Thanks for joining the journey! Let's chat nano goals and schedule, as well as sustainability for authors.

@ebarnes422

9 ай бұрын

I get so down on myself whenever a day passes that I don’t write. It doesn’t matter the time of year. I LOVE and appreciate your take on writing-it’s a job, but it can also (and should) be fun! I’m just hoping for 50,000 total for my manuscript, even if it’s not finished.

I booked my first solo writing retreat this month for NaNo! I have a hotel room on the Olympic Peninsula, overlooking the Puget Sound. I can't wait to look out my window and watch the rain and fog on the water while I write. Thanks for the inspo, I've been wanting to do a retreat for years, but this was the first year that I made it a financial priority. Good luck today on your words!

@nightlady2001

9 ай бұрын

That sounds wonderful! Happy writing.

It's a small thing, but I so appreciate your clean up videos. I feel discouraged by the mess that accumulates during my creative time, and it's so nice to see you acknowledge the chaos, clean what you can, and work through it--it is motivating!

This is why I appreciate NanoWrimo daily vlogs or weekly vlogs from other writers. When I had down word days or struggle to find time, I remember that 30 days of strict writing comes with amazing days and meh days! xo

i’m not doing nano in the 50,000 word goal but i am going to try to write everyday for 20-30 minutes. i wasn’t able to write on the 1st or 2nd but better late then never!!

@graciethomas9952

9 ай бұрын

Me too! It's my first time trying, and my goal is to write hopefully 20 minutes every day. :) glad I have company!

Doing this with a full time job while working an extra day of overtime as well.. so its definitely challenging. I started early because of this and Im currently ready to start chapter 9 of my first draft

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

Wow, you're doing great! That's a major schedule, for sure.

I'm extremely lucky to have a hubby that can (and will) cover the morning shift with the kiddos, so I've been just getting up, making coffee, and sitting down to write for around 2 hours. I'm not really taking breaks regularly because once i get on a roll i need to keep going or I'll forget what I was doing! I do like starting with a 20 min sprint, just to see how my speed is doing and get me into the work. After that I just get into a flow state!

THANK YOU for showing your before house your real house as its inspiring to see that it looks like mine and instead of being overwhelmed you just got to it with sprints in between...you didnt let it overwhelm you. I will admit that balancing home and write time is tough and one or the other seems to get sacrificed or i just freeze and nothing gets done...thank you for sharing how you balance it all. Im inspired to keep going. ❤

Super cute nails :) You organize the same way I do. As soon as I saw how you colour code things I thought OMG I found a kindred spirit 🥰

Love the chat about sustainability and joy, Sarra. :) Such a needed voice in this space and something we’re all figuring out. Hearing your process is super freeing as I face my own feelings, fears and foibles with writing. xx

I love the support you have from George. Such a solid family unit.

Kudos for setting aside time to get organised, Sarra! I literally cant function in a messy space. I'm an enneagram type 4 with a strong 3 wing so I tend to ride that productivity bus until the wheels fall off. But as I've gotten older, I listen to my body and will prioritise self care whenever necessary.

The countdown is perfect. don't change it! :)

Hi Sarra. You wanted us to send you updates on what we're working on for NaNo. Well, I am rewriting a mystery novel manuscript I wrote during a prior NaNo I think back in 2019 that I have been working on all this time. I stopped trying to "fix" things and I'm just starting over and rewriting it. I have a whole new beginning from a different character's perspective, which I never dreamed of before watching all your videos on different characters POV. I have a whole new vibe about the story and I'm excited about it again. I had a retired editor look at it a few years ago and she indicated that I needed to work on the timeline and also flesh out the characters so that is what I am attempting to do. I have a good feeling about NaNo this year and think I can reach and maybe exceed my goal of 50,000 words. Thanks for your enthusiasm and guidance, Sarra. You are remarkable.

Go Sarra! I had another 2,000 word day for Day Two...happy to be 4,000 words into mu new series. I’m hoping to get a book and a half done in November. We can do it! 💜

I hit 1677 today! Actually, 1733 😊. This is the first time EVER I've hit the 1677 daily benchmark, and this is my 3rd NaNo. So pumped and excited, no matter what happens after today, I know that I can do it! I'm moving my story along and feeling really good about it. Thanks for all the real talk and encouragement and inspiration, Sarra; you've helped me keep trying and not give up, even though I'm still behind the total goal for the month. We've got this, you guys!! Like Sarra said, "you're never out til it's over" and ANY amount of progress on your story is a win.

I think your countdown works! If you still have words to finish on Nov 30th, you still have that day! The clock doesn’t get to zero until Dec 1

Your quote is funny and true! I have a video of me titled ‘this is how you start writing.’ I grab my laptop, sit down, and open it. 😂

I have been using the digital planner every day and love it! The number of days does not bother me, I count the day as a day (if that makes sense). Releasing DVS during NaNo would be so cool. OMGosh I am going to be in NC and I just looked it up - but sadly I will be 3.5 hours away. I would have loved to have met you!!!!

dude i love that keyboard, the sounds and looks, chef kiss. ❤

I am so amazed to hear something else I have in common with you! I rotate cleaning and writing sprints too! The body doubling to clean and write is so amazingly helpful with ADHD. I probably won't be able to join in the Saturday sprints as I'm still cleaning and packing to go to 20books

This is my first nano and I have felt a bit down at only being at 1500ish words at the end of day 2. I need to just remember that I still have lots of time! Thank you for sharing!

18:26 agreed… nano being in Nov. is one reason why I don’t always participate 😂. It’s a busy month with the holiday and the kids school schedule!

This Nanowrimo has been different for me in that I'm more focused on the joy of writing and the journey, so you bringing up the topic of sustainability is so timely. I've set up a rewards system for myself for motivation and self-care. Seeing your videos remind me not to neglect the other parts of my life (like cleaning lol). I've bought some new Christmas decorations and am excited to put them up.

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

I'm so excited for decorating for Christmas too! Glad this was an on time message for you!

Oh my goodness I’m loving your planner! It has been SO helpful. Also I’m in Raleigh! Would love to say hi in person!!!

First !!!!!🎉 So excited for this vlog. Always appreciate the work you put into this. Take care of yourself and Have fun 💖

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

Yay!!

❤️so nice to see the flipthrough of the planner. About my schedule, I'm kinda not prepared because I have to go back to uni on Monday and I don't know how my time spent writing will fit in. I'm thinking of using the breaks between classes to get bits done throughout the day.

Nice. I'm in Raleigh!

Sure am glad about that pep talk at the end because it's looking like I'm getting an even later start then planned. So jealous of your writing retreat, especially the idea of the cabin. I live in Michigan where camping and cabins abound, but I live alone with my Mom (we have separate living areas) so I wonder if I can even justify a retreat. I will have to mull it over. Anyway, thanks for another great video. Looking forward to the next one.

I'm conflicted whether I should do Nano this year or not. I am currently on sick leave due to severe burnout, and my living situation is not ideal (adjusting to a newly renovated house and still working our way through final things to live normally again). I've been living on survival mode since the middle of May, so almost 6 months now. I am still figuring out everything I'm feeling right now and I can't decide whether a big project like writing the book I've been planning since 2019 is the right choice for me right now. The thing is, I'm a big big big perfectionist. And I set standards for myself that are way too high. So I'm not sure whether putting that pressure on myself is the best thing I could do... These vlogs help me a lot though. Seeing how someone else does Nano or writing in general helps a lot, since it forces me to reevaluate my standards and see if they are actually realistic. Not sure if there is even a question in this whole mess, just wanted to share if there's anyone else in a similar situation out there.

I’m not doing nano this year because I’m in the middle of rewriting the 4th novel. I’m also writing 2 short stories to help 😂pay for the novels editor 🇺🇸🇬🇧

Oh please continue your process of you writing your serialized writing project. I have looked everywhere (even some books even) of where I can any information or a sense of a process of for going serialized fiction. The closest I can find are either TV scripts that are yes only the sense from a visual standpoint and not in a narrative stance. But at least a starting point for me to wiggle my way around. There's hardly like any handybook of how to and not hearing much from writers' experiences when making that decision. I see you even have a couple videos of your serialized projects as well (even a bit of marketing that you did as well and so in a way, is helping me giving me some ideas) and that's pretty much about it. Unless if you know any other booktubers or other resources of serialized fiction and it's marketing aspects as well.

Thanks for posting these! It's nice to see I'm not the only one struggling 🤣 It's also fun to follow along as well. I'm super behind rn with just under 2K words. So I need to catch up this weekend with yall! Can't wait for the Writing Sprint LIVES tomorrow

Sarra! Loving your Nano diaries so far! I've only come across your channel this year but it has been so, so useful for me as a newbie writer. I'm amazed by all of the work you put on yourself, how do you do it all?! Also, I love how real and honest you are, and how you prioritise your mental wellbeing and just pausing when you need to. I can't wait to see your cabin (?) retreat! I find you so brave for just chucking 30K of the novel, I think I would cry! I wasn't planning on writing today for Nano, but might join your DDSaturday since you have motivated me! By the way, I think having the day you're writing as part of the countdown, like you have done here makes sense as it is, seeing as like you mentioned, you come on that day without the work done. That's how I feel! :) Keep up the good work!! ♥

I love driving when I need to think through my story! I'll get the best ideas then. Problem is, the drive ends my full-time job and then I cannot follow up while being in the mood except for getting a few notes down. 😅

I’m missing NaNo this year 😢. I moved from Michigan to Florida on October 30th. I’m living in a hotel room until I move into my new/used RV tomorrow and, I started a new job on the 3rd. However, I’m setting up my RV so I can focus on writing. I’m making realistic goals and excited to start this next chapter in my life. Next year for sure I’ll participate in Nano!

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

That sounds like an exciting transition!! Nano doesn't work out every year but thank you for still watching!

I would love to do a meet up in Raleigh! There's a new Barnes and Noble in Cary that has a good amount of room.

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

Oh that's fun to hear!

@Lacy_P

9 ай бұрын

This is my neck of the woods too! Is there a channel in the discord that we could start a thread?

I'm not a writer, but I find it exciting to follow you in your process 💖💖

I live very close to the RDU area. I would love a meet up at a coffee shop are something.

Hey Sarra, ready for NaNo and hope to get a decent amount of words in! Also I can't wait to see the plotting of the serialised story Mirror of Shadows... so Exciting!!!!

@SaskiaBriar

9 ай бұрын

Me too!

Slowly catching up on NaNo diaries 😃 I won’t be doing a writing retreat this NaNo, but it’s a goal for next year.

I got nearly 1000 words day 2. I didn't do a sprint after midnight for day 3and considering my insomnia and a lot of PPA hitting, I probably should have, but writing might have made it worse. Not sure if I'm going to get words in day 3 and my NaNo goal is to do what I can.

I’m not sure if it is this video or another one where you mention going to Raleigh for Thanksgiving, but if you do a meet-up, I would LOVE to attend! I’m a little more than an hour away from Raleigh, and meeting you would make my year 💚

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

I'm definitely going to plan one! I'll announce more soon!

I live in Greensboro but would make the drive to raleigh to see you!!!

I am in Charlotte, but have my best friend in Raleigh (I used to live there) would love a meet up! I'll drive over (I grew up in Duncanville - near your home now!), so driving from Charlotte to Raleigh is nothing!

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

My best friend is in Charlotte, haha. I would be traveling over to see her but she'll be out of town for that week, sadly.

I think the "Days Remaining" is just right the way it is. Supposedly we open the page before we start writing for the day, so it is correct for that. Just my thought.

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

Thank you! That was my thought when I did it but then I started doubting myself!

I'm not participating on Nano this year (college and it'll be the same until I hopefully get my master's in Social Studies Education), but I might participate in camp April and/or July to at least replace the time of Nano in this month. I'm still writing even though college is my priority until summer time.

Hi Sarra! I have ADHD and the double down sprints would be a huge help. I can't wait to read all about Vanessa Shaw

Ohhh . . . I deleted a video just the other day. Somehow, I deleted the finished product instead of the original 'draft'. It was immensely irritating. :] As far as NaNo goes, though, I am on track so far, if only just. I'm literally doing the 1667 words a day at the moment, so we'll see how it goes.

I’m in Chapel Hill! It would be so cool to have a meet up!

I've been meaning to ask!! Where did you get that pink ring binder that holds your nano calendar??

I am writing on adopt on Christmas Day and it will be published on wattpad on the 25th of December at 12am I hope so

I'm in Durham, NC! I would love for a meetup to happen. Maybe we could even get a few sprints in, if all of us are doing NaNo? Just a thought. Whatever the case is, I'd be a huge honor to meet you in person.

I'm in the Raleigh area! Would love to meet up if there is time 🖤

I live in the Raleigh Durham area (as we have met before). Would love to meet up at a coffee shop if you do that!!

I'm reading through one of my nano projects but I don't know how to track it since I will only be reading through it to figure out what I need to change

🦋🦋🦋

Oooh! Where did you get the sticky bow tabs??

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

The planner society!

❤

Random comment Sarra, thsi lipstick looks great. What line and model is it? 🥰

@HeartBreathings

9 ай бұрын

Oh thank you! It's Kylie lip duo from Kylie Jenner.

6725 for day 3. I’m working on the second half of my story and Nano is forcing me to actually finish it. That’s my goal regardless of how many words it takes

Nano has NOT been going as planned for me. Morning sickness this time around has been all day sickness. ROUND THE CLOCK. This pregnancy is ROUGH. But I’m still trying to write even a few hundred words a day. Just gotta shift and adjust because of baby.

😄