3 Things I Learned About Writing From Thomas Edison

Or, Why a 7-time Nanowrimo loser is trying again.

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I’ve failed to complete Nanowrimo 7 times, and I’m going to participate again. Why would I do this? Why does anyone continue in the face of defeat?

When the emails began flooding in to sign up for Nanowrimo and announce my book, I cringed. I have signed up each year and come close to finishing several times but never won. November gets in my way every time. In addition to Thanksgiving, we have many family traditions that fill the calendar. It is also the beginning of one of the busiest times at work.

And so I decided that I wouldn’t do this to myself this year. I would not add the pressure of 1–2 hours of additional writing to the calendar each day. And yet, Nanowrimo continues to pull me in.

I began to contemplate how I could do this differently this year. And finish.

1. Create a new plan

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
― Thomas A. Edison

I have tried the same plan each year: get up early before work and write. However, mornings are not my most creative times. So, a new plan. This year, I will use my morning time to outline the day’s work and write in the evening when my brain…