My NaNoWriMo Goal

by Roma Anjoy
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November is the month when many writers participate in NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month.  The idea is to set a word count goal for the month and try to reach it.  The default goal is 50,000 words, but you can pick any number you want.  There’s a website you can visit (NaNoWriMo.org) with lots of tips and encouragement.
 
Some people spend the month of October getting ready for NaNo by using character development sheets, plot-point graphs, setting description generators, and other writing tools.  Some install fancy new software to help them chart their progress scene by scene or create elaborate outlines of their work.

I spent the month of October getting ready too, but here’s what I did.  I culled through all the books on my bookshelves (I set a rule for myself several years ago: “No buying more bookshelves”) so I could make room for the newer books sitting around in little piles waiting for a home.  Result: two bags of old books.  I went through my closet, putting away summer clothes and weeding out stuff I no longer wear, including shoes.  Result: two bags of clothes and shoes.  I went through the garage, looking for an old photo album, but while I was there I eliminated two boxes of stuff.  I combed through my kitchen cabinets and drawers, removing duplicate or unneeded items to make them more commodious.  Then I made a trip to Goodwill with all that stuff.

Meanwhile, I made sure I had a good supply of writing pads with different colored paper and pens with ink in various hues.  I write first drafts by hand.  I find it fun and mentally refreshing to switch background and ink colors.  I cleared my dining room table, laying out all the supplies I would need, and collecting all relevant notes, photos, etc.  I’m working on a memoir, so I know the basic story, but it helps to have object that can jar the memory.

I returned all my library books, created an out-of-sight space to store unread personal books and magazines.  I cleared my inbox (well, as much as I could), unsubscribed to extraneous newsletters and webinars that would be a distraction during the coming month, and generally put my home and my life in order.
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I call it “clearing the decks.”  I write in spurts, and when I feel a spurt coming on (or when I have planned for one) I seem to need to circle around it for a while, making room for it in my life.  The side benefit is that I return to a more well-ordered life.  And that’s a good thing.  So I win either way, whether or not I complete my NaNoWriMo goal.

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