Today I am writing easily and have no problem with the plot. Words are flowing. I have even managed to note down a rough outline of the next section of the novel – although not to the end. That is still, as yet, uncertain and I like it like that. This is the joy of NaNoWriMo writing. It is seat of the pants stuff.
50,000 words is not the problem.
My main concern now is this. There is NO WAY that I will finish this story by the 30th November.
I am currently reading Brian Aldiss, The Dark Light Years, a book of 159 pages. At roughly 1,000 words per 3 pages, I reckon his book is almost exactly 50,000 words long. If he can write about alien civilisations, invent a futuristic world, multiple characters, discuss the nature of intelligence and cover two deep space expeditions, all within 50,000 words, then I should be able to write about a couple of weeks in the life of an obsessional teenager with the same concise brevity.
Now, I have to resist the temptation to start back at the beginning and do some serious editing ….
Resist! I must resist!
Ruth Livingstone 