Day +5: Finished, But NO STOPPING

Everyone give a "WHOOP" because I "won" my third straight NaNoWriMo. On the last day of November. With 2 hours to spare. TWO! It came down to the wire and I was writing non-stop on the last weirdly rainy in LA day. But I did it. 50,000 more words done. Only problem is... wait for it... waaaait for it.... I'm still not done with my novel. *Price is Right fail music plays*

Still not finished. But now my novel has a staggering 193,853 words. That is an insane amount of words. I wonder if I have yet worked the words "kumquat" or "fart" into any of the 193,853 words. I don't think I have actually. And that is an INJUSTICE.

Holding myself from constantly editing my writing has obviously led to this momentous occasion. But I must still hold back. I need to finish the novel first. You may be questioning my sanity or if I'll ever finish, but fear not, I have a fun fact to share that will hopefully instill as much hope in you as Katniss instills hope in the people of Panem (which is a lot, despite herself).

My novel takes place over a short period of ten days in a row.  And we follow eight characters over the course of those ten days. That's not the long of a period of time, so how come it is taking so long, Ben? I shall ignore your question, and just gladly tell you that I am currently on the last day of those ten days. So the end, it is near!

I only have 24 more hours to get through... and even though everything in my novel has been building up to this last day and it is the climax and everything relies on it and, oh god, I can't screw this part up!

Blog reader? Are you there? I'm probably talking to the void of the internet at this point. But just know. THE END IS NIGH.

OH, also, I still am doing the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Yea, so I'm a bit behind. I have to read 11 more books in the next 26 days! AHH! So, excuse me while I go lock myself in my room.

Until next time...

- ben josé

The Eve of NaNoWriMo!

Well guys, the time has finally come! NaNoWriMo officially begins tonight at 12:00am. AHHH! Thus, commences 30 days of hardship, sobriety, and creativity. I feel like I'm about to enter the arena in the "Hunger Games" even though I have never been more mentally prepared for a NaNoWriMo before than I am this year. Cinna, give me a Mockingjay pin for protection please. Katniss don't need yo help, Lenny! As you can leave, I've already lost my mind... more on that in a few weeks...

In order to prepare for this NaNoWriMo this year, I have gone through everything I have ever written about my novel and re-read it. I have started new outlines. I charted out the plots with more detail than ever before. I actually know the ending to each book and the ending to the series. I know where each character starts and where each character ends. And folks, you better prepare yourself for one crazy ride.

One of the greatest influences on my novel is "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. If you haven't read it or don't know what it is than I don't know what you are doing here or if we can be friends. If I said, "Winter is Coming" or "A Lannister Always Pays His Debts," you better damn well know what I am talking about!

While reading Book 3, A Storm of Swords, I threw my book across the room and screamed when I came across a certain scene I will just call the "RW." Damn you, George R.R. Martin!!! Seven hells!

George creates a vast world called Westeros and inhabits it with a multitude of interesting and complex characters! Everyone has both good and bad qualities and no character easily falls into any cliches or boring normalities. The novels are written from the POVs of the main characters. My novel (which is tentatively titled "Buoyancy" at the moment) follows this same procedure. I tell the story from the perspectives of 8 very different characters in one very unique city called Annonay. Through the forced 3rd person limited perspectives of each character, so much creative storytelling has been opened up to me.

Jon Snow: You know nothing

Daenerys Targaryen: Mother of Dragons

Jaime Lannister: A handful

But, enough babbling, I will share more and more with you about my characters and my world as the month continues on... Check out my page on NaNoWriMo.

Now, I must decide if I am going out for one last hurrah on Halloween, or if I really am just going to buckle up and start this bitch... My knuckles are cracked. My fall "cold" is in full swing! My eyeglasses are scratched!

Lessss'go! 11 hours remain!

-ben josé