Welcome back to my Jamaican Vignettes blog. Today I’m sharing my experience of writing a book, I have a first draft and deciding to never publish it. Let’s have a bookish chat about writing and publishing.
Winning NaNoWriMo in 2023
Before it became trash and disintegrated into dust as the writing community left it due to its AI affiliations and abuse allegations, the National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) was something that writers and aspiring writers looked forward to each year.
The challenge was simple, write every day and write quickly and by 30 November have a 50,000 word first draft of your manuscript.
In November 2023, I did just that. I was nearing five years since my bipolar disorder diagnosis and I wanted to chronicle my experience with a mental health crisis, treatment and getting my life back on track.
And I did it. I completed my memoir that I had titled as a placeholder of sorts, Fire On The Mountain. There’s an Asa song that’s called Fire On Time Mountain that I recommend you listen to. It’s amazing.
Writing As Therapy
After NaNoWriMo I decided to let my writing sit until January 2024. That period also coincided with my resuming therapy. I started therapy with Tea House Therapy and I began to work through my trauma and feelings of being stuck and uncertain.
Eventually I picked up the manuscript and I started revising it. I also used the draft or an excerpt to apply for a Ganta memoir writing workshop (that didn’t end up going anywhere).
But after a few weeks of revising the manuscript and also going to therapy, I realized a few things. The events of 2019 and 2020 we’re still too fresh and too personal to share. I felt too raw and vulnerable that I didn’t want to put my healing on display to go through public opinion and assessment of myself, my family and loved ones.
So I shelved the project. I started what was dubbed my “2024 short story collection” and I stumbled through two short stories then eventually paused that project too.
Returning to Fiction Writing
Last month, I decided to return to fiction writing. I’m going back to that 2024 short story collection. I’ll work on that and see where I land. But I’m also releasing the pressure of being perfect and being focused on a publication finish or goal.
I want to create and for the short stories to exist. And for right now that is enough.
My Hope For You
Are you a creative you may have given up on a dream? I’m recommending that you try again. Do it for the love of it.
We don’t need to monetize every hobby and not every project project has to be a side hustle. Some things can be fun and be enjoyable just because we love it.
So please enjoy your life and your talents. Do it for you and your own joy and fulfillment.
Next week, I’m returning with MJV Three Bookish Thoughts with a Jamaican author who’s work I was introduced to earlier this year.
I like the idea of having this book. Even though you may never publish, maybe one day you will, who knows? The possibilities are endless.
Thanks Kimberly. It’s enough that it exists. And I want to get back to writing fiction and long form content. Thanks for reading.