PREPTOBER 2022 | Who’s in Your Corner?

The act of writing can be very lonely at times. As writers, we are the creators of worlds that we will never live in. We can visit there for a time, but we are only visitors in the worlds that we build. The characters that we write may feel like our friends and our family at times, but at the end of the night when it’s time to go to bed, we are left wanting for more than the fictional creatures we have conjured up in our minds.

This is why it is so important that we have a support system in place––especially during NanoWrimo. The month of November will already be hard enough with attempting to write 50,000 words in a single month, but the thought of facing that alone is daunting. A support system will help carry you through this journey and cheer you on while you do it.

Everyone should know who’s in their corner when they step up to take on NanoWrimo. Do you?

Friends

Letting your friends know about NanoWrimo can be intimidating. For the longest time, I would avoid talking about my writing with my friends because I thought it was just a silly dream that I had. I would listen to everyone else’s dreams with amazement and wonder. I’d cheer them on saying, “You got this! You can do it!” And, at the same time I was telling them they could do anything they put their minds to, I was hiding my own dreams and letting them stay in the dark. I watched in jealousy and envy while other people in my life shined brightly, embracing their true calling while I tucked my dreams away in a drawer never to see the light of day.

I was so afraid that if I shared my dreams with my friends that they’d tell me I would never make it. That I wouldn’t be able to do it. And, honestly, any real friend would never say those things. True friends don’t laugh at my dreams. And neither will yours.

Your friends should be lifting you up. And you, in turn, should be lifting them up. There is no room for jealousy or pettiness when you’re friends. Their victories are your victories; their defeats are your defeats. And vice versa.

They are your chosen family––the ones who grew to love you simply because of you being your most authentic and real self. Do not tarnish the bonds of friendship by keeping your NanoWrimo goals a secret. Let your friends know what you’re trying to accomplish and how they can support you.

Do you need a friend to drop by with some delicious home cooked food once a week? Ask for it.

Worried that your sanity might break if you don’t get out and breathe in some fresh air? Designate a walking buddy from your friend group.

Whatever you need from your friends during this time, ask for. But in December, when NanoWrimo is over, make sure that you have a way to thank them for their support. Bake their favorite cookies, host a party at your place to celebrate the end of NanoWrimo, or even give them actual thank you cards––make sure that you give back to them and show them that you appreciate what they have done for you.

Family

Love ’em or hate ’em, your family can be a part of your support system as well. When I was a kid and just getting into writing, I used to hide my writing from my family. My parents would come into the study where we had one computer for the whole household and I would quickly shut all of my tabs. My parents, of course, would give me weird looks and ask, “So…what are you doing?”

I’d give them some vague answer and hope they didn’t realize that I was writing. I was caught a couple of times and I may as well have been caught for looking at something inappropriate with the way that I acted. My parents? Didn’t. Care. One. Bit.

As I got older, I grew more comfortable with writing around my family. I still wouldn’t let them see my writing, but I wasn’t hiding it so fiercely anymore. I would spend hours writing in different notebooks and dreaming up different worlds to explore. My family, although confused about my absolute passion for writing, encouraged my interest.

They didn’t realize at the time that it was more than a hobby for me. It wasn’t until I became an adult, got out into the world and knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to be a writer that they understood the full scope of what I was aiming for.

While they still don’t understand where my path is headed quite yet, I know that they have my back. And wherever you might be with your family in your writing journey, you might have someone in your family that has your back. And while they might not understand your fierce passion for writing or why you’d take on NanoWrimo, you know they’ve got your back.

Open up to family members that you feel comfortable with sharing your goals with. Have a dinner with them once a week just to blow off some steam. Talk through your ideas over dessert. If you aren’t sure you’re comfortable with talking to your family about your NanoWrimo goals, then pick a really close friend and talk things through with them.

Point is: reach out.

Writing Community

The writing community is huge. In nearly every big city there are writers meetings and writers critique groups available. Full week conferences and writers retreats are available at our fingertips thanks to the power of the Internet.

I recently moved to the Charlotte area and immediately started researching for my local writers group. I managed to find one that meets once a week and just writes. Which is great because sometimes I just need to sit and write amongst my peers.

Writers meetings are also great because it means you’re tapping into a network of people who are most likely going through NanoWrimo with you. Meeting others who have the same goal is a fantastic way for you to talk through strategies and support one another.

Don’t be afraid to look online for local writers groups in your area. If you’re having difficulty finding one, try to find one through MeetUp.com.

Your Support System

Writing might be a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Tapping into your support system throughout NanoWrimo to keep your head in the game is important. Know who’s in your corner, and set aside two of your top ten goals this month for your support system whether it be your friends, family, or your writers group.