This post is November’s Insecure Writers Support Group post. A group created by Alex Cavanaugh. You can find sign up details by clicking on the link. You will also find a list of other bloggers signed up to the challenge that are worth checking out. Once a month we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for our fellow writers. If you write, it’s a great one post a month, group to join in with. I have many great bloggers by doing this each month.
This month I just want to say that if you write and you enjoy it, then do it. Life, as I’ve seen many times, likes to throw us curve balls. It likes to see how we dance and move to these balls being thrown at us. But amongst those balls, life has joy and we can find that joy everywhere; with our family, our friends, reading a book, walking the dog, in our work and also for many of us, in writing.
Why am I saying this, this month? Because I’m dancing to the tune of some curve balls and it’s also NaNoWriMo month and I’m getting fed up of reading opinions on whether NaNo is a good thing for writers or a bad thing. – Should “we” really be encouraging people to just throw out words to a months target? That can’t be proper writing? and, If it encourages people to write then it’s a good thing. All statements and opinions. Of people who know best?
Who knows best?
If you enjoy taking part and find joy in November’s NaNo madness, then do what makes you happy. If you don’t, then don’t feel pressured. Write because it makes you happy. Don’t write for other people’s opinions of WHY you should be writing.
Whatever you’re doing this November. Have a happy one.
Nice post, Rebecca. I’d like to get right on top of those curve balls and flow, rather bounce, with them. I agree, any kind of writing brings joy, more so when your family is encouraging about your writing. You feel as if you’re creating something special.
NaNo *is* insane isn’t it. Count me in on the insanity
Write as the words will strangle you if you don’t, is my motto! I can’t stop writing.
Without Nano, I would still be writing, Maggie’s Child. It made me focus and create a great first draft. I won’t do it again as life doesn’t allow, but I will never diss it as a time-waster like some.
Rebecca – You are so 100% absolutely right. In the end, writing should bring something good (peace, contentment, fulfulment) to the writer. And that’s what matters. Sorry to hear you’ve got to deal with ‘curve balls’ at the moment; hope it all starts to go better.
I’d never heard of NaNo before this year and I thought it was nuts! Then I’ve seen some authors I really look up to having a ball with it. I’m still not sure where I fit, but I have set a goal for November that I think I can make without taking the joy out of writing. Thanks for the post!
Wise words. Sometimes I think there’s too much pressure for every writer to do Nano. It’s supposed to be fun and if people are taking the fun out of it for you by forcing you to do it, then where’s your motivation to do it?
I know I can’t work under pressure – or certainly not the sort of pressure that requires more output per day than I know I have time for! I love writing but have found that, periodically, the joy of writing is replaced by stress. Now I only write when I have time. One day I will write that novel, but that day isn’t yet. Smaller projects are the way forward for now. I hope you’re dodging the curve balls ok Rebecca or at least catching them calmly. x
‘Dancing to the tune of some curve balls’–now that is challenging. This healthy debate on NaNoWriMo does keep my brain bobbing. I need a nap..
NaNo works for some people and not for others. Like you said, it’s all opinion. I’m not participating this year but it was the kick I needed to complete my second book.
I did it last year because I wanted to. I knew then it would be my only time, and this year I wasn’t even tempted. I’ve seen lots of ‘Writers should…’ and ‘Writers shouldn’t…’ articles too – your post makes a lot of sense.
“Write because it makes you happy.” Possibly some of the wisest words for writers! 🙂