'F' The Pennies...

Pennies are something most writers can relate to. It is a sad but true reality. Most of us know far more what it is like to be the penniless writer than a best selling author. Tis the life I guess.

That being said, it isn't like that will be the case forever. I remember when I first started writing online, I would be excited if I made a penny - in like a month. Then I got spoiled by the nickels and dimes.

However, at the beginning of November I decided to try something new. I was going to sign up for NaNoWriMo and I was going to beat it. I take challenges very seriously and I am way too hard on myself to fail. However, I knew I wasn't going to fail because I have an amazing support system of writers.

Well, among the writers is one of my good friend's Kelly. She is The RealHousewife! And since I have met her in person, I can truly believe that when she says she is going to do something, it is going to get done. I have never met someone so strong willed and determined before. I was happy to have her on my side.

Well immediately after signing up for the madness, she called me up. I remember the conversation so clearly. She stated that out of all the people that sign up for NaNoWriMo, only about 10 percent of them actually finish. Then, with as much gusto as she could push through the phone, she told me that we - the both of us - would be a part of that 10 percent. While I was a little sketchy about this whole thing, I knew that together we would both succeed.  She also told me that she was going to need me this month. She needed me to help push her, and if I needed a push, she would do the same.

Well, things were about to get serious!

As the month hit it's midway point, I had been pushing through NaNoWriMo. I was so proud and I was seeing others push too. But there was a few that also dropped out and said they couldn't do it. Then today, I woke up and checked my Facebook. Right there in black and white, my friend Kelly decided she was no longer going to do NaNoWriMo. She was done. She would save it for next time.

WELL - NOT ON MY WATCH!

I knew what I needed to do. I called her and for a good hour (or maybe two - that was a short phone call!) I talked her off the ledge. I told her she could do it. I told her she was already a quarter of the way there. I told her that Hubpages and her blog would be waiting for her December 1. I told her if she quit now, she would not be in that 10 percent. I told her she only needed to do 2,300 words a day and she would be right were she needed to be. I told her what she needed to hear. I told her I believed in her!

I used ever word I could think of to stop her nonsense. We are doing this together and I wasn't allowing her to back out now!

Of course, her best attack came that she missed Hubpages. So, as my wheels started rolling through my head, I asked her a very personal question. How much money do you make on Hubpages?

Hubpages is a great way to make an additional income as an online writer. But, it is still going to be there when NaNoWriMo is done. On the other hand, if you publish your book and decide to sell it on Amazon, the potential to make money is there. Not to mention, you can say you published a book. I can't think of a greater accomplishment.

So together... we decided to say "Fuck the Pennies!" We were going to get this book done!

As a writer, it is hard to set priorities when you feel like you are being pulled into so many different directions. For the month of November, my priority has been to complete NaNoWriMo. I might even be a little obsessive about it. There has been a fire lit under me! I am going to write until I can't think. I am going to write without abandon. I am going to finish this book.

Now I know the blog is waiting for me... Hubpages is waiting for me... and heck, I am probably not keeping up with my comments or even my reading. My chores are suffering (so please no visitors until December!) and my kids and husband might even be missing me. But, by the end of this, I know the people that matter, will understand why I needed to do this.Why I might not be as active reading or responding back. Because I am allowing myself to take this month to do something great.

So, if you know of anybody that has openly pledged to do NaNoWriMo, don't let them take the easy road out. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. Sure, it might be hard, but nothing is impossible. Believe in yourself and you are already halfway there!

So Kelly, this is for you! I believe in you. I think you can do it and I think it is going to be great. 

Don't doubt yourself. There is no room for that.

Now get your writing done... I am watching you!