I’m a NaNo failure. I tried.
I worked.
I wrote.
I worked.
I wrote.
But, unless I can convince the calendar makers that the end of November is actually December 14th, I’ll be forced to put a tattoo on my forehead that reads, NaNoFlunkie.”
However, I do have reasons I failed. Well, not reasons exactly, but things I didn’t allot time for:
· My chin needed waxed.
· Too many catalogs arrived in the mail.
· My cat coughed up a hairball.
· There was a James Bond Movie Marathon on TV.
· I got a hangnail on my typing finger.
· New neighbor moved in next door, and I had to watch him.
· My eyeballs got stuck to my binoculars when hunky new neighbor took off his shirt.
· I sprained my ankle running to take a bottle of water to Rock…er…my new neighbor.
· I pulled a back muscle helping Rock-my-world…er…Rock…ah…new neighbor hunk tote his mattress up his steps.
Life happens. How often do we set goals only to have life or those in our lives hinder our achieving those goals? Yet instead of rolling with the punches, we tend to get down on ourselves. We feel like failures. But are we? Are we failures for setting goals? Or are we merely guilty of expecting too much of ourselves?
When I set a goal of writing 50,000 words during NaNo, I didn’t factor in taking 6 days to travel to see the grandkids over Thanksgiving, helping 2 of the writers I mentor, or that the first round of edits would arrive from my editor.
When we set ourselves up for failure by expecting too much, we do a disservice to ourselves. In my case, instead of lamenting not reaching my 50,000 word goal, I’ve decided to rejoice over my tally of 36,000 words.
OK, so I’m not a NaNo winner, but I am a NaNo survivor. All things considered, that’s pretty cool. Be gentle to yourself when you set goals.
11 comments:
Definitely rejoice. 36000 words in a month is nothing to sneeze at! That's 3/4 of a short book. You may not have reached your goal, but you are definitely not a failure.
The way I see it, Vonnie - your 36K ahead of the game. How can that be losing?
Funny and fun blog - and good luck with that new neighbor - who must be worth 14K in words. :)
Joanne and Lynn, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Too often we expect a sense of SuperWoman from our chaotic lives. Too seldom, we rejoice over the small achievements. As for the new neighbor, Lynne, I feel a novella coming on...
Hello ladies. Add up all the blogging...so how many words does that total? I'm pretty sure it wasn't only your grandkids who appreciated seeing you, I reckon your kids were glad to have you visit too! Isn't it about priorities? Even if priorities sometimes seem to suck! I'm about to hide in a cave come mid-Dec and hibernate...what about you?
Oh Vonnie, I see myself as a NaNo-victor because it only took me 37K to realize NaNo was making me a crazy person. I'm impressed by those who hung in there and finished but not enough to ever put myself through the process again. And I think it's perfectly understandable you got sidetracked by your rock hard ... oh, wait, Rock was his name, right ... neighbor.
Sounds like success to me, Vonnie. I KNOW I would be a NaNo failure. I'm an "edit as I go" writer not a "get the words on the page" writer. Maybe it takes longer to type the end, but when edits begin, I'm a happy camper. You have to do what works for you, and it sounds like Rock... er your new neighbor might be the ticket to a best seller. Maybe you could post pictures on your next blog. LOL
I'm glad you've decided to celebrate your 36,000 words. It's an amazing accomplishment in and of itself and especially at this time of the year. I think I'm going to move into your neighborhood. I'd much prefer your new drool worthy scenery. My neighbor looks a lot like Rodney Dangerfield. Needless to say, I keep the drapes drawn a lot. :o)
You wrote a lot more than I did! I'm buried under promo and family and and and. I enjoyed this post and your wonderful humor.
What a fun post Vonnie! Always refreshing to hear your thoughts. 36K to me is awesome stuff - especially with all the 'extra' things you've had thrown at you lately!
Congratulations hon and keep up the positivity - it's catching! Love ya : )
Congrats, 36K is amazing.
The James Bond marathan is a legitimate excuse, so don't worry about not making 50,000 words. With my writing-I'm a plodder-if I can write 3 pages a day, I'm happy.
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