M.J. Pullen's Blog

Holiday Romance Movie Bingo 2021

They all know I want it. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime… They can see the desire in my eyes. Or maybe it’s the stressed-out, “Hanukkah-started-right-after-Thanksgiving-this-year-and-it-will-NOT-let-up” look on my face. In any case…

It’s December!Ice skating is a great way to land a romantic partner. It says, “I’m adventurous enough to risk an injury to impress you, yet still clumsy enough to fall helplessly into your arms.”

The time of year for festivities, family, lots of work, and one of my favorite guilty pleasures.* Not wine, chocolate or online shopping (well, okay, those too), but another vice. It’s stress relief, predictable comfort and a rush of warm fuzzies all rolled in to a single 1.5 hour package: holiday romance movies. More specifically: cheesy, made-for-TV holiday romance movies. The cheesier, the made for TV-ier, the better.

Bring on the cringe-laughs and the stolen kisses and uncomfortable family situations. Give me familiar tropes and problematic premises, aging 1980s TV stars and fake snow falling on fake small towns. On Dasher, on Dancer, on absurd situations: a case of mistaken identity that can only be resolved in front of everyone at the Christmas party, parents who make irrational demands on their adult children at the holidays, entire towns where no one really works in December.

Yep. Actually a thing.
Holiday in Handcuffs, 2008

Give me a pretend fiancé, an old flame and a weird legal document that requires magic to happen before midnight on New Year’s. Wait – is that a thing? Did I just make up a new one? **scribbles in writing idea journal**

Time to fall in love. Or laugh at other people trying.

Some people call them predictable or brain candy (brain cocoa?), and those people are… not wrong. Fine. But to those of us who love them, holiday romance movies done well (and done badly, tbh) are way more than that. It’s all about love, the triumph of hope and new possibilities in the season of social pressure and Vitamin D deficiency.

In Holiday Romancelandia, Santa can become cupid, Joey Lawrence can light a menorah, and all it takes is a pair of ice skates or an out-of-control sled to make anyone irresistible. They are escapism at its absolute best, which is why there are 10,000 new titles** released every year. Because, listen. If I have to choose between crushing existential dread in a reality fraught with societal alienation, and watching Melissa Joan Hart kidnap Mario Lopez to be her fake Christmas boyfriend… I’m going with Option B.

Emily Hampshire could stab you with this menorah just as easily as light it.
Hitched for the Holidays, 2012

At some point I’d love to review this year’s new additions to the holiday streaming roster, as well as share some of my perennial favorites (cheesy and less cheesy movies alike). But I’ve been a bit snowed under this year — pun definitely, apologetically intended.

So in the meantime, since we’re all watching anyway, I thought it would be fun to play a little Holiday Romance Movie Bingo!

I’ve compiled Bingo cards with some of my favorite holiday romance movie elements: everything from Santa and holiday baking, to a hero on a horse, Christmas tree disasters, relegation to the kids’ table and… the always-popular bit with a dog.

What do you mean, no CrossFit studio?
The Christmas Edition, 2020

I love it when part of a character’s arc is to learn or discover a charitable part of themselves by doing something kind for others at the holidays. Or, barring that, just singing in public. And if there’s an elegant party, tacky pageant or multi-cultural community celebration at the center of things — so much the better.

Lots of holiday romances feature uptight urban heroes and heroines, signaled by their rigorous gym workouts and stodgy business attire, who are forced to learn the true meaning of the holidays in a rural setting–or at least a quaint small town. Winter sports are a big feature: sledding at break-neck speeds, skating into one another’s arms on a rink, displaying athletic prowess (or endearing lack thereof) on a set of skis.

How to Play Holiday Romance Bingo

Join me, won’t you? Let’s play Holiday Romance Bingo together and give renewed purpose to our holiday TV binges.

This counts as sledding, a bit with a dog, and a *dash* of workplace harassment.
–Snowbound for Christmas, 2019 Download this PDF file of 30 Bingo sheets (1 per page), and select 2 or 3 pages at random to print. (Or keep scrolling and use the cards below if you don’t want the hassle of printing).Pick your favorite holiday romance movie(s), put the kettle on for hot chocolate, and cuddle up with a warm blanket, dog or partner. Text your bestie. Have a watch party. Make it a thing.When you see an element appear in the film, mark it off (or cover it with a piece of holiday candy if you want to get fancy and you’re not too hungry). The middle space is FREE – my gift to you. When you get BINGO, scream like it’s 1997 and you just won tickets to the Shania Twain concert. Repeat STEPS 1 – 4 as needed, until life feels amazing or your family threatens to cancel the internet.

BONUS: Take a picture of your completed Bingo card and share it in the comments with the name of the movie you watched — or tag me on Facebook (@MJPullenBooks). I would also love to hear what your favorite Holiday rom-coms are, why you love them, and which elements should be included in future iterations…

Holiday prep achievement = Unlocked.
Single All the Way, 2021Happy Holidays, y’all!

Random Bingo Card 1Random Bingo Card 2Random Bingo Card 1

*For the record (wherever such records might be kept and for whomever might be interested), I don’t refer to watching these movies as “guilty pleasures” because they are Romance, or any less valid or redeeming in any way than other movie genre. (Maybe a blog for another day about all that nonsense). In this case, it’s because I am always swamped with work and other important obligations in December and the time I spend watching romance movies sometimes could be spent doing more productive things like working out or preparing those end-of-year expense reports my accountant is so fond of.
**estimated

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Postcards from the Pandemic: Covid Whiplash

First: I absolutely can’t take credit for the term Covid Whiplash – my friend Leslie used it in conversation a few weeks ago and I’ve been using it as a framework for understanding my life ever since. Thanks, Les.

Next: I’ve been debating whether to fully address the fact that it’s been a year and a half since I last posted a blog, or just breeze past it like nothing happened. Basically cruising into a class halfway through the semester and taking a seat in the back like I’ve been here the whole time. **whistles and twiddles thumbs nonchalantly**

I’ll say this for much my absence from this platform and — to be honest — almost everything related to being a fiction author for the last 18+ months: I didn’t disappear on purpose. At no point did I make a conscious decision that I just wasn’t up to blogging at this stage of my life, nor did I formally declare myself ‘on hiatus’ from writing fiction. It happened (or didn’t) like most things in life: with one day slipping away after another. You know how it is: you’re just taking a break for a minute until suddenly you realize you haven’t seen the inside of the gym, the pages of your book-in-progress, or the back end of your blog in months.

There are reasons, of course. My day job as a technical writer/trainer was one of the few that got busier during lockdown, and actually required lots of travel. That was weird, honestly. While everyone I knew was hunkering down at home and doing risk-reward analyses about whether to go to the grocery store, I was boarding planes in partially shut-down airports and coating the seats of rental cars with Lysol.

And… if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the last couple of years have been brutal emotionally (and in other ways). Some writers I know have been able to channel the angst and isolation of 2020-21 into the most productive and creative months of their lives. Churning out novels and scoring book deals and taking up new and interesting hobbies. I’m happy for them. Truly, and without a single ounce of eye-gouging jealousy.

For me, though, it’s been the opposite. I’ve felt overwhelmed and sometimes shamefully unequal to the times we’re living through. I tend to write with my potential readers in mind—my relationship with all of you is what spurs me on every day, even if we’ve never interacted. In both fiction and non-fiction this year, I have struggled to fathom what I could possibly bring to our collective conversation that would be of added value. More importantly, I’ve struggled to summon the emotional energy to create whatever that thing might be. You probably don’t have to be a mental health professional to see the signs of depression in this paragraph; but even as a trained counselor, it took me longer to recognize it in myself than I care to admit.

Please don’t get the wrong idea — I can already see the concerned emails and comments pouring in—I am fine. And not “fine” in the Southern woman, hiding-my-feelings-so-as-not-to-ruin-your-day way. I have been taking care of myself, leveraging my support network, and consciously taking pride in what I can do right now. I’ve been acknowledging the incredible achievements of working my tail off, contributing to my community, and parenting two boys through this chaos without anyone burning the house down or being shipped off to Australia in a cargo box. (Not that I haven’t been tempted on that last one!)

Coping with all this has meant stepping back from (and in some cases, re-evaluating) relationships and activities in my life that weren’t working for me. My “author life” (private and public) was just one of the items on the list. As long as writing fiction or blogging felt like an obligation at which I was failing, I wasn’t likely to produce anything worth reading.

Now that things are improving, I’ve been able to open the door to my writing life again, even if it’s just to let my agent know I’m still alive, re-arrange the plot on an old story, and start toying with something new in between day-job projects.

So here we are.

Like pretty much everyone right now, I’m trying to move forward, to figure out what things are really necessary and important to reclaim in my life… and leaving a few things behind me on the road. With rescheduled and new activities popping up on the calendar, work picking up again after a lull over the summer, and my own heart clamoring to reconnect with people and events I’ve been missing… the pace of life feels drastically different once again.

Thus: Covid whiplash. We’ve all been back and forth so often between frustration and hope, freedom and caution, connection and independence. It can be jarring and sometimes scary. (Since I had surgery for actual whiplash a couple of years ago, the pain associated with this metaphor is real to me, y’all).

But I’m hoping the end result will include some well-earned silly fun, a bit of wisdom, and lots more compassion than it did two years ago. Especially for myself.

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5+ Things My Kids Never Want to Hear Again

Parenting during the COVID-19 epidemic is an adventure, isn’t it? I’m sure my kids are going to grow up with a special appreciation for public gatherings and health & safety protocols. They’ll be able to lead a hell of a Zoom meeting. They will always remember this special, historic time we spent together.

They may also cringe and reach for their phones to dial their therapists anytime they hear one of the following phrases:

5. “Time to get off the Xbox and go outside!”

To be honest, for this one you don’t even need “…and go outside.” You can replace it with “for dinner” or “we’re doing a family art project” or “let’s FaceTime with Grandma.” No matter the context, the words “Get off the Xbox” (or iPad, or computer) always elicit the same automated response from my kids:

“One sec!”

When spoken by your offspring, this phrase has no meaning. They won’t remember it, or you, later. They don’t even know they’re saying it. The signal doesn’t make it past the medulla oblongata into the cognitive portions of the brain. It just pops out, an involuntary reflex.

Hunger = Eat
Hot Pan = Move Hand
“Time to…” = One Sec

As parents everywhere know, it will absolutely not be one sec. But we can say we tried.

4. “So many people are struggling right now. Let’s be grateful for what we have.”

Translation: QUIT WHINING and eat your bowl of olives and questionable applesauce from the back of the fridge. Let me know if you start hallucinating. It might count as art.

3. “You can watch TV, but it has to be something educational…”

This one elicits the most complaining and eye rolling. And the pre-pre-law arguments:

What’s the difference between watching a violent war movie and seals getting eaten by killer whales on NatGeo?If we’re allowed to watch Wild Kratts during the school day, why can’t we watch Teen Titans GO? We totally learn from that. Remember the episode about personal finance?Does “Nailed It!” count as educational since we’re learning what not to do when we bake?Technically, all shows are educational if you haven’t seen them before…

You know what? Fine. I’m giving myself props that we made it through lunchtime without a major incident. Have at it, kids. Mom needs juice.

2. “Help me help you .”

Overheard coming out of my mouth more than once during our adventures in home schooling. File this one under Things I Never Thought I’d Say, along with “someday you’ll appreciate everything I’ve done for you,” and “Fine, go get yourself a life-threatening illness, see if I care!”

1. “Since you’re bored, can you do me a favor?”

Oh, they haaaaate this one. I keep a series of household tasks at the ready, ranging from sweep the floor to run upstairs and find my phone charger. As soon as some little person wanders up to me with nothing to do, I have an instant assistant.

One of these days they’re going to figure out that whatever they can do to entertain themselves is better than being Mommy’s indentured servants. TBH, I am going to miss this part of it when things are back to normal and I have to get my own damn water cup.

And…. a special bonus, THIS SONG.

Where has this song been all my parenting life? Okay, I’ll admit, I started out with the cutesy idea (early on) that this quarantine period would be a great opportunity to teach the kids some bonus skills. Tour museums virtually. Work on their Hebrew, throw in some Spanish…

Eh. Maybe.

The real value in this song is how much the kids hate it. It’s not hard to find music that one of the boys hates (The Frozen Soundtrack is for babies! I don’t want to listen to “Star Wars in 99 Seconds” for the 1000th time!). But in these cases, invariably one hates it because the other loves it, or one decides he loves it because of how much the other one hates it. Siblings.

But “Caminitio de la Escuela?” Universally hated. Worse if I dance around the kitchen while it’s playing. And because I’m a good enough parent to know how to use torture judiciously, I have it tucked into the “Good Morning” playlist I play on our biggest Echo speaker to get everyone out of bed on weekdays. I may even make them practice looking up Spanish words to translate it, one of those days they’re done with school before I’m done with my work for the day.

This is a small–but critical–exertion of my parental power, which counteracts the chaos that inevitably ensues when there’e a power vacuum. I also like that it sets the expectation that whatever schoolwork or chores or family activity comes next… it could always get worse.

Yep. “Caminito de la Escuela” has become the anthem for my parenting mind games. These are mad times we live in, friends. Mad times…

Happy Quarantining, Y’all!

Stay in touch! For exclusive content, updates and giveaways, be sure to join my Distracted Readers newsletter list. You can also join our Facebook group.

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Quarantine Week 2 + Social Distance Giveaway

Well, we made it through the first week of social distancing, quarantine, and (for lots of us) involuntary homeschooling. Hope you are faring as well as can be expected, and keeping your expectations for yourself realistic.

Lots of us are turning to digital reading, which is lovely. Last week I gave away more than 1500 Kindle copies of 4 of my books to help stanch the boredom of maaaaany hours at home. But this week I’m aware of those who either don’t have access to the technology needed for digital reading, and who may be especially vulnerable to isolation. And those who simply prefer the feel of a paper book in their hands!

In addition to the inconvenience of restricted movement and being stuck at home, most people I know are also experiencing some level of health anxiety, and worrying for the vulnerable people in our lives. When it comes to mental health, uncertainty can be just as challenging as the scary news and crazy logistics.

Aside from hilarious memes, we readers and writers know that books are a balm against that anxiety and the loneliness that accompanies social isolation. With Amazon limiting warehousing of ‘non-essential’ items [we can have the discussion later about how books can be considered non-essential] and public libraries being forced to close, I know many people don’t have the same access to books they usually do.

So this week I’m doing a special giveaway, not just to provide books for those in need of reading material, but to help reinforce our connectedness. I am giving away 10 (maybe 15? we’ll see) hardback copies of the Marriage Pact trilogy this week to people in the U.S.

I’ve done giveaways in the past, of course. But this time, I’m giving these trilogies away to people nominated by others. To enter, post a comment here on the blog or on my Facebook page nominating someone who you’d like to send these books to, someone who could use a pick-me-up and might be having a hard time accessing reading material other ways. I’ll choose my 10 favorite nominations by Friday, March 27 and message you for full names & mailing address.

No need to share confidential or identifying information, first names and your reason for nominating is all you need. Please include your email address if you fill out a blog comment, and please check your email or Facebook messages this week. I’ll reach out to the winners for more information, and I can only fulfill these if you respond!

Recipes for the couchpocalypse – the zen of totwaffles.

I get it: you’re on lockdown. You’re trying to do a lot with a little. It’s hard to find joy in the midst of fear, depression, and austerity.

That’s why it’s time to learn about totwaffles. (thread) pic.twitter.com/F6zIaBLsql

— Ada Powers (@mspowahs) March 19, 2020

Stay healthy, y’all. Even when we’re physically distant, we’re better together.

Stay in touch! For exclusive content, updates and giveaways, be sure to join my Distracted Readers newsletter list. You can also join our Facebook group.

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It’s Not Much, But…

Knowing that so many of us are sticking close to home right now thanks to COVID-19, I’m doing what I can to make all that quiet time a little more entertaining.

Whether you’re in self-quarantine, voluntarily working from home, involuntarily home schooling, or any combination of the three, I’m offering four of my books free on Kindle from March 15-19 to help break up the tedium.

It’s a tiny gesture, I know, and it won’t offset all the hardships that the coronavirus pandemic is bringing to so many families. But we all have to do what we can, and this is my small contribution.

Follow the links below to download the Kindle editions of any or all of the books. The Kindle copies will be yours to keep, so you can read them at your leisure. Perfect for any pandemic!

Every Other Saturday: https://amzn.to/2JOIP3W

Sugar Street: https://amzn.to/2Qbx88L

Easy As Pie: https://amzn.to/2LiMPcd

City of Yes: https://amzn.to/2w5olyy

If you’ve already read them all (or after you download) I’d appreciate if you would share this post on social media so more people can take advantage of the opportunity. If you know of other authors offering similar giveaways, feel free to post in the comments!

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Thunder Thighs: A Love Letter

You’ve never been beautiful
by traditional standards

In high school the boys called out
Sneering against dented beige lockers 
All pubescent acne 
and patchy mustaches 
 
Here comes Thunder Thighs
     Boom 
          Boom 
                 Boom

In corduroy pants you can hear her a mile off

Careful girl you’re gonna rub a hole in those acidwashed jeans
 
Suffice it to say
You are underappreciated:
The highest crime in the tabloids
Bumps and lumps and jiggly bits
Grotesque markers of 
Personal neglect, perhaps
A depraved weakness for bread
 
But I love you, in spite of this
And maybe a little because of it
Let’s be honest we’ve always been a bit contrary
 
You have carried me up mountains
In twenty-odd countries and closer to home
Carried the weight of my sorrows, ambitions, thirst for life 
Plus fifty pounds of backpack 
grimy from the train
 
You’ve taken the stairs two at a time
Rounded the bases in the beer leagues
Lifted the boxes of 17 moves
Supported me through heartbreaks
And that stepaerobics phase we don’t talk about 
Danced all night and then some
 
Squatted down for Big Conversations 
with Little People
 
You’ve stood resolute in long lines
Held yoga poses
Opened soft 
Welcoming lovers
And children
 
So, let the toes keep their pedicures
And peekaboo shoes
The sexy silhouette of a calf 
Embody feminine grace
Let hips flow with the music
A round, seductive swivel
And shoulders claim
The weight of the world
 
You may not crave the sunny exposure
Of swimsuits and glaring beaches
Or glory in short skirts
 
But you do not tremble 
In the face of oppression 
(Though perhaps occasionally 
in the face of lunges
or levitating over gas station toilets)
 
Like me, 
You do your best work when tested
Pushed against
Folded over
Coiled like a spring
A foundation of hidden strength
 
You move, the heart wakes
And I can conquer
You brace, strong and solid,
And I can endure

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2020: Year of Resilience

If you follow my blogs and social media, you already know the last year and a half has been pretty challenging. I’ve been struggling with chronic pain, work limitations, and some other run-of-the-mill crap. I’ve been busy and tired.

But as I was talking with one of my author coaching clients the other day, I quoted some wisdom to her from my academic supervisor when I was completing my Master’s internship in Professional Counseling. At a time in my studies when I was working my tail off and really exhausted, he said to me, “We learn a lot about ourselves when we’re tired.”

I found that to be true during my internship, and at many other points in my life when I’ve been stressed out and exhausted. Those times when I am pushed to my limits often turn out to me the times in my life that I’m most proud of. Those moments teach me to prioritize what’s truly important, to dig deep and show the world what I’m really made of.

I’ve learned that happiness and success are largely related to how we respond to difficulties. I’ve been gentle with myself this past year, honoring the struggle and recovering my health.

My plan for this year is to use those challenges as a starting block, a place to push off to gain new momentum. I want to incorporate what I’ve learned about myself into a better version for next year.

In honor of all those moments and the ones to come, my word for 2020 is RESILIENCE.

What about you? Do you have a word for 2020? Leave it in the comments below!

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Welcome 2020! (a little late)

We rang in the new year with family and friends at our Roaring 20’s, Gatsby -themed party.

“A little party never killed nobody…”

With work and the kids and my recent surgeries, big parties have been a rarity at our house for the last few years. But when we had to postpone a family vacation we’d planned for the winter break, I decided a blowout NYE party was the best consolation prize. And it turned out to be even better than that!

Closed for Violations of the Prohibition Act… (or our HOA Covenants).

I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I just love to throw a big shindig and bring together a motley group of fabulous people. And being able to nerd out with a theme makes the fun all the sweeter. Personally, I’d be perfectly happy if the 2020s turned out to be a second Jazz Age…

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right.”

(Daisy’s Champagne Jello Shots with Raspberries)




Mafiosa Meatballs, Bugsy Siegel’s Jewish Mafia Pastrami Melts, Hot Jazz Spicy Spinach Dip…. We’re always all about the puns!

These pictures don’t represent everyone who joined us to ring in the new year, but it gives you an idea of what a fun night we had.

Happy New Year! Hope your 2020 is off to an equally celebratory start!

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Happy Holidays from MJ and #FakeAssistantGreg

#FakeAssistantGreg’s reaction when I told him the Four Seasons was a no-go. In retrospect, this expression alone should have been a red flag.

Ah, December… that festive and familial time of year when your company holiday party forces you to hire a sitter so you and your significant other can hang out after hours with the people you’re already forced to hang out with for a third of your life…

Okay, fine: I’m not really that cynical. I actually LOVE company holiday parties, so much that I’ve been in charge of the planning of them at a few places I’ve worked. And very few of those have ended in tears or lawsuits, so, yay me!

Q: Can a Solopreneur have a holiday party?

The many benefits of working for yourself (and from home) notwithstanding, one thing I miss about working full-time for a company is the holiday parties. The deep breath and celebration of achievement after a year of hard work and collaboration. The normally-stodgy coworker from accounting who for some reason shows up in a super-slinky sequined dress. The surprisingly hot spouses, the moderately priced wine… and the opportunity to experience Conference Room B as something other than a source of boredom and emotional trauma.

Secrets revealed, bad dancers filmed, awkward interactions that keep people from making eye contact in the Monday meetings… There’s nothing like it!

A: Yes.

So, I decided Greg and I should have our own little staff holiday party this year, and–I have to be honest–it’s not going all that well. First of all, my boss vetoed the original party plan–rent a ballroom at the Four Seasons, hire a caterer and DJ, and then just start dancing in the center of the room to see how many passersby would join me out of curiosity and/or pity. Apparently this idea was “not realistic” and “assuredly humiliating,” plus it was about $14,990.01 over the budget. My boss can be a real hardass, I have to say.

We went another direction: streamers, cheap punch and a mediocre Amazon playlist. Unfortunately, I’ve since learned that Greg isn’t much of a drinker, and after less than half an hour of sipping our punch from plastic cups and inquiring politely about each other’s families, he was… Well. Let’s just say several of my neighbors are no longer speaking to me and there is some highly offensive graffiti on the mirror in my powder room. It wasn’t pretty.

So, while Greg tries to salvage what’s left of his dignity and I haul all my area rugs to an incinerator, I thought I’d invite you all to join in the fun. Yep, it turns out misery really does love company…

The weird thing is, that’s only his first cup of punch… Wait. Is he rubbing his nipple?



You’re Invited…

Post your favorite, funny office/holiday party story in the comments (no real names, please) and be sure to include your email address in the comment form.

…and don’t forget the party favors!

Everyone who comments by December 31, 2019 will receive a free digital copy of (1) Every Other Saturday, (2) Sugar Street or (3) Easy as Pie to keep you warm over the holidays.

Please list your choice of book at the bottom of your comment (if no book is listed, the default will be Every Other Saturday).

PLUS:

On January 1, I’ll select one commenter at random to get a Distracted Reader mug and signed hardback copies of The Marriage Pact Trilogy.

So gather around the old water cooler and share your favorite or funniest holiday party stories. They don’t have to be office-related, and they don’t even have to be your personal experience. I have zero journalistic integrity… Greg and I just want reassurance that our holiday party wasn’t the worst one on record. Or at least a happy distraction.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays!!

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NaNoWriMo Starts Tomorrow! Are You Ready?

There are just a few hours until the start of NaNoWriMo at midnight tonight. I hope you’ve enjoyed the countdown of preparations so far. If you’re just joining us, don’t sweat it. These checkpoints are just a general guide to things you may want to consider before NaNoWriMo kicks off, and you can modify them to meet your time constraints.

And, of course, don’t forget to come back next year!

Running Late?

Some of you may be coming to this NaNoWriMo checklist blog late–searching for resources in a Halloween-candy induced fervor because you decided last minute to participate. (Not that I’ve done this personally, you understand. Ahem).

And that’s cool. You’ve got plenty of time to do your own abbreviated versions of each of the tasks above. I intentionally made each of the previous blogs short and sweet, so you could comb it for usable action items no matter what stage of NaNoWriMo prep you’re in.

Here’s what we’ve talked about so far in our Countdown to NaNoWriMo Checklist:



Getting started, and registering on the NaNoWriMo site.Preparing your characters.Developing your key plot points (even if you’re a pantser/discovery writer).Figuring out the best writing software option for you.Setting your daily word count goals. Planning your time management strategy….



Right on Time?

Okay. You’re prepped and ready to go. You’ve been dreaming about this story for weeks, and you’re chomping at the bit to get going on it. You’re counting the minutes until midnight so you can strip out of that elaborate Halloween costume and start typing away. Okay, you know what? Keep the costume on. It totally works for you.

And until then, today’s the day I suggest you relax, and prepare the rest of your life for some time away writing. If you work better in a clean house, tidy up (especially your office or writing space)! Get ahead on the laundry, the dishes, the bills, the yard work, anything that might be a distraction in the first few days of writing.

If you normally do most of the household cooking and chores for your family, prepare some meals for the freezer or print out a few easy recipes and shopping lists for your spouse, roommates or kids to handle while you work. Or make a grocery run for some frozen meals. Maybe just gather takeout menus. Whatever works!

Make a chore chart with some of the things you normally do around the house and see if you can delegate them to people you live with. (Have I mentioned that NaNoWriMo is a great opportunity for people in your life to support your writing endeavors by pitching in? For moms and dads, it can be a chance to let your kids shine by showing you they can do more to help out than you realized.)

Stocking Up

Make sure your snack drawer, coffee pot, tea cabinet, ink pens, aspirin, and anything else you will need while writing is fully stocked. Get in a good workout today or take a long, thoughtful walk, and make sure you stay nice and hydrated. If you’re staying up late tonight to get started, take a nap if you can, or move any commitments you have first thing in the morning.

If you’re getting up early tomorrow to start, make sure your alarm is set and whatever you need to do to get yourself going faster is ready to go. I have a friend who sleeps in her workout clothes to make it easier to get up and moving in the morning. This isn’t terribly relevant if you can write from home in your pajamas, but you get the idea. This is about psychological readiness as much as physical readiness. And if you are leaving the house before you start writing tomorrow, pick out your clothes. Make sure your bag is ready, phone charged, laptop cords or writing notebook available, etc.

I know some of this sounds pretty elementary, and it is, but when I’m doing NaNoWriMo or any fast-drafting exercise, I like to treat it like the first day of a new job. The idea is to remove as many of the obstacles as possible that might come between you and your writing. Preparing in this way also helps you (and your support system) make the psychological shift from writing occasionally or as a hobby–or even not at all–to writing as a serious endeavor.

YOU GOT THIS.



(Me on November 29, when the kids interrupt me for the 7,124th time…)

And with that, I want to wish each of you good luck this month! Know that I’ll be drafting with you, along with thousands of other NaNoWriMo participants. Even if you’re not doing NaNoWriMo this year, or you’re doing your own fast-drafting session some other time, we’re all with you in spirit.

Writing can be a lonely endeavor, but please know you are never alone!

Need help with your project, or a friendly face to hold you accountable? I help writers during NaNoWriMo and all year long. Visit my coaching page for details.

Keep Writing.

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The post NaNoWriMo Starts Tomorrow! Are You Ready? appeared first on MJ Pullen, Author.