Thoughts about 2021 #NaNoWriMo and #NaPodPoMo
So as I look through my cloud storage and my file explorer, I’m looking back at previous attempts of NaNoWriMo.
I remember the first time I heard about it, I was living in Chicago and attending Vet Arts Project which was essentially art therapy for Veterans outside of the VA system.
I had also joined up with a Veteran writers group ran by fellow Veteran writers, however, I fell out of favor with them because I didn’t totally support their politics.
Anyhow, while attending the Vet Arts Project group, we were led by a local author and educator who helped guide us through writing exercises. She combined tricks I learned in theater and improv as well as tricks that worked for her in past NaNoWriMos.
I didn’t finish that first time, but I believe I got 30 thousand words down and the story was coherent. Also I was writing the exercises by hand and then transcribing them into my old computer. I didn’t use a laptop back then because I didn’t have one. But now I have three plus one for work.
Sometimes I get hard on myself for not creating more. But I remind myself that I was in a different spot back then and I didn’t have many of the responsibilities I have now. Add to that being diagnosed with MS, this year’s NaNoWriMo will be special to me. I may not hit 50 thousand words, but I will do my best and hopefully finish the novel I started last year.
