NaNoWriMo

For anyone who doesn't know, November is National Novel Writing Month. This was actually news to me, but the more I read about it, the more I wanted to be a part of it.

I haven't done much writing since finishing school last fall. I wasn't sure this was having much of an effect on me, but recently I have discovered it really has. I have had a strong feeling the last little while there was something I just wasn't getting. Like there was something missing, even though I was sure it was right in front of me.

As part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short) a community of writers commit to writing an original work of fiction (at least 50,000 words) in 30 days.

I read about the challenge and I was hooked. I signed up for the task and as of last night have been engaging in the age old practice of novel writing.

After one day I could feel the difference. All I want to do is write now. Even the writing I do at work, which I admit is less than fulfilling, has seemed less cumbersome.

One day spending my time doing what I love rather than distracting myself as I normally would (I'm so sorry TV, please don't think I've abandoned you all together) and I feel like a different person. I don't feel like a frustrated or stymied creative person. After an evening or two of creating I am starting to feel like a real artist. Could this have been what I was missing all along?

When I'm not writing I think a lot about how great it would be to just write books for a living, but when I am writing I think about how I don't care if anyone ever paid me or not to do it. I just love doing it.

The point is, I am taking this month as an opportunity to recommit myself to being in charge of my own destiny. Of acting upon life, rather than reacting to it. I refuse to be a sucker for circumstances (as Morten Abel puts it) any longer.