Checking in: Week 2 of NaMuWriMo

So far, so good, my friends. I am 16 for 16! So far this month I have written music for at least 30 minutes per day, which is the goal I set for myself. Cool!

At this stage, I have written almost three complete songs. At the rate I am going, I may actually be able to finish the entire song cycle I am writing (settings of five poems by E. E. Cummings for soprano, clarinet, and piano) before the month is over! Awesome!

I have been keeping track of my daily progress. Here is my log for the past week:

Date	Minutes	Measures
10-Nov	32	7
11-Nov	30	7
12-Nov	30	8
13-Nov	31	5
14-Nov	32	4
15-Nov	32	12
16-Nov	41	9
TOTAL:	228	52

So it seems I have increased my productivity since I last posted. I am averaging fewer than five minutes for each measure I write, as opposed to my last post when I averaged closer to six minutes per measure. (Granted the song I was writing then had more intricate counterpoint than the songs I wrote this week, but still . . . whatever!)

Thanks for reading my post. I appreciate your support!

Checking In: Week 1 of NaMuWriMo

As of November 9, I am nine for nine out of days in which I composed for a least 30 minutes/day. Cool! So far, I am meeting my goal. I don't quite write five measures a day every day (some days I write as few as three partial measures, but other days I have written as many as 14 measures!) But--whatever--it isn't about the number of measures I write, it is about writing something, anything, each day.

And the best news is that I finished my first of five songs for the song cycle project. Awesome! I am going to wait until next month to put it all into the computer notation program (right now it exists as handwritten pencil on manuscript paper, but it is A COMPLETE SONG MANUSCRIPT). And now I can move on to the next song in the cycle. I already have a partial sketch of ideas for a vocal melody, but at my next session I'll move forward on it.

What I have learned by doing this daily practice so far:

• I write when I make the time for it in the morning.
• I started out very slow at first (3 measures, then 4, then just 3), but now that I am in a regular habit, I am more productive (i.e., write more music) with the time I have.
• It helps to have a supportive partner. Every morning she has walked the dog or given me time and space I need to create. Thank you, Kate!
• For the first time in awhile, I am REALLY ENJOYING composing and I look forward to each morning session I have.

I'll report again next week, with hopefully similar success!

Statistics for week 1, plus the weekend, if anyone is interested:

Date	Minutes	Measures
1-Nov	31	3
2-Nov	32	4
3-Nov	31	3
4-Nov	36	3.5
5-Nov	37	6
6-Nov	40	13
7-Nov	31	4
8-Nov	32	5
9-Nov	50	14
TOTAL:	320	55.5

Directives for overcoming creativity-sucking demons

While I am doing NaMuWriMo (and hopefully beyond the month of November), the following directives will serve as mantras for me:

• Stop judging. Start creating.
• Commit to your projects and finish what you start.
• Stop worrying about what other people think.
• Honor your ideas.
• Stop making excuses.
• Prioritize creativity.
• Stop weighing yourself.
• Stop being critical and/or jealous of others.
• Put your music out there!
• Stop taking yourself too seriously.
• Share your work with others.
• Stop comparing yourself to others.
• Stay accountable.
• Just do the damn thing.

I know there is all this music inside me just waiting to come out.