I make myself a list each day of what I need to get done. It includes my writing tasks, bill paying, laundry — whatever is on my plate. Why do I list things like grocery shopping and laundry? Because it’s satisfying to cross items off the list with my red pen. I feel like I accomplished something when I get through my list with every single thing completed.
But last week and this week one glaring item stares back at me without a single red line through it. I must be avoiding it. Or to be honest, I feel stuck. So, I put it on the next day’s list where it then floats over to the following day.
I’m not exactly procrastinating. It’s more like I don’t know what to do. I decided to try NaNoWriMo this year.
What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.
https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-nanowrimo
I’ve heard about it for years. I have writer friends who have done it. I never have before. I’m working on NaNo Prep 101 so I can start November off and running and write 50,000 words. On my to do list is NaNo Prep. Each day. But I haven’t gotten through the task at hand.
I’m going to try a new strategy. I’m moving NaNo prep to the top of my list. Where I can’t avoid it. Also, I think if I tackle it earlier in the day, tiredness and a lack of motivation won’t take over. Maybe I’ll get it done when my energy is better. It takes energy to make decisions about what to write about and to develop characters. I have an inkling of what I want, but then I second guess myself and chicken out.
Have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? If so, how did it go? Have you written a novel? What did you find to be the easiest and hardest parts?
Many years ago, I did something similar. I believe it was called NaBloMaPo or something like that. I think it’s a fantastic idea to include your writing on your to-do list! It is equally as important, if not more so, than laundry or cleaning.
I’m looking forward to reading your NaNoWriMo posts. 🙂
I did better having it at the top of my list and working on it while I am fresh. We’re you able to complete the writing challenge?
I did finish it! However, by the end, my writing had become sloppy. I would definitely do a challenge like that again, though.
Interesting. You can still join in for November.
I’ll check it out!
I tried it’s modification once: NoMo-NoMo-Write-Fo’Me. Worked like a charm to this day.
I did it 3 years ago. I finished a draft but realized I didn’t like it very much. I still have irons in the fire, but nothing is sparking my interest at present
That seems to be my trouble right now with getting the prep work done. I can’t settle on something that gets me excited.
When I last wrote, I was excited at first, but I feel like I missed the mark.
You should dust if off and take another look. You might figure out what it needs.
A total rewrite….😉
I used to attend SCBWI meetings, which is for children’s writers. I had a few pieces published in papers and magazines. I noticed a few of the people I became friends with were getting their novels published. One writer told me she rewrote her novel 18 times before it was picked up. I was getting stuck around number three.
Totally get that
Looking at the prompts on the NaNoWriMo website, it appears to be primarily about fictional writing. I’d love to discover something similar, but with prompts focused for blog writing or non-fiction writing. Your post has me excited because I’m always looking for new blog post ideas.
Yes, it’s fiction writing. I’ll keep my eyes out for nonfiction or blogging challenges.
Thank you!
I have written a novel which I need just a little more time off to work on and publish. I have had some good feedback about “Tick Tock Crack” but just give me a just a little more time. Course I am learning new things with my resource position as a teacher.