Quit Procrastinating!
I have attempted NaNoWriMo in the past. I thought it might be a great way to get myself in the habit of writing every day. Alas, I fell behind in the first few days and gave up completely not long after that, just like every April A to Z Blogging Challenge I’ve tried.
But I did learn a few things in these attempts. First of all, everyone has their own method of writing. Some people are plotters, using post-it notes, storyboards, outlines, etc., to create. Others are pantsers, allowing the story work itself out as they write by letting the characters lead the way. There are also writers who have their own combination of these processes.
Along those same lines, I’ve heard that writing every day is the only way to be a “real writer.” I disagree. I don’t write every day, yet I have two–soon to be three–published books. Am I not considered a real writer? However, when I’m not physically writing, I am working out how my stories progress in my head. That’s my process. I also edit as I write, which makes it near impossible for me to keep up with the daily word count required to successfully complete NaNoWriMo.
For some, NaNoWriMo is exactly the shot in the arm needed to get your first draft complete. Others, like myself, need to write one little piece at a time, which is why I adore writing for BigWorldNetwork. There is no wrong way to do it. Only your way, whatever works for you to get the job done.
So, in the spirit of encouraging anyone who may or may not be participating in NaNoWriMo, I wanted to share some of the images I use as my laptop’s screen saver to inspire me. Happy writing, my friends!
