NaNoWriMo 2019: Winning Writer
It’s official; I’m a NaNoWriMo 2019 winner! I was able to hit the 50,000-word mark on November 27 at noon. I still kept writing until the end, and my final word count as November 30 was 55,222 words.
As a winner, I get a certificate, winner’s badge on their site, offers for discounted writing software and memberships, and a few bragging rights. Most importantly, I get to feel a sense of accomplishment at writing as much as I can.
When I decided to partake in NaNoWriMo this year, I was not expecting to have as much chaos during the month. I prepared myself for a hectic Thanksgiving, but life dumped some extra sub-plots. My mom, who was already frail, but mobile, became very ill. She was in and out of the hospital and rehab for weeks. At the same time, my dad fell and sustained a broken right leg. He was laid-up and unable to help with my mom. Thanks to my brother and sister, we were able to divide and conquer.
On top of family issues, November was a busy season for my retail company, Otter Things. The busy holiday shopping season is upon us, and I need to attract customers. Although small, I am trying to make my brand shine for people that love otters and enjoy them on their wares. It’s an incredibly small niche, but I feel like I am ruling it.
The story I worked on this month and continue to write is about sixteen-year-old Ferne, a stroke victim that has Broca’s aphasia. School is hard enough to tackle, but now with the difficulty of a severe speech impediment, she finds herself struggling to continue her education and relationships with family and friends. Matters worsen when she develops the ability to communicate with animals telepathically. That’s all I will say for now, but as the work evolves, I will update you on my progress.
Writing takes time. It is a journey that can have many detours, but the destination of sharing a completed story with all of you is worth all of the delays and potholes life throws my way. Thank you to the staff at National Novel Writing Month for the chance to prove myself, and congratulations to all the winning and participating writers.
