Friday Challenge – Week 4
Welcome to week 4 of our motivational posts written by Shelley Wilson author of How I Changed My Life In A Year.
Shelley has been helping us with ideas about how to make our lives better places to live in with easy to follow fun challenges, if you have missed any here are links to the previous weekly posts. Week 1 http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5MH
Week 2 http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5MJ
Week 3 http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5MO
Over to Shelley…
Conquering Your Fears
As a writer, there is nothing as pleasurable as sitting at your laptop and letting the words flow. Writing has been a favourite past-time of mine for over thirty years. So why did the prospect of taking part in one of the largest writing competitions fill me with such fear?
It is often the thing we want so much that we dread the most, the reason for this is a simple fear of failure. Every year over 350,000 writers sign up to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), all dedicated to producing a 50,000 word manuscript in just 30 days.
When I started writing my blog, which would eventually lead to my book How I Changed My Life in a Year, I knew that if I publicly announced my intent to take part, I wouldn’t be able to back out. I pushed myself to face my fears, and I began to research how other NaNoers had accomplished this heady feat. Outlining, plotting and research seemed to be the answer.
Organisation was key. I created a Pinterest board for my character inspiration and filled a notebook with my ideas for plot and scenes. Taking part in NaNoWriMo taught me the value of outlining and full character profiles. I was as ready as I could be when the 1st November arrived.
Nine days later I hit 50,296 words.
The beauty of this event is how, even if you don’t make the 50,000 word count, you can get involved in the community. You can post in the forums and learn a great deal from experts in every imaginable field and ‘meet’ new people. Writing is a solitary affair, but I’ve never felt more supported than when I was a NaNoer.
With all doubts firmly squashed I realised, fears are never as bad as you thought they would be, or as I tell my personal development students, FEAR is simply False Evidence Appearing Real.
I learnt a great deal taking part in this challenge. You are not alone; you can do anything you set your mind to, and you can enjoy writing and the beauty of a deadline to hone your skills. Finally I learnt it was possible to ask a question, ‘If I stab someone in the heart with a sword will they die instantly?’ and not get arrested. I do love a good writers’ forum.
Challenge accepted and achieved. I am happy to confirm that my original NaNo manuscript has been re-worked, edited and is in the final stages ready for publication, only made possible because I faced my fears. I extend my challenge to you – do one thing today that scares you.
‘How I Changed My Life in a Year’ – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KAAUE88
Also on Amazon.com
Find Shelley on Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72
Rosie Amber 
Well, I managed the five miles on the exercise bike, had a day’s maths tuition (Ugh, never again!) Changed hairdressers – sounds a small insignificant challenge but went to the first hairdresser forever! Now to the next – giving up coffee. Panic!
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Congratulations Judith, you’ve gone out there and tried new things. When I gave up coffee in May, I moved to lemon &ginger tea and now Horlicks light, haven’t touched a drop of coffee since. For me, no more caffeine induced highs and lows. But I know it’s not a choice for everyone.
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Thanks for the tip, Rosie – I’ll try lemon & ginger tea. Sending husband out for it right away. Oh, perhaps not yet; it’s pouring down in Pembrokeshire.
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Must be coming your way then we had a downpour at 7am this morning, unless you are getting what we’ll get later? Try the tea quite weak to start with and build up unless you are a ginger fan, I love it now, and ginger is Soo good for your body.
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50,000+ in 9 days! You’re superhuman! I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying these Friday posts. Now I need to put the book on my Christmas list, and put it on my list to give to others too! Truly inspirational – thank you:-) H xxx
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Thanks Harula.
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Thank you so much for letting me share my ramblings on your wonderful blog Rosie. I had so much fun writing the book and to be able to share this with everyone has been a great experience. Your readers are amazing and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading their comments. Well done on all the challenges, big and small. I am seven days into my second NaNoWriMo and no-where near the 50k but still making good progress. It’s lovely to take a break from the faeries and dragons I’m writing about and to join the real world for a few minutes to read your latest posts. Thanks again and a big hello to all those marvellous people who have shared this experience *waving* 🙂
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Taking a moment from domestic trivia & proofreading to wave back Shelley. Good luck with the Nano thingy – I only tried it once and failed miserably; I am such a slow writer. perhaps it should be on my list for next year’s challenge?
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“Nine days later I hit 50,296 words.” ?? Wow. OMG. You rule.
It took me 27 days to reach that and I was a blubbering idiot by then.
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Nine days to 50K+????? Holy crap. I’m a total slug who’s only barely cleared 11K. But you’re my new hero, so back to my NaNo!
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