Just Say (Na) NO (Wri)(Mo)

Just Say (Na) NO (Wri)(Mo)

So I got inspired to write a blog post and then I realized that it was November so I should put a quick word in about NaNo and then I realized I could totally make it fit with the post I wanted to write, and then I realized I needed more coffee since this morning there was only about half my usual amount and then I thought well I’ll just write the post and then make the coffee but that sounded like a terrible idea so I started making the coffee and thinking about what I was going to write and it was all coming together beautifully and I was like oh I’m totally going to remember this and then I paused and thought I’m never going to remember this and I thought should I just go write some of this down but then I looked down and I was holding the coffee beans in my hand and so I thought well I haven’t even put these in the grinder yet so let me just do that but then I thought well I may as well just set the whole thing up because then I’ll have some time to write it all and so I’ll just keep thinking about the post and then I won’t forget it.

So now it’s about an hour later and I’m sitting here with my deeee-licious cup of coffee, and I have zero recollection as to what my original post was going to be.

Pause for my mid-morning Halloween candy break. Man, why don’t I eat more Milky Ways during the year?? They are really so yummy.

I know I should really change the title to Reasons #592-595 why I could never be a Writer, but I really don’t want to because I feel like if I keep staring at it, I’ll eventually remember what my original plan was.

I remember there was something about being all inspiring about NaNo and stuff. You know, go forth and write, all ye writers! Just do it!

I remember a bigger, older guy we called “Dad.” I guess some things never leave you.

You want to know something funny?

Wait, why do I always ask that? Of course you want to know something funny. I just remembered what the title meant. It was about Jack Handey because I looked at last year’s NaNo post and it started with a (slightly altered) Deep Thought.

I think I’ll make referencing Jack a new NaNo tradition.

So then I remember thinking how much I didn’t want to put that same post up again and Just Say (Na)No was sort of about that, like I just can’t do that—to you, to me, to the universe.

And then it also made me think of another Deep Thought, one I actually got to throw into a conversation last week and I was really excited about it because I don’t think I’ve ever been able to use this particular one before, although it seems like it would be an easy one. That used to be a goal of mine, you know, to use Deep Thoughts in conversations. I mean, before I had real goals. I mean, it wasn’t a goal exactly, but I just liked to do it.

Ok, never mind.

Anyway, it was Halloween and I was walking home from Kmart with my last minute banjo skeleton guy (that guy was awesome, btw) and other decorations and candy in my bags, one in each hand (hardcore fans, do you see where I’m going with this??) and some woman stopped me on the street and asked if I had a minute for her cause, whatever it was.

And I said, “Sorry, got these sacks.”

Yes! Double fist pump.

Anyway, in my head there was a really smart connection there between that and the just say no and how you shouldn’t just say no to writing and you should just say yes (profound, right??) and just write and not worry about how it sounds (clearly I don’t) and then edit it later (clearly I skip that part).

But if you don’t write anything, there’s nothing to edit.

So just say no to all the people who will tell you that this writing is a piece of shit. I mean, tell you that about your own writing. Because that’s what editing is for. And that’s what December is for. And January. And the entire rest of the year.

But November is for just getting those words down. So just go do it.

Huh, I guess the title really didn’t work. In fact not much of this really did. But you know what? It’s November, so I’m not going to worry about it.

Also, I’m not a writer, so I’m probably not going to worry about it in December either. I may start worrying slightly if February rolls around and I haven’t done another blog post. But I’ll try. Probably a lot of supportive comments would help.

Good luck to all of you doing NaNoWriMo! I hope you set goals, meet them, exceed them, and then some.

12 Comments
  • Karen Tkacik Cimms
    Posted at 17:32h, 04 November Reply

    Sure … now I want a cup of coffee AND a Milky Way, but that would mean going downstairs, not to mention to the grocery store, and since it is November and I do claim to be a writer, I guess I will just sit here and write. The least I can do is give a character a cup of coffee … and maybe a Milky Way.

    • Wolfson Literary
      Posted at 21:23h, 04 November Reply

      Totally. I like to think I’m responsible for the return of the Pop Tart to manuscripts/books. I think I’m taking on the Milky Way now. But it could be just a Halloween thing. Hard to say.

  • Dawne Webber
    Posted at 18:20h, 04 November Reply

    This is awesome. Who says you need to edit? That’s what editors are paid big bucks to do. Just add few thousand more heartfelt words and it’ll be good to query in December. That’s the best time to query because you won’t have to wait long for all the requests you’re sure to get. Agents try to get their in-boxes emptied before Christmas. By this time next year, you’ll probably be published!

    • Wolfson Literary
      Posted at 21:22h, 04 November Reply

      I am morally opposed to emptying my inbox. What if I need something later? Nope, I like to let them just pile up. Let’s face it, it probably began as laziness but I’ve turned it into My Thing. 🙂

      • Aurelia Blue
        Posted at 12:45h, 05 November Reply

        this ^^^ <3

  • Dawn Reno Langley
    Posted at 08:35h, 05 November Reply

    Love this! We all need to laugh a little during this month of “I’m going to die if I don’t produce at least two thousand words today.” And, you’re right. No one’s going to remember all this hectic frantic stress come March.

  • Kristi Fleischmann
    Posted at 11:41h, 06 November Reply

    Thank you! Just what I needed.

  • Holly Dobbie
    Posted at 15:17h, 11 November Reply

    Maybe the connection between the sack carrying and the just say no to writing thing is that we all carry around these sacks filled with Deep Thoughts; some of them candy, some of them skeletons with banjos that eventually end up in our closets, and until we write them down, they will continue to burden us, bother us, and ask us to listen to their “cause.” Thanks for paving the Milky Way to guilt free writing and unabashed coffee swigging. #cheers.

  • Doña Paquita
    Posted at 19:28h, 12 November Reply

    I wrote a great response and sent from my cell and guess what? I had to start all over and it was a great response too. Well I learned that nothing is written in stone or is it? I decided to at least let you know that I did enjoy your blog. I was roaring in laughter and you made my day. I smiled. I giggled and hey these days that is a hard thing for anyone to have me do.

    I started out letting you know that I was reminded of our good comedian “Robin Williams” when he was staring on “Mork and Mindy” I recalled the NaNu NaNu…your blog was NaNo Post.I wanted you to laugh as you made me do. And now all I have is this “Helloooooooo…” That Robin will always be playing in my head and with that I look forward to reading your next blog…;)

    • Wolfson Literary
      Posted at 10:35h, 13 November Reply

      Thanks. Sorry about the deleted response. That’s when I usually like to growl and say, grrr, WordPress. I don’t think I know how to italicize in the comments, but I’ve been very specific in past posts that the Word in WordPress should be emphasized. 😉

  • Hollie Sessoms (@HollieSessoms)
    Posted at 22:32h, 06 January Reply

    So, I’m a bit late to this post, but just wanted to say that this was hilarious. Make coffee or make write–usually the hardest part of my day.

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