I lost Nanowrimo - but this is what I learned 😵‍💫

National Novel Writing Month just ended on November 30.

The goal of nanowrimo is to write a 50,000-word novel in one month, which means writing 1,667 words every day. That's a lot of words! Especially if you haven't formed a good routine or propperly prepared for it.

This year I took on the challenge of participating in Nano and also being accountable by showing up on video for social media.

I failed on both accounts.

There are many reasons why I failed at Nano this year. I'm not making excuses for myself - okay maybe I am. I'm a single mother to four almost teenagers, I'm CEO of a growing business with a growing team and we had a book launch last week.

However, the one thing that I learned from my failure is that writing must be a priority above all else. If you want to succeed at Nano next year, or in any writing goal, you need to make sure that writing is your number one priority. No excuses.

I did have some really good days. Days when the Muse sat beside me and I channeled my characters like a pro. I wrote 3,000 words in one day and it felt amazing! I felt like I could do anything.

But then the next day would come and I'd be exhausted or life would happen or something else came up. Then my momentum slowed to a standstill.

So I took my own advice, advice I lay out in my free PDF - Unleashing your Creativity, and took some long walks in nature, meditated, read just for fun and daydreamed. That's when I realised that I write best when I'm relaxed and not pushing myself so hard.

Tools to help with productivity:

1. Word Count Tracker
2. Series Planner
3. Dragon Dictation Software
4. Write to Ritches by Renee Rose
5. Delonghi Coffee Machine

With these tools I have formed a new routine which I hope to continue. I write in the mornings at about 9am, after I've walked the dogs and gotten the kids off to school. By 10.30am I'm ready to have something to eat and start on my business committements.

I'm not sure if I will take part in Nano next year, but what I do know is that I'll be writing more than ever before. Writing has become a priority and I'm determined to make it work. So stay tuned - you never know what stories might come out of this!

I'm also learning from my failure this year. I'm learning that I need to set realistic goals and expectations, and most importantly that I need to stick with it. Writing is a marathon not a sprint - it will take time, effort, dedication and commitment if you want to succeed. So don't give up on your writing dream - just be prepared to put in the work.