It’s the marathon of writing, demanding 50,000 words in one month. Officially during November, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) lets writers package all of the stress, doubt, and mental breakdowns of writing a novel into 30 joyous days. Sometimes, we even get an extra day, like during July when writers had "camp," trading in laptops and notebooks for bug spray and flashlights.
The month can stretch long, yet even when our run turns into a limping stumble toward the finish line, we do it because we are storytellers. During this time, characters, plots, and entire worlds make the journey from our heads and through the portal of our hands. And NaNoWriMo gives us the opportunity to push through our doubts alongside other writers. Whether you’ve experienced it before or have questioned the sanity of someone who has, here’s a peek into the thoughts of a writer during National Novel Writing Month: Camp Edition.
1. I’m writing a novel!
Account made, virtual cabin assigned, idea jittering around in your mind, you sit on the cusp of a new month with an air of hope. In a way, you are your own protagonist embarking on an adventure.
2. World-building is fun.
World-building is terrifying.
#3: A Pinterest break sounds like a good idea.
(Side note: it actually is helpful for research!)
4. So, I cranked out a couple thousand words and feel pretty satisfied.
Wait, I’m supposed to keep going? For how long?
5. I can just catch up to my word count later.
It’s okay that I’m thousands of words behind schedule...
6. Characters, speak to me!
Tell me what you want to do so I can write!
7. It can always be rewritten. It can always be rewritten. It can always be rewritten.
One of the writing quotes that sticks in my mind the most is when Shannon Hale said, “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”
8. Am I actually writing my own story?
Or do I just have a really good memory of any of the 500 books I’ve read in my lifetime?
9. As a writer, I'm going to challenge myself to add specific details into my scenes to help readers truly experience the story.
The result: did my character really just stare at the potatoes on her plate?
10. I can feel myself digging a nice big plot hole...
...But I’m going to ignore it for now.
11. Oh my gosh, this detail would fit perfectly with another part of the story and then – Oh my gosh, these pieces fit together perfectly too and…
I love this part of the process because I see it as God unveiling the pieces of the story He wants me to write, telling me what He wants me to tell others. As I grow as a writer, I keep learning to trust that God will reveal the details to me a bit at a time. I may or may not have done a happy dance when I felt a piece slide into place.
13. While writing is important, so is finding the right components that will immerse me in the essence of the story.
So I’m going to spend at least an hour looking for songs to make the right playlist. Movie scores, am I right?
14. When will someone create a brain scanner that can just directly lift this story from my head?
Too much goes wrong in the journey from my head to my hands.
15. I wonder what future readers will think when they discover the original notes of this story in years to come.
Wait, this book isn’t even finished, let alone published yet. Focus!
16. And then I wonder...
Will this story ever be good enough?
17. I've decided that I’m okay with being a little less ambitious.
I’m going to lower my word count goal. Great. It’s too late to change it.
18. I’m catching up.
*Feels giddy*
19. I did it.
It may not be finished, it may be a load of crap ready to be molded into a sandcastle, or something like that, but I’m a storyteller no matter what I feel or what other people say. God gave me stories to share, and I’m going to share them.
20. I want to read a book that's not my own.
And watch Netflix without guilt. And not think about my story. Because it won’t be long before my next marathon: Editing. Oh gosh.
Of course, there are so many more thoughts that cover this crazy, unique enterprise. Share your NaNoWriMo experiences, and don’t forget that November is coming!
