I love NaNoWriMo. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and in an effort to take my mind off of things, I've been thinking a lot about NaNoWriMo already.
NaNoWriMo always helps me feel productive and happy. It's one of those things that gives me a huge boost every single year in terms of feeling accomplished and happy.
This year, however, I have this sort of vague feeling of: I don't think I'm going to finish a novel this year. The truth is by this time, I usually have an outline written. I usually have an idea I'm excited about--one I started working on in February or March or through the summer. This year has definitely been... different in terms of how much I've gotten done and how many ideas I feel like I have in my brain. I've got like 5 half-formed ideas, none of which I'm very excited about, and as I watched NaNoWriMo get closer and closer on my calendar... I can't help but feel like this isn't my year.
However, I know once Forrest starts school (soon, hopefully, after a week of delays because of the fires in Oregon!!) I'll have a lot more time to decompress and hopefully move out of my slump.
I know this is a really challenging time for everyone, especially here on the West Coast. I recently read a tweet, however, that said something like this: it’s possible to feel just as happy drinking your coffee and watering your plants as it is to go on a dream vacation. Joy is joy, and however you’re able to feel it, let yourself take a taste of it and really feel that joy.
I thought I’d share a round up of my best NaNoWriMo posts to help us get started prepping for NaNoWriMo. This year, I’ll be working on my outline probably this month or in October—way later than usual for me! In October, I’ll be re-publishing my NaNoWriMo prep guide with NEW material to help you plan, brainstorm, and write an outline.
For now, here are a few posts that I think will help you get started.
Am I Crazy to Try NaNoWriMo with a Newborn?, which I wrote when I was pregnant with Forrest (!) and the exciting follow up, Yes I Was Crazy to Try NaNoWriMo with a Newborn (not the actual title, but I wish it had been). If you’re a new parent hoping to try NaNoWriMo, I think these are both great posts to reference (and I promise I’ll work on expanding/rewriting them soon).
Another parenting-focused NaNoWriMo post: Writing With a Toddler.
I am hoping to expand my NaNoWriMo guide here on my blog this year—if you have any posts you’d like to see, or questions you’d love to see answered from someone who has done NaNoWriMo since 2010 (!), let me know. Happy Writing!
