I usually try to do Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) every year, but this year I decided against it. Here are my three reasons why.
I can’t do it justice this year.
Every year I did Nano , I usually tried to do some prep before it started. This might’ve been as simple as choosing a project, making sure it had all the necessary story pieces, and setting aside a time each day to write. Or I might’ve done some outlining and plotting. But I always did a little bit of preparation beforehand, and I usually had a story project whose plot was mostly formed and which was, sometimes, already being written.
This year, however, I have not given a thought to Nano due to my busy schedule. I also have many half-written projects which I’m not too enthusiastic about right now, and a ton of scattered writing ideas–none of which have a cohesive plot to be going with. This and the fact I do not have any preparation time brings me to believe that I will not be able to give Nanowrimo the justice it deserves this year. But more than that, is my second reason that:
I want to finish my main project.
My current WIP (work-in-progress) is currently in an awkward stage of revision. And rather than give myself another rough draft that I won’t work on for another few years, I’d like to finish a project I have. I’d like to break my habit of starting and not finishing. I really like the plot and background I am adding to my main WIP, and I’d love to finally, finally, have a finished project I can be proud of. I’ve delayed this project too long.
Similar to this reason, is my third reason why I’m not doing Nano this year:
I’d like to work on my consistency.
The Writer’s Sanctuary, a writing group I highly recommend, is doing a consistency challenge over the month of November instead of Nanowrimo, which is exactly what I need. I think it will benefit my writing more in the long run than doing Nanowrimo this year would. In this challenge I will be focusing on writing every day and working on audience building.
As you may have noticed, my posting is sporadic and my intended publishing date for my current project keeps getting pushed back. I want to make a real concerted effort to change that this year. The best way for me to do that is to take advantage of the consistency challenge my writing group is doing and finish my current project.
In conclusion…
Nanowrimo is a fantastic opportunity and can give your writing a big boost. However, this year I wanted to focus on completing a project which had already gone through the first draft, and improve my writing consistency.
I will be doing this with the help of The Writer’s Sanctuary, created by the fantastic editor and writer Jennifer Harris. Want to know more about this writing group? Click here! She tells you all you need to know.
What about you? Why are you doing (or not doing) Nano this month? How will you work on improving your writing this winter?
I hope you have a fantastic month, wherever God leads you! Stay safe and healthy, and God bless your adventures at home!
-Anne
Anne Caitlin 