It’s over for another year! Honestly, I did not do too well this year. I spoke about my obstacles in the last blog and nothing got overly better over the past week.
For the first time in like… 10 years I did not complete NaNoWriMo. Feels crazy that I didn’t but it’s not the end of the world.
I’m planning on recovering over December and getting my health back on track for January. Sickness has been ravaging the house and I need to feel better, and have my family better, in order to effectively write again.
December is always busy. The holiday season is a mad-rush time and so much is happening. I’m planning on doing some small writing here and there but after the month from hell that was November… I’m excited to rest a bit and recover more.
When January kicks off I will be smashing out the writing! I wrote the first few chapters of my NaNo novel and I’m eager to share the first chapter here with you all next week! Just gotta edit it a little first.
Honestly, this month has been pure torture for my family. We went through a serious bout of RSV, felt okay for a few days and now we’ve been knocked out with gastro.
My husband is diabetic, so we’ve had to be incredibly careful with him with gastro and we’ve been to the hospital and bed-ridden and it’s been insane.
Somewhat thankfully I caught it first so I’m like… 60% recovered while he’s struggling in the pits of it. But our toddler doesn’t stop and it’s been pure chaos (thankfully no sick toddler yet!)
I am so behind on NaNo that I don’t even want to think about it at the moment. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and that coupled with my ADHD has had me feeling like a failure this past few weeks.
Obviously, I am definitely not! I know it logically and I know it’s okay to not complete a NaNo one year but it is a major bummer. I was really excited to spend the month bunkering down with my writing but it’s ended up being a dreadful November for me and the fam.
I took a step back last week to calm my mind and anxieties and remember that sometimes other things come up and that’s perfectly okay. Writing is always there for me and when we’re all better I can return to writing at my own pace.
I’m going to continue to write a bit for NaNo if we all turn a corner soon. I have a few chapters done but I’m obviously nowhere near the 50,000 word mark and there’s next to no chance I’ll hit it!
And that’s okay! Being the perfectionist I am, it took a bit to be okay with that but there’s nothing wrong with not meeting this deadline. There’s always December or January to make my own deadline and there’s always NaNo next year! We’ll see where I’m at next week when NaNo ends!
NaNoWriMo definitely did not start as expected! It officially kicked off last week right as I came down with a serious sinus infection. My son has been sick as well so it was not a productive time!
I had planned out my time so well but all my planning fell to the wayside with the illnesses ravaging my house. Our health comes first so I haven’t done nearly as much as planned.
We are all on the mend now, thank goodness, and I’m starting to write a bit more each day. I have some serious writing to do to catch up now though! Usually you can break up the word limit into 30 days but now I have basically half that time to fit in almost the same amount of words.
It’s going to be very crazy but I am determined! I may not hit the 50,000 words but I’m gonna do my best to try to get there!
Hopefully there’s no more sickness and I can power on with the writing!
“I’ve found the best way to revise your own work is to pretend that somebody else wrote it and then to rip the living shit out of it.”
Don Roff
It’s always a crazy time post NaNoWriMo! The editing process is a long process, at least it always is for me.
I’m not the biggest fan of editing. I love getting all of my ideas onto paper but sorting through my thought processes and ideas is exhausting! I love reading through the finished product, but it always takes a while to get there.
Editing isn’t fun. I have to tear apart my own work and read it externally to myself, and it is really hard to detach my feelings and look at my work objectively. I know it’s worthwhile and editing is definitely needed, but it doesn’t make it any easier!
I’m planning on editing my recently completed NaNoWriMo novel slowly over December to continue to give myself a break from Infection Point, however I will be returning to edit Infection Point in the new year!
I really want to get published in 2022 and I’m going to do my best to finalise my edits and put forward the completed version! I know it’ll probably get torn apart by copyeditors down the line, but I’m quite proud of the novel I have written.
I’m going to continue powering through the editing process and, although my son provides plenty of distractions, I’m planning on having a solid second draft of my NaNo novel completed by the end of December.
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 familyno 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!
Halfway through NaNoWriMo and halfway to my word limit! I’ve managed to write around 25,000 words so far (just under I think) and I’m feeling a little proud. It’s been hard getting there but I’m glad that I pushed myself to do this.
It’s always difficult to complete NaNoWriMo. Writing 50,000 words in 30 days is intense. Especially when you add in a baby and University work!
Even if I don’t finish NaNoWriMo this year I’ll still be proud that I took part in it. It hasn’t been easy to write and I’ve learnt to be flexible and write when I have the opportunity. Lately that means writing in the early mornings when I’m feeding Bubba.
I don’t mind spending time in the wee hours of the morning writing. It helps keep me awake while feeding my baby and my creative juices have always flowed better at night anyway!
I’m eager to see if I manage to finish this year, but regardless it’s nice to have a new novel in the works. I’ve liked expanding my mind away from editing Infection Point and my new novel has taken me on a writing journey I never thought I’d take.
Hopefully I can finish the book before the end of November, but we’ll see how it goes!
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
Jack London
It’s the second week of NaNoWriMo! It’s been really hard getting back into the groove and writing again, especially with a newborn! I didn’t manage to write much the first few days but I’m starting to get into a good routine now.
Since I have a baby to take care of I don’t get much writing done during the day. Hubby goes to work Monday-Friday so my days are filled with taking care of our son and doing chores or reading in-between feeds and cuddles.
I spend my evenings writing, once dinner is done and the baby is in his bassinet I write on my phone or on my laptop. Usually I end up forgetting my laptop in the living room so I write on my phone. It’s definitely different than my previous way of writing, but what can you do?
I’m pretty determined to get this done and so I’m writing whenever I can, even if that means writing in bed at night while the baby is asleep.
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
Richard Bach
It took me a while to think up of an idea for a novel this time around. I ended up settling on going out of my comfort zone and writing a thriller novel, rather than my usual YA style. It’s been a challenge writing it so far, but I’m keeping up with the word goals and still managing to think up of ideas.
I’m not too sure where the novel is going at the moment, but that’s part of the excitement! I will see where the story takes me throughout this month and hopefully at the end of NaNoWriMo I have a half-decent novel outside of my usual niche!
It will be interesting to see how it all goes, but I will definitely be keeping you all updated.
“Don’t just plan to write — write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.”
PD James
It’s that time of the year again! I wasn’t sure if I was going to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, simply because of how crazy my 2021 has been (see my previous few blog posts if you have no idea what I mean).
If you’re not completely sure what I’m talking about, NaNoWriMo stands for National November Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words within the month of November. It’s hard, but participating is always good motivation to write! I’ll link the website so you can check it out if you’re interested!
Feel free to buddy up with me if you decide to participate in NaNoWriMo this year! I always loved seeing what my buddies are up to and their progress! My username is emmy_lb
I decided a few weeks ago that despite everything I wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo again. It’s a yearly tradition for me, but I also want to spend a month writing and using my talents once again after months of not writing anything except University reports.
It’s not going to be easy. The first step is coming up with an idea and I’m already struggling with that (Mum brain is real). I have a week to prepare so I’m taking the time to focus and think of a basic concept before delving into writing next week.
I know it’ll be harder to write a novel in one month this time around. I now have a child to care for and it’s not going to be easy juggling a baby and writing 50,000 words in a month, but I’m determined to give it a good go! Even if I don’t hit the goal, I will have gotten back into writing again and that’s my main goal.
“Find your best time of the day for writing and write. Don’t let anything else interfere. Afterwards it won’t matter to you that the kitchen is a mess.”
Esther Freud
Once NaNoWriMo is over I’ll refocus on editing Infection Point, which has been sorely neglected over the course of this year. I’m so close to having finished the final edit and I want to finish it by January! I’ll get myself motivated through writing in NaNoWriMo and spend December editing Infection Point.
I’m looking forward to getting back into writing again. It’s been way too long neglecting one of my favourite activities and I can’t wait to get back into my created worlds again. Keep an eye on my blog for weekly updates through November of my NaNoWriMo progress!
“I’m working my way steadily back and feeling good.”
Lee Westwood
It has been a hot minute since I’ve posted a blog! Honestly, it has been a completely insane 6 months for me. Things have been crazy and time has been flying by.
I have been neck deep in Psychology studies, which have only been getting harder each semester. I still love what I’m doing, but it really does take a toll! I have to put every bit of my spare time into studying during a semester so my writing unfortunately has been suffering this year.
Not only this, but I actually became a mum recently! I had a little boy just last month and I’ve been slowly trying to finish off the semester at University while juggling a little demanding newborn.
“A new baby is like the beginning of all things – wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”
Eda J. LeShan
Pregnancy was rough, birth was rough and having a newborn is definitely a major learning curve. It’s been hard for the past 6 months to find motivation to do anything beyond sleep and study.
Now that my little boy is here, my head is starting to clear up a little from the pregnancy brain fog and despite the constant state of sleep deprivation, I’m starting to feel my spark of inspiration come back. I want to start writing again and getting back into it!
“You fail only if you stop writing.”
Ray Bradbury
NaNoWriMo starts in November and I’m gearing up to take part in it, as I do each year. I’m going to use November to get back into my writing train and push myself to write again. I want to get back into it and what better time to throw myself into writing than NaNoWriMo!?
It’ll be harder this year with a baby to contend with, but I’m motivated to get through it and smash it out! I want to keep pursuing my passions and with the pregnancy fatigue and brain fog lifting I’m confident that I’ll be able to participate and complete NaNoWriMo 2021!
I’m writing blog posts again and I’ll get cracking back into writing. I’m looking forward to the end of 2021 and heading into 2022. I’ve got my baby and my writing and I’m excited to see where the rest of the year leads!
“Writing permits me to be more than I am. Writing permits me to experience life as any number of strange creations.”
“Be yourself. Let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”
John Jakes
I am done! What an amazing feeling to be done! 50,000+ words written in one month and I have the first draft of my new novel completed!
I hit 50,000 words on the 28th of November, and the last two days were spent finishing the entire novel as it is. I ended up with about 65,000 words, but the novel is done, and I did it in just one month!
It’s not the neatest at the moment, and there are quite a few errors throughout, but it is done. The novel is completed, apart from editing, and it is such a great feeling!
I am officially a NaNoWriMo 2020 writer and winner! Absolutely love this feeling, and it is so amazing to feel this way each year when NaNo comes rolling around!
I am really relieved that I finished the novel. It was time-consuming and exhausting, but I finished it! I was determined to get it done, and I spent many hours writing in order to make this dream a reality.
“Finish what you’re writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.”
Neil Gaiman
You do have to do whatever you can to finish a novel. Especially when you’re writing it in just one month. It takes a lot of dedication and focus to do this, but it is so incredibly worth it!
I have a fantastic first draft of a novel now, and I can’t wait to get into editing it in the coming months!
“You must write every single day of your life… You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads…May you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.”
Emilie Turner 