Dear NaNo Diary... (Week 1)

NaNo can be thrilling, challenging, frustrating, and revitalizing––sometimes all at once. This November, we’ve asked NaNo participants to share their daily thoughts in a new series, Dear NaNo Diary. Here are some entries from the first week of NaNoWriMo:

November 1

Dear NaNo Diary,

I embark on this journey, one I’ve attempted many times before, but the winds feel different. With a story I’ve been dwelling on for years being my target, I feel I may be ready, this year, to complete my goal. Thank goodness I have my ToddlerBot’s three-hour nap times to write…but for now, I shall push past these fears and write. Write like the wind. Or stare at the screen like a statue. Which ever way the day takes me.

Signed,

Troubledgeek

Dear NaNo Diary,

This is the worst November 1 ever. I have never been less prepared. Or do I just need a perspective shift?  I am Clark Kent bumbling around in my glasses. I am Gregor Samsa on my back wiggling my cockroach legs. I am not a tragedy where it all falls apart. I am Chapter 1 of my rags to riches story.  Wait… What happened to Gregor in the end? Never mind. 

Thanks, Diary!

Signed,

anothermisplacedcomma

November 2

Dear NaNo Diary,

This is so hard…[but] t he harder it is, the better I write.  I want to get in there and feel the depths of emotion and dig out the really great stuff that will mean something.  But I get scared.  This journey for me is a fight against myself.  It is a fight against my weakness, my fear, and my avoidance of the difficult.  I want to be brave. I want to ride the roller-coaster. Will I be able to hold on? I am determined to do so.  (I might cry a little on the way, though).

Breathe––then back to the fray!

Signed,

patti-rose

November 3

Dear NaNo Diary,

I feel awesome. I’ve written 3000 words and the day’s not over yet. And a lot of those words are actually great. So yeah, I feel awesome. And happy.

Signed,

undeadjamie

November 4

Dear NaNo Diary,

…I was worried I was going to lose my steam, throw in the towel, and stall at just about 16k words on Day 4. But I kept going. I put sentence after sentence that didn’t make sense until my scene started to take shape. Now I’m over halfway to my next thousand, which will be 19k, and I couldn’t be happier that I kept trying. Maybe there’s something to the motto “Just keep swimming” after all. 

Signed,

shnuffeluv

November 6

Dear NaNo Diary,

For the first year I’m participating for this, I’m doing great! But… We’re now on the 6th and I began to think to myself: “jeez, didn’t expect my life to be sleeping, eating, working and writing.” It’s harder then I thought, I admit. BUT, I told myself "when I begin, I finish it perfectly,” so I won’t stop. I want to look back at it when it’s finished. I want to hold my story in my hands—my own 50K words. Yes. I’m doing this. See you soon, my friend.

Signed,

Skeilah

We’ll post more NaNo Diary entries as November (and our novels!) progress. In the meantime, you can share your NaNo Diary entries on the official forum post.

Good luck, writers!