My Thoughts from Nanowrimo 2021
By Jessica Marie In the past I have competed in and even successfully completed all 50,000 words within the 30-day time frame of November that is nanowrimo. This was all part of my learning curve in becoming a better writer. Having done it, I know exactly how much time, energy, and daily dedication it takes to reach that mark. What other things must be sacrificed to make that goal. With my desire to make writing a joyful habit and not a chore I elected to not push myself too hard during nanowrimo. I started nano with nearly 70k words already written in my first book in The Shadows of Dawn duology that I started writing in April of this year. 50k words would have completed the book, but I have a different personal agenda. I have taken the rabbits pace in the past, sprinting hard and fast. Completing much in short periods of time, working when I have inspiration or energy and then going fallow for long periods of time. I also know how burnt out I can personally feel after trying to achieve so much in a short period of time. So, I opted to take things at my own pace, while pushing myself as hard as I reasonably can. Normally I can write around 15k words a month, upon finishing nano I had 18k words written. Which is three thousand more than usual, but still far short from the fifty thousand word mark. I don’t write every day; I usually only write 4-5 days a week. But I see myself as a person first, a person with dreams and desires. I need to put my rest, my mental, physical, and spiritual health before any activity I do. It has taken me 29 years to come to this realization and then begin to put that realization into practice. I have hustled and worked to the point of burn out. I have also taken things too easy and gotten no closer to any dream or goal I have. I have come to learn my middle ground. I have learned how to work with myself. How to have my finger in several pies and still make progress. I don’t write one project at a time, I work on several projects concurrently. I am writing my novel and a novelette, which is the first work in what I am calling my short story series Agency. I also write this blog, read, as well as work. Some people would say “that’s too much, you should focus on one thing and make more progress”. For them, that advice might be right, but not for me. I like having multiple things going, having options for my mind to work on and through. My pace might not be as fast as some people. But I’m not them. I am me. The more I compare the less I listen to myself. There is a fine line between gaining information, perspectives, and advice from others and trying to be someone else. Only you know where that line it. What it feels like. I have found mine. A pace I can keep and a method that makes progress I am content with. I may not have ‘won’ nanowrimo by having failed to write 50k words in November. But to me, I am a winner. I kept going. I watched and encouraged other writers to make their goals. Every day I progress even a little is a win, I had a net of more than zero words, that counts as a win in my book. Much Love, Jessica Marie
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AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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