Rolling Up Your Sleeves
Nov 9th, 2008 by April
I decided to try my hand at NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve never done it before and I was excited about the prospect. Things that involve a lot of work but great reward tend to seem wonderful before you actually dig in. Now, a week into November, I cannot help but ask myself: What in the name of all that is holy was I thinking signing up for this?
It sounded great - I’d be able to finish a first draft of my novel - which has been dragging for over six months - in one month! I’d be forced to sit down and really work hard at banging it out.
See, the idea of being “forced” is where I went wrong, I think. Because there’s no one to force you but yourself. You’re alone at your computer while your boyfriend watches football and your cat is catatonic, and you think to yourself: Gee, I wonder what happens in the next chapter of that Amy Tan novel. Or, Wow, it has been a while since I washed the kitchen floor.
Suddenly all of the inspiration, drive and excitement is gone as you power off your laptop and dash off to do other more “important” things.
I have spoken with veteran NaNoWriMo’ers and they all say that they have learned different things from it. “I learned about the development of characters.” “I learned how to move my plot along more smoothly.” If I had to name what I have learned so far this month, it’s that I am one lazy woman. Well, let me rephrase that. I have learned that wanting to achieve something takes more than an abstract desire and some visions of New York Times bestseller lists in your head. It takes hard work. It takes rolling up your sleeves and diving in, even when you’re tired or just don’t feel like it. Even when you want to shake your characters by their lapels and ask, “What are you going to do next? Tell me!”
With that revelation, maybe I should stop blogging and start writing. The kitchen floor can wait.