What I Learned From NaNo Fail

Dec 07, 2009 in NaNoWriMo Tips, Writing Strategy

My latest post over at the Saturday Writers blog tells the sad story of my experience with NaNoWriMo this year. Yes, I failed to reach 50,000 words this year.

But I learned some things about myself in the process:

Listen to your inner voice

It’s silly to take on a new project when you KNOW you don’t have the time to give it the attention it needs. I need to pay attention to that inner voice that says, “You don’t have the time and you aren’t going to make the time to get this done.”

Say no to peer pressure

It’s silly to let peer pressure guide your commitments. Peer pressure can be a great motivator to help you reach your goals. But making a commitment that you know you can’t keep just because of peer pressure is the dark path to guilt that you really don’t need. Do what’s best for you and your novel.

Writing in a group is fabulous

It’s incredibly fun to join in on virtual write-ins. The NaNoWriMo team held them on Twitter, as did my local NaNo Group, the Central Iowa NaNo’ers (#cianano). If you can’t make it physically to a local write-in, join a virtual one.

Did you finish NaNoWriMo this year? What did you learn in the process?

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5 comments

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Paige Bruce (2 comments.) on December 7, 2009 at 11:03 am

I didn’t finish this November either, and there were a lot of outside factors involved in it, but I did learn *a lot* about myself from it, similar to what you’re saying here.

I also got a good start on the novel, and you don’t *need* NaNo in order to write it.
Paige Bruce´s last blog ..Holiday Confession from an Atheist
Kristen (1 comments.) on December 7, 2009 at 5:22 pm

I experienced the exact same thing. I should have listened to my inner voice, but I let peer pressure get the best of me.

It’s nice to know someone else encountered the same trouble I did. No one wants to fail, but it’s easier to do so with company
Cheryl on December 7, 2009 at 5:57 pm

Very true, Paige! I like participating in NaNo as it gives me a push to get a lot of writing done in a month and I enjoy the camaraderie of so many other writers pursuing the same goal. But I can finish my novel without NaNo and in the case of this story, that’s probably best.
cccorbin (1 comments.) on December 8, 2009 at 12:07 am

Yes, failure is much easier in a group. Next year, I'll pay closer attention to what that voice is saying, too. Though it may need to shout louder.