A NaNoWriMo Hack: Be Proud of Yourself

Need a quick NaNoWriMo hack? We’ve asked our Municipal Liaisons to offer their best tip for November success. Today, Tara Kennedy, our ML in Washington DC, gives her final-week advice:

Writing is an interesting pursuit. I suspect because the very basics of writing are taught to most of us early, the idea of sitting down to write a story seems basic and easy. And in some ways it is: the way that knowing how to walk also makes you capable of running a marathon. Or just like knowing how to tie a knot means you’re ready to knit a sweater.

So, at some point you signed up for this crazy journey, and you told others (probably) that you were doing this. You locked yourself in with your words. And you began planning what this story would become after November. You may have already written your award speech. And all of that is wonderful and great. I believe in your story and its future. 

But it is equally important to remember how amazing it is to just do this. To stop refreshing the NaNo calculator to watch your graph go up, and just be proud of the words you have now. You are amazing. Your story is amazing. The words you have now are amazing.

Tara Kennedy is a native Washingtonian (they do exist). By day she wrangles data and by night she writes tales of teens trying to forge their way in this world. Tara also knits, watches TV, makes Hamiltunes references, and drinks lots and lots of tea.

Top photo by Flickr user cproppe.