I sometimes wonder why I put myself through the rigors of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNo, because by the time I get to the last week, I find myself at wit’s end.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a very good concept, and when you have the plan together and the motivation to get the writing done, it’s a beautiful process to go through. In NaNo’s past, I’ve been able to run through the gauntlet like it was a walk in the park, and I’ve written some damn good stories in the process: In Service to the Senator, Unthinkable, SAMOIS, Reckoning (Kink, P.I.) come to my mind immediately.
But there have been some abject failures during this time of the year, too, and I’m finding myself not being able to find the time nor the motivation to get to the magical 50,000-word threshold with a little less than six days left to spare.
But then I have to remind myself of the real reason for NaNo: writing daily, no matter what the word count may be that day. I focus so much on the word count a lot of the time that I forget that the process is the most important part of creativity. I have the blueprint, I simply have to follow it, and be okay with the process. Some days will be less productive than others, but I will still be productive, and always pushing forward to the next project.
For now, I’ll do my best to get this project ready to go in February. Wish me luck!