Nanowrimo. Nano-what? -OH!
Nanowrimo,National Novel Writing Month, is upon us. Yes, all of November, the challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. This will be my sixth year with this challenge. Before having a kid, I completed the challenge twice. Since life got busier, I’ve had to adjust my expectations.
I remember the first time I heard the word Nanowrimo. It was strange, funny, confusing, and intriguing at the same time. Such is the experience of trying to write a novel in one month. Strange, funny, confusing, and intriguing all at the same time.
Here are the 7 things I have learned while trying to write a novel in one month:
Top 7 Things…
- If you judge your writing, your fingers will become frozen and you will enter a time loop of re-editing the same page over and over.
- There is never enough time, whatever time you have, you will fill it. Budget yours accordingly.
- Characters have minds of their own. You want them to do one thing, they do another. Pretty much, they are like children.
- Typing a novel while lying on the couch is not ergonomic. That’s a fancy way of saying, “Don’t type while lying on the couch or you might get carpal and/or cubital tunnel syndrome.” In other words typing in strange positions can lead toexcruciating pain inyour hands.
- The world needs more stories because they bring magic, possibility, and lessons. The world is in terrible need of all of these things.
- The internet is very distracting. Wait….let me just go do “research” on why the internet is so distracting. That might give me ideas for what to put on the number 7 part of this blog. Two hours (of YouTube, Pinterest, and random searches) later…
- Writing lets you see the world in a whole different way. Where some people see a rock, a writer sees that last clue to unravel a mystery. Where some people see a car, a writer might see a robot. Where some people see a blank page, a writer sees a whole world filled with heroes and villains. Trying to write a novel in one month immerses you in the mindset of a writer. See the world like a writer. I dare you.
Recommendation…
I would highly encourage everyone to give it a go. What’s the worse that could happen?
Just visit the officialNanowrimo site, create and account, and start writing. You can earn badges and challenge/encourage other writers in the challenge. And, best of all, show off your finished work.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.
On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is foranyonewho has ever thought about writing a novel.