By James M. Jackson
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times; it was the return of true vacations involving travel; it was enjoying those trips without putting (virtual) pen to (virtual) paper.
This year I took two long vacations, the first to Iceland
and Greenland. I just finished the second, a month-long road trip to the
national parks and monuments of Utah and Arizona via many National Wildlife Refuges.
They were great.
I have worked this year revising three novels, publishing
one novel and a bunch of audio books, marketing, maintaining my website,
creating blogs for WWK, and working on a Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime
anthology for next year’s publication. What I have not done is write my next
novel, which was a 2022 goal.
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Those
who join the fun try to write at least 50,000 new words during the month. My
novels run up to 100,000 words. I need two NaNoWriMos to satisfy my goal.
Well, I can’t have two successful months if I don’t have one, so starting today, I will average creating at least 1,667 words a day. To help me reach that objective (because I hate embarrassing myself), I’ll post my daily results on the front page of my website (https://jamesmjackson.com).
It won't be easy. I have other obligations, and I am not a fast writer (and I don’t have even the barest of an outline to work from). But heck, what are challenges for if not to push us past our comfort zone?
Readers, please share if you have any goals or “to dos”
you’ve put off until it’s (almost) too late. I’d like to think I’m not the only
one.
* * * * *
James M. Jackson authors the Seamus McCree series. Full of mystery and suspense, these thrillers explore financial crimes, family relationships, and what happens when they mix. You can sign up for his newsletter and find more information about Jim and his books at https://jamesmjackson.com.
final revisions and edits on my debut before I hurl it into the world in January. Anxious to write the first draft of the second in the series during Jan-Feb-March, which are my most productive months of the year.
ReplyDeleteMargaret -- Good luck with those final revisions. I'm confident the hurling process will go well!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Jim. I hope you work well under pressure!
ReplyDeleteNano, Nano! I hadn't planned on participating this year, didn't do any prep, but this morning it struck me that getting the words down is more important. So - off to Nano I go.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan -- I generally work well under moderate pressure.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck, Kait. My day 1 is in the can with 1,759 words.
Congrats, Jim - that is outstanding!
ReplyDeleteIceland and Greenland! I don't have a bucket list, but if I did, they'd be on it. Good luck with your two massive goals, Jim. I'm doing Nano for the first time with only a modest goal (and a good chance of exceeding it). Any goal is better than no goal.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your Nano goal, Molly. I have great confidence you'll do fine with it.
ReplyDeleteI saw some of your amazing photos and hadn't realized you also went to Greenland! Definitely on the bucket list along with several hundred other things, one of which is to finish a novel during NANO. For once I outlined and did preliminary sketches instead of my usual pantsing, so the whole thing will be an experiment.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your goals, Jim. 1,667 words a day it is. Thank you for doing the math so I don't have to.
Hey Shari -- I have great confidence you'll succeed, especially with your outline and preliminary sketches.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! I know you can! We will try not to bother you much while we are up north. NO promises over "Girls Weekend + Jim" :)
ReplyDeleteSo Lisa, my plan is to write early in the morning when the "Girls" are not yet awake/coherent/ready to play.
ReplyDelete