Hello there ladies and gents, I have some news for you!
November is halfway through. For many of us, we know that November is the month in which writers all over the globe sit down and dedicate themselves to writing. Whether that is to write a novel, a script, a chapbook…regardless of what you write, November is usually the time to rededicate yourself to your craft. Why? Because November is National Novel Writing Month. It started out as a challenge between friends but over the last couple of decades has become something far more than that. It is a way to express your creativity, engage with other creatives (from writers to designers to even editors and literary agents).
For those who are affiliated with the Women of Color Writers’ Circle all know about how we handle this month (daily sprints and encouraging words via our Discord channel). Like I said, the month is half over and for many of us that means we are beginning to run out of steam, whether it is due to life’s challenges or a rough spot in out current work-in-progress. Many of us get to this point in the month and truly wish to take a long nap or eat our favorite treats and not write for the next week or so. All of those desires are completely valid and pretty cool.
Before you get too excited, don’t worry, this post is not to share that you should not have snacks or take breaks. In fact, this post is to encourage them! NaNoWriMo (which is what National Novel Writing Month is commonly referred to as), is mainly meant to be a fun challenge, not some gruesome obstacle course meant to weed people out. It is just a time to challenge yourself to start (and hopefully finish) a work that you would be willing to share with the world someday. So, for those of us who thought they were going against some Olympian in this thing called writing, I am here to encourage you to take breaks when you need them. Reward yourself with a snack or treat yourself to dinner. Don’t give up or overwork yourself all in the name of finishing 50,000 words which is the traditional NaNoWriMo goal. Relax, breath and remind yourself that even if you didn’t get to where you had hoped at the end of these thirty days, you tried, you wrote and you stuck it out. And in my book, that is a major win.
Last but not least, for all of us who are participating in NaNoWriMo this year: Congrats! Taking this challenge was definitely a huge step. And you did it. Remember that fact and be proud of yourself! We are all here to celebrate with you! So keep typing away at that keyboard, or make sure you have the best pens available. However you write, whenever you write, wherever you write, you’re doing something amazing. And that deserves a round of applause and maybe even a standing ovation. Keep going, fifteen more days to go! You got this!
For more information about National Novel Writing Month, please click here.
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Written by: Chyina Powell
The Women of Color Writers’ Circle is open to all women of color who have a desire to write, whether for themselves or in the hopes of becoming a published author. This is true of our virtual meetings and our Discord channel. Although, we welcome comments from allies. If you or someone you know would like to become a member or has a business inquiry, please email us at womenofcolorwriterscircle@gmail.com. Thank you for your interest!
Women of Color Writers Circle 