The Order of Things and Upcoming NaNo Prep

At this very moment I have completed 106.5 pages of a 160 page retype. Rewrite? No, that is still left to be done. This is a retype.

For those just joining our story already in progress:

1. Completed 50,000 words in the 2010 NaNoWriMo program (woohoo!).
2. Lost thumb drive with back up copy. (womp, womp)
3. Laptop died. (insert slow violin)
4. Only one version remained. The printed copy! (thanks for nothing, technology!)

You are all caught up. I have been ignoring this 50k draft on and off over the last 10 years. However, I am now just under 60 pages from having this draft back in digital form. I did not edit along the way as I wanted to get this retyped as quickly as possible. I am so close.

Over the last 10 years, I started a second story based on two characters from the a fore mentioned draft. The new story occurs prior to the draft. And, just recently, I have started yet another story based on two other characters from the draft which also occurs prior to the draft but after the second story. Confused? Yes! I love all three of these story lines. Two are not completely fleshed out but both lead up to the draft currently in retype. I have basically worked out my trilogy in reverse. Um, yay?

I plan to complete the retype of the draft and edit the draft into a presentable novel. While working through the editing process, I will join the 2020 NaNoWriMo program to finish out the third book which is really the second book. Wait, wait. Here is a better view of how to follow along.

1. NaNoWriMo 2010 – completed 50k drafted novel. The working title is “Bleak.”
2. NaNoWriMo 2015 – wrote 21.5k words about two characters from “Bleak”, working title is “Symbiosis.”
3. Camp Nano July 2020 – wrote 7k words about two characters from “Bleak” and “Symbiosis.” However, this story comes between “Bleak” and “Symbiosis.” There is no title for this one, but we will call it “Emily” for the moment. It is her fault we are in this mess.

So, if all three books were ready to go right this moment, they would be released as “Symbiosis,” “Emily,” then “Bleak.” This order feels odd to me since the stories did not come to me this way. But there it is.

This brings me to NaNoPrep for the 2020 NaNoWriMo. In just over a week, the prep work will begin for this year’s NaNo. I will be pulling “Emily” into a full novel and tying it into “Bleak.” I have never participated in the official NaNoPrep. I am a pantser at heart, but I think the prep will help me focus on the result instead of floundering through the month.

I am sure I will blog the prep and the month. Stay tuned.