Tag: motivation

On NaNoWriMo – The Aftermath

I can’t believe National Novel Writing Month is over. After writing that intensively for so many consecutive days, after updating my word count on the website after every writing session and watching the graph grow, and after keeping track track of my writing buddies’ word counts and the forums, it feels strange not to be doing all that anymore.

I think therein lies the biggest value of NaNo: it provides community and a tool to help you visualise your writing progress. Both of these have incredible power to motivate. Continue reading “On NaNoWriMo – The Aftermath” →

On re-invention

Wait! Don’t go. You’re in the right place. If all else fails…use a hammer has just had a bit of a makeover. What do you think? You like? It’s not yet permanent. I’m still experimenting with the new theme and haven’t decided whether I’m keeping it, but it’s growing on me. In any event, go check out the new About pages while you’re here and let me know what you think.

Why the change? This has been a good week. But this past week things have been changing. I’ve started exercising again (motivated, in part, by the discovery that I had gained six kilograms since April). I’ve started making progress with my reading for my degree. I’ve started writing again (okay, so I opened a new document on my pc and stared at the page for half an hour – that’s the most writing I’ve done outside of this blog for months). I’m just, like the epic song by Nina Simone says, feeling good. Continue reading “On re-invention” →

On self-doubt

I enjoy a good pity-party as much as the next guy, but some days merely feeling sorry for myself simply don’t cut it. On those days I decide to step it up and start questioning my entire existence.

Today was one of those days. It started out quite well – hot filter coffee while watching the sun rise over the ocean (feeling jealous yet?) and I was all set to plant myself behind the computer and break that writing block that had been vexing me lately.

As they tend to do, some distractions got in the way, but I dealt with them and watched a movie. Then I finally warmed up the laptop (some days it’s like an old diesel engine – have to let it idle a bit before I can start working) and started to write…or tried to. Continue reading “On self-doubt” →