Once Upon a Summer

In years past, when November rolled around I would participate in NaNoWriMo, attempting to write a novel of 50,000 words in 30 days which averaged out to 1667 words written daily. Through this annual event I met wonderful people, formed lasting friendships, co-founded a writing group, hosted a plethora of events including annual write-all-nights for almost a decade, and created fourteen awful drafts. 

This past fall I learned that NaNo was over. The organization had exploded (I am not up on the reasons, drama or resulting fallout beyond that NaNoWriMo as I knew it no longer exists). I morn for the group and organization that was. 

It has been a few years since I actually participated. I was a NaNoRebel during covid and when I returned to school in 2022 I decided not to NaNo. There were too many other things requiring my attention, effort, and energy. Even without the added commitment the NaNo experience had been less fun the last few years. I was missing my NS writing friends and the act of writing had become less joyful. I thought I was done with writing. 

However, last month I started realizing I was missing creative writing. Alex has been encouraging me to "just write." He's very supportive but my brain kept saying " but it's not November." I think half of my joy of writing was the challenge and being in the community of writers I had found.  

Then last week I came across Once Upon a Summer, a similar writing challenge an Instagram account is hosting. It starts June 1st and ends August 31st. The goal is still 50,000 words, making the daily goal of 550 words. 

 don't have any characters, conflict, setting, genre or anything close to a plot but I've decided to join this new writing adventure. It came at the right time (pun very much intended...hee hee pun...write time). I've been wanting to write something. I need the external motivation of a challenge. And think I will benefit from the lower daily word goal.

Anyone interested in joining me?