‘NaNoWriMo’ encourages almost everyone’s inner novelist
Every November, National Novel Writing Month (better known as NaNoWriMo to its participants) rolls around. The goal is simple: crank out a 50,000 word manuscript in 30 days. Writing a novel is a major undertaking. Trying to write 50,000 words in 30 days borders on the insane. But every year, people manage to pull it off.
Now the real question: Why would anyone in his or her right mind do NaNoWriMo? For a lot of people, it’s a great time to get some solid writing done. An entire community has sprung up online to support all of the participants and writing your novel turns into a real community effort.
While the community is somewhat star-studded (current participants include bestselling horror novelist Scott Sigler and Printz Award-Winning young adult author John Green), most of the people who write during NaNoWriMo are average folks who have always wanted to get that novel that’s been stuck in their head out into the world.
In fact, NaNoWriMo has become so popular, there’s even a how-to book to help with your creative process. Entitled “No Plot? No Problem!” it’s a manual for those who are attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge. There are also a bunch of other posts out there on the Internet with tons of tips and tricks from plenty of authors who have done this before. Personally, the best advice I’ve ever read was from productivity and creativity guru Merlin Mann, who said: “When I’m reading about writing, I’m not writing.”
The key with NaNoWriMo is not to attempt to write a perfect novel, but rather just churn out the words first and edit later. Sure, your novel may not be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but no book’s first draft is perfect. That’s why there’s National Novel Editing Month (or NaNoEdMo) in March.
Personally, I don’t have the time to dedicate to 30 days of hardcore writing. So, I’m declaring November to also be National Outline Something To Write Over Winter Break, I Mean Seriously Dude Month (or NOSTWOWiBrIMSDuMo).
It’s my way of still making a serious difference in my writing, without subjecting myself to what would be abject torture with my current workload.
What’s really awesome about NOSTWOWiBrIMSDuMo, aside from its hilariously long acronym, is that it can involve you. That’s right—you, dear reader, are more than welcome to join me in my quest this month.
If you’re interested in forming a community around outlining, drop me a line in the comments for this article at www.whitmanpioneer.com, or send me an email at blairhanleyfrank@gmail.com.
Also, just because it’s crazy for me to dedicate the better part of my life to writing 50,000 words in a month, doesn’t mean that you can’t. I’d love to hear about your successes, trials and tribulations when it comes to this month.
4 Responses to “‘NaNoWriMo’ encourages almost everyone’s inner novelist”
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Bravo! I encourage you to keep writing. I am encouraged to know that our youth can weave tales of intelligent, well organized, and cleverly crafted prose. Your enthusiasm for the craft instills faith in the future. Thank you for your contributions!
Your 467-word article is more than a fourth of the necessary average daily output of 1,666 words to achieve 50,000 words in 30 days. If that still seems daunting, consider that my son, a high school senior, easily texts that much in a month and that’s just using his thumbs! And since all it has to be is a very rough draft (think “verbal vomit”), it flows much more freely once you unhook that pesky editing side of your brain. Fantasize about writing a newspaper article without having to revise it!
It’s like the latte argument for financial planning: saving $100 per month may seem impossible until you give up the daily espresso drink. It’s more about the discipline of reserving the time to write. Most NaNoWriMo authors have lives outside of the month’s writing that don’t allow them to devote eight hours per day to it. Some of them are even college students! So good luck with NOSTWOWiBrIMSDuMo or whatever it is that keeps you writing!
The best I can say is that we are all insane for trying this. It is an amazing feat for sure, but there are already people that have surpassed the 50,000 mark! There are even some that are coming up on 100,000 from what I have seen. Now those are people that need to have the Men in White coats visit with them. Hey, I love all though!
My main issue? Someone decided to share the flu (not H1N1)with me and I have fallen 5,000 words behind. Despite that, I am still trying to churn out as many words as I can between passing out from exhaustion, medication and pain!
Write on fellow WriMos!
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