NaNoWriMo(-ish)

[starfishstar]

Once again, I'm not in a place where I could even think about trying to write a novel this month. (Some year, I so deeply want to do NaNoWriMo!)

But I've had really good experiences the couple of times in the past when I did smaller-but-still-substantial word count goals for a month (e.g. 20,000 words in a month instead of 50,000) or when I participated in Write Every Day (where doesn't matter how much you write, even a single sentence counts, as long as you write every day – it's so good for staying in the habit of writing!)

So here are my goals for the month of November:



I already doubt I'm going to make that stretch goal, but I guess that's why it's a stretch goal. Basically, my plan is to make sure I write at least something every single day this month, even if it doesn't meet the necessary average, then make up bigger chunks of writing on days when I can, and try to get it to all add up to the goal.

I haven't done much writing-for-fun since starting my master's degree (surprise, surprise) and I MISS IT: writing, my main squeeze, my life's blood. Everything about this month is well set up for a return to writing: the NaNoWriMo-ness where so many people are focusing on writing goals; the exciting deadlines (Holmestice! Yuletide! And in Yuletide in addition to writing for your own recipient (of course), you can also browse everyone's request letters through this amazing app, which leads to all kind of great prompts and inspiration. So I'm hoping to write my assigned fic plus treats!) Plus now that I've extended the time on finishing my dissertation, things are somewhat more relaxed, so I can allow myself a little time for writing again.

And wow, it's a long time since I've had cause to use that "writing" tag. Nice to see it again!

Comments

[trobadora]

Good luck with your goals! I really hope I can get my own writing back on track soon, since the deadlines are coming nearer ...

(Btw, in case it could help, Write Every Day is hosted at brightandravenous's journal this month.)

[starfishstar]

HMM, that's an intriguing suggestion, seeing as I do indeed plan to write every day this month! How much of a mess does it make things if I join in at this point, several days into the month? Is it too late to comment on the posts for the previous days?

Good luck on your goals, too! November feels like a good time to get inspired, since so many people all around are focusing on writing goals.

Also, can I just say, I'm still so new to Yuletide but I'm already totally bowled over. WHAT FUN. I've bookmarked like a dozen people's letters, and only wish I had enough time to write for all of their cool prompts. :-)

[trobadora]

With Write Every Day, you can always drop in or out at any point! And it's never too late to comment. :)

And I'm so happy you're enjoying Yuletide! I have a whole list of people I'd like to write for, too, though I've never managed more than one treat. But who knows! This may be the year. *g*

[starfishstar]

Thanks for pointing me towards Write Every Day again – this is definitely the right month for me to dive into it again.

And I'm finding Yuletide delightful, so thank you for being one of the people who encouraged me to try it out!

[scfrankles]

The very best of luck with your November goals! ^___^ It's lovely to see you so full of enthusiasm ^__^

And I really admire you for planning to write extra treats for Yuletide. At the moment, just writing my assigned fic feels like more than enough ^^" I've finished my Holmestice fic though! ^___^

[starfishstar]

Yay, thank you! It feels *very* good to have the time to allow myself to get excited about writing again.

And...well, it's not so much a *plan* to write a treat, as that one prompt reached out and grabbed me and wouldn't let go, in that way that they sometimes do... ;-) You're ahead of me on Holmestice, though – I've *nearly* written the whole thing, but there's a little more to go!