“How many words did you write today?” my husband asked when he walked in from work last night.
“Five thousand three hundred fifty seven,” I said.
“Wow, that sounds like a lot. Congratulations! About how many words do you think it takes to make a novel?” he asked.
“Oh, at least 100,000,”
“The way you’re going, you could easily do that,” he said.
“Well, it has to be 100,000 good words,” I told him.
“And your words aren’t good?”
“Actually, they are good words, just not in the right order,” I joked.
“So, if you were to randomly rearrange these good words into a different order, what do you think your chances of being published are?”
“Zilch.”
Honestly, I have never written so many words of drivel all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong. I write drivel all the time, just not so much of it in one sitting! But it sure was fun. NaNoWriMo is all about quantity, not quality, so I am meeting that criteria. I won’t have another long writing day like that until Friday, unfortunately. I’m hoping to get a couple of hours today and maybe three or four hours tomorrow and then hit it hard on Friday. I’m glad my blogging friends enjoyed the dancing videos yesterday. I watched them yesterday every time I needed a quick break. Today I leave you with one of my first blogs. I noticed it didn’t have even one comment, so I don’t think many people read it in those early days. I’ve reprinted it here in its entirety.
Look Ma, No Wrinkles!
You know you just might need a facelift if you bend over to dry your hair and you nearly suffocate when your nose is stifled by your sagging cheeks swinging forward to meet and greet each other. Recently, I saw an article in my Prevention magazine about alternatives to surgical facelifts. The only kind of facelift I’ve been able to afford is to lie across the bed on my back with my head hanging slightly over the edge. Yes, it does make my cheeks fall back into position, but it also makes my husband think I’m always ready for him.
Anyway, this article mentioned an invisible tape that you put on your eyelids and it gives you an instant eye lift. I’ve never heard of such a thing. The article didn’t mention where you can purchase this tape, but it did say that it cost $30.00. Quite pricy, especially if you can only wear it once. I’m wondering if the double-sided tape my daughter uses for scrapbooking would work as well. Certainly much cheaper. How do you blink with it on? Are your eyes always wide open? Uh oh, creepy zombie image just came to mind! Clearly, I’m not getting the concept of this product.
Now I’m wondering if there is a tape strong enough to smooth out this chicken neck of mine. I tried pulling all that extra skin around to the back and holding it there with a potato chip bag clip, but besides being rather painful, if I wanted to look side to side, I had to turn my whole body. I think this tape idea might work better. And getting back to the original cheek problem, I wonder if my sagging cheeks could be held up with tape as well. Perhaps I could anchor them to my ears. Would have to be something strong, though, like electrical tape, and it would take an awful lot of foundation to disguise it. No, I think the weight of my cheeks would bend my ears in half. I need to study this a little more. I’ll get back to you.
Coming East 
lol! I’m glad you reposted that. I can relate. 🙂
Sounds like NaNo is going well so far.
So far, so good, Robin, but I’ve got a lot of other things on my plate the next few weeks, so I’m worried I won’t be able to keep up the pace.
Well, it’s fun to watch you do your writing publicly. You may or not know I started my last one very publicly, posting draft chapters on my other blog. I think it was too public, Maybe you’ve got the right balance, just posting words. I’m gunshy from last time, so I’m just telling you (and your readers, I guess) … I’ve started a novel – trying to write 5 pages a day (easy with dialog, hard without). I have three and a half chapters written. I’m excited but trying not to be, if you know what I mean.
Wow! That’s great, Bud! I wish you the best. I would never feel confident enough to post my actual words. If they were terrible, I would feel silly. If they were really good, someone might steal them!
Good luck! That’s great you’ve already done that many.
Thanks, Leah. I hope this was a good writing day for you. Friday I should have few interruptions and hope to get a lot done.
Well done on the 5,000 words and if you add all the words in the comments on other people’s blogs – well….
If I could just figure out how they would fit into my novel, Judith…
I am impressed–just keep up the good work. Out of the many, many, many words gems will surface and you can create a new puzzle (ala Eudora Welty plan!). I think it was James Joyce who told friends he was almost done with a story. When they checked back several hours later, he said he had the five words for the last sentence, but was still working in the best order. Once the words are captured on the page, you can play with them.
Thanks, Patti. I’ve never gotten past the first five pages of any novel attempts because I keep rewriting those first five pages. This feels so much better.
Over 5,000 words, that’s so impressive! I’m excited for you. It’s good to end my half day with a laughter. Thank you, Susan!
Any day I can make someone laugh is a good day. Thanks, Amy!
Some of us are afraid to comment on anything that hits too close to home and involves terms like extra skin, painful and sagging. Good post. And may your good writing continue forth in force.
I fully understand, Winsomebella. I choose to laugh at it as my way of coping. Laughter helps me get through a lot of things.
Thanks for the laugh this morning. Congrats on so many words!
Thanks, Patti. It’s good to start the day with a laugh.
Over five thousands words?! Way to go! And I doubt it’s drivel either. You are an inspiration. I wish I could try something like that…maybe when the kids are teens and want nothing to do with me. ha! (thanks for the laugh about the pototo chip bag clip…I never knew they had so many uses!)
I am a wealth of information when it comes to potato bag clips, MM. I love to be thought of as an inspiration! Thanks so much for that!
I only got to 2,000 words yesterday… mine were in the wrong order, too. 🙂
Love your first post – made me think of the many uses for duct tape – not that I’m advocating using it cosmetically. But you are very clever to think of everyday household items as beauty tools.
Thanks, Shary. Why spend money when you’ve got something useful at home? 2000 words is a great start! I don’t think I’ll get more than that today or tomorrow. But it all adds up! Hey, maybe we can trade some words until we get the right combination. Here are a few of mine you’re welcome to have: Yes, no, innuendos (good one, huh? Can you use it anywhere?), and jerks. Please help yourself, but give me credit when you’re published.
Just a random thought about putting things in order. I was amused to read an interview with Eudora Welty who said she enjoyed the “cutting” of text and rearranging it like a puzzle. This she said before Word’s cut ‘n paste features. As I think about your visual with the colors, perhaps Eudora’s kinesthetic approach may also help. Congratulations on over 5,000 words. btw I searched how many words to write a screenplay? Answer: about 25,000, or 80-120 pages of 180 words per page….also, one page = about one minute
I am not participating in this, but your efforts have me thinking.
Maybe I should be writing a screenplay instead, Georgette! I love writing everything out by hand during the planning stages, especially making character maps, but thank goodness for computers when it comes time to do the actual writing. So much easier to cut and paste!
This is delightful!! I’ve missed your writing! I’m glad I stopped by. Since I’m behind, what’s the novel about?
So glad you dropped in, J to E. I’ve been missing you, too. I’m still behind. The novel is supposed to be a political thriller, but so far it’s failed to thrill even me.