NaNoWriMo is sweeping me along. The quality of the writing is low, but the fact is – the writing there for me to judge. It’s not just an idea in my head, it’s a reality on the page that come December – or maybe January – I will be able to mold into something of which I can be proud. A reality that is currently hitting around 25,000 words.
And it’s not killing me. I’m still doing other things. I’ve kept up with my lesson plans. I get plenty of sleep. Ok, so I’m behind on the dishes, but that’s more due to my laziness than a lack of time. I’ve been feeding myself with words and images. I’m still blogging. I edited a short story and submitted it to a contest. I had a paper accepted into a religion conference at an Ivy League university. I finished reading a light romance novel, then started another, along with a few more serious philosophy texts. I’m reading Mark Twain’s How to Tell a Story and Other Essays. I took a couple of days off and went for a light hike last weekend. The next day I wrote over 4,000 words and caught right back up, because the time outside cleared my brain and let me reconnect with my story. I let myself edit a bit as a reward, and it felt wonderful.
I love that I can spend so much of my time writing, reading, and teaching. It’s paper writing season, according to my syllabi, and I’m having a wonderful time working with students to help them develop their ideas. They constantly surprise me. I am so lucky that this is my job.
And NaNoWriMo isn’t hurting this, which gives me hope for a future of teaching and writing simultaneously. It’s possible. Doable, even.
Especially if I keep filling my head with good words, good conversation, good hygge, and good images like the ones I gathered on my little hike.
And I’ve also this article from the Writer’s Digest blog to keep me focused.
7 thoughts on “NaNoWriMo, Midway Through”
themathmaster
I would be behind on the dishes whether I was doing NaNo or not. Seriously, does anybody like doing dishes? Not this guy at least.
Michelle Joelle
True story. Thank you for reading! 🙂
themathmaster
You’re quite welcome. I put dishes on a level slightly below laundry. NaNo is a beast but I am enjoying it thoroughly. I am writing as boldly as possible everyday and that is the important thing for me. I’m rather brashley posting my unedited chapters through my blog. Well see if that ends up being a good decision.
Wonderful post. I enjoyed it.
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theyoushow2000
Your scenic pictures, trees, etc, are very nice.
Michelle Joelle
Thank you! All credit goes to the beauty of nature.
theyoushow2000
Haven’t read the article but I love the tree photographs.