Welcome to the annual National Writer’s Month. It’s like Christmas came a month early to those who are like me. Everyone knows that doing something you love is like a drug, but the thing is, when something you love is something you can do any time, anywhere, it’s all the better.
And when your passion is loved by so many and there’s an entire month devoted to it, well, let’s just say Christmas means nothing after that.
NaNoWriMo is a website which gives you the tools to keep track of your novel progression. It’s a promise to yourself to finish that novel you always wanted and it is made only for you. The best writing advice from the NaNoWriMo team can be found on their Youtube video, as well as their channel to help you along in your process.
If you find yourself stuck, maybe you need a little push in the right direction, this mediabistro site has a wonderful amount of links to help you through.
Just don’t give up.
I’m not saying all this because I’ve tried this and succeeded or failed. I’m saying this because I’m trying it to. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to put down on a page, but sometimes I get too distracted by life.
I think too much, and I know that. Trust me, I’ve thought about it.
Whenever I write, I think too much about what my character should say or do. Sometimes I think too much about what others will think when they’re reading my work, but then I found another writer whose word’s helped me trust my instincts.
Natalie Goldberg’s words taught me to write with my wild mind. Let the world flow from my fingertips.
“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”
― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
As I read her words, I realized that only another writer could understand my state of mind. Her lessons taught me to keep my hand moving, never stopping to think about what I just wrote.
I participated in exercises – which I still do – that helped me tremendously. I hope you try them too. You’ll be incredibly surprised at what you find.
– Turn on your music and write for the length of the song. Try to write a shot snippet based on the title of the song you choose.
– Write, but don’t look. Put your writing away the second your pen leaves the page. Look at it two weeks later. You’ll be surprised what you find.
– Most importantly, keep your hand moving. Let your wild mind flow. Don’t edit yourself. You are your thoughts so don’t keep yourself caged.
“If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.”
― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
I talk to my best friend about everything, and sometimes I mention my passions to my family or those around me, but I noticed that when I do this, I limit my creativity.
“Anything you do fully is an alone journey.” Natalie Goldberg knew this and so do I. There are those who can write with others, but I’m not one of them. I am my work. Maybe it’s the vulnerability that I don’t like because when someone sees my work, they see part of me. And there are others in this world that feel the same.
But that’s not going to stop me from doing what I love.
My advice to you as I take this journey with the rest of the world is to not create the goal to finish in one month. This is just the beginning.
…50,00 words…
…One month…
…Your mind…
Do you have what it takes?
Just A Thought 