NaNoWriMo - My Saviour

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is the most wonderful thing that could possibly happen to a struggling graduate like myself.

For those of you who don't know, NaNoWriMo is a scheme that challenges writers and non-writers alike to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.(It says National, but it has been so successful, people all over the world are getting in on it, like me in sunny London!)

Of course, 50,000 words seems like a daunting task but writing about 1,667 words a day is not. That is what they so helpfully recommend you  go by. If you write more, great. If you write less, not to worry, there is plenty of time to catch up.

Together with useful tips, encouragement, help, and a community that makes you feel like it is ok to ask even the most obvious questions, their website tries to encourage you to keep at it and stay the course throughout the month. If you reach 50,000 words by the end, you win! Yay!

What I love most is getting those words of encouragement I get as NaNoMail. It feels like I am being cheered on to finish a race, especially on those days when I feel like quitting. What is also cool is that members hold group writing sessions at various different places such as coffee shops. The sense of community that comes with this really makes me smile. I have yet to go to one though. I just get distracted easily but for those who enjoy writing in quiet groups I imagine it is very rewarding.

So how did I get started? Not until the 3rd November when my best friend pushed me to do it. Truth be told, at first I didn't want to do it. I had just started a new book that I was excited about writing and the prospect of having to keep to a deadline in my writing after 4 years of non-stop deadlines, was daunting to say the least. But she wanted me to do it, believing that it would help me in the end. (She was right and we're not even at the end yet!)

So, I signed up. I realised that I needed to start a new book entirely and thought again about not following through with it. This is where I scolded myself. Here I was, barely 5 minutes in and I was already thinking about quitting? I never quit!

"Screw it," I said and began to type a synopsis. I wanted to try a crime/thriller novel so that is what I went with. A plot began to form as I typed and I ended up writing an extract too. Proud of myself, I went to sleep happy and excited about trying something new.

It has been a bumpy ride since then and I will be documenting my progress from the day after, the 4th November, to now. So much has happened that it may take me a few days to catch up on it and the rest of my backlogged blogging but I am determined to see this and my NaNoWriMo novel through. That is another thing I must credit NaNo for, forcing me to get back to blogging. Until recently I had not wanted to blog, a voice in my head saying: "what could you possibly have to blog about?" every time I thought about writing a new post. (I'm glad I don't hear that bitch's voice anymore).

The only thing that makes me sad is that I cannot give back to them by donating money. That is the first thing I am going to do next year! It's the least I can do considering how much I have already gotten out of this.

But for now, all I can say is that NaNoWriMo has saved me from sitting at home scared about what my future holds. The first big lesson I have learned from doing this for the last 10-11 days? It is ok to not know what is going to happen next.

And that has helped me so much already!

;)