By the time you read this, I will have already started. I will have taken the first step toward becoming a novelist – writing with intent. I was going to say “award-winning novelist”, but surprisingly, that isn’t my goal. My goal is to just get it written. I need to corral the myriad thoughts and memories floating around in my head, and give them a tangible format. I need to use them before I lose them.

Writing your first novel isn’t really that big of a deal, especially if, like me, you’ve already written lots of other things that have actually been published. But this IS a big deal, at least, for me it’s a big deal.

For three years now, I have been saying “I’m going to write this book.” Family that I have shared this with will ask me now and then, “When are you going to write that book?” Before, the answer was always, “I’m going to.” Today, the answer is, “Now. I’m writing it now.”

I have chosen to be public about my intent because if nobody but me knew my plan, nobody but me would know if I failed to follow through. I am making myself accountable to others. And, at the same time, I am letting down my guard a little, exposing my vulnerability – just a bit.

When I started writing this post, I thought it would be nice to add an inspirational quote or two, to round it out. As you can see, getting started is a really big deal, not just for writing, but for life in general, and there are a lot of notable quotes to prove it. So, instead of sharing just a couple, I have compiled quite a list (I seem to have a penchant for compiling long lists, don’t I?). I thought it would be really cool to post a new quote to this site for each day of NaNoWriMo – but let’s face it, we all know that isn’t going to happen. So, here instead, is the complete list to date. You’re in control. Feel free to come back every day and read a quote from the list. If you run out of list before you run out of month, just go back and review your favorites. Or, if you prefer, consume them all in one sitting – it’s totally up to you.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lao Tzu

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps – we must step up the stairs. – Vance Havner

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. – Henry Ford

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. – Jim Rhon

The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Unknown

Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. – Napoleon Hill

The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started. – Dawson Trotman

It’s so hard when contemplated in advance, and so easy when you do it. – Robert M. Pirsig

Stop talking. Start walking. – L. M. Heroux

Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare. – Chinese Proverb

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney

The scariest moment is always just before you start. – Stephen King

He has half the deed done who has made a beginning. – Horace

Start before you’re ready. – Steven Pressfield

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. – Zig Ziglar

However, don’t let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started. – Marilu Henner

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. – Mark Twain

Act or accept. – Anonymous

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began – Mary Oliver

Anyone can do something when they WANT to do it. Really successful people do things when they don’t want to do it. – Dr. Phil

Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You have to start somewhere. – Anne Lamott

A blank page is no empty space. It is brimming with potential… It is a masterpiece in waiting – yours. – A. A. Patawaran