And just like that it’s the last day of November! It’s crazy to think that just 30 days ago I embarked on an ambitious journey to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days whilst studying and having a baby!
I didn’t think I would get it done, but I managed to persevere and complete my novel! With the conflicting priorities, something had to give though. I ended up dropping my summer classes at University. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I wanted to prioritise my child’s early days and continue my true passion of writing.
It’s always hard when you stop doing something. I felt a bit like a failure, giving up on my classes rather than pushing on and finishing them. But, it’s important to prioritise what makes you happy and understanding that it’s okay to push the pause button if you need the break.
Thinking back, even if I wasn’t pursuing NaNoWriMo, it was very ambitious to continue my Psychology studies over the holiday period with a newborn. He is very demanding, and preparing for Christmas is always a long journey even without a baby!
I still feel a little bit like a failure for dropping the classes over this trimester, but I keep reminding myself that my priorities have shifted and it’s okay to take a break! There is absolutely nothing wrong with pausing things when life gets hectic. Plans change and that’s okay!
“You need to make time for your family no matter what happens in your life.”
Matthew Quick
Now I’m going to get back to editing Infection Point so that I can finally get it sent out to publishers in the new year! I even have a new novel to edit once I’ve finished Infection Point which is incredibly exciting!
Emilie Turner 