Overcoming Procrastination: How I Wrote Over 50K Words in 30 Days + Free Writer's Guide So You Can Too!
Since the publishing of my novel, Not By My Own, I have been asked many questions about the writing process. Many wonder how I was able to write over 50K words in 30 days. So, I decided to share some of the tips that I used to help me finally start working on my writing goals. 10 to be exact! If you were like me, you may have wanted to write a book for a long time, but found every excuse under the sun not to get it done. I struggled with the spirit of procrastination and it took me over 10 years to write this book before I finally buckled down and finished the first draft in November 2016.
About a year prior, I had signed up for an online course that taught you how to structure your book including the differences between the protagonist and antagonist. Since I was on the instructor's email list, that meant any offers he had for aspiring authors, I would receive them. In October 2016, I received an email about the upcoming National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) with a link to sign up for their upcoming 50K word challenge. I had never heard of NaNoWriMo before this, but I was intrigued to know more about the possibility of writing that many words in such a short month. Needless to say, I signed up and the rest is history. On the site for NaNoWriMo, they had information for you to enter your book title, genre, and description along with the chance for you to join local and virtual writing groups for support. This was monumental in my ability to finish the challenge. Having the support (all virtual for me due to my schedule) pushed me to not only want to start the challenge, but to finish it strong. At this point, I only had the introduction and some poems that I had written years prior. I was determined to overcome procrastination. After all, God had given me a gift and a testimony, and I needed Him to know that He could trust me with both.
The Bible says to write the vision and make it plain. Habakkuk 2:2 KJV "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run and readeth it." So that is what I did. I set my goals before the Lord in prayer then wrote them out in my journal.
Before NaNoWriMo started, I put certain things in place so that this time would be different and it was. I enlisted the support of my family to begin with. My daughters were so excited to see Mommy pursuing her dream and they cheered me on throughout the month. Another major key was that I fasted during this time. My fast was not the usual Daniel fast; instead I fasted from social media with the exception of my support groups that I had joined. I did not allow myself to be consumed with the fruitless scrolling that I found myself doing on a regular basis. Rather than that, I logged out of social media and whenever I had a moment outside of the dedicated time that I set in my calendar for writing, I would work on my writing goals.
For more tips on how I wrote 50K words in 30 days, I am giving you a FREE Writer's Guide! Someone once said, "If you can think it, you can write it." Remember this when procrastination wants to deter you or distractions attempt to rob you of your focus.
DISCLAIMER: I am not an affiliate for NaNoWriMo. I am simply sharing my testimony as a means to encourage you in your writing journey. This post may, however, contain affiliate links.
“If you can think it, you can write it.”
