Lessons from a NaNo Winner: #11 -- Keep Going and Do It!

Somewhere you might begin to bog down.

Your story is getting away from you.

You've lost interest in your story--because it's getting away from you.

You don't like your characters.

You've had too many "flexible" moments and you've lost steam.

You're too far off the daily count and you'll never make it up.

You're just not the type of person who can write 50,000 words in a month.  Maybe others can, but not you.

No one will ever want to read such dreck.

Whatever it is that's running through your head, stuff it.  Toss it out, stomp on it...whatever you have to do, but whatever you do, don't stop.

Maybe you've been less than diligent about tracking your story (using my spreadsheet) or some other tool, and you figure that's a good reason to stop.

NO, it isn't.  NOTHING is.  Forget about the scene summaries, daily tracking, forums, and anything else that is bogging you down.

Forget them.  They are ancillary to the story.  Focus on the story and KEEP GOING.

Sorry, I'm a bit emphatic here, but it's because I'm passionate about this.

You CAN be a NaNo winner.  You simply have to make up in your mind that you will, then do what is necessary to end the month with 50,000 words output. You have to believe in yourself, and if your belief falters, push through anyway, like a sprinter headed for the finish line.

Maybe you know yourself well and you really won't get to the goal.  Is that a good reason to stop?

No, because whatever you write in November will be more than you had in October.

I confess this one is a bit of "Do as I say, not as I do."  At times, this is a mantra for me because sometimes I have to talk myself into writing given how tired I am, how busy I am, how much the kids need from me...  There's always a reason not to write.  I can get away with it (although I shouldn't), but you can't.  Not during NaNo.

I hope you've learned a few things, gained some inspiration or simply been entertained by my rudimentary approach to NaNoWriMo.

I look forward to hearing about your success.

Ready, set...WRITE!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.