Why I Don’t Do #NANOWRIMO

For many writers, November is NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). Once upon a time, about nine years ago before I had a child, I also did NANOWRIMO and, if you’re going by the number of words written, I finished it. However, if you’re going with whether or not I had a completed book, I decidedly did not. In fact, ’90s Coming of Age Novel? Well, that’s the book I started all those years ago for NANOWRIMO.

Right about now, I’m tempted (as I am every year) to do a NANOWRIMO push. After all, writing any particular amount every day sounds awesome. But, as an American woman/wife/mother, I find November to be the absolute worst month aside from December for this endeavor. There’s Halloween the night before it begins, and then there’s the run-up to American Thanksgiving and Christmas, which involves a lot of work for women/mothers.

I have to admit, every year, I find myself thinking, “Whoever originally created NANOWRIMO was probably a single male with no family obligations.” My research reveals that it was 21 people, probably of mixed genders, but I’m still doubting that many/any of them had kids and traditional family obligations for the months of November and December.

I was looking for something about mothers and Thanksgiving, but when I saw this, I knew I had to share it. I have the same problem. LEGO families are so judgmental, man.

But, I ask myself, am I just selling myself short? Could I squeeze in, say, 1,000 words a day if I actually focus and do it? I probably could. And maybe I should. And maybe I will try after all. (I say that like I say it every year.) But there’s also the issue of my personality and the way my brain works. Once I’m plugged into a book I’m writing, the rest of the world falls away. Housework? What is that? Appointments? Whoops…nearly missed it…oh, shit, I did miss it! All the little extras? Huh? What are extras? Are you asking me about the extras I’m throwing into my book? Because I’ve given a lot of thought to those! That sort of thing.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas holding such esteemed and important places in the hearts of children everywhere–and definitely in my kid’s heart–my head needs to be in the game. So, yeah, I probably, maybe, definitely won’t be participating in NANOWRIMO. But I guess I might try. Since it started yesterday, I should probably decide.

*ponders*

Probably not. After all, I have edits on the figure skater/rancher book, Training Season, to finish up within the next few weeks. Then I’ve got to get ARCs out review sites. Then I’ve got to decide on a release day for it.

I’m a Libra. I can’t decide.

Seriously, though, GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE!! *shakes pom-poms* YOU CAN DO IT!!! RAH-RAH!!