Too busy to read this post? Play the audio version here instead. Or if you prefer, read along with the audio. I’m not the boss of you.
Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo, aka National Novel Writing Month, the annual event that sees over 300,000 writers around the globe take on the challenge of completing (the rough draft of) a new 50,000-word novel in 30 days.
Not a challenge to take lightly, this.
And yet at the same time, the sense of everybody toiling together as one can drive some authors to achieve way more than they normally might when hampered by the terrible sense of creative loneliness that so many of us feel so much of the time.
Pretty silly, when you think about it. Because at any given time, in any given month, we know full well that millions of other people are also hammering keyboards, just like us. Maybe NaNoWriMo just gave it a name, like Fight Club did.
Now that I’ve returned from an unplanned hiatus from this blog-list, thanks to Life Stuff, I’d like to hear from anyone who wants to embark upon NaNoWriMo, but feels impeded or even paralysed in some way.
What is your biggest challenge, when it comes to getting started this month?
If there’s more than one, then tell me your Top Three.
You can do this either in comments below, or by privately replying to the email version of this post (just hit Reply and go for it.)
While I’m waiting for you to share your biggest challenge(s), it might help if I tell you about how much fun it can be to splurge out the first draft of a novel.
Actually, no, let’s not call this the first draft.
Let’s say Draft Zero, to trick our brain into thinking that it doesn’t matter.
Maybe it will…
… or maybe it won’t.
The 50,000 words you write this month may become an amazing novel that delights and captivates millions.
The 50,000 you write this month might simply provide the surge of creativity you need to get you rolling again with that other project you allowed to fall dormant.
You have no real way of knowing, so just focus on splattering the coolest and perhaps most outlandish contents of your brain all over the page.
No-one will ever read this stuff unless I say so.
If it helps, then write those words on a piece of paper and stick it on your wall above your desk.
Do whatever it takes to rid yourself of the bizarre sense of strangers telepathically judging your words before you’ve (a) even shown them; and (b) even had the chance to hone and polish your work across successive drafts.
Write like nobody’s reading. Not even you.
Unless you’re the type of writer who has to cook the first chapter to perfection before you can move onto the next (and there’s nothing wrong with that - Lisa Jewell once told me that this is her method), this is not the time to wear your editor’s hat.
Toss that hat aside and don your Pure Creativity hat instead.
Your Total Splurge hat.
Get it down, don’t get it right.
Stick that up phrase up on your wall too, if it helps.
Okay. I think I’ve splurged enough, for one post.
So. Are you ready to tell me now?
What is your biggest challenge, when it comes to getting started this month?
Either comment down below or reply to the email version of this post.
Your reply will help shape my next posts here, during November.
I’ll try to help you too, as much as I can. Love a pep talk!
So, go ahead and let me know.
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In my case, honestly, lack of ideas... 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️