I have been trying to keep up with my daily word count on NaNoWriMo and still have a ways to go.  I hope to be finished in the next week or so and really like the book I have created.  Here are some things I’ve learned so far in my first year of NaNoWriMo

1.  I can write more than 500 words a day, even though I thought that was my average before starting all of this.

2.  I can’t write so well when surrounded by teenagers, barking dogs, and family issues.  I also write lousy when under the influence of cold medicine.

3.  If I fall behind, and I have a couple of times, I can catch back up again with a little extra work.

4.  For me at least, organization is the key.  I took the week before NaNoWriMo and completely outlined my plot, subplots, character sketches, and some of the settings.  Even doing all of this, in the flow of ideas in writing a book I often find myself having to create new characters and settings to fit what direction the story is taking.  I am still following my basic plan but have included at least five extra scenes and couple of settings in the third act of my story.

5.  I love characters!  This book is brimming full of colorful people who are the six suspects.  Some days I control them and some days they control me!