'Twas the night before NaNo & the 'net was a-buzz!
Not an author was writing, but they knew they must!
NaNoWriMo kicked off with great jubilation on November 1st. If your social media feed was anything like mine, it was fillllled with posts from authors and writers alike discussing their WIPs & goals. So let's get into what all this NaNo-hype is about!
What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month, often shortened to NaNoWriMo, is a yearly event that takes place every November. The event was created to encourage writers to push themselves to write a complete novel in just one month. For many writers, NaNoWriMo is the perfect opportunity to jump-start their creative juices and produce a first draft of a novel.
Who is NaNoWriMo?
"NaNoWriMo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people use their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page."
“Write first! Ask questions later!” –Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo founder
How can I participate in NaNoWriMo?
Participating in NaNoWriMo is simple. All you have to do is sign up on the official website, nanowrimo.org, and commit to writing a 50,000-word novel in the 30 days of November (this averages out to about 1,667 words per day, unless you take one day off a week & Thanksgiving, then it's 2k/day). The website provides a supportive community of writers, with forums, pep talks, and local events to help keep you motivated and inspired.
What if I can't do that?
Writing is meant to be a joy and a journey. If the guidelines set out in NaNoWriMo don't align with your current goals or lifestyle -- THAT'S OKAY! There are other ways you can participate.
- Create your own goals for the month
- Write a little here and there
- Read A LOT
- Champion your writer friends
- Consider attending a workshop, webinar, or book club to get your
creative juices flowing!
There's lots of things you can do this month to share in the spirit of NaNo. Don't lose yourself in the comparison of it all! Just enjoy writing and storytelling for what it is.
Give it A Try!
If you're new to writing, NaNoWriMo can be a great way to get started. The pressure of a deadline can help you overcome writer's block and self-doubt, and the camaraderie of the community can help you feel less alone in the writing process. Even if you don't end up with a perfect manuscript at the end of the
month, you'll have accomplished something significant and gained valuable experience.
So why not give NaNoWriMo a try this November? You never know what kind of story you might have inside you, waiting to be written.
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I should challenge myself to write more, a story is always lurking somewhere in my mind, inspired by many colorful things and people. Often times my thoughts bounce around my lips like watermelon seeds bursting out from an otherwise juicy sentence. Then, there are times when my words are silent..like a barely audible tune better whistled then said...