This is a blog post I have waited more than a year to write. Not so long as some perhaps, but long enough for me. Last November 1 I began my first attempt at something called National Novel Writing Month. I came with what I thought was a solid story and plausible plot which should mean I could write 50,000 words in 30 days.
So what happened? In short life happened. Writing at least 1,667 words every day for 30 straight days is harder than it seems. I got off to a great start, fueled by the excitement as well as enthusiasm of creating a new novel. Then I had a three day bout with sickness that brought me off my pace. Throw in an international mission trip that started the day after Thanksgiving which knocked off six days and it all ended in a failure to finish.
Following this I took time to rethink my approach to the novel in which I decided could change the main character to a pair of F.B.I. agents who were partners that could develop into a franchise. When I did that the story began to grow in my head. That is the way I write by the way, I form the germ of the plot in my head and allow it to bubble for a few months before I begin to write. It helps to fill in some of the possible plot holes.
As 2016 progressed I began to develop another novel in the franchise with the idea I would try again with #NaNoWriMo. Because I did not get all the way through the first novel I had some character development to complete. I also began to add depth to the characters lives by adding family members.
Another positive addition to the 2016 attempt was an outline of what I wanted my first twenty chapters to be. As with all writing when you actually get involved the story has natural outshoots that are necessary to fill in some blanks, explain plot lines and carry the story forward. Also with the outline I could write a chapter I was excited about when I hit a slow spot in the chronological timeline.
On Wednesday, the 23rd day of November I finally crossed 50,00o word hurdle with 50,725. Now don’t think just because I was able to put that many words together I am ready to seek out an agent or a publisher today. My VERY rough manuscript is just over 100 pages. I will be working to move the total to 80,000 words or so and will be doing quite qa bit of editing and revision, BUT . . . I did FINISH!
Joe's Musings 
Well done!