saying yes to writing

Do you prepare the pants off of something and then freeze when the day arrives to actually do the work? That’s me. I’ll research something into the ground in order to feel like I’m making progress on something, which I think is a subconscious means of keeping me from the real task at hand. It’s day four of NaNoWriMo, and although I have character outlines and a solid idea of what direction I want to go with my novel, so far my actual word count is pretty measly.

I said no to a lot of things in order to participate in NaNo this year, so I feel like there’s a lot at stake for me to have something to show for it. The beauty of this challenge is that it’s meant to be fun, and there’s a built-in community of participants to hold you accountable, to meet with and share your story, or to work on your story with fellow participants right there beside you. Besides just getting my butt in the chair and writing, I think an in-person meetup is the magic ingredient I’ve been missing. Community and accountability are huge, but it can be easy to let online interactions be a substitute for being around real people in the flesh. So many of us are introverts, which can make it a challenge to step out and meet new people and share something so personal as a work in progress. But everyone is in the same boat. The mixture of commonality and diversity in a group setting is what is going to stretch you to see your own story beyond your limited point of view.

Even if all of you have your nose in a notebook or laptop, the mere fact of being in community is going to push you to accomplish your goals. Getting away from the distractions of home certainly helps, too. Do you feel inspired by the smell of books or coffee or fresh grass? Go write in a library, coffee shop, or park. Fresh surroundings can give you a fresh perspective on your work. Stuck on character development? Go people-watching. Or go for a walk to get the blood flowing and to get out of your own head for an hour. Stretching your comfort zone will make you a better writer by expanding your world.

I invite you to write with me. The community of writers is what makes NaNoWriMo something to look forward to every year. Here is a NaNoWriMo word count calendar to help you stay on track with your daily writing. Their website is also a terrific resource for your novel, whether you’re seasoned or have never written before. If you sign up, I’m trueimage83 if you’d like a writing buddy. I’d also love to see you join the conversation here in the comments. What are you struggling with right now with your writing? What tools make the process easier for you? I’d love to hear from you. Happy noveling!

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