A Late NaNoWriMo Confession

I have a confession to make. I didn’t write as much as I would’ve liked one day during NaNoWriMo.

To be fair a headache came on and I tried to push through. But I felt horrible. I gave in before I could fill up all the pages I aimed to complete. Because I am who I am, I tried to make up for it. I wanted to compensate.

Then again, I didn’t want to push myself too far to the point where my brain and body broke down on me even more.

A health scare, minor or major, is a reminder that I only have one head and one heart. I have one life. As much as I strive to get a ton of work done every day, there will always be more work than living days.

I’m aware NaNoWriMo is supposed to be a challenge. But I know my limits. And I refuse to risk my well being or ignore warning signs. I hope you don’t either.

I’m all for pushing yourself. But don’t push yourself to the point of pain.

Obviously, I love writing for many reasons. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I plan to write as long as possible. Less productive days aren’t the end of the world.

Despite everything that happened in November, I had fun.

To be honest, I didn’t leave the house much in past NaNos. But life’s too short to stay at home all the time. Besides, I need to live a little if I’m going to have anything worth writing about.

In recent years, my focus in November has shifted away from reaching 50,000 words to writing but also living throughout the month.

Writing is difficult enough as is. But if you aren’t feeling fine, putting words on the page turns into a great feat. Look after yourself, always. Don’t you dare feel guilty for putting your needs first.

My Plans For November And NaNoWriMo

I’ve been thinking more and more about what I’m going to do in November, specifically during National Novel Writing Month, short for NaNoWriMo.

For obvious reasons, NaNo is one of my favourite times of the year. But November 2017 promises to be a busy month.

As for what I’m going to work on, I want to write a novel. Or at least write a story of some sort. I wrote both prose and poetry in October. During November I plan to stick to the former.

Honestly, it’s been a while since I started a novel and stuck with it. So I hope I can change that this month.

I have some ideas I hope to explore further.

Fortunately, I have the second week off from school. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten into a good routine of writing on the commute. In fact, writing at home with so many distractions has presented a greater challenge.

Regardless, all I ask of myself is that I do my best.

Life happens. The unexpected occurs. But I’ll manage as best as I can.

That being said, I’ve enjoyed writing in the morning during my commutes sometimes more than late at night. So maybe it’s time I make some changes to my routine.

Earlier in the day my mind is clearer than it is at night. Then again, at night, I’m tired so I’m not as critical.

I don’t want to mess with my writing schedule too much. Still, I’m adjusting accordingly to whatever the world throws at me on any given day.

Changing is tough though. But the pay off tends to be worth the work.

There’s still plenty of time for me to figure things out. And I have a feeling I will.

Of course, I’m curious to know your plans or lack thereof for November, especially if you’re partaking in NaNoWriMo.

Where Did NaNoWriMo Go?

I don’t know.

How is it possible that NaNoWriMo is almost over? 

It felt like it just started yesterday.

As busy as this month has been, I’m not ready for the darkness of December to descend upon me. I’m not ready for NaNo withdrawal, which is very real in my world.

I need something to use as an excuse.

Why do your blog posts suck?

Because it’s National Novel Writing Month.

Why are your grades so bad? 

Because I’m writing a novel.

I won’t have a legitimate excuse in December. Not like I had one in November. But at least as of late I could try to justify not doing something or not doing it well. 

I hope you don’t take this post too seriously. I’ve already started to suffer just thinking about saying goodbye to NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo | You’re Halfway There

You’re halfway there.

And maybe halfway gone too. Did you get that song reference? No. Okay.

We’re fifteen days into November. Isn’t that insane? There’s just a month and a half left in 2016. That’s even more insane.

But we’re closer to the end than the start. Unless you’ve travelled back in time. Even if you could, why would you? 

You survived week two, arguably the toughest week in NaNo. 

You’ve come so far.

Don’t give up now.

I think one year I gave up right around this point. And by give up, I mean I stopped writing 1,667 words every day for the story I was working on. I didn’t give up writing. I hope I never do. Future me better listen to present me. Don’t give up writing, you hear? 

At the same time, I think future me is hoping present me knows it’s going to work out. So long as I don’t give up on myself. I’m imagining grandma Herminia shaking her fist in frustration. 

Side note: I’m bothered when other people refer to themselves in third person, but I have no issue doing so myself.

Anyway, I want to wish you and yours a happy second half of NaNoWriMo or November for those mere mortals who don’t write. I jest. I joke.

Herminia jests and jokes.

NaNoWriMo Problems

I use the word “problems” lightly. Like I do with most words.

First off, I can’t seem to write the novel I’m working on in a linear fashion. It’s a mess. Much like my whole life. I started in the midst of things, and now I’m telling some much needed backstory. I think my mind is just trying to piece together events or moments in a coherent yet jumbled manner. Good job brain.

Have I ever mentioned that I rarely outline? Outlining isn’t a skill I’ve acquired, much less mastered. So I don’t know what happens next. I don’t even have a concrete ending. I just sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Even if it doesn’t make sense. Especially when it doesn’t.

I love my characters. I just don’t know them as well as I’d like. Up until today I didn’t have a surname for my main character. I do now. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll find out what she does for a living. Because right now the only thing she’s doing is driving me insane.

These are nice problems to have. Don’t you think?

NaNoWriMo: Week Two Reminders

• It’s okay to be stuck.
• It’s okay to change something that isn’t working.
• It’s okay to want to give up on your story.

But…

• You have to get unstuck.
• You have to make that change yourself.
• You have to keep going.

I usually dread week two. It’s a tough time to say the least. This year, however, I’m dreading week three because of school. I can’t wait to work on three assignments at once. 

In my past experience, when I get past week two, I finish the rest of the month just fine. 

NaNo feels like an uphill battle nearly all the time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like wading through my own words before drowning in them.

If you can survive week two, you can do anything.

One Week Of NaNoWriMo

It’s been a week already? Wow, times flies by when you should be writing but you aren’t. Clearly I have yet to correct my procrastinatory ways.

Time really flies by when you’re writing or thinking about writing. I’ve done more of the latter because it’s easier.

Here’s where I am…

I have no idea what’s going on. My protagonist doesn’t either. Although she probably knows more than I do.

I don’t know if I can sustain my story much longer. I’m sure my characters won’t leave me alone if I abandon them though. 

I am confused. Like everyone else I’ve created this month.

A NaNoWriMo Pep Talk

You’re doing fine. You’re doing well.

If you’re doing your best, that’s enough.

You should not compare yourself to other people, yet you still do. Don’t be bitter. Don’t be jealous. Use their accomplishment as your motivation. 

It’s not about the word count. It’s not about the end result. It’s about something so much more. Something greater than just a number.

Remember those days when you wrote freely? Without limitations and rules? Do you remember how fun it was? How much you enjoyed yourself?

Back then it was about the process. The creative process. So very difficult but also enjoyable. You failed. You learned. You allowed yourself to create worlds and characters without unnecessary critical judgement.

So get back to that. Get back to writing for yourself.

Because if you don’t, no one else will.