NaNoWriMo: Hanne's Story

After I started pursuing writing more actively, I became acutely aware of something quite peculiar:

It is really hard to write.

I started telling stories when I was very young.

I still remember the stories made up for the most part starred the family dog and the eventual demise of my brother. I used to dream of one day being a poet, and living the big life as the greatest poet of my hometown. I’m not quite there… Yet.

I grew up in the southwestern part of Norway,

in a beautiful city shrouded by mountains and ocean. Out in the fresh air is where I discovered my imagination, something I have carried with me through my life so far. Just as so many other writers, I had written many beginnings, but so very few endings. I always considered myself a writer, but felt shame that I was unable to write any considerable length. All my stories seemed to come to an abrupt, unsatisfying end.

Back in 2014, I had churned on a story as I so often do, but I hadn’t tried to put it to words. One night at a London pub, I finally brought the story into the real world, and told a friend the plot. She introduced me to NaNoWriMo, and made the point that it was worth the try. I was skeptical. This wouldn’t be my first attempt at a longer story, nor would it be my last.

The first time I heard of NaNoWriMo, I have to admit I found it all a little silly. I think at the bottom of that emotion, was a little jealousy that writers were able to finish a project so quickly. I’m not very great at structure, as my life is excellent proof of, and writing is a result of habitual structure. A month long writing project gave me the kick in the behind that I needed to get to it. And I did. Several times. But I have also failed, several times. I won that first year, and I finished my 50,000.