Have you heard of National Novel Writing Month? The idea is to write a 50,000-word book in the thirty days of November. You do it as the same time as a bunch of people to give yourself some accountability. That’s the National bit of the title.
The resultant novel doesn’t have to win an Oscar. In fact, it can’t win an Oscar because the Oscars are for movies. That’s a relief.
The book doesn’t have to be perfect or marketable or even good. It doesn’t have to be anything except yours.
I’ve talked about writing several times already. I love writing. It’s the thing I did as a kid for fun. It’s the best kind of hard.
NaNoWriMo appeals to me because the focus is on the act of writing, the labor, 1,666 words a day. Struggling through it, getting the words on the page, crafting something is the only object. Committing to putting in the time is the hardest part and this helps with accountability if you need that sort of thing.
I need that sort of thing.
In October, I joined the NaNoWriMo website and pledged to try. (My username is Thriftygal if you want to befriend me there.) The official site has write-ins and meetups and virtual stuff online. I also joined a Facebook group with some friends from law school for encouragement, ideas and support.
I’m creating character sketches and doing worksheets, plotting and planning and visualizing. On November 1, I’ll start writing it and by November 30th, I’ll be done.
Theoretically.
Well, theoretically, you’ll be done the first draft. The point is the doing. The editing is the next part, if you decide the book is worth the additional effort. Or you abandon that one and start on another one. Or you scoff at me because this idea sounds terrible to you. That’s cool.
But that’s what up with me. I’m still writing every day, just not as much for this blog. Besides NaNoWriMo prep and terrible fiction, my paper journal fields attention from a pen and my hand. I also do morning papers — writing 750 words of whatever thoughts are in my head that morning.
If you’re thinking about doing NaNoWriMo, a good place to gauge your time commitment is a website called 750words.com that tells you how long it took you to write, how many breaks you took, your typing speed, and gives you all sorts of fun stats about your writing.
I joined in September, but after thirty days, my free trial expired, so I switched to Scrivener, a writing program I already purchased when writing my first book.
I’m also volunteering for the election, walking, working out, reading, meditating (more on this soon eventually), and socializing. Life is full and continues in earnest. I’m sorry I’m bad at blogging.
Have you done NaNoWriMo? Any tips?
I think you’re great at blogging! I like the the bloggers that don’t post anything unless they feel like they actually have something to say best. I’m intrigued by your writing exercises and plan to check them out!
You are too kind!
I think it’s 50,000 words, not 50,000 pages. I’m intrigued by this project, but not 50,000 pages intrigued haha
Haha! You are right. Even I wouldn’t read a 50,000 page book. I’m going to update the post. Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
Nanowrimo is great! I’m also signed up for it. I’m going to be doing their events in Boston and Providence Awesome way to get to know local writers. How interesting would it be if you wrote a book about the trials, travails and triumphs of the Thriftygal? Coupled with Indian recipes and lifestyle tips! I’d read it!
I have four books I’m actively working on and none of them are about me! I like the idea of NaNoWriMo because it forces me to pick one and run with it instead of dawdling with research on different topics. 🙂
Your posts are informative and good….. no problem if you are not regular here…. 🙂
If I knew how to use emojis here, this is where I’d leave the thumbs up emoji.
I’m doing NaNo this year too (username AshleyKeniston) and I’ve tried and failed many years gone by now lol. I did “win” camp this summer, so I feel like this year is my year, it can be done! What u found really helps is having a solid outline for the whole thing. Some people are great and writing by the seat if my pants, and I swore by that for years, but I also failed for years, then I outlines and hallelujah I won!! So that’s my best suggestion. Good luck! It’s so much fun regardless because it is about the work in the end.
I’ll try to befriend you on there if I can figure out how. 🙂
There are names for the types of writers. Pantsers or Planners. I’m definitely going to have a general outline! Thanks for the tip.
Google recommended this post and I love it! I remember my first successful attempt at NaNo-ing. It’s what brings me back each year. I’ll check out the rest of your content while I finish prepping for NaNo. This year I plan to write 24 flash fiction stories. Good luck!
Google recommended this post? How interesting! I like the idea of 24 flash fiction stories, too.
I won Nanowrimo several years ago. I felt stuck in a dead end job and nanowrimo helped me find a sense of purpose. The resulting novel wasn’t very good, but the act of writing it motivated me to tackle some other big life goals. I think it’s spectacular that you’re doing it this year, and hope you enjoy the experience–no matter what the resulting work looks like.
That’s an excellent point. Doing big things lets you believe you can do more big things.
I also found value in the creative process of writing fiction. Making up a story was plain fun.
You nailed it!
I love that you’re doing this and can’t wait to read it. Count me in if you’d like some editing eyes come December.
Based on the fiction I’ve already started writing, I don’t think it will be available for other eyes until many, many, many edits later and maybe never. We’ll see! Thanks for the support!
Hi Thriftygal, I searched for you and couldn’t find you with this tip (https://kwrites.com/2017/10/24/how-to-add-a-writing-buddy-on-nanowrimo-org/).
I’m dr_sassy if you want to hang.
I’ve got to get my next Hope Sze medical thriller done!
I did Nanowrimo in 2014 for Hope Sze #4 and whipped through it in the first two weeks because I was insane. This year, I’ll be more chill.
Grr, I noticed that, too, but had other people “buddy” me there, so thought it was fixed. I’ve added you, so hopefully it works now! 🙂
I wrote this book NanoWriMo style. No one bought it but I had a lot of fun!
Oh, I’m impressed you put it on amazon!