Slow burn, direction selection / by Helen Hajnoczky

COVID has completely changed my outlook on, well, life I suppose, but particularly in how productive I think I need to be. I’m much more likely to do unproductive things with my free time now - sort stuff, exercise, have a bath, rather than careening through projects. But - I’m in a mulling mood right now. I’m trying to choose what to get working on next. I tried doing NaNoWriMo four years ago and was on track and then the US election made me so depressed I gave up. I remember ordering an inordinate amount of comfort food and just… not writing. I think I’d like to pick that project up and will be doing a poetry blitz in November too. The thing that really appeals to me about NaNoWriMo is it’s anti-perfectionist attitude. Write fast, no judgement, no editing, just words on the page. Most of the things I’m mulling over now I’m stuck on because I have a mood I want them to have but I’m not sure how to execute it and so I’m tied up worrying I’ll do it badly. And really what on earth does it matter if I write some clunky poems? NaNoWriMo seems like a great way to jumpstart those projects so, for now I’ll nap and mull over which to choose, and November 1 it’s on!