Whose Idea Was That?!
For those of you who don’t know, there is a National Novel Writing Month. In the literary world, we call it NaNoWriMo. I suppose the name came about because it rhymes, and even though this is talking about novels, writers are conscious of literary devices such as rhyme. And assonance and consonance, too. (And if you know what those terms mean without looking them up, I feel your pain. It’s time to join a twelve-step group for Word Nerds Anonymous.)
Maybe it’s not about the rhyme. Maybe it's just that the acronym for it would be NNWM. And that obviously won’t do. It looks like a bunch of random triangles and lines, like a 3-yr old trying to write their name for the first time. Just some lines scribbled by a wanna-be writer.
Oh wait. That’s what NaNoWriMo is for.
NaNoWriMo is a method (and a non-profit organization) based around the premise that a person can draft a 50,000-word novel in one month, using word-count goals, an accountability component, and a support component. And thousands have! Their website claims more than half a million people logged in to use the non-profit’s method in 2020. It’s turned into an internationally recognized event.
Really, it’s a great idea. For one month, a writer is supposed to minimize other distractions and focus all their time and energy on producing that novel. You know, like…fill the cupboard with paper plates, set yourself up with a meal delivery service (you are allowed to use your spouse for this part) and buy some extra pairs of sweats and underwear so you don’t have to do the laundry that month. Set up auto bill-pay for all your bills, shut off your phone and email, and generally disregard all the other things you normally do other than your day job and writing.
Only problem is: they picked November for the month! What were they thinking? Clearly, they weren’t!!
Here’s how I think they picked November: They were discouraged because they didn’t write much one summer, and then there was autumn, which is impossible to sit through. (A person HAS to be outside during the early fall, don’t they?) So then they were disgusted with themselves for not writing and they decided: “Okay. This month I am actually going to do it.” Because they had to meet an end of the year deadline and clearly December is out.
Besides, November fits the rhyme/assonance/consonance of NaNoWriMo. In other words Nov+NaNoWriMo.
Because who in their right mind would set this up for November?? Helllloooo!? Holidays, anyone? Is anyone actually ready for the holidays before November? No! We are out there enjoying the autumn! November and December are for holiday prep and activities. Not shutting ourselves and our new underwear off in a room by ourselves!
Or at least that’s true for me. It is apparently not true for the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken advantage of its “structure, community and encouragement” and have the novels to show for it.
Awesome. So it’s working. And clearly the people whom it’s not working for are the people who put holidays as a higher priority than their writing. In other words, me.
Truth is, there are countless methods, tools, etc for writers to take advantage of in order to get their ideas into print. Or on a screen. Or to lose 20 pounds, or start a business, or learn to speak another language. Different tools work differently for different people, because we are people. Not machines. Now we just have to learn to use that tool/technology/technique that works best for us—actually use it—to our advantage. So I’m going to steal the word count goal structure. And maybe find a way/someone to hold me accountable and/or encourage me.
To that end, I’m officially rescheduling my NaNoWriMo. I’m doing it in January this year. In fact, I think I’m going to tweak more than the dates. I’m going to change it so that it works for me. Which might mean making writing my focus for more than a month.
And maybe I’ll change the name, too. Something like: RenateWritesMoreAllYear…RenWriMoAllYr. Or ReWMAY…Hmmm. Not that good. How about SitYourButtintheChairandWrite. (SiYoBinTChanWri or SYBITCAW)? Nope. Too long. Or FocusOnWriting. (FocOnWri? Or FOW) Does that sound like profanity? Maybe…FinishThatBlastedNovel. (FiTBLaNo) Or SetAGoalandStickWithIt. (SAGASWI) …Hmm…I might need your input for this. I don’t seem to be able to come up with anything better than NaNoWriMo.
Anyway, the point is that sometimes we’re pressured to set goals based on other people’s methods or priorities that don’t always fit our lives. And then we’re disappointed in ourselves (again) when we can’t make those goals happen.
Consider the heart of the goals. What are you really asking of yourself? Is that truly aligned with your personal priorities? If it is, look around for the tools to make it work for you. And be gentle with yourself. Do the best you can today. And then try again tomorrow. Don’t give up. And don’t limit yourself. Keep working at it until you find the right combination for you. Once you find what works, don’t stop.
Which means that regardless of whether it’s a holiday, or a Sunday, or a day off, or someone wants to go for a hike, or the snow is perfect for my snowshoes, I am going to put my writing first…but occasionally, I will do the other things…because living my life is one of my goals.
It’s January 1, and I have 872 words left to go for today. Gotta go.
How about you? What are you working on? Those New Year resolutions? Or do you wanna nanowrimo with me? SAGASWI?
Share your goals or your nanowrimo successes in the comments section. Or use the contact page and send me an email. I’ll get back to you—in February. Or possibly some evening after I hit my word count…
Let’s do this.
