Expect the unexpected, always!

CampNaNo Current word count: 55,076/50,000

Day 11: word count: 21,138/50,000 - For those who have followed my NaNoWriMo addiction for many years, you know that I advise others to 'plan all you can but expect the unexpected'. Every year, life will throw you a curve ball during the month of November dedicated to NaNo, CampNaNo in July is no different. Well, on Day 11 mine arrived! My appendix decided it had had enough of 'lockdown 2020' and was whipped out on Saturday evening by the fabulous folk at my local hospital. I won't bore you with the details, but whilst awaiting surgery and between medical examinations I had plenty of time to complete my CampNaNo word count on an iPad! Hey, don't tell me off - this author gal needed a distraction! 

Being an author is truly a dream come true for me so, despite the pain, when a member of the surgical team asked whilst prepping me for theatre 'so what's your job?' I happily answered. What I didn't expect was the immediate silence as everyone tuned in, the hilarious conversation and impromptu author Q&A session which quickly followed as I was wheeled into theatre. Boy, what a fabulous team and such a humorous and relaxing way to go under for an op! #GeorgeEliotHospital 

Day 12: word count: naught, nothing, zero, zilch written today (see Day 11 for a pretty decent excuse). Today's focus was proving to the medical team that I could do the basics after surgery in order to get back home. Though, having watched me trundle about the ward at tortoise pace and then snaffle/inhale a chicken dinner followed by pie and custard, I received the 'green light' from the medical team to be allowed home by early afternoon. And so, my recovery begins.

Day 13: word count: 22,763/50,000 New rules apply in my life for the next three weeks - I'm allowed to read, watch films and write. My chosen speed is a tortoise plod and nothing more. Ah well, let's get start! 
A strange day if I'm honest, but a relaxing one spent downstairs plodding between my chosen activities. I've started a new reading book 'Meet Me At Pebble Beach' written by my fabulous friend, Bella Osborne, which kept me engrossed and entertained between small bouts of CampNaNo writing. 

​Day 14: word count: 24,376/50,000. Not a bad writing session; the slow plod is working for me. My laptop is now in the dining room which eliminates me having to climb stairs, so I've had chance to develop a pattern of write a bit, rest a bit. Repeat.

Day 15: word count: 26,078/50,000. Another slow plod but a productive writing day. I woke with renewed vigour for this month's CampNano so, settled to write as early as I could. I've switched writing location; from the dining room to the lounge, which isn't ideal, but my gran's old chair offers my frame better support. Tomorrow, I plan to complete my NaNo writing before adding details to the fresh idea I started planning last week. Common sense tells me, the plan will change if needs be.

Day 16: word count: 27,693/50,000 An interesting writing day which went totally off track in relation to my post-it note plans. A moment of inspiration produced an unexpected scene which I hadn't imagined prior to sitting down to write it. I might keep it for the final book or edit it out at a later date but either way its now captured in words. 

Day 17: word count: 27,693/50,000 ought, naught, zilch, zero words written today due to a headache which wouldn't ease. Never mind, I'll go with the flow for the moment.

​Day 18: word count: 30,858/50,000 I've made up for yesterday's empty word day by not moving from the chair and plodding along with the scenes in my head. It's felt good being able to return to my planned scenes and let the word flow. Though, I did delete a whole conversation of wooden speech provided by a minor character who tried to take centre stage at one point. Eh, eh, that's not happening on my watch! You get used to deleting words despite the time taken to write - I can't afford to be precious about such things. I'm chuffed to bits to see that I've hit the thirty thousand marker - quite incredible how every word counts and the number creeps without you realising.  

Day 19: word count: 32,768/50,000 - some days you simply sit in a chair and let your imagination do the work; today, was that day. The hours slipped by, the words flowed and I consumed copious amounts of tea. Simple. Recovery news: every day I can see an improvement regarding my movement, my incisions and my swollen abs returning to normal. I've granted myself three weeks of recovery ensuring that I'm healed and healthy before venturing back into the real world. 

Day 20 & Day 21: word count: 36,210/50,000 - another two days of decent writing sessions. I'm currently nearing the end of one main character's conflict arc which is why the words are flowing as well as they are. The current scenes are fully formed in my head enabling me to write simply supported by my post-it note plans.  

Day 22: word count: 37,882/50,000 I began writing on a new character's plot line today which gave me a new voice inside my head. The character is an elderly lady so, her turn of phrase and view point is refreshingly different from the previous character. Though, true to form, I've had several details come to mind for the previous character so I'll return to add a second layer to her characterisation. This happens every time I switch characters; it's part of my creative process.  

​Day 23: word count 39,975/50,000 I have backache today - nothing new for an author, but I can't afford to ignore it. With just eight days to go, I'm happy with my progress; I captured the words pretty swiftly today. The rest of my evening will be spent alongside my yoga mat undoing some of these knots - hopefully tomorrow, my back behaves itself. 

Day 24: word count: 41,595/50,000 - the end is in sight, folks! There's just one more week of CampNaNo and it takes the pressure off knowing that this final week won't be a frantic dash for the finish line but a gentle plod. 

Day 25: word count: 43,213/50,000 - a late start for today as I was busy elsewhere. I attended an on-line art lesson this morning which was a lovely distraction from writing and the recovery process. I had a three hour class and the time whizzed by in the blink of an eye. I was delighted with my finished piece given that I wasn't sure about the composition on first viewing it, but hey ho, it shows what you can achieve outside of your comfort zone. The added bonus is that such hobbies nurture my creative side in another manner - which all helps in supporting my writing. I simply absorb inspiration and stimulus from whatever source is available to me in order to recharge the batteries. My intention is to complete all 31 days for CampNaNo, I won't cease once I hit the 50,000 word count - in previous years, I've found that the final two days can ignite a torrent of unexpected chapters. 

​Day 26: word count: 44,906/50,000 I struggled to reach my word count today; I kept deleting words rather than writing them - which is never good. This usually happens when I'm writing a scene from the wrong angle but having pondered and reread several times I stuck with it and plodded on. Who knows, tomorrow I might make changes or even rewrite it. Meh! 

Day 27: word count: 46,711/50,000 

​Day 28: word count: 48,416/50,000 - my writing was completed early because I was attending a live on-line interview with Kim Nash on the evening so wanted to clear my diary for the day. Interview link: grab a fresh coffee and enjoy! 

Day 29: word count: 50,399/50,000!!!!! Done and dusted, but I'll carry on, folks. Apologies for not updating my blog last night but I received some very exciting, super exciting news from Headline, my publishers so was busy celebrating and organising in an 'authorly' manner ready for Saturday morning. That's a huge hint by the way so, you'll need to visit my homepage from 1st August onwards to hear the latest news. 

Day 30: 52,583/50,000 Back to it this morning. I've relocated to the garden as the sunshine is simply divine plus, I've been inside for three weeks nursing my post-appendix self. Though, I'm predicting a very healthy lunch given I'll be sharing my garden space with three tortoises!

Day 31: Last day! word count: 55,076/50,000 Apparently, today might be the hottest day of the year so, I'll have an alfresco office again. Yesterday proved productive although, doing battle with the surrounding neighbourhood noise wasn't easy. Today's the final day of CampNaNo2020 my intention is to complete my writing shift and finish at whatever word count I have. I'm not aiming for a specific goal. This month's project is my latest book called 'From Shetland, with Love' to be published by Headline PG in late spring 2021. My deadline for completion is 1st October so, I'll need another month of words before the manuscript is complete.

If you're a NaNoWriMo addict too, I'll see you back here 1st November for the main event of the year and another 50,000 word goal. My November project will be called 'From Shetland, With Love At Christmas' a sequel to the current project and will be published late autumn 2021, in time for Christmas.