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Creativity

The Week // NaNoWriMo 2016 Begins

November 4, 2016November 4, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 8 comments
The Week // NaNoWriMo 2016 Begins

Happy Friday!

NaNoWriMo 2016 beings & thoughts on creating a writing routine. // dreams-etc.com

I hope you all had a wonderful week. My week was pretty much consumed by one thing: NaNoWriMo. Except for yesterday, when I worked on a few other things. A few other things that are not the pile of laundry that needs to be folded and put away. That’s what weekends are for, right? šŸ˜‰

That’s right! I’m doing NaNoWriMo again this year. I might regret saying that publicly if, you know, I end up failing miserably. I’ve been Snapchatting about it, though, (follow me for more regular updates: dreamsetcblog) so if you follow me there you already know.

One thing I’m trying out with NaNoWriMo is developing a writing routine, so some sort of routine that leads into the actual writing. When I took the Silencing Your Inner Critic class last weekend the teacher led us through a guided meditation, and while that isn’t really my thing, I thought I should do some sort of activity that will help me relax before I start writing and take away any restlessness before I start writing. My plan was to do 15 – 20 minutes of yoga before writing; I have some relaxing yoga workouts that I could pop in and it doesn’t require a ton of space so I knew I’d easily be able to do it in my room by my writing desk (once I take care of Mount Laundry).

I read the NaNo pep talk from Daniel José Older when I announced my novel and he also talked about what to do leading into writing. He talked about listening to a song before he started writing and I liked the sound of that too, so I decided to try that out as well.

So the first day of trying out my new writing routine I grabbed my stack of workout DVDs to pull out a yoga one and… I decided to do a Tracy Anderson Mat Method DVD instead. Relaxing yoga or intense toning: practically the same thing, right? After I was done I hobbled to my desk and listened to a song, then started writing. The next day I started later than I had been planning to, so I listened to the song, but didn’t do the activity and after these two days I definitely think that 15 – 20 minutes of physical activity key. I’ll keep working on my writing routine and report back.

Who else is doing NaNoWriMo this year? Do you have a writing routine?

PS – If you’re doing NaNo, we should be NaNo buddies!

[Tweet “Reflections on the first week of #NaNoWriMo2016 and developing a writing routine. #amwriting”]

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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8 comments

  1. Trish says:
    November 4, 2016 at 10:12 am

    How neat that you are doing NaNoWriMo! That is on my bucket list to tackle (maybe next year!). I like the idea of doing physical activity before writing. I think it would help with relaxation enough to sit down and just be creative!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      November 8, 2016 at 9:04 am

      You should definitely give it a shot soon! šŸ™‚ I’m liking the physical activity thing more and more. I don’t know why this hasn’t crossed my mind before, especially since doing something like that is also thought to help stimulate activity from what I’ve heard.

      Reply
  2. Amelia says:
    November 4, 2016 at 10:20 am

    Hey, Crystal! šŸ™‚ I made the last minute decision to do NaNoWriMo this year. My process has been slow so far because I had to outline my book and create characters before I could start writing. Luckily, I’m writing the prequel book to another book I’ve recently finished writing, but I still had to create a few of characters. I’m a huge believer in outlining and I observe the three act structure and a few other elements involve in the crime + thriller genres. I usually write a basic story synopsis, create characters, outline book, create a story timeline, then import all of this into Scrivener, then the writing begins. xx

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      November 8, 2016 at 9:01 am

      That’s so cool! Sometimes the last minute decisions to join are the best. šŸ™‚ It sounds like you have a great process in place for planning. I’ve always been more of a pantser at the start (although I do have the general story arc in mind), but then about halfway through I like to create a more detailed outline to finish it out. If I was writing a thriller, I’d definitely want an outline from the beginning. Good luck with NaNo!

      Reply
  3. Laura says:
    November 6, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    I think it’s awesome that you are doing this! My sister did it a few years ago, and it’s so impressive to me! Good luck!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      November 8, 2016 at 8:52 am

      Thank you! I have done it before, but have only accomplished writing 50,000 words once and that was in October. šŸ™‚ I did a “warm up” for NaNo and wrote the first book (which I had started already) in October. I was going to write the sequel in November, but that was an optimistic thought because I was in school and had a lot of papers/a poetry chapbook due in November.

      Reply
  4. chelsea jacobs says:
    November 7, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    Ooh I love the idea of having physical activity before the creative activity! Smart!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      November 8, 2016 at 8:46 am

      I’ve definitely noticed a difference in how I feel and how my writing sessions go when I get some physical activity in before! šŸ™‚ Hope NaNo is going well for you. šŸ™‚

      Reply

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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