NaNoWriMo

Thru several of my writer friends, I have found out about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.) I would have never thought this was possible, except I have two writer friends that assure me it is. They did it last year. My last novel took me over 7 months to write. However, it was also an 80K novel, with an extensive plot line and character development.

On November 2nd I will be starting my novel for NaNoWriMo. I’ve been thinking about a story in my head for the last few weeks and have decided to use it for my November novel. To accomplish my task I need to write for at least 21 days, and with a word count of 2381, to have a 50K novel by the end of the month.

I love a good challenge and although, I do realize this is going to be a lot of work and very hard for a mom of three. The idea is exhilarating, and yes, even a bit daunting to me, but I know I can do this. And the thought of being able to write a novel in one month kind of makes me a little giddy, like I said, I love a good challenge, and at the end of this one there will be something tangible I can hold in my hands and hopefully be proud of.

Here is some information and rules on NaNoWriMo.

Chris Baty started the project in July 1999 with 21 participants in the San Francisco Bay area. Since then, the event has been held in November "to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather,” he said. 2000 was also the year that many of NaNoWriMo's ground rules were laid out, such as disallowing works in progress or co-authored books. 140 participants attempted the challenge, and 21 wrote 50,000 words.

Participants' novels can be on any theme and in any genre, and in any language. Everything from fanfiction, which uses trademarked characters, to novels in poem format, and even metafiction is allowed; according to the website's FAQ. Starting at midnight November 1, novels must reach a minimum of 50,000 words before 11:59:59 PM on November 30, local time. Advance planning and extensive notes are permitted, but no earlier written material can go into the body of the novel, nor is one allowed to start early and then finish 30 days from that start point.

Information provided by Wikepedia and National Novel Writing, Website.