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NaNoWriMo & Peeps

peeps
pēps/
noun informal

  1. people (often used to refer to a person's friends or associates).
    "thanks for the feedback, peeps!"

If you choose to do NaNoWriMo you have got to explain to the ones you love and cherish what you are doing in November. The more warnings the better. I told my husband a year before I started NaNoWriMo that I wanted to do a month writing challange and explained the details. I didn’t talk about it all year but once October came around I started to talk more about NaNoWriMo. I talked about it so much my second year that my kids wanted to do NaNoWriMo too. It was fun to do some writing prep with my kids. 

My oldest has already set a goal for this year.  If you have kids you should check out the Young Writers Program.  They can set word goals. I like encouraging my kids to write with me. It might even help me justify writing on Saturday and Sunday when I have a kid or two around writing stories.  There are worse things to do on a Saturday and Sunday.  This challenge gives them a purpose to write.    

Yesterday I posted on Facebook a shout out for cheerleaders. My form of a warning. I am letting all my friends know I will be writing again in November. Finding peeps that will cheer you on is fun for you. It also gives you some accountability. Can't put it out to the world and fail. That is tragic and also gives you some inner motivation to write. It is scary to put it out to everyone, but it works.  

Family and friend need to know that you will have to make choices. It could be to write or go out to dinner. Writing or go to a movie. Writing or go shopping with your best friend. It isn’t that you don’t want to go to a movie or shopping but if it can wait until December, wait! 

My husband this year said to me, “you should get that done in October before NaNoWriMo.” Three years into it and he gets it. There is little time for much else but writing. I can do a movie marathons in December. TIVO is great for recording weekly TV shows. Use that DVR! Winter is upon us and there will be plenty of cold nights for catching up on TV. Once you finish your 50,000 you will be glad you gave up some fun time for the reward of 50,000 words.  

With all that said, you do have some choices to go out and have some fun. Just make sure you keep up with your word goals. I went on a four day, three night field trip with my middle child last year.  The first few days of November.  I knew this and planned accordingly and still got to 50,000 words.  It can be done! 

 No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty (founder of National Writing Month) gives you idea on how to get your friends and family interested and keep you motivated. If you have not read, No Plot? No Problem! I would try to get a copy it is a easy read and very encouraging to read in October before you take on what might seem impossible. 

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