NaNoWriMo Day 2. Can I keep the pace?

What’s the dream here?

Why are thousands of writers crazy enough to try for 50,000 words in one story, in one month?

Day 1 – I managed over 4,300 words. Not all great words, but words that get the story onto the page. And that’s the goal — get the words down.

I started on page one to actually write the book. But I had a plan.

Later that night, I realized that if I managed a bit more, 5,000 words, and did it every day, I’d have a 50,000-word draft in 10 days.

T.E.N. Days.

If I took all the stories in my head and my files, I could create multiple drafts by the end of this year. Well, about five or six.

Why not?

My thinker is screaming at me.

YOU know why not. You’d drain your creative well. You’d burn out. You might never finish any of them. You can’t keep that pace. You are nuts! Or you would drive yourself nuts.

My stubborn side says. 

Shut up thinker. Don’t tell me I can’t do it! You’re not the boss of me. But wait a sec. I’m stubborn. I tend to do what people tell me I can’t or shouldn’t do. So, if the thinker says no, no, no. Maybe the writer in me will flip it a bird at it and say yes, yes yes.

Even if I took my ideas and assigned one to each month of the year and wrote a draft in the first 10 days of the month. I’d have 12 books ready for re-writing at then end of a year.

Or wrote a draft every second month and edited in the months between. Wow!

It makes me wonder why I don’t turn out more books!

The answer to that question is 'reality'.  

I have a life. I like runaway weekends with my husband. I like to fly off to visit the grandchildren. I like diving into the Internet and learning (useless or useful) things. I like to hang out with the people in my writer’s group and my friends.

To produce at the rate of 50,000 every second month I’d have to become almost a hermit. Wouldn’t I?

But what an adventure to give it a try. To see what I can do when pushed.

Perhaps this is why people join NaNoWriMo.

To see what they are capable of.

Hitting that 50,000 words is a rush! A confirmation that we’re writers. We work with words and stories. We can write! Even if we can only make time that one month a year to really produce a story in one go.

 Or maybe it’s the hum of creative energy created around the world by so many people writing. The feeling of belonging to a community linked to buddies who encourage you. People you cheer on to their goal.

I feel empowered to write. I feel extra friendly with my buddies. I am on top of my writing world.

Are you in NaNoRiMo — officially or off-the-record?

How many words will you write on one story this month?

Whatever you write. Good on ya!

Race for the target!