Many of my friends and acquaintances are currently in the midst of the sheer madness that is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal: to write a book (yes, sir, that’s right a whole book) in (gasp) 30 days!
You’ve made it to day 10. How are you doing? Kickin’ ass? Barely getting by? Maybe you need some support. As writers, we are a solitary creature by nature. Maybe you haven’t quite announced to the world (or even your family & friends) that you are, in fact, a writer? Well, everyone needs some kind of support, especially when embarking on such a momentous goal as NaNoWriMo. My tip for today is to get some support & encouragement.
You can get support from any number of places. Family is great. Nobody will cheer for you more than your family. They are the ones who will brag about you, encourage you to stay the course, and make you sour cream enchiladas to fuel your creative energy (OK, not really, that’s a subtle hint in case my mom is reading). But, unless they’re also writers, they may not really know what you’re experiencing right now (the stress, the self-doubt, the absolute absence of words at some times).
Do you have a critique group that you can turn to? Try checking into a local NaNoWriMo group, you might be surprised how many people in your area are involved in NaNoWriMo. And, if you are the sole inhabitant of a mountain top in an inhospitable environment that supports no other life than your own, the internet is always a great place to find support. Try the NaNoWriMo website and forums.
The important thing is to reach out, talk to others, commiserate about your journey. And then get back to writing! You only have 20 days left!!