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Ready, Set, Write! Join the Annual Race for 50,000 Words

National Novel Writing Month

“Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.”

Every year as trick-or-treaters trail home on Halloween to tally their loot, writers around the world flex their fingers in readiness for National Novel Writing Month, better known as Nanowrimo, that begins on November 1st.

This is the month when would-be novelists churn out thousands of words a day with the goal of creating the rough draft of a 50,000-word novel.

National Novel Writing Month was started in July 1999 in SanFrancisco by Chris Baty and 20 of his friends. Although it began as a half-literary fest and half-block party, it has grown into a worldwide explosion of the imagination among 300,000+ aspiring novelists. It is now even a 501(3)(c) nonprofit providing programs such as the Young Writers Program and Camp NaNoWriMo, that empower and encourage vibrant creativity around the world.

If you’ve been longing to write a novel or struggling to finish one, here are some very good reasons to join your fellow novelists during NaNoWriMo.

You are encouraged to go for quantity, not quality.

Here’s your chance to push yourself to turn out that rough draft that every writer must create. At the end of November you will have a product that will definitely need to be edited and polished before it’s ready for publication, maybe for months later. But won’t it be great to have it done in a month instead of dragging on for years?

Your one-month novel will likely be bad, Actually really, really horrible.

But no one will ever need to see your rough draft.

Let me repeat that.

Write your worst. No one will ever see your rough draft.

What is important is that you will discover that you can create something that
is the same length as a good novel. Maybe, with attention to the elements of novel writing, you COULD turn a feeble attempt into a publishable novel with professional editing and polishing.

Listen to the Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo, share the history and give tips.

You get tips and encouragement from published writers, industry leaders and fellow writers.

  1. Check out the calendar at http://nanowrimo.org/calendar for this and other exciting events, even virtual write-ins.
  2. Join on Facebook and learn about ways to get ready at https://www.facebook.com/nanowrimo and follow on
  3. Although you may certainly write alone, many NaNoWriMo writers gather in coffee shops, libraries and other public places to work on their novels and enourage each other toward their 50,000 word goal.
  4. There are 926 volunteer Municipal Liaisons guiding in 633 regions on six continents. Once you join, locate your region to see a listing of meeting places and times. Attend the ones that are convenient for you.
  5. In addition to the typical coffee shop meet-ins, my local NaNoWriMo groups will meet on a train, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and even IKEA. Then there’s our write-a-thon, Night of Writing Dangerously in SanFrancisco.
  6. Get loads of tips and strategies in the http://nanowrimo.org/forums

The volunteer liaisons are wonderfully creative and energetic as they plan events to make it fun to join in. Some have themed dress-ups days and offer prizes.

NaNoWriMo is not a one-trick pony.

They encourage writings year-round. Learn about their many programs at https://www.youtube.com/user/lettersandlightvideo

Not near a group, join the Virtual Write-In 

Have any NaNoWriMo participants ever published their novels?

Yes! Over 500+ NaNoWriMo participants have published their books.

Here are two you may recognize.

Hugh Howey, author of Wool and Sara Gruen, author of the historical novel Water for Elephants wrote their first drafts at NaNoWriMo.

But for a longer list, check out the traditionally and self-published NaNoWriMo authors at http://nanowrimo.org/published-wrimos

You don’t have to change your life, just make writing your focus.

Disciplined writers already know they must turn out a certain number of words per day. They do it by making a commitment and fitting it into their daily lives. You can do this too.

There is no pressure. You may track your word count on the NaNoWriMo site, but it’s on the honor system. Even if you don’t make the 50,000-word finish line, you will be happy to enjoy whatever progress you make. Just participating is an achievement.

If you’re ready, learn more and then register, go to http://nanowrimo.org/how-it-works

Tell me in the comments the book idea you plan to work on.

Follow me on Twitter@florabrown

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I update and publish this article each year.

 

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Flora Morris Brown, author of this article, also wrote Color Your Life Happy: Create Your Unique Path and Claim the Joy You Deserve, 2nd edition. Visit amazon.com/author/florabrown to  learn about her other books.[/feature_box]

 

National Novel Writing Month is Underway and It’s Not Too Late to Join In

National Novel Writing Month

“Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.”

Every year as trick-or-treaters trail home on Halloween to tally their loot, writers around the world are flexing their fingers in preparation for National Novel Writing Month, better known as Nanowrimo, that begins on November 1st. For one full month, would-be novelists churn out thousands of words a day with the goal of creating the rough draft of a 50,000-word novel.

National Novel Writing Month was started by Chris Baty and 20 of his friends in July 1999 in SanFrancisco. Although it began as a half-literary fest and half-block party, it has grown into a worldwide explosion of the imagination among 300,000+ aspiring novelists. It is now even a 501(3)(c) nonprofit providing programs such as Young Writers Program and Camp NaNoWriMo, that empower and encourage vibrant creativity around the world.

Why should you join NaNoWriMo? If you’ve been longing to write a novel or struggling to finish one, here are some very good reasons to join your fellow novelists.

You are encouraged to go for quantity, not quality.

Here’s your chance to push yourself to turn out that rough draft that every writer must create. At the end of November you will have a product that will definitely need to be edited and polished before it’s ready for publication, maybe for months later. But won’t it be great to have it done in a month instead of dragging on for years?

Your one-month novel will likely be bad, Actually really, really horrible.

No one will ever see your rough draft.

Let me repeat that.

Write your worst. No one will ever see your rough draft.

What is important is that you will discover that you can create something that
is the same length as a good novel. Maybe, with attention to the elements ofnovel writing, you COULD turn a feeble attempt into a publishable novel.

Listen to the Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo, share the history and give tips.

 

You get tips and encouragement from published writers.

Best-selling authors offer free coaching on NaNoWriMo’s Twitter account to offer tips. Check out the schedule at http://nanowrimo.org/events for this and other exciting events.

You have the chance to connect with fellow writers in your community.

Although you may certainly write alone, many NaNoWriMo writers gather in coffee shops, libraries and other public places to work on their novels and enourage each other toward their 50,000 word goal. There are 803 volunteer Municipal Liaisons guiding in 615 regions on six continents. Once you join, locate your region to see a listing of meeting places and times. Attend the ones that are convenient for you.

In addition to the typical coffee shop meet-ins, my local NaNoWriMo groups will meet on a train, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and even IKEA. Then there’s our write-a-thon, Night of Writing Dangerously in SanFrancisco.

The volunteer liaisons are wonderfully creative and energetic as they plan events to make it fun to join in. Some have themed dress-ups days and offer prizes.

If you can’t get out, consider virtual write-ins.

Have any NaNoWriMo participants ever published their novels?

Yes!

Here are two you may recognize.

Hugh Howey, author of Wool and Sara Gruen, author of the historical novel Water for Elephants wrote their first drafts at NaNoWriMo.

You don’t have to change your life, just make writing your focus.

Disciplined writers already know they must turn out a certain number of words per day. They do it by making a commitment and fitting it into their daily lives. You can do this too.

There is no pressure. You may track your word count on the NaNoWriMo site, but it’s on the honor system. Even if you don’t make the 50,000-word finish line, you will be happy to enjoy whatever progress you make.

If you’re still not convinced to jump on board the 2015 NaNoWriMo fun, read this pep talk from Gene Luen Yang.

Ready now?

To get started, set up your account and log on to report your word count and participate in the forum. Remember, it’s on the honor system and completing your goal is your reward. Even if you don’t reach the 50,000 word mark, just participating is an achievement.

[feature_box style=”23″ only_advanced=”There%20are%20no%20title%20options%20for%20the%20choosen%20style” alignment=”center”] paperbackbookstanding_849x1126(2)

Flora Morris Brown, author of this article, also wrote Color Your Life Happy: Create Your Unique Path and Claim the Joy You Deserve, 2nd edition. Visit http://coloryourlifehappy.com to learn more about the book before it is released on Amazon and other major booksellers. [/feature_box]

 

Join the Race to 50,000 Words: National Novel Writing Month

“Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.”

“Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.”

 

If you’ve been putting off writing your novel (or other genre), November is an excellent time to get started because it’s National Novel Writing Month .

Although it began as a national effort for novelists, it is now practiced around the world by fiction and nonfiction writers. This year 400,000 writers in 616 affiliated chapters across six continents are expected to participate. They will gather in coffee shops, libraries, and many other places to encourage each other and reach for the 50,000 word goal, or 1,667 words a day. Some work alone at home, but check in online with their fellow writers.

Started by Chris Baty and 20 of his friends, the first NaNoWriMo actually took place in July 1999 in San Francisco. Described in their history as half literary marathon and half block party, it is celebrating its 16th year.

National Novel Writing Month is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes stories matter. Through their programs, including the Young Writers Program, the Come Write In program, and Camp NaNoWriMo, they empower and encourage vibrant creativity around the world.

Starting November 1st, eager writers gather in coffee shops, homes, cafes, etc. starting right after midnight on Halloween. They hope to keep each other motivated and awake as they race toward the goal of 50,000 words by midnight November 30th.

Most will continue to go to work and carry on their normal lives in between writing sessions, but most see writing as the primary task this month.

To get started, participants set up accounts and log on to report their word count and participate in the forum. It’s on the honor system and completing your goal is your reward. Even if you don’t reach the 50,000 word mark, just participating is an achievement. Experienced NaNoWriMo writer, RJBlain, gives you the pros and cons here, but will not try to coerce you to join.

What kind of novel (or other genre) can you possibly turn out in a month?

Quantity, not quality is the point. 50,000 words is the goal.

They don’t have to coherent, but many fiction and nonfiction writers use this time to speed up their productivity toward churning out that inescapable crappy first draft. Would-be novelists and even nonfiction writers use the time to prove to themselves that they can complete a piece of work.

Hugh Howey, author of the award-winning Molly Fyde Saga and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling WOOL series, believes that writers who work well under pressure can turn out good quality manuscripts during NaNoWriMo. Whatever you turn out in November will need editing later. If writing a novel is not your goal and you use the time to write about your past or create poetry instead, he believes the experience can still change your life.

But everyone doesn’t see NaNoWriMo as a good thing.

NaNoWriMo is not for everyone.

Alan Baxter, author of dark speculative fiction, takes a very dark view of this November ritual. He believes it’s unrealistic and a cruel joke on those who expect to have a novel at the end. You can see his full rant here. He announces that he won’t be participating, which is no surprise to me. I don’t think NaNoWriMo was created for professional writers who have already found their niche, pace and audience.

Another writer, David McDonald, admits that keeping up with the demand to finish 50,000 on the same project was grueling, but he did it. He gives tips on how he did it, and is happy for the experience that made him stretch beyond his usual short story length pieces. David is clear that he wouldn’t end with a polished piece. Here’s his take from on the reward for reaching the finish line

“And what of the actual novel? Was it worth it? Again, I have to say yes. The plot outline I had worked out translated pretty well into novel form and I can see that it is worth persevering. Sure, it needs some revising and editing, but the fact remains that the bulk of it is there, instead of in my head like it had been for the fast few years. NaNoWriMo was the kick in the pants I needed to take the next step.”

NaNoWriMo Writers Who Became Published Authors

In case you wonder if any NaNoWriMo writers ever become published authors, the answer is yes. Since 2006, 100 NaNoWriMo novels, such as Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, have been published by traditional publishers. Hundreds more have been published by independent, small press and self-published authors. Many have been published in the authors’ native languages. See a full list of published authors at http://nanowrimo.org/published-wrimos

2014 Brings Exciting Features to Spur You On During NaNoWriMo

  • You don’t have to write alone. Come Write In, a program that offers free resources and support to literacy related spaces, will expand beyond libraries and bookstores. Three hundred and ninety spaces, including cafes and community centers (and even an American style pizza restaurant in Japan), will become local beacons for creative writing through NaNoWriMo.
  • Debbie Millman, president of the design division at Sterling Brands, returns to run “30 Covers, 30 Days”, which challenges designers to create a book cover for a participant’s novel in progress in 24 hours. A celebration of the collaboration between design and writing, this program will inspire authors and provide prints for an Art of NaNoWriMo event

If you aren’t convinced to jump on board yet, maybe you’ll catch the NaNoWriMo fever from this video by Errol Elumir.

What do you think? Is NaNoWriMo an event you could embrace? Have you ever participated? Did you make it to the finish line?

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Each year I post an updated version of this article appears on www.coloryourlifepublished.com announcing NaNoWriMo.

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Way to make time to write

If you want to go at a slower pace than NaNoWriMo, I’d love to be your travelling companion to make your writing journey a fun trip with a soft landing. Check out my 4-week ecourse “Rockin’ My Book” where you can ease into the writing process with a gentle push, but no pressure. Once you sign up for the course you’ll get a lesson loaded with content and suggested activities in your emailbox each week. As you complete the lessons you may email me with questions and concerns.