On 1 November, I began the NaNoWriMo challenge, an annual event where participants aim to write 50,000 words over the month. This requires an average of 1,667 words per day—a significant undertaking, especially when managing a full-time job and preparing an ethics application for my PhD. Although the challenge was demanding, I am pleased with the progress I made and the writing I completed.
Below is a summary of my work throughout November:
NaNoWriMo Challenge Post: 466
October MonthNotes: 466 + 1941 = 2,407
Blog Post: Towards more ethical products and services through thought experiments: 2407 + 784 = 3,191
Blog Post: Reflections on Yuval Noah Harari’s London Talk: Storytelling, Technology, and AI Ethics: 3191 + 982 = 4,173
Blog Post: Imagining the Future: Collaboration, Innovation, and Inclusivity in the OxCam Region: 4173 + 934 = 5,107
Blog Post: Morocco write-up: 5107 + 3113 = 8,220
Book Chapter Proposal = 8220 + 488: 8,708
Blog Post: Design Thinking for Change: Insights from a panel discussion: 8708 + 1348 = 10,056
Note on UK Government model for responsible Innovation: 10,056 + 283 = 10,339
Blog Post: How important is the “Human” in Human-Centred Design?: 10339 + 1184 = 11,523
Blog Post: Unpacking the Role of Interviews in Qualitative Research: 11523 + 2229 = 13,752
Book writing: Title TBC: 13752 + 534 = 14,286
November Monthnotes: 14286 + 1567 = 15,853
LinkedIn Post: NaNoWriMo Challenge update and thoughts: 15853 + 627 = 16,480
NaNoWriMo outcome: 16,480/50,000 words.
I approached the challenge somewhat arrogantly, thinking, “What’s 1,700 words a day? How hard can it be?” As the month progressed, I realised I had underestimated the time and effort required. Each piece involved selecting a topic, researching, drafting, proofreading, choosing an image (a nerve-racking step, as I wanted to use my own photos but mostly take pictures of my furbabies), writing a LinkedIn post, and finally publishing it.
The biggest pitfall was assuming I could generate 20-ish topics and have time to prepare each adequately. Perhaps writing 50,000 words on a single topic, such as a book, would have been more manageable. I cannot say for sure, as I have never written that much on one topic... Ok, that's a lie! I surpassed that number twofold when writing the literature review for my PhD—if not more. I went down so many different routes, and that experience taught me how much material accumulates when exploring multiple paths. I should revisit that writing one day and repurpose it.
Participating in the challenge would have been easier with a writing partner. A shared schedule and mutual encouragement would have been helpful (looking at you, Rachel!). While I didn’t feel drawn to the broader NaNoWriMo writing community, which largely focuses on fiction, having a writing buddy would have enhanced the experience.
Despite the difficulties, I’m glad I took part and plan to try again next year. Next time, I will prepare by either:
Creating a plan of topics to cover in advance, if I decide to write blog posts and other pieces on varied subjects again.
Developing a longer project, such as a fiction or non-fiction book. I have a few ideas, and perhaps 2025 will be the year to execute and publish one.
This challenge taught me a lot about myself, my writing habits, and the topics I explored. It helped me realise how important consistency and planning are, and how easy it is to overestimate how much you can do in a short time. Writing regularly for a set goal also reminded me of the value of pushing through when things get tough and how much I can learn by simply writing down my thoughts. I’ll definitely keep writing, but without the daily pressure of hitting a word count. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned into next year when I plan to be more organised and consistent, and perhaps take on a bigger project.
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