Who immediately took that innocent question straight into the gutter? For shame, for shame!
I meant with NaNo. For those of you not familiar with this, it’s a time when we writers decide to torture ourselves for one entire month. We try, and sometimes succeed, in writing a 50,000-word book in one month.
Usually when I first start my book, I’m a little bit excited but mostly fearful that every word I write will be utter and complete crap. Then, a week into writing the novel, I start to enjoy it. My characters pick up speed. It starts to feel real. Although I may not see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can certainly see that I’m staying on the tracks. And then…
And then comes that damn hump. It’s a big one, too.
I’m looking at it right now. Although it’s not Wednesday anymore, today will be my own “Over the Hump” day. It’s when my story should very well hit 25,000 words. But I’m a little concerned that I won’t make it up that hump. My main character has been put through the wringer lately. And now I can’t figure out how to make her life better, so she’s just sitting there waiting for me to save her. To make things right.
I know it’s my responsibility. I made her poor life miserable, and only I have the power to change her fate. Poor Brynn. She’s hanging all her hopes on someone who doesn’t have the gumption to make it over the hump.
However, the nice thing about NaNo is the encouragement we get from other writers going through the same thing. For instance, when I don’t feel like writing another blasted word, the chime on my phone lets me know that Pintip has texted with a half-hour sprint challenge. Okay. I can do a half hour. That’s nothing.
And then a half hour sometimes turns into an hour. Or two.
So, if you’re like me, and you’re struggling to reach that halfway mark in your novel, reach out to a friend. Reach out and challenge them to finish with you. To be a part of something that’s bigger than either of you.
I challenge you all—whether you’re participating in NaNo this year or not—to encourage your friends to reach their goals. It doesn’t have to be about writing. It can be about dieting. Or organizing the house. Or physical exercise. Anything that makes you struggle.
As Mary Anne Radmacher once said, “As we light a path for others, we naturally light our own way.”
Go! Light your path.
I’m getting ready to hump.
Great post, and I’m laughing and inspired – never knew the power of a word like hump to serve so many states of mind…yep. I’m humping right there with ya.
Yes, I accept the NaNoWriMo challenge – especially since I fell behind the past few days:(
Kim, every word you wrote here I was like, “Yes, yes, yes.” I’m sitting at 18 thousand something words and I know I can’t just give up on my girl either. I’d be leaving her in a not so great place and that’s just mean! Hahaha. Thank you for this very NaNo inspiring post on friendship and the Hump factor.
🙂
I haven’t gotten close to humping yet… 🙁 In fact, I haven’t reached 10,000. Oy! Thanks for the words of inspiration! I’m energized.
I’m going to write like a banshee today (whatever that’s like) and will 1) try to stay off facebook 2) try to stay out of my refrigerator 3) try not to play sudoku on my iphone and 4) remain BICHOK (butt-in-chair-hands-on-keyboard).
Great post, Kim! I love the Mary Ann Radmacher quote. You always come up with the best quotes.
So, let’s see… Diet? Check. Organizing? Check. Physical exercise? Check. Writing? Check. Gee, you seem to have covered all the bases where I need a little (or a lot!) of encouragement!
Go check your phone ! That’s me challenging you to another sprint. Let’s hump! (Oh dear, that sounds a lot racier than I intended…)
I’m not really doing NaNo. Signed up, but I do that every year. It never seems to work out with my schedule. Usually day job gets in the way. This year I was finishing up my WIP.
How nice that you have friends to encourage and support you on your journey. I’ll have to try and find some of my own to help me too. I’ll add that to the ever growing list.
I’m at the hump and stumped. Love your analogy that you need to save your character. I’ve kinda saved mine for now, but now need fillers and what else to do to her to get to my ending. I’m way behind and almost to point of saying I’ll finish but maybe not by end of month. This helped though make me want to get back on track. Thanks…I’m stuck on the 18,000 something mark. I have writing buddies and your post reminds me maybe I should use them.
Happy Thursday
Awesome post, Kim! I’m not doing NaNo, but I’ve been stuck on that hump in my current story for about a week and a half. I’m an edit as I go kind of girl, so NaNo doesn’t really fit into my process. I’ve tried, but I just end up editing like an addict. 😉
So it seems the dreaded hump happens whether you NaNo or not! Darn.
Loved your post Kim! I’m not even a writer but was inspired! gym ….diet….went to the gym today….first time in weeks! baby steps. Always remember if you need to get over a hump I will forever be there with my hands on your back giving you a strong yet gentle push. love you. xoxo Big Kim