Encouragement came in a number of different forms on this last day of the first week of National Novel Writing Month. For the first time I didn’t reach my daily writing goal by late morning, a habit I knew I’d have to maintain if I were to successfully write 45,000 – 50,000 words during NaNoWriMo.
I discovered small encouragements throughout the day so I didn’t give up:
- I was excited to purchase 5 new writing pens at Target, since my last 4 pens have already run out of ink.
- I recalled what Loft instructor Abby Cooper discussed on the first day of class, that is, “First drafts don’t have to be good; they only need to exist.”
- I reread wise words from one of my all-time favorite meditation books called Each Day a New Beginning, published by Hazelden. “We can learn to believe that we are doing any task as well as we need to do it at this time. Our job is the effort. The outcome is part of a larger plan, one that involves more than ourselves. We’ll find joy when we find acceptance of ourselves and our efforts and the belief that we are beautiful beings whose lives do have purpose and direction.”
And so, I persevered, writing this evening until my daily writing goal was accomplished: 1518 words.
Seven days down, 23 to go. Proud to be a Minnesotan on this post-election day!
#NaNoWriMo18