I know, I know. You saw "NaNo" in the title of this post, and a tiny bit of your soul died as you sighed and reluctantly clicked on the thirtieth NaNo post you've seen today. I understand. But I keep getting asked if I'm participating in NaNo, and I'm kind of low on creativity right now, so you're getting yet another post about this crazy writing event in your blogger feed. I apologize.

If you've somehow managed to get halfway through October and still have no idea what on earth this crazy NaNoRiMuWhatever thing everyone keeps ranting about is, you can find full information here. For those of you who don't feel like clicking the link and reading, in the simplest of terms, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and takes place each November. Writers all across the world spend November attempting to write 50,000 words, to "win" NaNo.

Make sense?

I've gone back and forth many, many times over whether or not to participate in NaNo. Y'all know that I love writing, and heaven knows I need all the motivation that I can get. But 50k words? THAT'S A LOT!! I've never written that much in a month before. And considering the fact that I don't have a ton of time, it's quite a daunting task. Honestly, I would probably have more mental breakdowns than I can count trying to write 50k. So, the short answer is, no, I'm not doing NaNo. 

But yet, I am. 

Like I said, I really WANT to be able to participate. But I know my limits, and I know that I honestly cannot write that much in a month, especially not this November. I simply have too much going on, and for the sake of my sanity and the poor people around me, I am not going to attempt to write fifty thousand words this November. I AM, however, doing a NaNo, of sorts. 

I've decided that instead of pushing myself to lose my mind and reach a word count that is almost impossible for me personally, I am setting a smaller, more attainable goal. After all, the true reason for doing NaNo is to get your novel written, right? So I've decided that I'm going to continue working on my current WIP, and I am going to try to write 25,000 words instead. I feel like that's a really good goal- I'll be pushing myself, but it isn't unattainable. And honestly, even if I don't reach that goal, I'll be okay with it. I just want to get closer to finishing my first draft of this novel. I would love to have the first draft complete by the end of the year, and I think that this will help me get there. 

And I mean, if you really map it out, 25k shouldn't be too difficult to achieve. If you map it out, it's only 833 words per day. That's attainable, right?

There's so much fearrrrrrrrr

Nope, no stress here. We are going to be completely positive as we obsessively make to-do list after to-do list as a coping mechanism when we really should be writing. It's fine, it's fine. 

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So, between now and November 1st, I'm going to be attempting to plan out the rest of my novel. I have a basic outline, but I really am a plotter to the core, and I know that I'll be able to write more if I have a solid plan in place. The writing OCD is real, guys. And as all OCD writers do, I've made a list of things to do in preparation for NaNo. 

• Learn to love coffee because caffeine is a necessity. 
• Buy my weight in sticky notes.
• Channel my inner Katie Grace because if she can write 20k in a day then I can write 25k in a month goshdarnit. 
• Print out my entire Pinterest board. I'm probably going to have to ban myself from Pinterest in November. It may be the only way. 
• Follow lots of other NaNo people on Twitter so that we can all commiserate together when we should be writing. 
• Pre-write blog posts because I don't trust myself to keep up.
• Adopt twenty kittens to comfort me. 
• Pray.

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All halfway sarcastic  kidding aside, I'm really excited. Terrified...but excited. For those of y'all who are doing NaNo as well, I'd love to do a word war or something sometime! I can't wait to see how this goes-it should be fun.

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So... are you doing NaNo? Any tips for a NaNo newbie like myself? (because heaven knows I need some!) WILL YOU BE SURVIVING ON A DIET OF SOLELY CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE? That's my plan. It should work, right?

sacred ground // Kate

Oh my goodness, guys. I am so BEYOND ecstatic to have the brilliant Kate on the blog today! Kate is one of my blogger besties, and I'm constantly in awe of her creative talents. She is one of the most creative people that I have ever met. Follow her blog- you will be BLOWN AWAY. She's a world changer, guys. When I first read this poem, I honestly couldn't even handle it. I read it at least four times, and I'm still not over just how awesome it is. Thank you SO much, Kate, for posting! So honored to have you here. ♥

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painting,

drawing,

dancing,

writing,

singing,

strumming the strings of a guitar. 

it's not just paint on a page, 

words on a screen,

movements on a stage 

or across the living room floor,

it's creation. it's a continuation,

of a rhythm

a beat, 

a song, 

written, composed by

our Creator,

our Papa,

the star breather.

a paintbrush stroke on a page,

meaningless? or merely the next verse

in the song

that started with

"let there be light"?

a step in ballet shoes,

a twisting of joyous bare feet,

empty, hollow? 

or

an echo of

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

clay between palms,

brainstorming sessions at one AM,

songs, 

music,

jamming with friends,

when we're asked what it is that we "do"

it seems so often as though we disregard these things,

for the ones that 'pay the bills'.

we disregard them as "hobbies"

when actually, we are treading on sacred ground

every time we open our mouths in song,

move our feet in dance,

lift our hands to create.

Every time we find our souls reaching out to the world through our fingertips,

through our talents,

through our dreams,

we find ourselves becoming more and more

like our Papa.

using the hands He created,

to create.

hobby?

no.

sacred act.

divine dance.

blessed,

gifted,

needed in this world.

so when they ask "what do you do?"

don't be afraid to tell them:

"I dance.

I sing.

I draw.

I act.

I capture images.

I write stories.

I laugh and jam with friends.

I watch stars,

and clouds,

and feel the air between my fingers 

on long car rides.

I create.

Just like our Papa."

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FOLLOW KATE!

BLOG // INSTA // TWITTER // BLOGLOVIN'

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Don't run off without leaving Kate some love down in the comments! ♥