Once upon a time, I wrote 50,000 words…
I wrote my first NaNoWriMo novel in 2014, it was titled Aliens Anonymous: Protectors of the Galaxy. It reminds you of a certain famous space flick, doesn’t it? To be fair, I wrote it before I dove into Marvel’s cinematic universe. Well, I didn’t really dive into them as much as my sister pushed me to continue watching the films, and I’m very grateful. Avengers Infinity War and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are top favorite films of mine.
Let me start again… I wrote Aliens Anonymous in 2014. I didn’t love the story enough to work on a second draft, but it’s a constant reminder that I can write a book. I can write 50,000 words (50,005, to be exact).
As the years went by since 2014, I never wrote that much for a novel again. I spent the coming years trying to outline new stories, perfect characters, and build captivating worlds, and I always gave up. I tried to stick to the writer’s anthem; to commit to story structure, plan plot points, interview characters, blah, blah, blah.
What Type of Writer are You?
What if I’m not a writer? I worried. I wanted to write a book since I was ten years old, and yet, I felt suffocated trying to follow the rules and guidelines. Comparison drowned my creativity. My writing never started.
I was so disheartened that I couldn’t write, and with a full-time job where I could turn my brain off and work on routine every day, I felt creatively stuck. With the passion and love I’ve harbored for writing since I was a child, the only thing I felt was my soul leaving my body. Not to be dramatic, but that’s how it genuinely felt to be too scared to face my dreams.
How did I manage to write 50,000 words in a month back almost 11 years ago, and not as close to as many words in the past decade? I thought back on my experience during November 2014. And huzzah! My eureka moment. I’m not sure when this eureka moment happened, but I will say it was a better setting than a bathtub (no offense, Archimedes. But there’s no running in the streets naked for me).
I realized I wrote 50,000 words because I didn’t plan anything. I just had a simple story idea. A girl hides under her bathroom cabinet when multicolored meteorites fall from the sky and crash into her house.
I’m a plantser! Oh, did she misspell ‘panther’? Is this another Marvel reference? No, I’m a plantser. Pronounced ‘plants-sir’. A breed of writer who plans a bit of the story, but majorly writes at the seat of their pants– no detailed planning, no serious outlining, no blah-blah-blahing. Just writing.
I focused so much on being a traditional writer and perfecting the planning process, all while self-pressurizing and committing to an unrealistic end goal. It was unrealistic because it didn’t suit me. Every writer has their personal touch and methods of structuring a story. Molding yourself to a writing process that doesn’t fit you is like trying to wear pants two sizes too small. Why bother fitting into a tight squeeze when you can wear the right size? Better yet, find tailored pants that best suit your figure, height, and weight. It’s more flattering progress to create content and write stories that are personally customized to you.
Create a Routine and Mantra
While writing Aliens Anonymous, I created a routine that fit me. I had fun writing Aliens Anonymous. I wrote Aliens Anonymous.
I was snacking on gummy bears and sour candies and chugging Arizona iced tea. Maybe this had something to do with my devotion, the familiar routine associated with writing time. When I spot the same candy in the grocery aisles, it immediately reminds me of those writing days and nights I spent tackling my first draft. I was writing to see where the story goes. I didn’t think of the ending or how well my sentences flowed. I enjoyed the evolution of the story. I wrote just to write words, not to perfect them.
“And she just wrote…” is the mantra I use when I feel under pressure or overwhelmed with my writing projects. The use of third-person pronouns creates a separation between who I am now and who I want to be–kind of like an alter ego. I’m working on embodying The Writing Girl while not completely pressuring myself to feel like I would be a failure if I didn’t write every single day. And the ellipsis reminds me to pause and inspires a moment of relaxation before I jot down words for the day. It could encourage you to create a mantra for yourself and uphold a consistent feel to what you’re trying to achieve.
I haven’t pinned down my go-to writing vibes with specific candles or tea just yet, but it is helpful if you’re set on following a daily routine. Mine, for now, is to write whenever inspiration strikes and to remind myself to just write…
