November Writing Marathon

This year, my annual writing marathon looks a little different. But it's still happening. 

This year I am writing at 4TheWords and tracking my stats at TrackBear. The 4TW group has an unofficial group "leaderboard" at TrackBear, which is also fun. Of course I signed up for that, as well. They did a different type of challenge in July and it was helpful and fun. 

Writer accountability and a bit of friendly competition (even just competition with oneself!) is a good thing during a writing marathon.

This year I am going to aim for 70,000 words in this event period. With Nano, their system was 50k words in 30 days. The 4TW special event, Weathercraft Terrarium, is 40 days, so I'm adding words to my goal. Last year I wrote over 100,000 words in November alone. I don't know that I have that in me this year, but an additional ten days, I needed to add words *grin.*

My longtime writing pal and I decided to keep our tradition of the midnight kickoff when October 31 becomes November 1. We planned our snacks, got together a few hours before midnight for dinner and conversation and getting ready, then - boom - midnight and we were off. 

The 4TW event officially started on October 28th. I did writing starting that day, so my word count from October 28th is over 10k already. My word count for November 1st, which is when I started a fiction story -which could be a novel- was 2443 (see the screenshot at top right). From Nov 1 - Dec 10 I will be writing primarily fiction, but if other words are also written (they will be, I have no doubt), those will also be included in my total; but I do have separate files where I'm writing so that the content is clear. Some of what will be in my "other" writing file will include some drafts for future Substack essays.

So. November writing looks different and it is still happening, snacks and coffee and writer friendships.

Thank you to 4TW and TrackBear for helping me get my butt in the chair and words on the page. And for making it fun and all of the encouragement, special events, and camaraderie.

https://4thewords.com/writefest

Our 2024 Month Of Writing snacks included gouda cheese, jicama, grapefruit, green olives, water & coffee/tea & Chaider, Oh My Ghee popcorn, Chick-a-Boom Sweet & Salty popcorn, and assorted chocolates. And laptop charging cords, of course, which isn't a human snack but a snack needed by our electronic devices. 

snack photos by Kathryn LePage ;-)