National Novel Writing Month If you have ever participated in the NaNoWriMo annual 30-day writing marathon, you already know what it’s like. You cross everything else off your schedule, hunker down and write. On second thought, it’s not really a marathon. It’s a sprint, hurdling over writer’s blocks and kick-starting your creativity because it’s all about the first draft. It’s freeing! No one expects you to turn out a polished manuscript. You just keep writing and writing and writing. The NaNo organization has built a terrific interactive website with incentives, forums, encouraging blog articles, writing buddy networks, local groups, achievement badges and accountability charts that will inspire you to frantic efforts or despair. Or, if you are doing well, they might make you feel a little smug. (Watch out for that.) You even get a gold halo for your profile picture if you make a donation. My Favorite NaNoWriMo Resources from Helping Writers Become Authors: One of my favorite writing craft teachers, K.M. Weiland, is doing a series of articles on How to Outline for NaNoWriMo. I have her two books, Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel, in digital form, and I buy fresh copies of the corresponding workbooks Read More
Tag: NaNo
NaNoWriMo – 6 Things to Do Before November 1st
National Novel Writing Month If you have ever participated in the NaNoWriMo annual 30-day writing marathon, you already know what it’s like. You understand its magnitude, and you’ve probably made the decision to do it again. It’s an addictive event. It hurdles the writer’s block and kick-starts your creativity because it’s all about the first draft. No one expects you to turn out a polished manuscript. You just keep writing. and writing. and writing. The NaNo organization has built a terrific website with incentives, forums, encouraging blog articles, writing buddy networks, local groups, achievement badges and accountability charts that will inspire you to frantic efforts or despair. Or, if you are doing well, they might make you feel a little smug. (Watch out for that.) You even get a gold halo for your profile picture if you make a donation. I just read an article by KM Weiland: 6 Tasks You’ll Love Yourself for Checking Off Your NaNo Pre-Writing List. KM Weiland is a gifted teacher. Everything she writes is worth reading and applying. Everything. I have scanned the article and pinned it to study again when I have time to prepare for NaNoWriMo. It looks amazing. Side Read More
NaNo NaNo
I’m feeling good about this year’s NaNoWriMo story. I thought it would be lighthearted and fun, but it’s been surprisingly emotional – even sad – so far. I think I’m all done killing off characters, though, and I only have one more serious emotional scene to get through before I can make it fun again. 17,746 words as of this evening. I wrote 4000 today, because I didn’t write at all yesterday.
Happy NaNo!
NaNoWriMo is an annual challenge activity: Write 50,000 words in one month. Ideally, a complete fictional story, start to finish in 30 days. There are always a few rebels who want to write poetry or nonfiction, but NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth was intended for fiction. From their website: National Novel Writing Month is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (formerly known as the Office of Letters and Light) that believes your story matters. Our mission statement: National Novel Writing Month organizes events where children and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they need to achieve their creative potential. Our programs are web-enabled challenges with vibrant real-world components, designed to foster self-expression while building community on local and global levels. This is my 5th attempt at a “win”. I have only finished twice before; I was working full-time during the other three Novembers. So if you don’t see me very often, it’s because I am typing away in Scrivener, creating a story that I’m getting really excited about!