Who’s Doing NaNoWriMo?
(Modified repub of my QT Blog Post)
November is National Novel Writing Month. For the past 10 years, writers have been participating in a growing phenomenon called NaNoWriMo. It started in the San Francisco Bay area in 1999 with around two dozen participants and has grown into an international creative event with around 119,000 entrants in 2008.
To “win” NaNoWriMo, a writer must complete at least 50,000 words of a new project between November 1 and November 30–an average of 1667 words a day. What is the prize? A website badge, 50,000 shiny new words and a sense of accomplishment.
I’ve never done it before because the creative voice in me says, “No way. I don’t write on demand like that.” On further evaluation, I’ve realized that indeed, I do write on demand. I’ve written 3 novels in less than a month each, not including revisions, of course. I’ve edited on demand for my agent, and hope to write and edit for a publisher, so why not begin and end on an artificial deadline for NaNoWriMo?
“Creativity can’t be forced.” Tell that to my published friends who write for multiple houses 3, 4, 5 times a year.
The goal of NaNoWriMo is quantity, not quality, which means turning off the internal editor. This can be good or bad–or both. The better I become at my craft, the harder this is for me, but I find my story suffers sometimes due my labors over sentence structure and word choice.
When teaching English, I would tell my students, “Get the words down, then worry about formatting and cleaning it up later.” (Teens like to use creative fonts and formatting when publishing on computer.) I guess I need to heed my own advice to some degree. “Get the words down.” I can always edit later.
I may have to revise more than I would on a relaxed schedule, but, hey, the words will at least be there.
One feature I really like is the NaNoWriMo Young Writer’s program. Being a teacher and YA writer, I’m all about getting young people into writing.
My teen daughter, who is co-authoring a middle grade mystery/suspense with me, has registered and is looking forward to the workshops and productivity inspired by the program.
Here are some cool sites and resources:
Spacejock has spreadsheets and organizational tools to keep you in line.
Here’s an article on Squidoo on organizational techniques for NaNoWrimo.
This Squidoo article gives you step-by-step suggestions on how to prepare.
I’ve registered and am totally in for this year’s NaNoWriMo. I’d love to buddy up with you if you are participating. My NaNo screen name is marylindsey. My profile link is: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/506524
What about you? Tips? War stories? Links to great NaNoWriMo sites?
Let me know your NaNo link or profile name if you want me to buddy up with you.
Mary
Tags: NaNoWriMo
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October 31, 2009 at 8:42 am
I’m in for the first time this year! Darksculptures is also my NaNo screen name.
Here is my link: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/508510
I’d love to buddy up. We’ll all need a little support when we get to those dreaded saggy middles.
October 31, 2009 at 8:45 am
Yay! I added you. Good luck, Darksculptures.
October 31, 2009 at 9:38 am
I’m Iapetus999 on the NaNo site too.
My best advice is to keep writing. Don’t let anything stop you. The last two years I pretty much wrote from the seat of my pants. This year I have the whole thing plotted out down to individual scenes. We’ll see how it goes.
Good luck and keep us updated!
October 31, 2009 at 9:46 am
I’d be interested to see if the plotting works better than pantsing, Iapetus999. Best of luck with your NaNo project.
November 3, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I’m doing this also. I thought I couldn’t do it, but then I realized I’ve written other drafts in a month. The question is, can I do it while teaching? We shall see…
Good luck to you.