01 November 2016

Taking Time

November first. It's hard to believe the calendar has once again spun round to this date and yet, ready or not, here we are.

For me the past seven years the month of November has been defined not by the anniversary of my birth or Thanksgiving, but by National Novel Writing Month (otherwise known as NaNoWriMo). Every year that I have participated, I have come away a "winner," having written the required 50,000 words (and a grand total nearing 400,000!).

Each time I showed myself what pure magic transpires when you dedicate the time and space to stringing words together to tell a sustained story. These years of participation have taught me so many life altering lessons...about myself, my writing, about telling stories.

This year will be different. I will not be writing a novel this month.

I won't lie, there is a sadness that has intertwined itself with this decision and there were many moments when I asked myself, "Are you sure? I mean, are you really sure?"

But the answer I always fell back to was the same.

Not this year.

There are a handful of solid and rational whys, but the most important one has to do with the writing itself.

So while I won't be participating in the grand adventure that is NaNoWriMo, I will still be writing and working towards the goals I have set for myself.

I raise a glass to all of you who have taken on the challenge and wish you all the best. You're awesome and the world needs your story!

Godspeed, dear NaNoWriMos