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:

1. 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.
2. There is never enough time, whatever time you have, you will fill it.  Budget yours accordingly.
3. Characters have minds of their own.  You want them to do one thing, they do another.  Pretty much, they are like children.
4. 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 to excruciating pain in your hands. 
5. The world needs more stories because they bring magic, possibility, and lessons. The world is in terrible need of all of these things.
6. 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…
7. 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 official Nanowrimo 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.