or what?!
Unfortunately, luck can’t touch my hot flashes, which continue with a vengeance. Thanks to Jacey for showing me this neck fan…
Here are today’s Nanowrimo stats. I need less than 5,000 words to hit 50,000! I’m definitely gonna surpass that goal…and it feels amazing already!
Keep writing, creating, spreading the love!
