Today is the first day of the crazy challenge that is National Novel Writing Month–affectionately known as NaNoWriMo to writers everywhere.
I have lost NaNo for the last three years. I’d love to say I gave it the good ole college try… but in reality, I just sorta petered out after a day or 10 because I was doing something I had no real enthusiasm for. See, I’m not a novel writer. I love to read a good book, but my attention span for writing is low. If I can’t finish a story in a sitting or two, it’s not going to be finished. I’m just not cut out (at least not yet), for the challenge of writing a full 50,000 word story.
Still– I love the idea of NaNo. I’m all over a good challenge… I mean, back when I was a design blogger, I challenged myself to decorate a 3-bedroom/2-bath condo for $2,000 (and it was almost done before the fire too!). So I spent the last week pondering how I could translate the challenge of NaNo into something that worked for me.
I think I figured it out.
My modified NaNo is to post a piece of flash fiction every day this month. I get 30 minutes to write it and whatever I write, whether finished or not, has to show up here by midnight each day. Maybe I should give myself a hashtag… #FlashMo?
Anyway, that’s my challenge. (And no, this post doesn’t count as today’s challenge… I’ll be back a little later with an actual story… I hope!)
If you’re a writer with ADD and can’t manage a novel this month either… feel free to join me. I’d love some #FlashMo companions! Just leave me a comment below to let me know you’re joining and I’ll work out a way to link us all up later.
Or just pop in to heckle me… whatever works for you.
’til later,
Shauntelle
Great post! Good luck! I’m doing NaNo too! You can check out my progress here:
http://wp.me/p2EVWK-8c
Great blog you’ve got here! Definitely following!
Thanks liamodell1! I’ll definitely drop by to check out your progress. Thanks for the follow.
You’re welcome!
Day Two is up if you’re interested!
http://thelifeofathinker.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/nanowrimo-project-2012-day-2/
I’ve been thinking about how best to do Nano. I know some people are doing blog posts as well. There’s so many great variations to Nano and it inspires so many people. I love that you have adapted to your own needs.
Hey Sara… well, you know ever since I made my “Inspired Living Manifesto” (http://beingisaverb.com/2012/08/20/permission_to_quit/), I figured permission to quit also included permission to modify things to fit my needs instead of trying to mold myself to what works for others.
Gotta say, that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
I’ve been enjoying your Writing Wednesday and I hope NaNo won’t keep you from working on that story. I need to know what happens next!
Nano won’t interfere. I’m finishing that story and starting one after for my word count.
I love this idea, #flashmo! Did you know there is a Short Story Writing Month? I can’t remember when it is exactly… there may be a “few” different months actually, claimed and lead by different people.
In any case, as a primary short story writer, I totally hear you on this one! My NaNo project is more like a series of connected short stories. #FlashMo is a really neat challenge idea, and maybe I’ll give it a try another month, when I’m not NaNo’ing.
No, I didn’t realize there was a short story writing month Rachel… Don’t know if I’ll be up for doing this more than once though… it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be and I’m only four days in!
I’m sure it is exhausting! You’ve set yourself for QUITE a challenge here, since you’re actually posting what you produce. That adds an entire new layer, emotionally and artistically. I think I could do a #flashmo sometime but ONLY if I wasn’t sharing what I wrote everyday. That is the hardest aspect of your self-made challenge, I think.
LOL! I had to do that to keep myself accountable. The other thing is, I’ve partnered up with my 8 year old son. Every night we spend 30 minutes working on our #NaNo projects… he’s so gungho about writing his “novel” that I feel guilty if I don’t at least attempt to write something too.