November 2016

This week I start Nanowrimo, this is where people from around the world spend the month of November writing 50,000 words for a novel. Each person downloads their word count of what they have writing each day and by the end of the month you hope you have reached your goal of 50,000 words. My daughter has done nanowrimo a few times and loves it, and as I have started writing my first novel and am already 20,000 words into my first draft, oh and the 20,000 words I have already done don't count, thought I would have a go. The bonus to doing NaNoWrimo is that if I get the 50,000 words done I will only have another 30,000 to go to finish my first draft. Plus it will push me to make sure I get some writing done each day, or if I don't get one day done then I know I need to make the effort to catch up as much as possible, so more than anything it keeps me accountable to my goal.

My writing has become such a central part of my life, as I take time out from marathon swimming and stay doing short course swimming instead. But as our Spring has been still more of an extended Winter the want to swim just hasn't been there, the drive for swimming hasn't been there either. Writing has become some where I can take myself to an imaginary place and life of my characters, feel their sadness, their joy, the laughter, and so much more. I can sit in my favourite coffee shop and plug in my computer, drink my coffee and allow myself to go, to leave my reality and go into an almost parallel world and be someone else for a little while with words, I can feel free, or restricted or just someone else for a few hours. Usually after a writing session I have this light feeling. Happiness that I have made it through another 2000 plus words and the story moves on and new characters arise, some leave and new things can happen. The hardest part of letting your intuition give you the words to write and the visuals of the story (well that is how it happens for me), is to let your mind get out of the way and let the deeper inner voice speak and show you what is possible.

As we step into a new month, and for some a month of trying to write 50,000 words for a novel, and others its the start of maybe a new job, a new dream, a new goal, what ever it is chase it with all your heart, hope, faith and believe that you can catch it with both hands and your heart. Have a wonderful week and be true to yourself.

DoryBlu