Back in December 2011, I wrote a post that detailed my goals for 2012. One of those goals was to participate in this year’s National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo as it’s known for short is an annual event that sees thousands of English writers from around the world attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.
I’m a writer with a passion for 30-day challenges and I have been carrying around the idea for a novel for nearly 10 years. This challenge was made for me right?
Just to add some pressure, I recently got a job working online for this man. It keeps me pretty busy but I enjoy it and it’s flexible and it means I don’t have to go back to England any sooner than I would want to. But, it does mean that as well as the 5 hours a day of work I do, I’ll also have to write approximately 1,667 words a day if I am to have any chance of hitting 50,000 words by the deadline at midnight on November 30th 2012. Oh and I also have a friend coming to stay for the second week of November.
So having considered all the reasons why this challenge is going to prove difficult to complete, here are a list of reasons why I just might succeed:
- Because I believe I can
- Because I work well under pressure
- The busier I am the harder I work
- I’m good at getting up with the sun
- Back in July I wrote 18,992 words as part of a 30-day challenge
- I’m a writer
- It’s been my dream to write a novel since I was a little girl
About 5 years ago I had all but given up my dream of becoming a successful writer and I remember a new boyfriend asking one of my oldest friends “What do I need to know about Caroline?” My friend replied with something along the lines of “her dream is to become a writer and you should support her in that.” I remember laughing when my boyfriend told me and responded by saying, “oh that’s not my dream anymore, that’s an old dream.”
Only now do I realize that almost giving up on my dream to become a writer was nothing to do with the age of it. I had reached a point in life where I couldn’t ever imagine finding the time to indulge my passion of writing so rather than risk the chance of failing at it due to a lack of time, I slowly allowed myself to give up on it.
Fast-forward to March 2012 and I’m crossing my first border on my round the world trip and filling in an arrivals card. I read the word occupation and blink. Without much thought I write down the word ‘writer’ and smile. There you have it, without even realizing it, I had become a writer and this blog had become the portfolio of my work.
So fast-forward to today and I’m preparing myself to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It won’t be a novel ready for print, it will be a first draft that might need months or even years of work. I might not make the word count to become a “winner” but I will have written more of my novel in 30 days than I have in nearly 30 years of wanting to.
In 2011, 256, 618 people participated in this challenge and of those, 36, 843 made the word count by the deadline to become “winners” but that doesn’t make the 219,775 who didn’t make the word count “losers”, it makes them courageous souls who were willing to put their dream on the table and give it a go, regardless of the odds.
“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” ~ Christopher Reeve
I remember years ago telling someone about my dream to publish a novel and that person saying to me “don’t you think lots of people have that dream?” and the answer is yes, I imagine lots of people do, but the difference between those that have the dream and those that realise the dream is action and perseverance. The people who make it are precisely those that didn’t let the thought of failing deter them from their path.
Do you have a dream that you’ve buried or ignored? Have you started telling yourself it’s not what you want just because you think it might be difficult to achieve? Or do you have a story of facing your fears and self-doubt and going after your dream regardless? Either way I’d love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this post please don’t forget to share it by using the buttons below. Thanking you kindly.
Hi there, I'm Caroline. Welcome to Life is Limitless, my blog about personal development with a focus on facing fears and living a life without limits. Check out my about page to find out more and pop your email in the box below to subscribe for regular updates.
Caroline, so sorry I haven’t been by here since you’re 30 posts in 30 days adventure over the summer. I’ve kind of been away from doing a lot of things that I know I should be doing. But I’m getting back in the game and getting back on track!
Speaking of your adventure over the summer and of NaNoWriMo, I’ve been inspired to do a similar challenge based on my own NaNo experience this year. So I’m going to do a 30 posts in 30 days challenge on my NaNo experience and how what I’m doing there can relate to being successful in life.
You can look me up on the NaNo boards! I’m GradyP there and plan to be active, particularly in the Reaching 50K area.
See you at the 50K finish line!
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Hey Grady, please don’t apologise! Thanks so much for your comment, your 30 posts idea sounds great. I’m so excited that you are participating in NaNo too. Good luck and I’ll look you up on the NaNo boards!
Hi Caroline, I did (well, started) NaNoWriMo last year, straight after WordPress’ A Post A Day in October, which may not have been the wisest timing! I was one of the majority who didn’t finish, but I had fun writing the bit I did, and still have the outline I scribbled down on a piece of paper somewhere. You know that have meet-ups in cities all round the world? You sound like exactly the sort of super-motivated and disciplined person who will succeed in this challenge. Ten years ago I also gave up my 9 to 5 job to go travelling, knowing I wanted to live abroad (Ecuador for one year, Spain for nine). I did/have done a few things on your list (now fluent in Spanish) but also need to do the SLR thing. Best of luck with the novel and the rest of your list!
Hi Fiona, I did a post a day in July so I’ve had plenty of time to recover. We’ll see about whether I succeed or not. I’m not fixated on the word count at the moment, just taking it day by day. There is actually a Thailand group but not in my city. Congratulations on you travel plans. I’m so impressed with your Spanish learning, I can’t wait to be fluent in Spanish one day. Thanks so much for your support, I really appreciate it!
I can see your novel on the bestseller list already! Good luck on the challenge, I have absolute faith that you will make the word count (and probably more) and I look forward to reading the results of your labour one day
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Thanks Hannah! You have more faith in me than I do
Caroline I’m cheering you on all the way from Japan
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I really hope you put out some posts that keep us updated. Or even more importantly I hope at the end of it all you give a “lessons learned” type post (I freaking love those!).
Personally for me – I am starting to believe that the less time I have the more I seem to get done. It is odd but true. Starting in January I am going to increase the amount of part time work I do in Japan in hopes of being more productive with my blog. It sounds counterproductive but I think because I will have less time it will require me to be more focused on each of my tasks. Also, it will require that I spend my time only on high value activities.
I also am doing it as an experiment so I can share it with all my readers.
Make it happen Caroline
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Caroline recently posted..The Unexpected Answer to Deal With The Uncertainty, Doubts, And Fears of Pursuing A Dream
Hey Izzy, thanks so much for your support I really appreciate it. Alas I haven’t posted this month because I’ve been SO busy not just with the novel but with work and friends visiting me here in Thailand. But I promise there will be a post talking about my experience. I am massively behind on my word count and I have no idea if I can catch up at this late stage in the game but I will definitely keep going! I love what you’ve said about time and productivity. There’s a phrase we say in England which is “if you want something doing ask a busy person” because busy people work harder and fit more in. I’m hoping this theory holds true for the rest of November. I can’t wait to read the results of your experiment
Heya Caroline!
Loved the Christopher Reeve quote. Really inspiring!
I’ve just seen you in Niall’s video and decided I had to check your blog out. I wanted to let you know that I enjoy your articles and hope to see more of it soon!
Thanks, and I wish you the most luck and inspiration in your passion to write!
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Hi Andrew thanks a million for your comment. I’ve haven’t posted this month because the novel writing has sort of taken over. I’m very behind on my word count but I’m determined to make the 50,000 so I’ll be writing more about what I’ve been through whatever the outcome. I checked out your site and I loved it, shyness is a topic close to my heart and your blog is very much needed