This year, I strongly considered not participating in National Novel Writing Month. If you're not aware of it, here's some info: http://nanowrimo.org/
Normally, it's the worst month in which to do it because my kiddo gets a week off school, not to mention that the weather normally sucks. Like I can write anything that makes any kind of sense with my kiddo around. This year, it's the month when I have editing clients, five cavities being "filled," two birthdays to celebrate, a school conference, the weather will likely suck, and my kiddo gets a week off school.
So I've managed to write this blog post and nothing else so far this month. I'm taking a few minutes away from my client to do so.
The reason I decided to participate is I want the shirt, and it seems wrong to get the shirt without participating. There's this space theme this year that's way cool. And yes, I'm being serious. I like space.
But I have already decided that I am going to lose. I am NOT going to write 50,000 words this month. Why? Because for me, it's both unreasonable and detrimental to my mental and physical health. Not only that, but it makes me write LESS. If you look at my history on the above site and then on their affiliate "Camp NaNo" site, you'll notice I've won at Camp. Twice. At NaNo, zero times. Not only have I never won at NaNo, but the most I ever wrote (25,000 words) was *less* than one of my Camp projects. There's a reason for that. Camp allows me to set an achievable goal. NaNo does not. I am not motivated by the pressure and anxiety from deadlines... unless running away is the result you're looking for.
Every month, I set achievable goals for myself and chart them on Excel, and I'm not going to allow this month to be any different except that I'm going to attend write-ins when possible and buy myself a shirt at the end of it. Yes, I will lose NaNo this year, but I will win at Chryse NaNo. I will ignore the 50,000 word ridiculousness (for me) but still have a decent word count to work with.
If you have the ability to come up with 50,000 words this month, more power to you. That's great. If not, consider coming up with a goal that's achievable for you.
Normally, it's the worst month in which to do it because my kiddo gets a week off school, not to mention that the weather normally sucks. Like I can write anything that makes any kind of sense with my kiddo around. This year, it's the month when I have editing clients, five cavities being "filled," two birthdays to celebrate, a school conference, the weather will likely suck, and my kiddo gets a week off school.
So I've managed to write this blog post and nothing else so far this month. I'm taking a few minutes away from my client to do so.
The reason I decided to participate is I want the shirt, and it seems wrong to get the shirt without participating. There's this space theme this year that's way cool. And yes, I'm being serious. I like space.
But I have already decided that I am going to lose. I am NOT going to write 50,000 words this month. Why? Because for me, it's both unreasonable and detrimental to my mental and physical health. Not only that, but it makes me write LESS. If you look at my history on the above site and then on their affiliate "Camp NaNo" site, you'll notice I've won at Camp. Twice. At NaNo, zero times. Not only have I never won at NaNo, but the most I ever wrote (25,000 words) was *less* than one of my Camp projects. There's a reason for that. Camp allows me to set an achievable goal. NaNo does not. I am not motivated by the pressure and anxiety from deadlines... unless running away is the result you're looking for.
Every month, I set achievable goals for myself and chart them on Excel, and I'm not going to allow this month to be any different except that I'm going to attend write-ins when possible and buy myself a shirt at the end of it. Yes, I will lose NaNo this year, but I will win at Chryse NaNo. I will ignore the 50,000 word ridiculousness (for me) but still have a decent word count to work with.
If you have the ability to come up with 50,000 words this month, more power to you. That's great. If not, consider coming up with a goal that's achievable for you.
RSS Feed