Struggling Author
NaNoWriMo has been going on for two weeks now.
If you’re like me, you’re more or less on target for the 25,000 words mid-month. If you’re like most of my writing buddies on the NaNo site, you’re behind.
And yet, you have been writing every day. Most likely, you’ve been writing more words in these two weeks than in the last three months together.
And it is HARD.
You may have sacrificed some sleep time for word count – I certainly did – and you may have cancelled meeting friends or other activities. And you’re most likely still behind.
In addition, you’re beyond the initial thrill with the story, and coming up with new plot points and interesting scenes is also getting harder.
Your brain is tired
That’s because your brain is getting tired. It’s been working hard during these two weeks. You’ve written half a novel! Or almost!
You’re deep inside the dreadful middle of a story where the plot threads spread out and meander and threaten to take turns you never planned.
Keeping track of all that is also a lot of work. (If you’re a plotter, of course, you may not have that problem.) Even so, there should be much happening in your novel, and that keeps your writer brain spinning.
You’re physically tired
You’re probably not used to typing so much, and your body may show some strain. That can present as neck pain, back pain, headaches, and wrist problems.
Make sure to shift your typing position. I use a key board tray that is the only way I can avoid carpal trouble. But especially if you’re on a laptop, get creative. Move around. Shift position. Give your body breaks.
What also works for me is to use a timer. Set it to 20-30 minutes and write. And then – and this is just as important – take a break. Get up. Move around. Play with the dog. Those actions relieve tension in your body and activate your muscles. And it also gives your brain the chance to come up with new ideas while you’re not worried about them.
You’re still doubting yourself
And even if you’re on NaNo quota and writing along with relative ease, you’re probably still doubting yourself.
How can a story be any good if I’m writing it so fast?
How can it work if I hardly ever stop to think it through?
Even if I have my chapter list, the scenes feel rushed and unpolished.
You’re still comparing your draft to edited and polished novels
I caught you there, right?
But you see, what we get as readers is very, very rarely a first draft, even from those notorious self-publishers. What we see as “normal” is the product of several editing passes and feedback from beta-readers or editors. We get the polished, shiny version where problems have been fixed after finishing the first draft.
This is not what you can create during NaNo.
Very simple.
Stop expecting a fully fledged novel to somehow spring from your keyboard in a month of writing.
And now get back to work. *winks*
EFT tapping
As usual, I’m offering you some EFT tapping phrases to make NaNo easier for you. Because it really is about the mindset and of course, about having fun.
Even though keeping up with NaNo is such a strain, and I struggle every evening to get my work count, I’m still totally okay the way I am, and I now choose to hang in there and keep going!
Even though I really struggle with that word count, and I’m running out of ideas and lost the fun, I’m still totally okay the way I am, and I now choose to improve my writing routines to make this easier for me.
Even though it is so hard to write every day, and so easy to fall more and more behind, I’m still totally okay the way I am, and I now give myself permission to drop all worries and expectation and rediscover the simply joy of writing and telling that story.
Asking you:
How are you doing on NaNoWriMo?
What’s your problem in your story?
What happened while you were tapping?
And finally – what’s your NaNoWriMo project?
Please share in a comment.
Image Source: F. Moebius
PS: My newsletter contains a full tapping round to go with my blog posts, so it’ll be easier for you to get results. Sign up through the form on the upper right hand corner, and receive an introduction to EFT as a gift, find that specific tapping round plus occasional special offers. If you’re on a mobile and can’t see the sidebar, you can sign up through this link: Newsletter Sign-up.
