one week since the start of NaNoWriMo!

How is it going? Some may argue that the first week is the hardest: trying to build a habit that you didn’t have in the first place; that it takes so long to get into a groove that you feel like you’ve been staring at the page for the last five minutes.

Or maybe it’s a struggle having others remember your new routine – children who just want a snack, a partner who can’t remember where you put the mixing bowl last night, parent looking over your shoulder, ect. What would we give to have some type of wall or system that allows us to just get some words down.

Hold tight and let’s just do a quick intake. I promise it won’t take long.

About Checking In

Basics:

• Are you eating regularly?
• Are you staying hydrated?
• Do any stretching or gentle aerobics today or this morning?
• When were you last outside?
• Are you communicating properly with your loved ones?
• Are you attending to regular matters?
• Take ten minutes to clean something.

Remember, this is a personal challenge, not a job or your schooling (unless you’ve integrated them). It sounds romantic, an absolute dream to live the erratic, quirky life of a writer. But that is rarely the reality. Writers are homemakers, janitors, managers, linguists; to be a writer means to make the conscientious choice, the decision to write and own up to that action.

It is not a reason to be neglectful or forgetful. Together we are determining what parts of our daily lives we are willing to allocate or compromise on, in order to accomplish this goal. If there are other people in your life, then, in my opinion, it is best to give them a heads up.

It doesn’t need to be a whole monologue and re-enactment of your story (which I am prone to perform). Rather, just a nonchalant “Oh I am doing a writing challenge this month, so if there are things you’d like me to prioritize outside of that, let me know so I can accommodate your needs and my obligations as I undergo this challenge.”

Keep it simple, keep it brief. If necessary give an example that has a manageable goal.

“I will do twenty minutes of cleaning.”

“I promise to take out the garbage every other night.”

“I will spend an hour with the kids on their homework.”

Do what you need to do in order to be successful, and sometimes that means you need to do the laundry… again.

With Yourself

But really, how are you doing? Despite what the populous tends to think, creativity does not require mental and emotional torment. For some, writing can be lonely, others an inky pilgrimage they happily partake in. If you are modifying your schedule with caffeine and weird sleep cycles, prepare for some rocky days. We are filling the time we do have with words, not taking time out of your precious sleep.

It helps to check on how and where we spend our writing time. Perhaps check our posture, change from couch to desk. Is the environment enriching or distracting you? Modify a little of what you can, as long as it doesn’t become a whole big project.

I mean, unless that is what it takes for you to actually work (more on the Art of Procrastination later).

If you do better with your own team of writers or a whole army of them, then let’s shift to…

Who Surrounds You

Enviornment, ambiance, cheerleaders, distractions. We are social creatures. While we can modify and manage our media, the actual people in our lives are their own selves.

It will also help to check in with these people – your immediate circle, writing group. Let these relationships be indicators of the depths of your madness…

I mean the intensity of the month. While your family will immediately be effected by solid communication, the writing friends may need a different approach.

I find that the best way to assist and check in with fellow artistic minds, is to give them the choice of what role you can fill for them.