Nanowrimo Day #1 Report
Just do it
Yeah, I’m doing Nanowrimo this year.
At least I think so. I got started this morning by the skin of my teeth.
I’ve been sick. And, unusually for me today I had to be out the door at 8 AM. The early morning hours are my writing time. I woke early, despite the sick (I am feeling much better) and thought, haven’t a clue what to write about.
Despite the fact that I’ve been noodling about a mystery story set on an island for the last couple of weeks. But in the rush of everyday life stuff and then being sick, I hadn’t really had time to develop a plan.
I’ve done Nano before a couple of times and always found it fun and inspiring. I’m good with deadlines. This year I’m working on a rewrite for a book my agent has that involves tearing it apart and putting it back together again.
And I realize, I miss writing.
You know, writing writing. Discovery draft writing. So I’d decided I’d do Nanowrimo.
Why You Should Do NaNoWriMo This Year
November is right around the corner. Ready to write a novel in a month?writingcooperative.com
But when my designated writing time came around this morning, I weakened. As mentioned, I had no idea where to start. I told myself that I didn’t have much time anyway, because I had to shower and eat breakfast. I told myself I didn’t really need to do Nanowrimo.
All those thoughts were just my resistance coming up.
So I tried a different tack. Told myself to write just one sentence. Reminded myself that nothing I wrote had to be good — it just had to be on the page. Which is the point of Nano, after all — getting writers to get words on the page.
I donned headphones and plugged myself into brain.fm, my listening option of choice for focus.
And I began to write.
An hour and a half later, I had to tear myself away to get ready to leave. And I had 1045 words on the page.
Not stellar literature, but it was a start.
The best thing was what happened after. In the shower, while eating breakfast, when driving, all kinds of ideas flooded in. Characters, motivations, plot stuff.
That’s what happens when you start. The words and the ideas come from the writing. And then that starts to build momentum, where you have so many ideas you’re eager to sit down again the next day.
How to Establish a Regular Writing Practice
So here we go with some advice on how to establish a regular writing practice.medium.com
And here’s the deal: even if I don’t come anywhere close to getting 50,000 words this month, however many I get are words I wouldn’t have on the page without committing to Nano.
That’s a win.
So I guess I’m doing Nanowrimo this year. You should, too.