I finished the month only on a partially successful note. Both ventures were a great deal of fun, and brought me some valuable insights. I even learned from trying to do them in the same month. One thing I took from November’s activities is that they are do–able in the same month.

NaNoWriMo: My Incomplete Success

First the bad news: My novel remains unfinished. I didn’t meet my goal of 50,000 words by November 30. And I’m alright with that. In fact, I’ll be fine with it but not yet—hat’s coming.

And the good news: While I was disappointed in myself for not finishing, I know what stopped me. Now, it’s not that I have good excuses because I don’t. I just learned more about me and the land mines I allowed to stop me. Tells me a lot about what to look out for next time. Yes, there will be a next time.

The other good thing that came of this effort was that I learned that I still have the passion to write long pieces of fiction. And, my biggest take–away is that I have the beginning of a novel that I really like. So, while I didn’t make my deadline, I’m still going to write the novel.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge

The poems are done! I finished them on time even though I got a little behind a few times in the month. That was quite thrilling for me but that’s only half the project.

The rest of the challenge lies in completing the poem edits and submitting them before January 5, 2010. If you would like to read the poems visit the roundup on my page the 2009 PAD November Chapbook Challenge, under the Poems main tab.

This project was very much worth the effort. I learned that I have the strength to let poems go out into the cosmos of cyber space. I trust my editing more. Not that it’s all that good, but that I know how to carve out and leave in what reflects me. I make what works for me and offer it up to others to enjoy or not.

Making changes on the fly, working to find the right words came easy and hard depending on different factors—but the changes came. I’ll be exploring in more detail what I got out of these activities. Come back and check it out. Tell me about your writing project experiences.

By the way, I would have finished this post yesterday but my brain was a lot fried from the challenges. I didn’t have my sea legs back yet. Or would that be sea fingers? As a bonafide landlubber, I’m not even sure I have permission to say that. At any rate, I’m better today.

I was all set to tell you about my new adventure when something happened! While surfing and tweeting, I came across some great tweets from someone I just started following, @inkyelbows. And I found a new adventure.

What I was going to tell you before my distraction was that I’m going to try NaNoWriMo again this year. Last year I signed up and didn’t get much further than that. Last year, I signed up on November 1, and fell apart shortly thereafter.

This year I gave myself a little more warning, little more time for self-talk, tools and ideas. Time to play around with the endeavor and sort of slide into next month like it was any other November.

Since November 7 is my birthdate, and that’s so close to the year’s end, I try to set goals for conclusion by that date. I figured that it’s so early in the month, my novel writing can be minimal (1666.67 daily to meet the 50,000 requirement by November 30) until the 7th and then I can go all out. That was the plan.

Poetry Interrupted

This blog is a hodgepodge of my less constrained proclivities and inspirations. The main reason I started it was so that I’d have a place to put the more random machinations I claim. First on the list is poetry. I enjoy writing poems, and this is my place to put the ones I’m willing to share. Pictures are included and writing in other genres, but poetry got me started here. And poetry is the reason I’m adjusting my plans for next month.

I read a tweet from @inkyelbows and had to check it out. Here’s what I found: Poetic Asides: 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge.

Yes, November—2009—next month. Overlap city, right? Here’s the thing though; both can suck. It’s not about achieving final-draft quality in a first draft. It’s about reaching the quantity goal. There’ll be time for editing after November.

Poetry is the stuff that sustains me. I give myself the task of writing a poem a day sometimes for weeks or months. So I know it can yield some useful material. Besides, it was on my list of stuff to do this year. And, although I was planning to postpone a new collection again,  I’ve had a second thought.

Just Do It

Without giving it too much room to scare me, I’m committing to both! C’est la vie, c’est la guerre. If I have to avoid family and friends in my spare time for one project, I may as well do it for the other too. Besides, it’ll be great to see just what I’m made of. [I could use a smiley face here.]

And I’ve been practicing and preparing to get it done. I’ve been working on my typing stamina, and playing around with ideas and scenarios. I’ve never written a novel, so the wow factor is good for a few boosts throughout the month. So it should work out.

Coming soon is my Writing page. That’s what was scheduled for today. On that page, I’ll post the cool meters I’ll be using for my progress. Here’s where you can add me at NaNoWriMo: Shari Lynne Smothers. Come check me out, cheer me on, or tease. I’m doing this! What are you doing for November?