Last year I discovered a non-profit organization that host a month long writing fest, National Novel Writing Month, for those of us who have the bug. It is set up to prove you can write a 50,000 word novel when you set your mind to it. I didn't "win" last year, but that's ok. I'm going to try harder to win this year. The prize? Just the joy and knowledge that you completed a novel.
I've come close to completing a novel. And when I say close I mean half way. It was a silly story, just some fluff I had a dream about and something countless romance novels have written about before. I have read countless romance novels, so I know what I'm talking about. It was not the first work of fiction I wanted to complete.
Every writer hopes to write something that people want to read. It is, at least for me, a very personal thing to write down your ideas and thoughts, no matter the format, and put them out into the world for others to read and criticise. Because it doesn't matter how good we think something is, someone else will find a fault with it. This works as a block for me and part of the reason I didn't finish last year. I read over and re-think my work too often and lose focus on my plot to continue on. I am learning to fix this.
But I think a main reason I have not completed a work of fiction is timing. I just never found the time to work on it, I really need to make it a priority in my life, and I never have before. I also felt I didn't have a space to work where I live, which for me is a major deterrent for writing. I wasn't inspired or motivated.
So what's changed this year? Nothing. In fact, here I am planning to move to another country and I still sign up. Realistically, I don't think I'll finish 50,000 words by November 30th. I'll be lucky to reach 25,000. But I like the idea of putting everything else aside and going after that dream, whether you can write or not, and think it is pretty awesome.
And who knows, with my long flight I might actually have the time to make 50,000 words.
I've come close to completing a novel. And when I say close I mean half way. It was a silly story, just some fluff I had a dream about and something countless romance novels have written about before. I have read countless romance novels, so I know what I'm talking about. It was not the first work of fiction I wanted to complete.
Every writer hopes to write something that people want to read. It is, at least for me, a very personal thing to write down your ideas and thoughts, no matter the format, and put them out into the world for others to read and criticise. Because it doesn't matter how good we think something is, someone else will find a fault with it. This works as a block for me and part of the reason I didn't finish last year. I read over and re-think my work too often and lose focus on my plot to continue on. I am learning to fix this.
But I think a main reason I have not completed a work of fiction is timing. I just never found the time to work on it, I really need to make it a priority in my life, and I never have before. I also felt I didn't have a space to work where I live, which for me is a major deterrent for writing. I wasn't inspired or motivated.
So what's changed this year? Nothing. In fact, here I am planning to move to another country and I still sign up. Realistically, I don't think I'll finish 50,000 words by November 30th. I'll be lucky to reach 25,000. But I like the idea of putting everything else aside and going after that dream, whether you can write or not, and think it is pretty awesome.
And who knows, with my long flight I might actually have the time to make 50,000 words.
Hey Marice,
ReplyDeleteHow was your flight?
I hope you got close to your 50,000 word novel on your very, very long flight.
Love, Dad