As if I don't have enough fluff and shiny things to keep me happily occupied for most of my waking hours, I've decided that in November I shall write a novel.
Yep, a whole novel.
50,000 words at least.
Yes.
What's that I hear you cry? I've lost the plot? Well, nearly.
You see in November there's a little something called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - to give it it's full title) which encourages people from all walks of life to sit down and actually have a go at writing. There's no prizes, trophies, or publishing deals handed out at the end - just a simple title for those who haul them selves over the literary finishing line of 50,000 words. That title is 'Winner'.
I've dreamt about writing a novel for years, even started a few, but never got very far. So doing it in a month should be completely out of the question, but to be honest I feel excited, genuinely creative, and can't wait to get going.
Maybe it's the competitive spirit in me, or the knowledge that others will slaving away by my virtual side, but NaNoWriMo has already (before it's even begun) filled me with a real sense of 'Yes I Can' - Obama would be proud.
Whether the 30 days of November will be a creative maelstrom, or a storm in a teacup that quickly blows itself out remains to be seen. But at this moment I feel on the cusp of a genuine achievement. As Morgan Freeman's character 'Red' in The Shawshank Redemption says at the end of the film 'I hope I can make it across the border...' me too.
2 comments:
You can do iiiiiit!
This year is my 2nd year doing NaNoWriMo and I've got to say that last year was hard. There were times when I almost gave up and didn't think I'd make it. But I did.
I'm sure you can do it. And even if you don't write the 50,000 words during NaNo, you've still written something, so you're always a winner.
Good luck with NaNoWriMo!
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