50k

35 Replies

(Badge courtesy of fellow nanoteamindy member Dave Farmer)

50220 words
17 days
+- 62.5 hours of total writing
+- 3.5 hours of writing a day (I have a full-time job)

I am extremely proud of my achievement.
I have completed my first ever attempt at National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an international challenge for writers around the globe to write 50 000 words or more in 30 days.
This is day 17 of the challenge. The total word count for all participants stands at 1 710 527 045. That’s right, over one-and-a-half billion words written in less than 17 full days.
My story is not yet complete. I will continue to write until it is finished. Then, of course, comes the rewrite and numerous edits. Or not. I am as of yet undecided if I will tidy this piece up and try sell it as a novel. Time will tell.

I must thank each nanoteamindy member for their support. And to all of those of you who have been leaving comments and likes on my blog this month. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to all of you, because you truly did keep me motivated in my darkest hours. And there were more than a few of those!

I suspect I am the only Namibian participant this year.  I may be the only Namibian participant ever.  I will try to find out more.

For now, I am tired. But very, very happy.

35 thoughts on “50k”

  1. roxie

    Excellent work! Kudos for setting a goal and reaching it – love that you crunched the numbers for us. It’s important to break it down and recognize greatness when we accomplish so much!!! 🙂

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  2. dmmacilroy

    Good job, Sir!

    I know how hard a big push in a short time can be. Keep polishing it and at the very least you can add it to your ‘long tail’ e-book inventory.

    Aloha,

    Doug

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  4. momfog

    That is so great. Congratulations! I’m a WriMo myself but I’ve only logged about 38K. You and others who have “won” inspire me to keep going.

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    1. scribbla Post author

      Please – do keep going. You have plenty of time to get there. Two good days and you’ll smell the finish line. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I really do appreciate it.

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  6. Lily White LeFevre

    Andrew, dude…you are my hero. That is super-awesome that you hit the goal with nearly 2 weeks to spare. So inspiring for those of us running behind. It CAN be done in the time remaing! Proof!

    Best of luck finishing the story! I will quote my university thesis adviser and recommend that you “rest on your laurels for a few days” after finishing before you even think about revising. Maybe a few weeks, even…. In the meantime, congrats on the first major milestone!

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    1. scribbla Post author

      Thank you so very much for your kind words. I am holding thumbs that you make it (you still have plenty of time) and will be most delighted the day I see your word count spill over the 50 000 mark.

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  10. Team Oyeniyi

    Excellent job! I’m managing about 3,000 words a weekend – there is no time during the week for me. I have no deadline such as you do. I can’t imagine fitting that amount of writing around work, spouse, children, sleep, bathing and eating. Tremendous effort!

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    1. scribbla Post author

      3000 words over a weekend is impressive. I think I usually do that much in a month! Good on you, considering the massive daily demands you have.
      Thanks so much for your support too. I have really appreciated hearing your voice.

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  11. moonlightmaiden

    I am completely jealous. I am the other Namibian who you have been seeking on Nanowrimo. I am a total shame to my country, i am on less than 5 words. Go make proud.
    Congrats!

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  12. sparrowsong

    You should tidy it up and sell it as a novel *cough* *cough* through Spectacle *cough* *cough*

    But seriously, I would be so stoked to publish a Namibian novel. Like, you don’t even know. And if there are spots where you could stick your photography in there, it would be a million times more amazing. It’d be amazingness wrapped in awesome.

    You should totally do it.

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    1. scribbla Post author

      Thank you. I hope you find yourself where you want to be by the end of November. I’m holding thumbs for you!

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  17. Val

    I am massively proud of you Andrew! This is no easy accomplishment and you my friend have some serious writer chops to get to the end. Excellent! In Canada this is what we call a ‘bic moment’ where we hold our bic disposable lighters aloft, full flame on and cheer. 🙂

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    1. scribbla Post author

      Thank you so much Val. Now that NaNo is out of the way, I really want to write a special piece for submission to Tuck Magazine. Perhaps early next year?

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  18. Kay Camden

    I don’t know how you did that with a full-time job and a family. Have you also been awake for 17 days straight?
    Well done. I’m in awe.

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  19. Carol Deminski

    A true heartfelt congratulations to you for achieving the 50K word goal. You were obviously very dedicated to reach the 50K milestone, and I’m tremendously impressed to see you crossing over into post-50K so early in the month.

    I hope you finish the story because while the 50K word count is awesome, there is still work to be done. You’ve inspired me to at least consider the possibility of writing longer works. It may be more blood and sweat, but you’ve shown it can be achieved. Thank you Scribbla!

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    1. scribbla Post author

      Thank you once again for your incredible support this month. I have truly valued your voice in the comment sections. You helped to keep me going. I guess I do need witnesses to my writing process, lol.
      I’m still ambiguous about whether longer or shorter works are more beneficial to work on. I’m really hoping to see shorter fiction take off in the reader markets. I think it is an amazing form, and with digitization it seems readers are more voracious than ever!

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