Accountability

  Well, it is November. And aside from the fact that I am mildly freaking out that I can now shop/decorate/listen to Christmas music without being too severely judged for my excitement over my favourite holiday season (that's right, bring on the snow!) it is also NaNoWriMo. Aka National Novel Writing Month. Now after I have been a major slacker this year with my writing, or lack there of, I'm trying this for the first time this year.
  Basically the goal is to write a complete novel in the month of November. My personal goal is to get the first typed draft done, and have it edited and readable by December 14th. (Just for you Miki and Eva! <3) The one major problem with this, as my fellow Procrastinator Julie (we have super hero costumes and everything. Be jealous.) knows, I'm very good at putting things off until later... and this year, later has become almost the end of the year without me working on a new novel.
  I miss it. No seriously, I miss writing with everything I am. I miss the therapy, the complexity, the joys of getting to know my characters and going through a piece of their lives with them. But at the same time, something is holding me back. I sit and look at a lined piece of paper with a pen in my hands and nothing. Same in front of a blank word document. I have all of these ideas that won't seem to flow from my head, down my arm and into words.
  I read a quote from a writer once that if all they did was write when they were inspired, then they would only write two days out of the year. Writing, while creative in nature, needs to be practiced every day, just like athletics. So I am making myself write, and I will finish this novel by the end of the month.
  What I need from you is accountability. I desperately need this! Please, if you have the time or inclination to help me out, let me know in the comments. I need people to check in with me once a week or once a day to see how far I've gotten. I need you to tell me to get back to my writing if you see my on facebook. I need encouragement. Remind me once and awhile that I don't completely suck at writing... because if I fall into a pit thought, it can be tough to get back out by myself. And I need your prayers. Whatever it is that's blocking me; fear, doubts, not wanting to tap in to my own tough emotions... I need to get past it. I know I can't do this by myself. So call, text, e-mail... if you notice I'm at a point that I might start to bash my head off the wall, please come and rescue me! (I enjoy homemade hot chocolate, movies, walks, and shopping...)
  I will be posting here every day, letting you know how I did the day before and what my plans/goals are for the current day. Today, the plan is to do a basic outline of the story, and write the first chapter. I'll let you know tomorrow how that goes. And if you're interested in joining me in this crazy NaNoWriMo, please let me know and we can hold each other accountable! (Lisa, we text all the time anyway, but if you tell me to bug you until you get your 2000 words done on the days you can write, I will... relentlessly.) A new journey for us my friends. Looking forward to it and terrified all at the same time.
<3 Kayla