Mindy Alyse Weiss - My NaNoWriMo novel is finished!

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My NaNoWriMo novel is finished!

Nov. 17th, 2008 at 8:00 AM

I'm happy dancing because the first draft of my NaNoWriMo novel is officially done! On Friday, I hit the 50,000 word mark, and yesterday I reached the end and flushed out two scenes. The final stats are 54,202 words, and a total of 202 pages. I'm still amazed that I hit the NaNo goal in 14 days, and completed the entire manuscript in 16 days!

I took many notes as I wrote my novel, since I made many discoveries along the way that will alter or add to earlier scenes. Now, I'm typing my notes into several categories, so I don't miss anything on my first round of revisions. Here's what I have so far:
Things to know.
Things to change.
Definitely work in.
Possibly work in.

In the things to know, I have notes about changing the floor from tile to wood, and names of people who only pop up once or twice in the book and aren't on my character sketch file. And in things to change, I noted when characters seem to disappear during a scene, so I can decide if I should involve them more, or eliminate them. I also have to change the name of a minor character, because it's too close to another name and might confuse readers.

How do you get ready to attack your first round of revisions?

I'm sending good writing vibes to all my NaNoWriMo friends. Go, go, go...you can do it!

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Comments

( 43 comments — Leave a comment )

jamarattigan wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 01:50 pm (UTC)

Yay, good for you!!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 01:55 pm (UTC)

Thanks. :)

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lizjonesbooks wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 01:56 pm (UTC)

Hoooray!!!!!
I am still way back on 9100...
my last novel took 4 years. I am not a fast drafter. But I've got all day today free for writing, and I'm still going to try for as much as I can possibly do!
Have fun with the revisions-- I can't wait to be at that point!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:38 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Liz. My notes are all typed, I started a new Word file, and I'm ready to attack the first round of revisions!

I hope you have a fantastic writing day. Did you read Chris Baty's pep talk? I thought it was great. Why not shoot for 25,000 words by the end of November...and maybe you'll even find a way to sneak in a few extra words. You can do it!

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lizjonesbooks wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:40 pm (UTC)

That's great! I'm thinking 25K is more realistic. Anything I write is more than I would have written without nano-- life is just crazy busy right now! Who knows...
But I'm working on it now!

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tamarak wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 02:00 pm (UTC)

Whew! So impressive. :)

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:38 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Tammi. :)

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yansmom wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 02:14 pm (UTC)

Holy cow!

That is awesome, Mindy! Way to gooooooooo!!!!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:43 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Gisele. :)

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jessicaburkhart wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 02:15 pm (UTC)

Woooow! That's awesome, Mindy! :D

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:43 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Jessica. :)

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juliewinkler wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 02:58 pm (UTC)

Hooray for you! Can't wait to hear all about the new story- thinking about LA?
julie

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:45 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Julie.

I'd love to attend LA, but don't think I'll be able to make it. I have my eye on the NESCBWI conference, but that's up in the air right now. Any chance that I'll see you in April if I am able to attend? It's been way too long!

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shanawrites wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:17 pm (UTC)

WOW!! Way to go!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:46 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Shana.

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loushy wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:29 pm (UTC)

Congrats!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:46 pm (UTC)

Thanks. :)

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bluemalibu wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:41 pm (UTC)

OF COURSE! you are a Nanowrimo Winner!

:D

Happy Thanksgiving and Congratulations!!!!!!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 03:48 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Meg!

And happy Thanksgiving to you,too! Do you have anything special planned? I definitely owe you an e-mail, and can't wait to hear how everything is going with your manuscripts!

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kellyrfineman wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 04:06 pm (UTC)

Holy cow. And well done!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:34 am (UTC)

Thanks, Kelly. :)

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inkstaind_stars wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 04:08 pm (UTC)

Woohoo! That's awesome.:)

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:35 am (UTC)

Thanks. :)

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laurenem6 wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 04:34 pm (UTC)

Wahoo! I'm at about 32k right now but I already have a few changes on my "Things I know" list. For example, I know I have to change the first chapter to first person because I randomly decided that on the second day of writing. I also changed one of the minor characters' names midway.

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:42 am (UTC)

Thanks, Lauren. You're getting so close!

Wow, you're brave changing the character's name midway. I thought about it, but figured I'd end up going back and forth between names. I still have to use find and replace to make the switch, but I came up with a new name I like.

Enjoy the thrill of writing a new manuscript! It's so much fun to be able to say what you've achieved for the day. I revised three chapters of The Wall, and went through each of them several times, then read them out loud...but it never feels like I've achieved as much as a climbing word count. At least not until I finish a full round of revision--then it feels great!

Go, go, go! You'll be at 40,000 soon!

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boreal_owl wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 04:46 pm (UTC)

Yah! Congrats!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:43 am (UTC)

Thanks!

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quiller77 wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 07:09 pm (UTC)

And almost two weeks before deadline. Awesome!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:43 am (UTC)

Thanks. :)

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christine444 wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 09:19 pm (UTC)

Wow, that's amazing. Hey, you have about two weeks left--you could write another book! ;>)

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:48 am (UTC)

Thanks, Christine. I love your icon!

No new novels for a while. I'm getting The Wall ready to run through my groups, and I also have a revision request from an agent for another novel.

I'm excited about both revisions! And I think going through one, then putting it aside to work on the other, will help me view each with fresh eyes between rounds.

I hope everything is going well with your writing!

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christine444 wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 06:35 am (UTC)

Yeah, I guess you do have enough to do. :>)

Congratulations on the revision request! That's a good sign.

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thatgirlygirl wrote:

Nov. 17th, 2008 11:06 pm (UTC)

YOU

ROCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations. Are you tired? Whew!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 05:50 am (UTC)

Thanks! Tired...what's that?

Okay, a little tired. But I still dug right into the revision today. I definitely have some streamlining ahead of me, but I love the characters and plot of this book, and can't wait to whip it into shape!

I'm sending good NaNo writing vibes your way!

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saputnam wrote:

Nov. 18th, 2008 03:56 pm (UTC)

Mindy, you are simply awesome!!

I'm dancing right along with you!

I can't wait to read THE WALL!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 24th, 2008 01:21 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Sharon. You'll see the first few chapters of The Wall for my December sub. :)

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kimkasch wrote:

Nov. 21st, 2008 02:58 pm (UTC)

You Win!

I couldn't commit to such a huge task and you've completed it - truly amazing.

I am in awe. Writing that much in one month, all I have to say is one word: WOW!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 24th, 2008 01:23 pm (UTC)

Re: You Win!

Thank you so much, Kim!

I love your icon--what a great picture. :)

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kimkasch wrote:

Nov. 24th, 2008 02:59 pm (UTC)

Re: You Win!

Thanks Mindy. My son took my picture for my avatar and he drew the cat eyes for my block banner. It's great to have someone around with talent ;-) And, maybe I'm just a little biased.

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 27th, 2008 05:35 pm (UTC)

Re: You Win!

It is great to have talented children! Maybe your son will end up taking author pictures of your friends--he did an amazing job.

My ten year old daughter drew one of the characters from my NaNo novel, and it really helped bring her to life.

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krysta_3 wrote:

Nov. 27th, 2008 05:30 pm (UTC)

Congrats on being done!

You have a lot to be thankful for today, huh? :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

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mindyalyse wrote:

Nov. 27th, 2008 05:37 pm (UTC)

Thanks! I do have a lot to be thankful for.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.:)

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kimkasch wrote:

Nov. 28th, 2008 03:29 am (UTC)

Talented Children

You should post the picture your daughter drew. It would be fun to see.

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( 43 comments — Leave a comment )