Nanowrimo in Progress
I’ve never officially participated in Nanowrimo, until now. Nearly two weeks and I’m chugging along to complete a first draft of a novel. Think I’ve got it in me to do that? Yes! After all, it’s just a draft, aka, “the sloppy copy” as school kids say.
I’m working hard on pushing on until the very end. How does one do this despite hiccups, whooping cough and sleeping sickness, not to mention hunger pangs? All of which come in to play to divert attention from the monumental task of completing that first attempt. Ways to fight back:
1. Remind yourself that discouragement and doubt have no place in a writer’s life. Do you know how many people carry around ideas for years and never do anything with them? 
2. Don’t stop writing. The goal isn’t all that hard: you just need something complete enough, in the correct word count, to play around with. Who doesn’t like to take time to play?
3. Keep the word “revision” front and center. That’s the fuel you need to reach the goal. Revision is a writer’s dear friend. And it’s not a one-time event. The more you revise, the more you’ll learn and become a better writer. As Neil Simon once said, “In baseball you only get three swings and you’re out. In rewriting, you get almost as many swings as you want and you know, sooner or later, you’ll hit the ball.”
4. Remember, you don’t have to love that first draft. You don’t have to hate it either. You can combine the two, knowing all the while you’ve got what it takes to make it shine. Stand and stretch, eat a fun snack, go out in nature. Every little step will help you become a better writer.
5. Take a little time off after you finish your draft to race past the love/hate relationship. You can even write something else. All of which will help you return with a fresh outlook and energized to go. You can do this!
You make writing look so easy! But I guess if it was that easy, everyone could do it. I always enjoy reading your books.