A few years ago I thought NaNo was stupid. (For those of you who don't know, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. You spit out a 50K novel--rough draft--by the end of the month.) I mean, why November? There's Thanksgiving to plan for, and parent-teacher conferences, and basketball and the holidays. Why not pick January or March when there are a few open days in my schedule?
In 2014 I bit the bullet and made a NaNo account, but I didn't commit to it. I'm the type of person that makes realistic goals, and meets them, come hell or high water. I work full time and have three children actively involved in sports. How the heck can I write 50,000 words in a month as well? I lived off the inspiration, the momentum, the rush of everyone else posting about their goals and managed to write 20,000 words in a month, while keeping up with the daily grind. I felt so accomplished!
| So, in 2015 I stepped up and made the commitment. And I crushed it. It wasn't about having a beautifully polished manuscript at the end of the month. It was about setting a goal and reaching it. And I ended up have so many words, so many pages that I could work off of (After more writing and lots of edits, my 2015 NaNo book is under contract and comes out in March of 2017!). |  |
I signed up for NaNo again this year but am nervous about meeting the 50K goal. 2016 brought a multitude of sad news and medical issues to our family, which has been another time suck. However, I want to make a commitment, make goals, push myself.
Here's my challenge for you. Make a goal. Start small if you have to. It could be 100 words a day. Or 500 words a week. It doesn't have to be the 50K NaNo challenge. Maybe you have a WIP that needs to be finished. Not a writer? Make a reading goal. How many books are you going to read this month? Are you an editor? How many manuscripts will you read and edit this month?
Work for it. Achieve it. And be proud of it.
I signed up for NaNo again this year but am nervous about meeting the 50K goal. 2016 brought a multitude of sad news and medical issues to our family, which has been another time suck. However, I want to make a commitment, make goals, push myself.
Here's my challenge for you. Make a goal. Start small if you have to. It could be 100 words a day. Or 500 words a week. It doesn't have to be the 50K NaNo challenge. Maybe you have a WIP that needs to be finished. Not a writer? Make a reading goal. How many books are you going to read this month? Are you an editor? How many manuscripts will you read and edit this month?
Work for it. Achieve it. And be proud of it.
YOU can do anything you set your mind to. Are you up for the challenge? If so, put it in writing. Make it public. Hold yourself accountable.
Inspire us.
~Feeling motivated,
Marianne
Inspire us.
~Feeling motivated,
Marianne
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