Smile!

See this smiley face? Doesn’t it look like it’s trying too hard to look happy, almost like it’s gritting its teeth to keep the happy face going?

Yeah. That’s me during week two of NaNo. I’m feeling positive. Really. Excited even. Honest. Despite the fact that I’m supposed to have written 20,000 words by the end of today and I’m at… uh… just under 4,000.

But here’s the thing. Life itself kind of talks to you if you’re listening. More than ever, this has been a month of needing to try not to focus on the negatives – in many areas of my life. On Saturday, some of my writing friends from my local RWA chapter encouraged me out of the blue to keep going with the type of story I want to write, despite what I think I hear about what is selling.

Sunday, the worship leader at church reminded us that while we never feel we have everything we want or even what we think we need, there is so much to be grateful for. And the act of gratitude itself helps quiet those feelings that you need what you don’t have.

Then yesterday my gorgeous, fabulous husband sent me an Instant Message asking if I was okay, that my email sounded sad. I was sad – I hadn’t gotten any writing done yet, and had just found out our car needs $500 in repairs. But what a romance novel hero thing to do – to both notice and to act!

So I started thinking… First of all, that husband…sigh. He’s a keeper. His good heart made me want to keep my tired self at the computer a little longer and get some work done on my novel despite all else. After all, all my heroes are built around him! 

Second, the encouragement God sends my way is undeserved, unasked for, and totally uplifting! LOL! I am grateful. For a lot. Right now, during the second week of NaNo, I’m grateful that with everything else going on in my life, I am nearly 4,000 words ahead of where I would otherwise be if I weren’t trying to hit a goal. And I’m even more grateful for those friends – people I don’t even know very well yet – who told me Saturday to just do it. Write the book of my heart regardless, and watch what happens! Thanks so much for that Nancy, Heather and Michelle!

Lastly, we’re only 40% of the way into our goal. We still have more than half the month left to kick some storytelling butt! We may look like this smiley face while we’re doing it – teeth clenched and eyes wide to keep the smile in place – but we can do it! Look around and find the things in life that are encouraging you, and focus on those things. And if you have time in between getting your word count up, share with us the things that have been an encouragement to you!