Can’t get started? Intimidated by that blank sheet of paper? In a trance looking at that blank screen? Just write. Free write. Start writing and don’t stop for at least one full page. If you have nothing in your head, write, “I have nothing in my head.” After you write that a few times, you’ll have something in your head.
I completed the NaNoWriMo 50,000 words in a month challenge. Actually, the challenge was to write a novel. I just wrote. Starting was the hardest part. Here are my first writings of each day. At 5 a.m. Don’t laugh. Oh, and just so you know, the good stuff comes toward the end. After writing 1,667 words each day, it was more difficult to stop than it was to start. Try it. You’ll see what I mean.
Day 1
Starting is the hardest part. I know I shouldn’t be writing about why I’m writing, but hey, that’s how I roll. I operate under the stressful thoughts that I have to create a masterpiece. I get stuck and am paralyzed with fear. That’s why people usually never start anything, or maybe that’s why we never finish. I attribute my unfinished projects to my ADHD fighting with my OCD.
Day 2
There are no words. None in my head about what a challenging day I had yesterday. It’s all about images. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the word art could also be substituted for beauty.
Day 3
I went to the NaNaWriMo meeting yesterday. At first, I thought it would be a terrible waste of time. An hour and a half I’ll never get back. It was actually very motivating and I learned some things that will help in my writing.
Day 4
I seem to have trained myself to get up at 5 a.m. Now that daylight saving time has ended, I’m up at 4. I told myself I would free write, although the temptation is to produce a masterpiece book. Ideas. I need to focus on my free writing. With my ADHD ways, I would never want to spend that much time on one project anyway. That’s why I like blogging. Write as much as you want, when you want, and how you want. No rules.
Day 5
I never wake up feeling inspired to write. I wake up and think of all the things I need to be doing.
- Art in the Atrium flyer and brochure
- Edit wedding photos
- List eBay stuff
- Mail eBay stuff
- Work, lots of work
Yeesh. I have a lot going on. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I need coffee. I wish I had a coffee robot. Of course, it would need to be a transformer robot, because in the evenings it would need to be a wine or beer robot. Oh, or it could have a margarita machine built into its chest! Yes, I would like one of those.
Day 6
Here we go. I told our staff management team about this writing challenge. They all looked at me kinda crazy. Is this crazy? Then a few of them said I was very disciplined. I suppose I am. I guess that’s what happens when your OCD fights with your ADHD. Interesting results. I don’t always finish all of the projects I start. I do finish the ones I’m passionate about or when it’s a personal challenge.
Day 7
I should be doing this free writing stuff the minute I wake up. I don’t. I wonder if it matters that I’m half awake and lying there thinking about stuff. I should be writing it? Probably. My eyes are getting worse. I should be wearing glasses to do this. I can still see the computer screen as long as it far enough away from my eyes. Damn old people eyes.
Day 8
I have to do a little bit of this each morning as part of my self-assigned writing project. I feel a little tired this morning. I think all of the things I need to get done are weighing me down. I need to get back to a place where I had margin. No miscellaneous jobs, no extra expenses. It was nice. I was a different person then. Now, I need to do the following…
Day 9
Here we go again. I went to the library yesterday and got some kids books. I’ve only looked through 2 of them and I’m a bit stressed now. One of the books had some of my ideas about recycling and the info pages. It had a parent page, activities and a game. The last page said the art was made from recycled stuff and a game to go find it in the book. Wonder if it was made from recycled paper? Nope, don’t see anything about that. I think that will be important for my books.
Day 10
I’m getting a late start today! I just had to have some down time yesterday. I can’t work in my house when it’s a pit. It stresses me out. Last week, all of my meetings kept me from getting anything done. I’m way too ADHD to work around a group of people. Even if they’re all quiet, I still know they can and will talk to me. I get stuff started when I can, but as soon as someone says hi to me or even looks like they might speak to me, I’m off track.
Day 11
If you like texture, sandpaper is your best friend.
I wonder if I free write now, what will come out of it. My kids are still sleeping. 5 a.m. is early. It’s the perfect time to write. My brain is fresh and I have peace and quiet. I can’t get anything done with lots of peeps around.
Wow, my head is like Jiffypop. I had a direction, and in finishing my last thought, I forgot.
Day 12
I woke up this morning to no internet. My box is dead. These phone trees are insane. I had to select more than 10 options to get me to the right place. And let’s talk about being on hold. I don’t mind being on hold, but you need to understand something. I don’t want to pay attention to anything of yours while I’m on hold. I’ll gladly do it, but it’s my time. Stop interrupting the music every 5 seconds to tell me I’m on hold. Uh, I already know that. When you play that recording, I always think it’s you really answering me, until you apologize that I need to be on hold. Really, it’s okay.
You’re talking again. Really? You would like me to visit your website to fix my problem so I don’t have to be on hold? Do you really think I would be calling you if my internet worked? I typically don’t call you to chit chat. Not sure that I ever will. Please fix my internet.
It’s hard to write anything knowing some tired person will answer the phone and help me with my internet problem. I know they have to treat everyone like they know nothing, so I usually start off by telling them everything I’ve done. Most people are like the ant in A Bug’s Life. AGGGHHHH! I’m lost!!!! Then they call. Not me. I play MacGyver. And most of the time that works.
Day 13
My internet is still out. I guess I should have seen that coming, as the indicator from my smart phone showed a black cloud following me. Back in the 90’s, I used that cliche a lot. I’m giving myself permission not to brainstorm on my BIG IDEA. I have a financial investment in it, so of course, I want this to become a reality. But then the “who do I think I am” thoughts started to set it. What makes me think I can even do this? I think part of it is my stress level with my finances. They’re not horrible, but they’re not good. It’s time to make some radical changes there. I suppose that will be my next challenge.
Day 14
I’m tired. Why am I doing this again? I really don’t need to ask that. I see a lot of value in it. I need coffee and I need a break. I’m stressed out because I can’t get everything done. One meeting can throw my whole day out of whack.
Day 15
Free writing, or free falling? Wow my brain cells fire quickly. I had a thought, and in less than a second, it was gone. Sometimes I don’t even have time to write down my ideas! I need shower crayons.
Day 16
I’m still not feeling very motivated to write. I know this is a great process and much good will come out of, especially the second half of it. I’m ready to get started on character development and book art, but I’m not ready to start. I must have a space to work. I really need a studio. I know I can make one in the garage. I MUST get that done! If I don’t, none of this will come to fruition.
Day 17
I just realized I have a whole bunch of voice memos on my phone. Some as far back as 2010 and I haven’t done anything with them. Well, it looks as though I have my project for this morning. Make that December of 2009. Wow. This should be interesting.
Day 18
Yesterday was inspiring, hanging the Art in the Atrium show at city hall. Having the opportunity to curate that for 3 years has been awesome. I’ve learned a lot!
I had a dream with a cool idea. To make info graphics about people’s lives. It would be awesome to have an app or program that generates them. This would be a cool baby book idea too. Key in when little Johnny was born, his first tooth and when he started walking, click generate and viola!
I want to redo my decor. Yes, I like change, but I want to do it out of all either thrift store stuff, freecycle stuff, or better yet, the dump. I want to take some really ugly pieces and make them into something cool. Because I have time for that! :/
Day 19
I found myself being irritated this morning. I’m not sure why. I got a lot of things done yesterday. Stupid little crap things that I’ve been too lazy to do or simply forgot about. I put the registration sticker on my car. The one dated 5 months ago.
Day 20
I slept in a few more minutes today. I’m tired. Not sure why. I suppose power working and also trying to get an overload of personal stuff done has taken its toll. Going shopping yesterday to try and find something new to wear to the reception tonight was a beating. I said I wasn’t going to do that. I lied. I figured I could find something. I wanted to get something, but I just can’t ever find what I’m looking for, nor am I willing to pay even a discounted full price for it. Yes, I’ve ruined myself. I found a Lucky Brand sweater that looked great and was the perfect color. That combination is near impossibly to find. $50? On sale?! No freaking way.
Day 21
Ugh. Woke up at 2 a.m. and couldn’t sleep. I knew getting up at 5 a.m. would not happen. It’s 6:18 a.m. Oh well. I still have some time to write. I can write in the evening. No, not as fresh then. It will be really interesting to see where my writing gets today. I NEED cards. They must be on repurposed stuff.
Day 22
This car stuff is going to be the death of me. Must have coffee and I need a massage. New car? To buy or not to buy. That is the question. This seems simple in my mind. I don’t want a new car. I want to drive my old paid off one for a longer period of time. Society says in no way would the choice to keep it, be the right one. Putting money into an old vehicle like that is considered crazy. Right now, I think buying a new, used vehicle is crazy. $6,000 in repairs to an 18 year old car? Yes, I must at least entertain the thought.
Day 23
Okay, focus! I can’t make myself focus. I’m going to get coffee and just free write. Cannot stop until I complete my daily words. Okay, I’m back. What to write about? I need a shower. This is the last time we’ll see the Infiniti Sleigh parked out front. I can’t believe how incredibly sad I am to part with that car. I’m excited about the new car, but I’m sad about the old one. Even to the point where I feel guilty about liking the new one. Do I really think I’m going to hurt the car’s feelings? Sadly, I do think that.
Day 24
The fact that Disney owns the Muppets kinda freaks me out. Yes, posting any images of the Muppet looking puppets will be a bad idea. I can tell the story, but no Muppet style puppet photos. Disney will be on my butt. I am going to proceed with the trademark. But now? Coffee.
Day 25
Could I finish this today? Maybe I shouldn’t. I need to be writing some stories. Maybe I would do a better job with that if I were to schedule that later. I feel like I need to start the art and design part. If I spend the last week of November getting the studio stuff set up, then December will be good. I also need to organize my ideas. I need an elevator pitch. I need a little over 5,000 words to be done with this.
Day 26
I need 2,145 more words. I think I can do that. Today, which is still the 25th, but dated for tomorrow. I add my straggler ideas to the next day writing. I started to get up and get my phone to write. I found the book yesterday, the art one, can’t remember the name of it. The one with this free writing concept in it. I have a list of books I haven’t read. I guess I need to get that on a challenge. I want to read Cindy’s book, the artist book and there’s a few I’ve picked up along the way.
Day 27
I really didn’t write this day, but I like the number 27. It’s my random number choice when I need one. Write randomness. That’s all it takes to start.