Motivation VS Procrastination

This month I have been on a crash course in both these topics.
I signed up for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) intent on reaching the 50,000 word goal by November 30th. For the first week of November my mojo was in overdrive. I would slip in to my writing corner as soon as I could after work without totally ignoring the rest of my family. Dinners were quick fixes cheered on by my youngest son. What ever free time I could find I used to rack up word counts. I learned a lot those first days. What I did not have was a plan. I was not prepared for the stalls in plot or the point of view confusion that would rear its ugly head. I found myself slowing to a crawl. As the second week began I fell farther behind and still wondered which way to go. I found my motherly duties calling and soon moved from one task to another, leaving unwritten pages glowing in the dark. At the halfway point I knew I was toast. But I wasn’t completely burnt. I still have time to write as far as I can go. Maybe not 50,000 or 40,000 or even 30,000 but I could hit 20,000.

So now I have new goals to work on.
You can try one of these too.
1) Write a book in a month. (I’ll try again next year)
2) BIAW – Book in a week. (Were talking novella)
3) 100 words in 100 days. (Sounds easy)
4) Set a timer and write for 15 minutes. (Or what ever time you want)
5) Have a writing duel with a (writer) friend. (Make it interesting/make a wager) (I’m thinking chocolate)
6) Break whatever goal you have into smaller pieces for writing or personal goals.

I succeeded in my original goal. I signed up and participated and learned. That put me further ahead then not even trying.

Do you have any tips or hints for setting and completing goals.

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month or nanowrimo as it is affectionately called is marking its tenth anniversary this year. What started out as a bunch of friends getting together in San Francisco to mega write has turned into a major non-profit charity that supports writers of all ages and library's in countries all around the world. Every year thousands of people write like crazy for one whole month with the goal of writing 50,000 words. None of it has to be perfect. It is a write as much as you can, as fast as you can marathon. The trial by fire starts on the first of November and ends at midnight on November 30th. I had heard about this contest ( strictly personal) a few years ago but didn't believe I had the right stuff to even think I could attempt such a goal. My views on my writing goals have changed this past year and I have signed up for the challenge. No fees are attached but donations are thankfully received. Follow this site to get way too much info. http://www.nanowrimo.org/ Just go to the about section. Image coutesy of NaNoWriMo.org



Does anyone else out there feel a challenge coming on? I double dare you!


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