NaNoWriMo 2019

If you've been around the writing community for any amount of time, you will have heard of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It is a challenge where you start and finish a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I have never done an official NaNoWriMo. One year, I set the goal to write every day. I succeeded, but one day I only wrote two words! Another year, I set the goal of writing 500 words a day (which was quite a bit more than my usual daily output). I never thought I'd be able to write the 1667 words a day that is needed to make the goal of 50,000 in a month. But then I participated in the Author Olympics and wrote that range of words per day several times. My oldest daughter is in the writing club at her high school and they were talking about doing NaNoWriMo. I saw that they have a Young Writers Program where kids under the age of 18 can set their own goals. Thing One is going to aim for 15,000 words and Thing Two said she thought she could do 1,000 words a day. I decided to take the plunge and signed up for the official NaNoWriMo.

Nothing

One of the things that I tend to do when I get overwhelmed or scared or whatever, is that I fold in on myself and don't do anything. Like an armadillo I try to protect myself.

The problem is, sometimes there really isn't any thing that is doing it, but the perceived idea of something that  could  happen.

I have written almost nothing this year. I am afraid that I can't do it right. I am afraid that people won't like it. I am afraid of putting myself out there and being vulnerable. I am afraid of what will I do if I am successful. Will I know how to do the taxes involved? Will I need a business license? So I don't do anything. I have a hard time adding conflict and like my daughter always says, 'To be good, a story needs a problem.'

I put off registrating for Breathe until almost the last moment. I just didn't feel motivated. I felt like an impostor. But I enjoyed going the last 2 years, so I pushed the button.

And so many of the sessions and talks were about exactly the things I've been dealing with. God is so good!

I went back and checked and I've written 1,010 words this year, which surprised me. I thought I had written less than 300! I am encouraged and determined. I will overcome!

Do Your Least...

I went to the session with Tracy Groot where she said this. It really resonated with me. I still need to work on it, but it has helped me tremendously.

A photo posted by Breathe Writers Conference (@breathe_writers) on Nov 11, 2016 at 12:21pm PST

Breathe Writers Conference 2016

This was my 2nd year going to the Breathe Writers Conference. I felt more confident about going for some reason. maybe because I already knew what to expect (as far as location, way it's run, etc.) Last year, I sat down with the list of breakout sessions and pre-planned which ones I wanted to go to. This year, I looked a little, but didn't pin anything down until I was there with the finalized program of events. I didn't sign up for a 1 on 1 as I was going to go through the list of people I could meet with to see who best fit with what I was needing and never got around to doing it! Oops! Last year, they just assigned you with a person and I got Bob Evenhouse. I switched one of the sessions I was going to go to so I'd be able to attend his session before our 1 on 1. This year, I went to Bob's session, too. I wanted to ask him a follow up question, so I found him in the lobby area and asked him.

Name Change

Before I started my blog and Facebook page for my "author persona" I thought about what I wanted to go by as an author. I decided on my full name "Rebecca Dempsey". After having to tell people I went by "Becky" when I had signed something as "Rebecca" (my legal name) I decided I didn't want to be known as "Rebecca" as an author when I've always gone by "Becky". I've already changed the title of my blog and Facebook page, but I will be trying to get the URL's changed, too. The blog would then be found as www.AuthorBeckyDempsey.blogspot.com. I guess this means I need to get new business cards, too...

My One Word for 2016

My one word for this year is REST. I get so overwhelmed with things and end up cocooning myself inside myself. I need to rest in God.

Meet "Flexx"

I have been "in the market" for a mini laptop/chromebook type thing for awhile. I missed the portability of writing in a notebook for when I'm away from home, but writing straight onto the computer was faster in the long run. So my solution was to get a mini laptop that I would be more easily be able to bring with me and write away from home. My husband and I stopped at Staples when we were in the area just to look at them and see what was available and what I liked. I also was looking online. I decided I liked the feature of the 2 in 1 tablets having a touchscreen as I've never been a big fan of the track pads.  I originally thought of getting a 10" tablet, but thought the keyboard might be a little small and since the main reason I was getting it was to type on it, I figured going with the 11.6" was a better idea. Since the 11.6" has a keyboard that is 97% of a full size keyboard, it functions basically as a full sized one would. One thing that I have to get used to, however, is that the right "Shift" key is only half the size as normal, so I keep hitting the up arrow instead of the shift!

I ended up getting the Nextbook Flexx 11 from Walmart using the bonus discount my husband got for working on Black Friday. I've been enjoying it and have written more in the last day than I have the whole month of November!