With National Novel Writing Month now in full swing, it can be tempting to look back on the 8,335 words (or more… or less) you’ve written and see how awful they are, ugly, just-hatched things that have yet to grow the wings and soft feathers that will turn them into majestic and cuddly beauties. It is easy to call it all garbage, to tell yourself that these words have no more value than last night’s dinner does today. Your plot might be fizzling out, your characters might be uncooperative, your fingers might hurt from the furious typing you’ve been putting them through. It’s easy to wonder why on earth you’re doing it all, and wouldn’t it be nice to just take a long nap?
But let’s take a step back.
What did we just say?
8,335 words. In just FIVE DAYS.
A mere six days ago, that number was zero, and you had doubts that you could write even 1,000 words before November 30th! But look at you now! Forget about your ugly, not-yet majestic words. This adventure is no longer about the bystanders, the words that are just happening to be born. It is about you, the hero-writer, and your quest for completion! For authorship! For creativity! Don’t bash those 8,335 words. Turn around and clap yourself on the back for writing them. (In just FIVE DAYS, you awesome writer!) Did you know that tomorrow marks the 20% mark? You’re already 1/5 of the way through your journey! So sit back and enjoy the rest of this crazy, caffeine -induced ride, and in 25 days maybe you will discover that many of the ugly words you wrote are a lot more majestic than you thought.
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- NaNoWriMo 5 Days in (scrips49.wordpress.com)
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- NaNoWriMo 2013…The Beginning (booshashable.wordpress.com)