Some Day ...

Here I am almost 2 weeks into NaNoWriMo and falling dreadfully behind on my word count. I see posts on the NaNo forums whose authors are already past the 50,000 word count and we're not even halfway through the month. I haven't even hit 11,000 yet. And while I am managing to write something every day (even if it's only 100 words or so) so many other things are just not getting done at all.


For example, I haven't found the time to work out how to photograph my Medieval belt designs so that the details are clear while at the same time the whole item fits in the picture (see above). Suggestions very welcome, oh pretty please!

It is so easy to get caught up in all the little things that seem urgent but aren't terribly important in the long run. And then there are such a lot of them that they seem to work like a black hole and suck all of your time away. So many things you would like to do fall prey to the "I don't have time right now but I'll do that tomorrow" and tomorrow is always a day away. So time passes and you find you still haven't done whatever it was. I've got a long list of those things, waiting for the day I finally have time to do them.

Well, I'm no magician when it comes to ticking off those "some day" plans (hence the list) and I have a notebook that my sister gave me 18 years ago with the inscription "I look forward to seeing this published!" which is still empty. But for me NaNoWriMo is about making a start and, even if it takes me another 18 years, I'm going to get there.

Words, Weekends and Wickerman

Why do I always seem to find more to do when I already have a list as long as my arm? As if I didn't already have a queue of things patiently awaiting my attention, I decided to sign up for NaNoWriMo. For those not in the know that is short for National Novel Writing Month and it is happening now.

I must admit I have always wanted to write a novel but never had the motivation. This seemed like the perfect way to get started. You have a clear goal (50,000 words in 30 days) and plenty of support if you join in on the forums and events. What you write doesn't have to be blindingly brilliant, it's just a first draft after all. Four days in and I'm just on target, my hubby has read chapter one and says he wants to read more (always a good thing to hear) and I have a rough idea of where I want the story to go (although I neglected to do any advance planning - oops!).

Unfortunately there are side effects I had not counted on. My eyes seem to be losing the ability to focus due to spending hours starting at a blank white page. I have a head that feels like it's stuffed with cotton wool. I feel guilty if I do anything, including eat, before I've at least managed to write a few hundred words for the day. And I'm beginning to worry that I won't manage to leave the house for the whole of November.

At least I spent my last weekend of freedom (for a month) out in the fresh air at Archaeolink and just to prove it ...


(Did I say fresh air? Better change that to flame-filled.)