There’s Something About Writing 50,000 Words in 30 Days

For the first time since I started [halfheartedly] participating in National Novel Writing Month (four or five years or so), I have a solid story idea that I am very excited about. I have been working on a prologue, outline, characters, and world building here and there for a couple of months, and have had NaNoWriMo in the back of my mind as the perfect point to really dive in.

Continue reading my introduction, or skip to:

• Week 1 Update 
• Week 2 Update 
• Week 3 Update 
• Conclusion

I’m the kind of person who needs an “occasion” to motivate me – whether that be the start of a new week, a new hair cut, a new season, an annual event, etc. And with the head start I’ve given myself for the story I want to write, I’m feeling highly motivated to take on NaNoWriMo, and take it seriously.

While my drive has significantly improved compared to the past years when I have attempted NaNoWriMo, 50,000 words in 30 days (why wasn’t this organized in a month with 31 days? 🙄😉) is still extremely daunting to me. I’m worried about burnout (I work full-time), followers abandoning my blog, having way less free time, and of course, failure.

Now that negative Nancy has had her moment to shine, I will say that despite my worries, I still feel incredibly enthusiastic – which is exciting to my insecure self – about the challenge. And enthusiasm is a far more exhilarating bandwagon to be riding.

So, some details. I have a NaNoWriMo account, so if you want to find me or follow me or friend me or whatever, search for theressomethingaboutkm, and/or drop your username in a comment below. I will try to add updates every day there, and will be posting weekly updates here on my blog. I’ll definitely talk about how many words I’ve completed throughout the week, challenges and triumphs, and maybe include some excerpts of what I’ve written. These blog posts will likely be published on each Saturday (excluding the one at the end of this week), which works out very well as November 30th is a Friday, and I can do my final update/wrap-up on December 1st.

As for my regular blog content – a monthly Book Tag, From My Bookshelf, Grimm’s Fairy Tales (2), and Reading Challenge Wrap-Up – I will be taking a break from most of it in November. I say “most” because I already have a couple of posts ready to go – a Plum Paper Planner Review and a Bookish Items post – as well as a couple of posts for which I’m finalizing the details. I would also like to finish at least two books in November (yes, I already have the two in mind), so I will likely do a short Wrap-Up on the 30th. I will be dropping in to read blogs I follow, although not as often as usual, and will be answering tweets, comments, emails, and book review or content requests – I just won’t be making any commitments for November (if I have already made a commitment to you by today, October 29th, ignore this please!).

Any excess energy I have will thus be devoted to #bookstagram. I’m excited to share my NaNoWriMo experience through Stories, and to share more writing-focused photos, like writing books and guides I like using, as well as motivational messages. 

I’m afraid to see a drop in engagement reflected in my stats – especially since I’ve been having the best, most social blogging year – but the payoff of being successful during NaNoWriMo is far more important to me. Seriously, enthusiasm is the BEST feeling/mood booster.

I think that’s all I want to say for my NaNoWriMo Introduction. I was initially going to talk briefly about my story idea, but I’m going to wait until my first weekly update to do that. I will say that it’s a genre I never saw myself seriously writing. It’s also a genre I’ve been reading more of recently – funny how that works – but that’s the only hint I’ll give you.

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo, let me know! I’d love to support you and hear about your expectations and goals. And if you have any tips or tricks for being successful during NaNoWriMo, definitely let me know – the more help I can get the better! 😆 And finally, if you are in Maine and participating – HI! Will you be attending any of the write-ins? I never have before but may want to this year.

Happy November, friends! Whatever you’ll be writing and/or doing this month, I hope you do it with enthusiasm!

– Kelsey