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Writing reckessly – NaNoWriMo 2015

By Carol / October 30, 2015 /

“Every morning I tell myself: Write recklessly today.

You can play it safe tomorrow.” – Sue Monk Kidd

NANOWRIMO CRESTAs I join tens of thousands of other writers to tackle the National Novel Writing Month challenge to write 50,000 words in November, Kidd’s comment is particularly appropriate.

Writing 50,000 words in a month – 1,666 words every single day – is no easy task. Life gets in the way. The muse takes a vacation. I convince myself I deserve a break. However you slice it, 50,000 words in one month is tough. But Kidd has offered me words to live by.

To write 50,000 words or more, I promise to write recklessly:

  • I won’t look back. If I look back, I’ll get mired in re-writing and re-thinking. I will look ahead and just keep writing.
  • I will lock my internal critic in the closet. I won’t listen to any naysayers. Even if what I write is dreck (and I expect much of it will be), I will keep writing.
  • I will let the muse take me where she will. I’ve lived with these characters for a good long while; they know what they want to do. I will get out of their way and keep writing.
  • I will not let the outline I’ve prepared for the month get in my way. It’s a starting point to keep writing, not the designation.
  • I won’t let road trips or remodeling projects or family visits or holiday dinners – all of which are scheduled in November – deter me from the goal. I’ll write no matter what.
  • Finally, I will follow Sue Monk Kidd’s example. Every day in November, I will write recklessly.

NaNoWriMo was the genesis of my novel Go Away Home. I’m hoping for the same inspiration, encouragement, and push for my current novel.

Wish me luck. I will see you again in December.

Shameless Self Promotion Note: While I’m writing, you may want to be reading. A reminder that the paperback version of Go Away Home is 40% off – best price this year – until November 20. Possible gift idea?

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Carol

6 Comments

  1. Karen Rawson on October 31, 2015 at 6:18 am

    Great advice and outlook you have Carol. Best of luck in winning NaNoWriMo this year with another excellent novel!

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 31, 2015 at 8:12 am

      Best of luck to you, too, Karen. The world will buzz with all the new books. Write on!

  2. Cherie Reich on October 31, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Good luck with NaNoWriMo! I second the advice to keep writing forward and not looking back. If you think of something else to add, just make a note and keep on writing.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 31, 2015 at 4:21 pm

      Thanks, Cherie. I know my manuscript will be peppered with yyy’s and yellow highlights. The ‘yyys’ signal research needed. The yellow highlights mark cliches that no one could miss, but by highlighting them I give myself permission to move on instead of spending a half hour figuring out the exact right turn of phrase. Keep writing – Plenty of time for the perfect word later.

  3. Chuck Robertson on November 4, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    I agree. If you spend too much time thinking about what you just wrote, the self doubts will get to you.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on November 4, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      Exactly, Chuck. There’s a point in the process where thinking about each word is the right thing to do. For me, at least, that can’t happen during the first draft.

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