Day 6 - National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

After five days of hammering out all the words my writing muse could spew forth, I find it very quiet in my head today.  So quiet that I can now reflect on the past few days since the start of this challenge.

Lessons have definitely been learned.  I look back and realize that each day started with just one word. Yes, one word which leads to another and so on - it is that simple.  It is just like putting one foot in front of the other - a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.   It is the same with writing, but you must write the first word each and every day to keep the momentum going.

I consider myself very disciplined with writing and am a master of tunnel vision and focus, but I must say that it has taken NaNoWriMo to motivate me enough to reach the 11,700 words that I had at the end of the fifth day.  This is definitely not a feat for the faint of heart or anyone who cannot stay disciplined or focused for an entire month.

So, what has kept me on track, you ask?   Here are a few answers:

• No editing allowed - okay, maybe just a tiny bit.  Need to keep reminding yourself that this is NaNoWriMo - not NaNoEditMo. Edit out superfluous words later on - not now.
• Limit your daily time on social media.  This is the hardest thing for us social creatures to do. 
• Turn off the TV and Netflix and YouTube.  Seriously, folks, you can live without seeing the latest episode of Big Bang Theory or Castle - DVR your shows and they will be there December 1st.  Better yet, use TV/Netflix/YouTube viewing as a reward for achieving your word count goal for any particular day.
• Get up an hour earlier or go to sleep an hour later.  The recent time change has messed up my sleep cycle - so this is not a huge deal. Just an hour more a day can make a striking difference.
• Get your family to pitch in on the home-front - not an easy task, I know.  But it is needed to free your own time up for writing.
• Try to remember, you are not alone in this endeavor. When you do get stuck with your plot or characters, reach out to the multitude of NaNoWriMo support groups that are out there.  They are amazing in helping others get past these hurdles.

I think my writing muse is now awakening from her slumber. So, I need to get prepared to capture her gifts before she drifts off to sleep again.

Good luck to everyone in staying focused and disciplined during the next 24 days of NaNoWriMo.