26 October 2012

Ode to NaNoWriMo


This is me crossing the Spartan Race finish line, not looking as badass as I felt.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) scares me. As the start date, November first, approaches I find myself thinking the same things I thought as I approached the starting line for the Spartan race. Can I do this? Have I prepared enough? Both events are all about endurance. Anyone can sit down and type, but can you do it for thirty days straight? Can you dig deep and give voice to the story on your heart? Can you ignore the urge to compare yourself to others, ignore anyone that says you can’t do it (including you), and commit to writing 50,000 words?
I’m going to try. It might be 47,123 words of pure drivel, but that’s ok. It’s editable, revisable drivel. You know what’s not editable or revisable? A blank page.
So the starting line is in front of us. I have butterflies and I wonder if I have what it takes. If you’re feeling the same way I am, if you’re running this race with me, I have just one thing to say to you:
WE CAN DO THIS.
And on that note, here is a very silly Ode to NaNoWriMo:
I will write, I will write, I will write
To my greatest disdain or delight
harnessing thought,
and sculpting a plot,
throughout the day and at night
I will write, disregarding the clock
defending against writer’s block
confronted with doubt,
I’ll write my out
from between a hard place and rock
No facebook, no cable, no phone
as I work out my narrative tone
I sit undeterred
Writing word after word
All my plans I shall hereby postpone
Friends and loved ones please hear my plight
You may think that I’m not alright
but hold your appraise
for the next thirty days
as I write, and I write, and I write!

7 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I promise myself every year that I'll do it, now your poem has inspired me to try again! Very nice. :)

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  3. Yay! That's exciting. Look for "Little_Light" on NaNo, we can be writing buddies!

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  4. I think this calls for team shirts or jersies!

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