My Very First NaNoWriMo

I had heard about National Novel Writing Month before and had the intention of participating but life always seemed to get in the way.

This year, I stumbled upon it again about two weeks before the first of November and I knew that it was now or never. I’ve had an idea for a story for over a decade but always struggled to just sit and get the story out on the page.

But here I am – it’s mid-month and I just logged over 38,000 words as of tonight, 11/22/20. I have mixed emotions, the most intense is complete shock because I never thought it was possible to write 38,000 words in 3 weeks.

What follows from that shock is the realization that it is possible to write a book (even with a full-time job!) and is as simple as just getting started. The key is to keep it flowing and not worry about editing or getting everything perfect. It’s about throwing it all on the page and then having something to work with and shape later.

I also feel a sense of dread at all the work that is still ahead of me and the cold hard truth that hitting 50,00 words is the starting point of having a full, polished novel. Once I hit the 50K words, I can’t just stop and wait for the book to magically shape itself if I want to get it done. I still have to put in time, creativity, and get feedback to see how to best make it into what I want it to be.

Lastly, I feel proud of myself for actually committing to it and delivering. It opens up the realm of possibility in my writing and really proves how you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it and take action. Wish me luck as I approach the finish line!