Starting Word Count: 5451
I’m a morning person. My favorite time to write is early in the AM—steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a keyboard in the other. Last evening I working through Chapter one and have the bones of chapter two completed. Over-all, I’m happy with where the story is heading–and was surprised at the evening output—especially when the day job tends to sap most of my energy. I’ll get to why in a moment.
If some asked me whether or not I’m a “Planner” vs a “Pantser” (Working off an outline verses flying by the seat of my pants), I would say I was a planner, with a caveat.
Some of my writer friends have seen how I outline. I use one of those large accounting notebooks, divide it up by time and color code key plot points. As I’m working on a series, I have to outline the stand alone story along with moving the over-arching series stories. It’s an interesting juggling act that I add an additional ball too by sprinkling in hints for future books.
But with that sort of planning, one would think that there is no room for creativity. Last night I proved that wrong again. Characters, when I’m really into the writing zone, will speak to me. Last night, a minor character that’s I’ve developed suggested a change in tact that not only made sense, but ratcheted up the tension quite a bit. This revelation is why, I think, I was able to add a significant number of words to my NaNoWriMo count. And that’s the caveat. Listening to the characters when they are speaking.
I looked at and tweaked my outline a bit this morning and will hit the keyboard again this evening. There is a long way to go…but I’m hopeful that this first draft continues along the path I’ve scripted.
I also hope the characters continue to voice objections when the path isn’t sound. Plan for the story, but plan to deviate when needed.
![NaNoWriMo - Day 3 Although Some Characters need to Keep Quiet.](http://rbwood.com/dir/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Jarjar-278x300.jpeg)
It’s nice to be writing every day again. Let’s see how the month ends up.