I’m talking about NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month to the uninitiated. The basic concept is that you write a 50,000 world novel in the month of November. Yes, that’s 50k in 30 days. Yes, there’s a great big American holiday in the middle of it. Yes, that’s a lot of words. 1,667 a day, to be exact. Rock on.
This is my fourth NaNo, and it will be my fourth completed novel. You hear that? The certainty in that claim? That’s because, barring severe emergencies, I am determined to get it done. There’s always this certain time period in NaNoWriMo where you throw your hands in the air and cry, “I can’t do it! It’s too hard! I can’t finish this beast!” That’s when you put your nose to the grindstone. A finished novel, even a badly finished novel, is better than slinking away in shame. After all, it’s only 30 days. And you can do anything for 30 days. My second novel crashed and burned (because I tried to outline it! Outlines don’t seem to work for me) but it taught me to finish what I start. That’s a valuable lesson, but especially as a writer.
So novel with me! I’m Mercedes_ at the NaNoWriMo site. Let’s cheer each other on. It’ll be fun and will serve to light that fire! How many of you are participating? Have you done it before?
0 Comments on “Hey, Baby. Let’s Write A Novel Together.”
I’m going to participate, but I may not be able to write (promised my agent that I’d have my revisions done by the week of Thanksgiving). I still love doing the write-ins and networking with other local writers, so, I’m calling myself a ‘non-participatory-participant’.
Headed over there to friend you now.
Found you…this will be my first Nano and you know I’ll be there with bells on.
I did it last year, had a blast : ) This year I figure I should maybe EDIT that novel *lol*
I’ll be on the side lines waving pompoms and cheering everyone else on.
But next year I’m taking long service leave :c)
oooo tempting. only I don’t write lol. anytime I do it magically turns into a journal entry. Not quite what I’m looking for. But it is super tempting. I’ll think about it;)
I’ll be on the sidelines cheering you all.
I am! You knew that already though. This will be year two for me. 🙂
Sigh..still undecided
I just buddied you! This’ll be my fifth year and my fifth win (assuming nothing awful happens to derail me). It’s an awful lot of fun–in retrospect. At times during the month I wonder what madness took me that I wanted to repeat the misery. But when I cross the finish line with most (or all) of a new novel completed, it sure makes it worthwhile.
I added you! It’s my first year, so I’m psyched. And have yet to realize the misery KC mentions.
but i’ll know soon enough
I just may do it this year…
Really looking forward to it this year. I have a story I am itching to start. Will be my second year.
I’m in.
Mmm. You are all awesome, awesome people, cheerleaders and participants alike. Let’s rock.
This is my first year!
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