Summary

The author is a dedicated writer who has set ambitious writing goals, including daily short forms, weekly long forms, and a monthly word count challenge, while balancing a full-time job and personal life, aiming to complete a novelette and ultimately a bestselling novel.

Abstract

The author of the article is engaged in a personal challenge to push their writing capabilities to the limit. Despite having a full-time job, they have committed to writing daily short forms and weekly long forms, with the added goal of completing a fifteen-thousand-word novelette during April's Camp NaNoWriMo. The author reflects on the difficulty of balancing their writing aspirations with everyday responsibilities and self-care, acknowledging the potential for burnout. However, they remain determined to persevere, viewing the challenges as temporary and the journey towards achieving their writing goals as ultimately rewarding.

Opinions

The author identifies as a masochist, not in a sexual sense, but in their drive to take on extensive writing projects.
They recognize the potential for self-delusion in believing they can manage an overwhelming workload.
Inspiration is seen as a double-edged sword that can lead to overextension and lack of focus.
The author admits to enjoying writing but also to the necessity of following a structured plan to achieve their goals.
They have set specific targets for their writing, including the number of long and short forms, and a word count for their novelette.
The author is realistic about the challenges of writing a novel, considering their limited time and inexperience.
They question the healthiness of their intense writing schedule and whether it leaves adequate space for other aspects of life.
The author believes that the discomfort of stretching oneself thin is temporary and necessary for achieving significant goals.
They advocate for focusing on the present task rather than being overwhelmed by future uncertainties.
The author expresses gratitude towards Ellie Jacobson for introducing them to Camp NaNoWriMo, which has reinvigorated their writing motivation.
They encourage other writers to join the challenge, showing a communal spirit in the writing process.

Why Do We Stretch Ourselves So Thin?

I label myself a masochist, but not the sexual kind.

Do you ever spread yourself too thin? Do you have projects you wish to start, but you back yourself into a corner? I might have deluded myself into thinking I have the stamina to do it all. That’s the problem with inspiration. It can grab your creativity and stretch you as far as your elastic mind can take you until you bounce. And suddenly, you’re skipping from side to side, focusing on plenty, but concentrating on nothing.

It started with a January mission of creating an intention and reaching a writing goal. I tried to keep it stimulating yet doable. Regardless of how much I enjoyed writing, I needed to follow a plan to reach twenty-two long forms, one hundred short forms, with two themes each month over three months. I’d also committed to writing daily.

As I reached my first trimester, I noted I nailed this benchmark out of the park. From January to the end of March, I wrote thirty-two long forms, one hundred and twenty short forms, many incorporating the themes of learning something new and always being kind.

As I started the first days of my second trimester, I wanted to push myself further. So I upped the ante. I joined April’s Camp NaNoWriMo. I loved how I could decide what my end game looked like, pick my word count, and work at my pace.

I’ve recently admitted to wanting to write a novel. So now here was my chance. But writing a lengthy book was an enormous endeavour with my limited hours and inexperience, so I shot closer to home and committed to creating a novelette with an intended target of fifteen thousand words.

I started writing it on April 1st. I figured writing five hundred words per day was manageable, and I had a good chance of becoming successful. The writing started well despite not having yet decided where the story should go. The one thing I knew was that it was a fictional mystery that would contain blood, guts, and gore. Other than that, I’m still in the dark. I’ll need to keep writing my heart out to figure it out.

But then reality hits.

During weekdays, I have a full-time job. Yet to achieve my intention, each week, I must write daily short forms to publish at the Daily Cuppa and weekly long forms to reach my monthly goal. So, where will I find the time to spin five hundred words toward my novelette?

Have I spread my desires too thin? Have I set myself up to fail?

I thought of taking a weeklong vacation, but that makes little sense. The goal isn’t to write the fifteen thousand words in whatever way I can. No, the aim is to keep writing daily.

How do other writers do it? It’s not foreign to me to wake early to write or scribble during daytime and lunch breaks and again as soon as I get home. But is this healthy? Am I doing myself a service to immerse myself so deeply in writing that everything else takes a back seat?

There are household chores to get done and self-care duties to heed. Is writing twenty-four/seven a healthy way to live? I figure not. So how does one prioritize and decide?

It boils down to ultimately reaching the aspirations in my life that will bring me joy, peace, and happiness, and if this is through writing, then baby, I’m all for it. But I must first recognize that the journey to get there will be choppy and filled with roadblocks. Still, I know it will be worthwhile if I stay the course.

I want to write a novelette, and someday I foresee myself writing a novel that becomes a bestseller.

So, for now, here’s what I’ve done. I’ve stretched myself to the limit with a fascinating end goal in sight. I think it’s achievable. My discomfort is temporary. Sometimes, we need to immerse ourselves in activities that feel way out of reach.

Think of the horse and the carrot. Focus on what’s right in front of you. Forget about staring off into the future. It’s time I concentrate on today.

Currently, I have one short form per day and two long forms per week to master. I’ve now added five hundred words per day that will weave itself into a masterpiece. I know it’s a stretch.

Wish me luck.

I am a go-getter, but I trust I’ll falter many times this month during my journey. That’s part and parcel of this process. Without sweat and tears, there’s little room for victory.

I’m here to declare I’m in writing beast mode as I map out my survival. Quitting is not an option. And while we’re at it, failure isn’t either.

Thank you, Ellie Jacobson, for introducing me to Camp NaNoWriMo. It’s kick-started my mojo. I hope more writers will join us.