Once again, I've managed to get the week right before one of the NaNoWriMo months.
I've actually decided to do NaNo yesterday. It was a serious debate for me. I actually wasn't going to write at all for the rest of the year. But you know what my muse does when I say I'm not going to write?
She makes me want to write.
So that's what I'm going to do.
Write.
While editing three books for publishing.
While importing and selling 5000 pairs of shoes.
And while moving house.
Why, one might ask, would I be so insane as to take all this on my plate? Well, the simple answer is that I want to publish three books, preferably before the end of this year. Secondly, I want to write, because writing makes me happy. The shoes, while they make me happy (come on. SHOES. ARE. MY. DAY JOB.), I don't really have a choice about. Same about moving house. (I'm not going to go into that, because explaining why we have to move house will take up a whole week.)
But anyway, the big thing is that made me decide to NaNo after all was that writing makes me happy. It's one of the few activities in my life that fulfills me as a person.
That's really why I'm doing it. Not because I want to write 50k words before December. Not because I like the prestige of winning NaNo.
Which is good, because I've won twice out of seven attempts. Okay I should mention that I would have won in July if not for the shoe business taking off in such a huge way that I had zero time to write. As in, I slept when I wasn't working and worked when I wasn't sleeping.
Technically, this shouldn't be the case now. Although it could be. So for now, my goal isn't so much to write 50k as to write a bit every day and see how far I get.
But that's okay. Because that's what NaNo's really about. Getting words down. Even if I only hit 10k, it's still 10k more than what I would have if I kept to my decision not to write again until January. And given the sheer amount of stuff I have to get done, it'll still be an achievement.
More than that, I'm hoping that it'll be 10k of sheer happiness and escapism. Right now, I really need it.
What about you? Doing NaNo? Please feel free to buddy up with me. User name is iceangel.
Writing because it makes you happy is the best reason. I'm going to attempt it this year as well, with similar goals. The 50K is not going to stress me. I'm simply going to write on the next Talia sequel to follow the one in revisions. Even if I only get 10-20K into it, that's farther than if I don't do anything.
ReplyDeleteCD, I'm trying to listen to Talia. I really am. :)
You are a goddess. You do so much. I just got an editing job that will take up most of November, and immediately I decided I would not attempt nanoo nanoo. I am a wimp. I don't really know how nanowrimo works anyway.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie, who is full of excuses
Wow, you are a busy woman! Good for you taking on the challenge. I've done it for ten years, but this year, I have to step back from it, unfortunately. Too much family stuff going on. I want to still try to revise my novel in November, though. Maybe I might be able to do that!
ReplyDeleteGood luck. Whatever word count you get to, you'll be ahead of the game.
ReplyDeleteI wish the writing challenge happened in Feb.
ReplyDeleteCharity I honestly think it's the best way to go about writing marathons like NaNo.
ReplyDeleteHahaha Janie, you can go check out the website at nanowrimo.org if you're curious. ;-)
Christine, I hope you get the revisions done with all the family stuff going on.
That's my thinking too, Liz.
We'll, CD, there are similar challenges in April, June, July and August, I believe.
Well that little lot should keep you busy!
ReplyDeleteI'm not really doing NaNo, but I do intend to have a bit of a short story first draft writing frenzy which will look pretty much the same from a distance.
You have to do what makes you happy! I kind of think doing something that maybe seems crazy hard but doing it because you want to, not because you have to, is super fabulous! You have to love it and want it to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI am doing nano even though every year I tell myself NEVER AGAIN. NEVER AGAIN becomes my mantra in November at 3am in the morning weeping over a cup of tea. But yes. I'm doing it because I love it really and I can't not do it.
<3
Yeah, I'm playing too. After the first year of NaNo I vowed I'd never do it again. I draft just fine over 2 to 3 months, but pushing it all into a couple weeks totally stresses me out. Or did. We'll see. You grown significantly as an author when you have deadlines, eh?
ReplyDeleteUnleashing the Dreamworld
Hahaha yes, Patsy, it will. Best of luck with your draft frenzy. :-D
ReplyDeleteMia, Yeah. Every year I wonder what I was thinking to join, but then I remember I love it in December. Thanks for buddying with me.
Crystal, publishing and deadlines do change things a lot, don't they?
I love you reason! I think that's why I'm signed up too . . . that, and it's driving me crazy that I haven't finished the third book in my trilogy, and I promised myself I could work with Captain Wrath in November - so I'm going to write because it makes me happy, and because finishing feels better than having something hanging around undone. :) Of course, I still might not finish, but I'll be closer by the end of the month.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear about your shoe business, and I'm sorry you have to move.
You're right, even if its only 10k its still good progress. And hey you can't go wrong with writing if it's what makes you happy, eh? Have fun with it ;)
ReplyDeleteS.K. Anthony: Readers Are All the Rage!
Writing makes me happy too. It's my bliss and my therapy. Good for you to sign up!
ReplyDeleteMisha, I would've been surprised if you decided not to do NaNo.
ReplyDeleteThere's no stopping you girl!
Go for it!
I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines!
Glad you decided to do it and love your comment about writing making you happy. Amen to that. I'm not doing NaNo but I am getting back to writing again. It's the one thing that helps me relax and feel more at peace.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and Happy writing!
Good luck. Writing can be both productive and an 'escape' from all of the other responsibilities crying out for time and attention.
ReplyDeleteTyrean, yep, any little bit toward finishing helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine. :-)
Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
Hehehe thanks, Michelle.
Happy writing, Julie.
So true, Terry. I'm trying to focus a bit more on the "escape" bit now, because I don't want writing to become another chore when I have so much else to do.