NaNoWri - Wut? It's that time again, writerly folks!

NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month

Yesterday heralded the holt-anticipated start of NaNoWriMo - where otherwise level-headed folk attempt to do the impossible task of writing a novel in a month. Yes, that's right - in the space of 30 days thousands of people will be pounding their keyboards and scribbling in notebooks in order to reach the goal of 50, 000 words. And that is a short novel. In a month.

WHY?

Because! On the NaNo site there is a list of FAQs and this is near the top. I love the answers they give - because the deadline makes you do it, because so many people are striving together to achieve the same thing, because it lets you stamp down that internal critic that insists you make it perfect before you write it...

Are you NaNoWriMoing?

If you are let me know and we can be writing buddies. You can find my NaNo page here, and I'm hoping to work out how to get the word count widget to work so you can check out my awesome progress. So many things are happening with my writing at the moment it's a really exciting time - now I'd better get back and do some more!

Numfar: Do the Dance of Joy!

It's done! First Draft is Complete!

Heh. Just over a year ago I started this blog and my first post was titled 'Numfar: do the dance of shame' . (The wonderful picture is of Joss holding up a custom Numfar figure made by Sasha Powell as seen on her blog) So it seems fitting that now I can post this because I am now a writer - I have finished my first book! Now, let me enjoy this feeling for a little bit. I know there is much to do. A first draft is a long way from a finished book. But, as Joss himself says, the first rule is FINISH IT! And I have :)

What now?

Okay, I have my draft and it's going away for a little bit. Then I will do the first sweep of edits and get it out to some beta readers. Beta readers, you say? Yes. I have some people lined up who are willing to sacrifice some time to read the 140,000+ words in this mighty tome. And then...well, we'll have to see. I want this puppy published but how that might be achieved remains to be finalised.

Er, what's it about, anyway?

Good question. It's a humorous novel about...well, think Tom Sharpe meets Ben Elton during a mid-life crisis and spawns a mutant love-child with him and Grant Naylor. But now with added Internets. Yeah, that about sums it up. It's a humourous novel about a 37 yr old geeky guy, separated from his wife, who loses his job and decides to go to University to get an IT degree. He is a decent guy, hooked on nerd culture but completely set in his ways, bogged down by daily life and acceptance of less-than-best. His gaming addiction doesn't help, either. And when his separated wife becomes pregnant, his life takes on a new turn. 

And now...?

Sleep. And maybe a glass of wine. And much rejoicing. It feels good.

Also, a Thank You

Over the last few months many people on Twitter, The Guild chat, Facebook, Friendfeed and all over the internet have encouraged, cajoled and helped me. A huge thank you to all of you. I can't tell you how much it really helped. You rock!

Writing, Erotic Fiction and Zoe Winters

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