Trying Something New For NaNoWriMo

Happy NaNoWriMo season, writers!

And so, regular readers and friends of this blog might know that NaNoWriMo is an event around here.

I’ve been participating since nearly the beginning, and the first year I tried I got to 23K. Or something.

Every year since, I declare a project, and THIS IS IT. Because am I really a writer if I can’t get to 50K in 30 days? (P.S. Yes, the answer is yes.)

But anyway.

I’ve never done it before. I am a recovering procrastinator.

Every year, I get into the buzz, the fresh start, the possibility.

For a few years, I stayed away, to trick myself into really getting there.

And, I start. There’s excitement and popcorn, and OK, I didn’t write 1,667 words every day, but WE HAVE ALL MONTH.

Yeah.

And so this year, I’m trying something different. I started drafting a book a few months ago. It’s a memoir. I declared it as a WIP on the NaNo site, because it is.

I’ve been working to monthly deadlines for a while, the pages have several backups, and my most prolific day has been 3,058 words in one afternoon.

My NaNo categories for the book are Personal, Satire/Humor, Literary, Adventure. Because I’m approaching the part where I get a little sick of it, but it’s still an adventure.

I either write 50 words a day or the stellar 3,058.

I think A LOT before I write, probably to the point of drafting in my head.

But see, that’s where NaNo comes in. For me, for everyone.

Don’t think, just write.

Because everyone else is doing it.

A writer friend of mine is doing a choose-your-own-adventure type deal where reader polls will determine the direction of her book. Join the fun!

If you have an idea you’ve been thinking about for years, test-drive it, write it out. Start somewhere. It doesn’t have to be the beginning.

Add 50,000 words to something you already have. Add any words to something you already have.

Don’t find the time, make it. I even wrote you a letter.

NaNoWriMo has never been about the word goal for me, so far.

It’s about the possibility, the permission to write (though we don’t really need permission, it’s there.)

Don’t discount it because you think won’t get to 50,000 words. That’s 1,667 a day. Try 50, or 750 and keep going.

Start where you are and just write.

I wish you good words every day, every month.

Who else is in for NaNoWriMo this year?

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