November is my favorite month of the year \u00e2\u20ac\u201c not because of the Thanksgiving holiday or my birthday, but because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s National Novel Writing Month ( NaNoWriMo.org )<\/p>\n
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For those new to NaNoWriMo, this event is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days \u00e2\u20ac\u201c specifically, the month of November.\u00c2\u00a0 No prizes \u00e2\u20ac\u201c just a chance to stretch your writing muscles with a like-minded group of other writers.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve participated in NaNoWriMo since 2004 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in fact, 2004 may have been my best attempt, both in terms of quality of writing, as well as the euphoric response to crossing the 50k finish line.\u00c2\u00a0 However, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve also reached the finish line 5 other times, and while my personal satisfaction in other years has ranged from ecstatic to relief that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s over, all efforts \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even in the years I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, have had a positive impact on my writing.<\/p>\n
Why Should You Participate in NaNoWriMo:
\nIf you have even a passing interest in writing stories (short other otherwise), I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to try NaNoWriMo at least once to see for yourself what you are capable of.\u00c2\u00a0 My first NaNoWriMo, not knowing what to expect, I shocked myself both in the ability to keep up with the writing pace (1667 words per day) and with the creative, mind-blowing ideas I came up with on the fly.\u00c2\u00a0 I have always wanted to be a writer, but NaNoWriMo 2004 changed my outlook on writing:\u00c2\u00a0 I realized I am a writer.\u00c2\u00a0 Hopefully if you decide to try NaNoWriMo, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have a similar experience.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0You need to sign up at\u00c2\u00a0 NaNoWriMo.org .\u00c2\u00a0 NaNoWriMo is free to all users, but for a $10 USD donation, you can help keep NaNoWriMo running.\u00c2\u00a0 The site even offers alternate ways to help if you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t donate financially.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Start thinking ahead about plot, characters, locations \u00e2\u20ac\u201c anything you want to incorporate into your story.\u00c2\u00a0 You can keep notes; you just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t write any of the story before November 1st.\u00c2\u00a0 Some people prefer not to prepare ahead of the event.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a choice you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll need to make \u00e2\u20ac\u201c some years I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve written outlines; some years I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve opened a word document on November 1st and just started rambling.\u00c2\u00a0 What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s great about NaNoWriMo is that outside of the ground rules found on the NaNoWriMo Welcome Page, participants can write however it works best for them.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0All your words count.\u00c2\u00a0 NaNoWriMo is about quantity over quality, and as Anne Lamott would say, writing a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sh*tty first draft\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.\u00c2\u00a0 So if you write 7,000 words and realize you hate what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve written so far, write in a huge earthquake where everyone dies and the world is born again, and move on with your new story.\u00c2\u00a0 Or, like me, change your font color, gray-out the previous text you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve written so far, and then keep going.\u00c2\u00a0 All words count toward your 50,000 word goal.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Read in preparation.\u00c2\u00a0 Books, magazines, writing websites, or the book, “No Plot?\u00c2\u00a0 No Problem!”\u00c2\u00a0 (Found here on Amazon: \u00c2\u00a0 http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/No-Plot-Problem-Low-Stress-High-Velocity\/dp\/0811845052 )\u00c2\u00a0 by NaNoWriMo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s founder\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Baty.\u00c2\u00a0 Read, get motivated and kick start your creative process ahead of November.<\/p>\n
Do you intend to participate in NaNoWriMo 2012?\u00c2\u00a0 Comment below and share what you hope to gain; or if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve participated previously, share your NaNoWriMo strategies and advice.<\/p>\n
Happy Writing!
\n-Heather<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Originally posted on Spare Time Writer dot Com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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