I did it. I wrote a novel in 30 days. Like a whole story with a beginning middle and end – the whole enchilada you could say.

I’ve tried this before and failed several times. I’ve never been very good at finishing larger writing projects, especially if no grade is involved so this was really quite a feat for me and I’m feeling awfully proud right now and calling myself a novelist, authorist and super freaking awesome and stuff.

It wasn’t easy, although sometimes it seemed that way. Some days I just wrote my little heart out which seriously made up for the days that I just sort of stared at the computer blankly – or the week we went out of town which seriously limited my writing time, like more than usual.

I think one of the things that made a difference this time was that I really tried to turn off my inner editor. I told myself, “Just write.” When I came to those daily road blocks where I simply had no idea what to write, I just wrote stuff anyway until the next step eventually got dragged out of me. There’s probably a lot of major major major editing in my future, but it’s totally worth it because I actually have a finished story to work with instead of staring at a half empty plot.

The last day of the competition was definitely the hardest. It got pretty bad when I wrote the words “The End” about 5,000 words before the finish line, knowing full well the story was simply over. I had to go back through about 1/3 of the book and just add in details anywhere I could, a few extra words here, a few split contractions there. I even wrote an epilogue to get through the last 1,000 words but I made it and I’m thrilled!

My story by the way? It’s pretty ridiculous. It’s a sort of dystopian post-war love story filled to the brim with post traumatic stress disorders, scheming evil people, underground railroads and grapefruits. Plus I quote the Beatles like a lot, just for good measure.

Have you ever written a novel or novella? Do you participate in NaNoWriMo?