I won NaNoWriMo!

 

It is one of those things I never thought I would do. But I did it.

I won NaNoWriMo. I wrote a novel. 50,000 words in less than a month. I know that it is a very short novel, but it is a novel. I would also argue that shorter fiction is making a comeback, and I am here for it. I don't believe attention spans are actually the reason for it, as many do. I would wager that it's more akin to time issues. People simply don't have time to read a 300,000 page book. I don't, and you probably don't either.

So what was it like? What is writing a novel like? Was it hard to do it in such a short time frame? I will answer all of these things, but first let me just tell you how it feels. It feels amazing. There was nothing until I started typing, and then there was something, and it was FUN! This is why I got into writing, because I wanted to have fun telling the kind of stories I loved as a kid. The kind of things you hear around a campfire. Swashbuckling, spaceships, ancient temples, dark alleyways, and monsters in the shadows. It feels amazing to know that maybe somewhere is a teenager who was just like I was, or a twenty something, or a ten year old, who has a strong sense of adventure, and may love the stories I write. 

So what was it like to write a novel? Surprisingly, it was a smooth ride. I plan my work, and work my plan, which means the work goes according to plan. A few surprises and adjustments were made, and sometimes I adjusted my outline, but in the end I feel like I have a strong story that satisfies (at least that's what I was told by people who read it chapter by chapter as I wrote it).

What's different about a novel as opposed to a short story or novella? It demands more detail, more character, and a more elaborate tapestry of story threads. I also found that it pulled humor out of me that I didn't expect. It allowed for more thorough descriptions and detailed world building, as well as a pressure cooker of tension and conflict. Keeping your pacing going is more of a challenge, but that can be smoothed out in the planning process. 

Was it hard to do in such a short time? For me, no. I wrote an average of 2046 words a day. I skipped a few days and picked up again later. It was written in three weeks, and most nights I busted out 3000 words. I write fast and hard, and I know that's a mutant ability. So no, I did not feel much heat writing a novel in a month. 

So what did I write?  A story titled The Wardens of Deyncourt. A sword and sorcery story, dark fantasy, whatever you want to call it. Here is the blurb;

"Gamel Thorne is a Warden, an elite hunter of treason and sorcery, tasked with protecting the King and the kingdom from any and all threats. When he and his apprentice receive an invitation from the King to come to the capital city, he soon discovers a dark plot that could unravel civilization as they know it. With powerful enemies lurking around every corner, Gamel must use all of his strength, courage, and cunning to unravel the conspiracy and save the kingdom."

And here is a TEASER TRAILER I made on Canva. I even composed the music in garage band. It has a place holder cover, so don't get excited. 

I plan to try raising money to edit and publish this with crowdfunding, so stay tuned!