Do you wanna know my biggest fear? My biggest scariest fear?
It’s to find out that I’m not meant to be a writer., but instead, meant to do my “day job”.
I’m meant to be…(gasp) an accountant. NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!
Psst…wanna hear a secret?
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Tag Archives: nanowrimo.org
Dear John Letter
Dear Nanowrimo (http://nanowrimo.org),
You came into my life and put a smile on my face at a time in my life when all I could see was blank pages.
You have given me a confidence I never thought I would have.
For the reasons above, I find it very difficult to do this. I think we need to spend some time apart.
This does not mean that I do not care about you. We have had a good run of it you and I.
The past eight years have not gone to waste.
It’s not you, it’s me.
I just don’t need you this year.
Love always,
The Failing Novelist
PS. Maybe next year we can get together, if the timing is right.
Another Year Older and Another Year Wiser?
Another birthday has come and gone and I remain ever hopeful that THIS WILL BE THE YEAR!!
This will be the year I get a novel finished and published.
I hope, I hope, I hope…
Nanowrimo Throwup
I have been a member of Nanowrimo since 2007. (http://www.nanowrimo.org) I have participated in the November event every year since and have even been successful in the monstrous goal of 50,000 words in 30 days,five of the eight years.
I am a HUGE fan of Nanowrimo!
Every October I start thinking about what project I could work on during the Nano-riffic event. I put whatever current project I’m working on aside and come up with a new and improved writing project. Characters, plots catastrophes start floating through my head. I feel like an evil mastermind, rubbing my hands together…this will be the best book idea ever.
November comes and I take off running! The thrill of the speed and the goals push me forward. Quantity has never been an issue for me. I can throw up 1,667 words a day and not even break a sweat.
First week is great and it feels easy to keep up. Then second week hits and life begins to interrupt my stride. I start to miss a day here and a day there. But I know I can catch up on the weekend.
It’s around November 15th, I slam smack into the wall. My plot completely falls through and I am overwhelmed with the feeling of this is by far the dumbest idea I have ever had.
This is the point of failure for me on the years I was not Nano successful. The inner critic beat me down and then did a jig on my head while I lay there moaning about how my writing sucks.
But then there are the years I am successful and I punch the inner critic in the face and trudge through the mud to the finish line. YES…I’m a winner! The winner of 50,000+ words of pure writer throw up.
This is where the real work begins. Where I have to rummage through all the puke and decide whether to flush it all down the toilet or dig out a few good chunks.
This is where I am now, rummaging around with a few good chunks attempting to create a novel that is a step above colorful vomit.
The Failing Novelist 