Monday, November 24, 2008

I Think This is What They Mean By "Feel the Burn"

As of 8am this morning, I'm 3287 words away from winning NaNo. *does a little dance* As most of you know, my goal is 60,000 words, so I'm actually 13,287 words away from winning. That works out to roughly 2000 per day for the rest of the month. That's been more or less what I've been doing, so it shouldn't be a problem. Except for one thing.

I am getting burned out.

I still like my story but I'm so sick of my story. I like my characters but I wish they would just get on with it. Yesterday I backtracked and wrote a chapter I'd accidentally skipped, so I feel like I'm moving backwards and my characters are regressing.

Regardless of my mixed feelings, I got up early this morning and wrote 600 words. I think this story will be longer than 60k, but I'd like to get as much done as I can by November 30th so I can tuck it away and work on the edits for The Other Side. I don't want to stop my current wip midway through, so the more I can get done now, the better.

On top of this, I've either been bitten by little bugs or I'm having an allergic reaction to something, because I am ITCHY! My left arm, my chest and my chin are driving me bonkers!

How's your writing coming along? Do you have any ailments you'd like to complain about?



ETA: I completely forgot to mention my lips have been swollen for a couple days and are also itchy. I'm trying to narrow down what foods I've eaten.

24 comments:

WendyCinNYC said...

My writing is sort of simmering along. I've plotted out the whole book and have written the first two chapters.

I'd like to get back to short story writing and i think maybe I'll do so after this Thanksgiving break.

No particular ailments, but I think I passed my minor cold along to my kids.

Spy Scribbler said...

Oh no, really? I'm sorry! That's awful. You don't live near Tijijuauna (sp?) do you? I know a true genius doctor there, believe it or not. She was a normal doctor then she went back to school ndis now one of the most informed homeopaths in the US. Except she moved back to Mexico.

SO cool about your story and word count! You'll be glad if you push through to the end. I hate, hate, hate my story by the time I'm at your point! HATE IT!

Congratulations, Melanie!

I've got a brak from work this week, so I'm expecting myself to write my fingers off!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Wendy, after doing the outline for this story, I definitely think that's the way for me. At least at this point in my writing life.

Sorry the girls are sick!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Spy, I totally forgot to mention my lips have been swollen for several days, too. Weird. (I added it to the original post).

I'm excited that I've come this far with the story, I'm just a little unsatisfied with the way it looks like it's going to end. I shouldn't say the way, it's more the timing. I'd originally pictured it happening over a longer period of time, but now I think it's going to be much shorter, and I don't know if it'll be realistic. Oh well, that's where the writing crap thing comes in.

I'm glad you get a work break. :)

Robin said...

I'm so proud of you for getting so far on your WIP! You go, girl!

I'm slowed to a snail's pace. My fantasy is that I'll get writing done over Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I hope the fantasy turns to reality!

Janna Leadbetter said...

Hurray for you! You are amazing.

In the process of trying to stir up motivation for my WIP, I've been blasted by great ideas for two different books. *sigh* I suppose that's a good thing - except that it does nothing for my current project. I've been jotting notes like crazy.

Hm. No ailments (hallelujah!) but I am bumped and bruised from all the physical projects I've been doing around the house. I'm such a weeny.

I hope your itchies go away! Keep us posted.

Jen said...

Mel, you are doing so awesome! *dances*

The only issue I have so far is just the slump. I need to get over the brain fog and get going again. I'm working on it. :)

Hope you find out what's causing your itch-fest. Sounds extremely unpleasant. *hugs*

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Robin, you can do it! My trick is not demanding a high output during each session. If you allow yourself a couple hundred words at a time, you'll get there.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Janna, that's great you have new ideas! Unless I sit down and actively try to brainstorm, they don't come. At least not lately.

Poor you! You're not a weeny (that totally made me laugh, btw). You should see me when we have projects going on. Heck, I hurt myself just walking around the house.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Jen, good luck to you too. I recommend baby steps. :)

I really hope I figure this out too. I've been itchy for several days now and I keep thinking it'll go away. I'm using a new fabric softener but you'd think my entire body would be itchy if that was the problem.

Anonymous said...

I am a little less than 10K away from 50K, and in these last 10K words I am going to be wrapping it all up. I would like to have one stellar day before Thursday so I can take that day off. It's been known to happen.

Sorry to hear you are all itchy. :o(

Janna Leadbetter said...

Melanie, I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only clumsy doofus. :)

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Good luck CJ!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Janna, I've often said that I'm so clumsy I've upgraded myself to accident prone. I still don't understand how I'm able to salsa dance, lol.

Last night I almost fell down the stairs when my heel missed the step, and I walk into knobs and drawer pulls ALL THE TIME.

Anonymous said...

I thought you would have grown out of the excessive gravity infliction you have.
I would bet it is some sort of allergy you have, as Ibis would have it if it was bugs.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Penguin, was I that bad? lol. I'll have to remember that phrase - excessive gravity infliction.

I think the patch on my arm is from ants. I killed about 200 the other day and a lot of them crawled up my arms. They don't normally bite, but maybe they do when they fear for their lives. The other spots are bumpless.

Anonymous said...

No ailments for me! Although in the past, I always seemed to catch childhood illnesses that I never had as a child. Like a few years ago I got scarlet fever. Weird!

How much time do you spend each day writing 2000 words?

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Dube, that is weird. Have you had chicken pox?

Today I wrote 1000 words in about 45 minutes, but sometimes it can take hours. It all depends if I'm at a scene where I know what's happening, or if it's a struggle to get through.

Since I allow myself breaks, the actual writing time is only a couple hours, but it can stretch through half the day!

Nadine said...

I'm so impressed by how much you have written! I've barely written this month :(

As for the itchy and swelling - have you eaten Mango recently? My husband and I are both allergic to the sap and the skin. We can't eat it with the skin still on it, or we break out in rashes wherever the mango touched us. The rash looks like poison oak.

If you think it's mango, let me know as I have some really good remedies.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Nadine, I don't think it's mango but I'll certainly let you know...

Kristine said...

Congratulations! I'm so proud of you. I love checking up on your word count clicker. You've come so far; drink a beer and get on with it. ;)

My only ailment is the tire around my mid-section. I still haven't gotten onto the Shred movement, yet. I'll try tomorrow. It's just so cold in the mornings, I don't want to get out of my warm bed.

Good luck!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Aww, Kris, thanks. :) I've done the Shred the past two days and I think I might be ready for Level 2. Although I keep remembering when you said "even when you think you're ready for level 2, you're not."


LOL!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the progress so far. I was wondering about NaNo burn out for people and I am curious to know if this is something common with other participants.

As for my writing, it's been at a halt for a month. I'm struggling hard to get back in the saddle but it's not going so well. Meanwhile my WIP collects virtual dust on my harddrive.

colbymarshall said...

AGH! Scary...the bug thing, I mean!