Today I passed 75,000 words on the initial draft of my novel. Based on my outline, I think I’m on target to reach “The End” at around 100k words in the middle of May.
Writing a novel is hard. And yes, that’s not a surprise to me. But, still… even when I love the setting and characters, writing about them in the same story day after day… it’s hard.
I’ve been sticking to my plan of not taking any breaks to write sneaky distracting short stories. I admit that I’m toying with the possibility of taking a small break to edit a previously written short story that is set in the world of my novel – so I can submit to an open call.
Lake Quinault, 27 February 2016, Rainforest Writers Retreat
In February I got to go to the Rainforest Writer’s retreat, and boost my progress.
I’ll be participating in Camp NaNoWriMo during the month of April, and I’m hoping that will help me keep up my slow but steady pace.
If you are a novel-writer, what was it like to write the first draft of your first novel?
viewpoints 
So true! I’m almost through my first draft and I can’t wait to get it wrapped up and start editing. I’m starting to dread writing each new scene, though once I get going it goes well. I’m looking forward to editing for something different. I’ve been writing about 1000 words per day and am glad I stuck to this plan. If I would have taken a break, I don’t know if I would have come back! Also – I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything with a novel – at least with short stories, you end up with multiple pieces, with a novel you just go on and on and are not done with it yet. Good luck – you’re almost to the end!
I know exactly what you mean about that feeling of not accomplishing anything. I have nothing to “show” for all this time writing! I’m also looking forward to the editing stage(s). ^_^
I have written a first draft that I could never get to work as well as two nearly finished first drafts that I know will someday be finished. However, during Nanowrimo 2015 I finished a first draft that — do you know the scene at the beginning of Romancing the Stone…Kathleen Turner rips out her last page, blows her nose and feeds the cat? I felt like that: weepy but happy to have met my MC and seen her prevail. “Maureen” is out there now, meeting, I hope, her publisher. Good luck at camp.
It’s funny that you mention that scene at the beginning of Romancing the Stone, because I often think of that for several reasons. Anticipating how it will feel to actually get to the end of my first novel draft. Plus, a little encouragement for writing scenes that I can only imagine and not experience. Also, reminding myself that it’s a good idea to get out and about regularly…