NaNoWriMo After 8 Years of Essays and Blog Posts

Before November 1st, which marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), I had an idea for a character whose arc would take the length of a novel, not a short story. I carried this character around for a year or two, but did I work on that novel idea? NO.

I was scared to start a fiction project. Ten years earlier I worked on endless versions of two manuscripts for several years before letting them collect proverbial dust on a hard drive somewhere in laptop purgatory. I played with a few more novels when I started my blog in 2010, but blogging and submitting essays to other sites soon became my priority. Why would I want to spend so much time on yet another novel that might never amount to anything?

I have no good answers to why I finally felt ready to work on a long project again, but I decided to use the collective energy around National Novel Writing Month to make a dent in a first draft. While I’m plugging away slower than the official NaNoWriMo pace, which would get a writer to 50,000 words by the end of the November, I’m happy with my pace of about 1000 words a day. Every day when I open my document, I’m shocked to see words where on October 31 there were none.

So do I like NaNoWriMo? YES! I love it! I credit the NaNo push with getting me to write without the constant critic on my shoulder and to experiment with fiction again. I created a Facebook group for accountability, and the conversations and check-ins there are helping so much. (Just ask me if you want IN.) While I did create the group with the idea of dissolving it in early December, I’m starting to see how much these check-ins help me. I will probably keep it. (And for those of you in it now, NO hard feelings AT ALL if you decide to leave at the end of NaNo. I did say it was a one-month group!)

What I’ve learned about working on a long project again after EIGHT years of essays, short stories, and blog posts:

  • My work setup is awful and needs to change ASAP. The other day I went to an ergonomic speciality store and ordered a standing desk, a separate keyboard, a rolling mouse to sit in front of the keyboard, and a stand for my laptop so I’m not looking down. I’m still in pain on my left side (a recurring problem for many years), but I’m hoping the new positioning will cure me. Sadly, the equipment won’t be in for two more weeks.
  • Early in November I saw somebody write on Facebook that quantity matters more than quality during this draft. That advice has been my constant mantra.
  • Place holders work well instead of delving into a research hole. I’ve written things like hairdo realistic in 1966 or last name. Must. Push. Ahead.
  • I sadly had to give up TV, at least my previous habits. Since November 1st, I’ve watched two episodes of This is Us and one of Scandal, and only watched them while making Shabbat dinner a few different weeks. Maybe that sounds like a lot of TV to some. It’s less than three hours (no commercials) over a two-week period. As someone who binge watched six seasons of Game of Thrones in about a month–I consider that basically NOTHING.
  • I happily gave up grocery shopping. Instacart has freed up HOURS. They bring me things from Costco, Whole Foods, Target, and even Lakewinds Co-op while I write, write, write. It is the best service ever as far as I’m concerned.
  • I’m working out significantly less. This is not a good thing. I hope to get the sitting/moving ratio in better balance.
  • I still have time to read. There is always time to read.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? How’s it going for you?

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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

12 Responses

  1. I’m so proud of (and excited for) you! I started NaNo last year but got derailed by life halfway through. I was scared of (what I perceived to be) failing twice, so opted not to do it this year.

    I told myself I could always pick a different month and hold my own “challenge” but it’s not the same without the community in it with you, right?

    Anyway, I can’t wait to hear what you end up with by December 1st, and how the process evolves for you at that point. I’ve always wanted to see a long project from you. (Not that this is about me – ha!)

    Keep it up! And at least you have a couple of years before Game of Thrones is back 🙂

  2. I’m so glad it’s going well for you! And that you will soon have a better work space. My standing desk has been a lifesaver for my back issues, as is the timer I set for 25 minutes of sitting, then 10 minutes of standing.

    You’re almost halfway through the month, Nina – I hope the second half is as productive as the first half has been.

  3. I’m so impressed! You have really given yourself over to this goal! Also, two things: You’ve convinced me to try Instacart. And I would love to see a pic of your new work space when it’s set up. I’m definitely feeling the aches and pains in my body from writing. All the best for the rest of this productive month!

  4. Go, Nina, go!! Awed by you & anxiously awaiting the day when I can read what you’ve produced—whenever that day comes. I’ve always adored your fiction.

  5. So much to comment on, I’m not sure where to start.

    That TV thing: Several times people have asked me how I get so much reading and writing done…and I often attribute to our TV-free home. Yeah, there’s a bit of FOMO (okay, for the first year or so, kinda a lot of FOMO) and so on, but honestly, how much of the viewing would have stuck with me after 5, 10, now 17 years?

    I hope the neck, etc. pain gets better! And soon!

    I love that you are doing something that you’ve been afraid to do! It’s so easy to just keep ignoring those things.

    For me, so far, the biggest take aways of NaNo are: 1) That “Just keep writing,” thing you mentioned. It’s so, so hard for me not to get stuck on things I want to research, for example. 2) Getting rid of my usual perfectionism (or at least “Make it good from the beginning” desires). Hesitating from going back and editing and not getting hung up on the vast swaths of shodding writing and boring stuff coming out of my keyboard is very, very challenging.

  6. I’m grateful for the group. I’m not where I wanted to be in terms of word count, but I appreciate that space so much. The check-ins keep me writing, there’s no judgement about slower than expected progress, and the conversations are on topic and thoughtful.

    I hope your new set up makes a big difference. Writing in pain affects so much more than just your writing time.

    (And yes, so many notes “this place needs a better name” “check to see if this is a thing”.)

  7. Good for you, Nina. So happy you did such a great job (just read your newsletter)! Yippee. Now I see why you are behind on This is Us. And I have a standing desk that I love; I finally asked Santa for the separate keyboard since my neck is twisted in the wrong direction.

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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DEAR NINA: Conversations About Friendship is a podcast and newsletter about the ups and downs of adult friendship. I’m the host, Nina Badzin, a Minneapolis-based writer who accepted a position as a friendship advice columnist in 2014 and never stopped. DEAR NINA, the podcast, started in 2021, and has been referenced in The Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostTime Magazine, The GuardianThe Chicago TribuneThe Minneapolis Star Tribune, and elsewhere

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