Wrapping up the last of our NaNoWriMo guest posts is the speedy Susabelle Kelmer, wanting to know...
How Fast Can You Type?
Hi, my name is Susabelle Kelmer, and I am addicted to
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
This is my thirteenth year. I am
so dedicated to doing it that I write even in years when I got nuttin’ to write
about. Both of my published books (one
self-published, one published through The Wild Rose Press) had their first
drafts written during NaNoWriMo. My
first Nano was the first time in my entire life that I finished a work from
beginning to end. Was it good? Good enough to be edited for publication.
The process seems daunting – 50,000 words in 30 days. My first year, I wrote 96,000 words in 23
days. So yes, it can be done. And I like to explain how easy it is this way:
How fast do you type?
35 wpm? 60? 90? Or
like me, about 130 wpm? Yes, I really do type that fast, as I spent many years
as a secretary, and those years were before the word processor. I typed a LOT because I made a lot of
mistakes. I got to be very very
fast.
What does that mean for NaNoWriMo? It means that in an hour, I can potentially
type 7800 words. That means I can finish
a 50,000-word novel in 6.4 hours or so.
Imma just let that sink in for a minute.
But you don’t type 130 wpm.
You type 50 wpm on a good day.
That’s okay. That’s actually a
good speed. You can write a novel in 16
hours. You don’t type that fast? At 35 wpm, you can type a novel in 23.8
hours.
Hmmm. How can that
be, then? How is it you could type a
whole novel in less than a day, even if your typing speed is abysmal? The real truth is you can’t. There is thinking time in there, and maybe
some outlining and research time that needs to be added. And writing is work. You can’t work 23.8 hours straight without a
break. Real life can get in the
way. And writing is creative work. That means that you will deplete your
creative capacity after an hour or two, and need to do something else to let
that creative capacity re-fill for the next time you write or create.
But look at those numbers again. Can you make the NaNoWriMo challenge
goal? 50,000 words in 30 days? Even if you only write for an hour or two
every day, or do what I do – binge-write a couple or three days a week – you
CAN do this. It sounds much more insurmountable
than it is. You CAN do this. I hope you’ll try. It was one of the best things I ever did for
my writing.
Fairest of the Faire – Available Now!
The renaissance fair is filled
with characters and romance, but will it end in storybook love?
Blurb:
Schoolteacher Connie Meyers is
suddenly a young widow, her husband killed in a horrific car accident.
Heartbroken to find out he had gambled away everything they had, she moves to
her sister-in-law's Midwest home to rebuild her life. A trip to the local
Renaissance Faire with her nieces leads to a summer job as a costumed
storyteller.
Avowed bad boy and fair performer
Gage Youngblood is infatuated with Connie at first sight. Despite his
deliberately commitment-free life, and Connie's don't-touch-me attitude, he
soon has her in his arms, realizing quickly she is also in his heart.
When she is threatened by her
late husband's bookie, he steps into the role of protector, his fate forever
sealed with hers.
Excerpt:
“Who said anything about a relationship?” he
said, standing up so he could tower over her again. “I’m just trying to have a
little fun. You know, fun?”
If he’d been an animal, she was sure he’d have
had hair raised on the back of his neck, he seemed so angry, and it struck her
painfully. She hadn’t wanted to anger him or hurt him. She turned away from him
and closed her eyes to tamp down the tears she knew would come if she let them.
She crossed her arms over her chest, to hold in the pain. Being tired made her
much too vulnerable.
“Yes,” she finally said. “I know about fun. Life
isn’t always fun, though.”
“Princess.” His voice was soft, tender. “I won’t
hurt you. It’s not in my plan.”
Despite herself, she felt the shivers of desire
race down from her shoulders, down her arms and legs, and back up to that
secret, soft place at her core. She bowed her head and gritted her teeth,
hoping for the feeling to go away.
“And what is your plan, Gage?”
“It’s a simple plan. I want you to feel good. I
want to feel good, too.”
Buy at
Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6250
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Barnes and Noble (Nook)
About the Author:
Susabelle Kelmer is a wife and
mother living at the base of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado. She
believes in romance, second chances, and the magic of moonlight. When she isn't
writing, she works with students with disabilities in the college environment.
Thanks for hosting me today, Angela! Are you ready for NaNo?
ReplyDeleteHi Susabelle, thank you so much for being here today. I am super ready to NaNo. Just hoping I don't lose my excitement or momentum as the month goes on.
DeleteI'm usually in the middle of projects when Nano starts but it is always great to have a wordcount goal. Good luck this year. :)
ReplyDeleteI really do find the process to be very helpful! Last year during NaNo, I had just signed my contract with TWRP and was neck-deep in editing so couldn't put my shoulder to the wheel and get a new one done. This year, no such distraction!
DeleteI have to admit I've never participated in Nano. But I've done several writing challenge months with my writing group. Not quite as organized as Nano, but motivating none the less. We post our output daily and that makes me want to write just so I don't have to say my word count is zero for the day!
ReplyDeleteJana, that sounds motivating too! I think for me, NaNo was the first time I ever finished anything I'd started (writing wise). I'm sold on the process!
DeleteFirst, I congratulate all those who are participating in this challenge. Yet, I've always found it strange that it's in November--a holiday month and stressful enough for us writers, lol! However, I write seven days a week. Sundays is my edit day, which I spend on the couch. I call it my lazy day of writing. And yes, I do keep a daily word count. That being said, if I was told to write 50k in one month, the panic would settle in and the creativity would fly out the window. Seriously! You should see me when I have to take a test--haha! I already put pressure on myself, so to add more would be insane. Perhaps my life is already geared at Nano speed, right? I believe this works for many, but there are others where it wouldn't--I'm one of those. I'm standing in the bleachers cheering all my author friends as they take up the Nano challenge! All the best! :)
ReplyDelete