For those who might have dietary restrictions today...

With Black Friday coming up, a reminder...

"Virtuosa" Day 25 - 53,770 words: At 27 chapters long, I wrote "The End" on this year's project tonight. To give a sense of the scale of this project, here's the Table of Contents that shows the locations and dates for each chapter. Now, to rest. #Author #BookSky

O_o

"Virtuosa" Day 24 - 51,807 words: It still feels weird to be writing this late into November, but I'm on track to finish by tomorrow. The secondary goal is usually to get the whole plot in before Thanksgiving, and I'll just make it this year. #Author #BookSky

Good thing he didn't say instant pot.

"Virtuosa" Day 23 - 50,075 words: A day slower than last year getting to 50k (a steady decline for 4 years). But I'm proud that I could get there on my own terms (usually ~2 hours writing each night). Two more chapters left in this plot, so I'll be done with the story by Thanksgiving. #Author

"Virtuosa" Day 22 - 48,096 words: As I'm now ~1 day of writing away from my 50,000-word goal, I re-assessed some chapters I wanted to write and will combine some for brevity. Still, an interesting chapter to write tonight that speculates on what happened between Clara and Brahms after Robert died.

"Virtuosa" Day 21 - 46,289 words: The muse was on fire tonight for an emotional section of text. Wrote two chapters this evening for my second-best word count for Nov. 21st (best so far for this year). #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 20 - 42,354 words: A pivotal scene today as I finish Act II with my 3rd best single-day word count for the month. Amusingly enough, the events from the last few chapters that were the best documented were also the easiest to write. #Author #BookSky

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"Virtuosa" Day 19 - 39,797 words: A pretty good night now that I'm recovered from yesterday. Made easier by the addition of Johannes Brahms to the mix (their first meeting was fairly well documented). #Author #BookSky

If you have 45 degrees at school, you might just be an academic.

"Virtuosa" Day 18 - 37,709 words: Nothing written today since I got a bad headache this evening and couldn't focus enough to write. At least I'm far enough ahead that it shouldn't ultimately matter. See you all tomorrow! #Author #BookSky

I might have to use that excuse. "Sorry, I have to be Superman."

"Virtuosa" Day 17 - 37,709 words: Another great "planned" chapter from historic events in Clara Schumann's life (May Uprising in Dresden), but I also realized there's a chapter coming up that I can cut because I'm already ahead on word count and it wouldn't have added anything to her story. #BookSky

There's a reason it's the geographic center of the USA.

"Virtuosa" Day 16 - 35,648 words: You all can't ever know how much I resisted writing "SCHUMANN PUUUUUNCH!" in this chapter. Maybe I'll include it when it's adapted into an anime... #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 15 - 33,586 words: Lots of great description in tonight's chapter, which made the words flow easily. If anything, one of the things I want to get across in this book is what it sometimes looks like to live with someone who has a mental illness like depression. #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 14 - 31,677 words: Up to five days ahead on the wordcount, but only about 2 days ahead on the plot. Still, struggled with confirming some historical events tonight, but eventually found the groove and wrote another good section. #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 13 - 29,338 words: Wrote almost 2,500 words on a weeknight in part due to my ability to pull from personal experience. I can relate to having two young children, especially when one of them is an infant. #Author #BookSky

They know what they did.

"Virtuosa" Day 12 - 26,869 words: Shot past the half-way point for word count tonight in one of the most anticipated chapters I wanted to write this year. Describing a concert at the height of Lisztomania was fun, especially considering the contrast in performing styles between him and Clara.

Now if they'd only put my conversations on sale...

"Virtuosa" Day 11 - 24,847 words: Quite close to the half-way point of the month, and another day in a row of two chapters and the most words I've written all month. Still, other distractions today kept me from getting more written, but now I have a much more comfortable buffer. #Author #BookSky

Not sure what to do with these crocodiles, though...

"Virtuosa" Day 10 - 21,127 words: Wrote two chapters today, but the bigger milestone tonight was crossing over that 1 million cumulative total words written in Novembers. Interesting enough, if I added all the days of writing back-to-back, it only took me 315 days to do so. #Author #BookSky

It's not commenting on the snow, just... *gestures at everything*

"Virtuosa" Day 9 - 17,490 words: I'm now about 1.5 days ahead as I -actually- wrap up Act 1. Today's writing had a nice little bookend effect with the first chapter where both were broken into three smaller sections, one of which featured her mother. Now on to Act 2 (for real). #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 8 - 15,293 words: This year's book is much easier to write, likely due to the prep/research. I don't have to think about what happens next, because it already happened and I'm merely describing events. That said, working on a chapter a day is also a great way to keep a steady pace.

"Virtuosa" Day 7 -13,563 words: Finally worked my way to being 1 day ahead. This may be the steadiest start to a November drafting session since I started doing this 16 years ago. Definitely had some liberties with the narrative vs. what probably happened, but it's way more entertaining this way.

"Virtuosa" Day 6 - 11,594 words: Finished "Act I" today and have enjoyed a more gradual progress compared to previous years. I know I'll get to the 50k goal, but there's really no rush as I slowly chip away at it. #Author #BookSky

Modern politics, lol.

"Virtuosa" Day 5 - 9,564 words: Another fun chapter tonight that I had in my head from the planning phase. Added some fictionalized reasoning behind the name of Robert Schumann's "Papillons" that incorporated actual butterflies. #Author #BookSky

🤮

“Virtuosa” Day 4 - 7,777 words: A slightly more fun chapter to write tonight with a bit of a “flashback” feel since it technically would have happened before the events in Chapter 3. #Author

My kids got so much candy, I'm just now getting around to checking it.

"Virtuosa" Day 3 - 6,005 words: A little slower on the words today, partly from being tired and partly from finding that balance of "worldbuilding" versus adding fluff. Hopefully, I accomplished more of the former instead of the latter. #Author #BookSky

"By the power of the moon, I will punish you" hits way harder than "One small step..."

"Virtuosa" Day 2 - 3,855 words: The words are coming more naturally now as the scenes easily come into focus. I kind of like this idea of a chapter a day, especially since I have each day planned out in advance. #Author #BookSky

"Virtuosa" Day 1 - 1,973 words: A somewhat slow start this evening as I tried to craft the best opening chapter I could. Little bits of research that escaped my concerted effort in October also made writing slower than normal (but not ground to a halt). Gotta warm up those writing muscles again.

Making up some POG (pineapple, orange, guava) sorbet. So many interesting combinations from my award-winning ice-cream cookbook, “Stop Screaming!” Get your copy here: author.benjamin-m-weilert.com/published-wo... #Author #POG

As per usual, I have such a wild new idea I want to explore right before November. Except this time it’s a desire to draw a graphic novel. And I’m not skilled enough (yet) to draw such a thing.

To be honest, I want to dress up as Weird Al as well...

While National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) might not be an -official- thing anymore, some habits die hard. If you also need an online community challenging ourselves to write a novel in a month, come join my Discord and let's write! discord.gg/HmgR8NdhcN #Author #WritingCommunity #BookSky

OH YEAH? OH NO!!!!

Discussing my "Covid Cannonball Run" idea with a new acquaintance and I think I need to have this dialogue between the two characters here. #Author #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #BookSky

It's the truth.

I hate all the darkness, but I do appreciate the extra hour to write in November. #Author #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #BookSky

I don't have a pun for scoliosis.