Hitting 10,000

As of right now, I have written 10,000 words for NaNoWriMo. The cool part is the goal is 50,000 words. So I am 20% there. The not-so-cool-or-perhaps-cool-but-I-am-not-sure part is that I don't even feel like I've gotten into the story yet. Main characters haven't met. Crazy sidekicks haven't been revealed. The past hasn't made anyone freak out yet. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO WRITE ABOUT! This is bad because that means there may be a big chance that the story won't be done in 50,000 words. Of course that is good too. This may be a project to last me through the next few months even when I head back to grad school in January. And then there is the other elephant in the room: that I may have just written 10,000 words of crap.

I highlighted one sentence that I really like though. So, hey, that counts for something.

In the next 40,000 words, I hope to work on my writing style, my voice, my form. I hope to truly make my characters, well, real--flawed. But strong...

...which brings me to something a friend posted to my facebook wall. I've seen it quoted on Twitter too.
Q:Why do you write strong female characters?
A: Because you're still asking me that question. - Joss Whedon

[An old professor of mine was quick to add that "why do you not write strong female characters?" may be a better question half the time (gosh, I miss her and her classes...).]

Hell yes, my main female character is going to be strong. And I got 40,000 words left to show you just how strong she can be.