So, this week marks the beginning of our 50,000-words-in-30-days challenge.
Are we ready? Who knows.
Here’s a quick checklist I’m going through this weekend…
Food -> I have 3 packets of my motivational-food-of-choice: caramel digestive biscuits. I have dried fruit and nuts for snacks, and enough ‘freezer food’ or cupboard staples to allow me quick, nutritious meals.
Time -> I have carved out two weekends to sprint either ahead or catch up, and have cut my other responsibilities where possible. I’m giving the house a deep clean this week so that I can get away with the minimal across the next 30 days.
Inspiration -> I’m collecting quotes, images and ideas ready for those moments I just need a prompt. Similarly, I’m part of two Discord servers for writing: one for my local area which will also include in-person meet-ups, and a splinter writers group from my fitness group that I set up last November.
Forums -> The NaNoWriMo forums are invaluable. I keep tabs on the “fantasy” sections and the “adopt-a-___” threads for last-minute ideas, character quirks or random events. Last year I got a lot of words out of “one of your characters finds an animal that doesn’t leave them alone and causes stress throughout the group” with a fox who kept getting in the way of progress, knocking things over and slowing my travelling group down.
Balance of Commitments
Each year is a bit different, as life moves, things change. But this year, I have a clear schedule.
- I have a day-job Mon-Fri. I have 3 days I’m working late on Duty at this dayjob in November.
- I work on my mentorship services Sun-Fri.
- I have a short story submission deadline at the end of November.
- We have plans to see family on the first weekend.
- Aside from these month-specific aspects, I’m currently trying to meditate 5/7 days a week, and exercise 3 times a week.
Adding in 1667 words a day is not exactly the… sensible… thing to do. But it’s also one of the most energising aspects of my year. And I have a new idea I’m desperate to write.