To Nano or not to Nano

For the past couple of years I have participated in Nano through the month of November. To those who havent done it or heard of it its the NanoWrite challange of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Ive done it over the past three years and completed each although last year was hard due to illness half way through. This year I am procrastinating about taking part. Seems like thats been the theme of the past 12 months - total procrastination. I have four novels all at various stages of completion, including last years Nano book, none finished and absolutely no get up and go to finish them. None. At times this year I havent cared whether I wrote another word or not.

So a big part of me is wondering whether to try Nano as a tool for getting me back into the habit of writing again or not to bother. I have a few ideas, long term ones that have been brewing, thrashing around my mind some for a few years and I wonder if I should work on one of those. But then ive tried various ideas this year into making me write continously and none have worked - so will Nano??

Honestly I don't know...

Have I fallen out of love with writing, Yes, definetely. I need to find the idea that will spark my creativity back to life and make me believe again. I worked on two very personal stories for so long they left me emotionally drained but also reaked havoc on the drive to create. I was at rock bottom when I published the last and have fought back.

So I guess I am reluctant to put so much of me into another story but I know to make a story work there needs to be character realism, reality and development and sometime I have to immerse myself in the world and leave a part of me there.

Time will tell but I hope that drive will return, I miss not crafting.  

A week of discovery

This past week I have been recharging my batteries by toddler sitting my grandadaughter. We shared 6 days of fun, a few toddler tantrum moments but lots of smiles, hugs and simple pleasures

Who couldn't love that little face !!

I have to say at the begining she was a bit iffy, wanted her Mum but an hour later and 2 episodes of Scooby Doo she was all smiles. As the days dawned she lost the quiet side and it was as if I was always there. Soon she was walving bye bye to Mum in a morning and lets go Nannie.

She is an absolute delight to hang out with and in all honesty thats what this week was. Hanging out with a youngster. The biggest smiles reserved for walks in drizzle, walking through wellie high puddles, jumping in smaller ones and high pushes on a swing and the obligatory happy meal complete with scooby doo toy !

We had our moments, she can be hyper (as all toddlers can) and turning the cartoons off while eating dinner became a trump card and a good Nannie threat.

Its wonderful to have the luxury of time. Time to sit with her and watch an episode of Scooby Doo, time to go to the park and see the smiles, to hear her singing the theme tune to her cartoons and other songs but it also lights a fire in my heart.

The world seen through the eyes of a toddler is a mystical place, full of wonderment that we all take for granted. A ride on the big bus - an everyday occurance but an adventure to her. A visit to Asda's cafe - again an adventure and a treat. Its those things that we all need to look at through fresh eyes. In a world where we all want the best of things and the latest technical gadgets its good to get back to basics and just enjoy the simple things in life

There is nothing better !!!!