NaNoWriMo Approaches! Got Plans for November?
November is National Novel Writing Month! Many of us have always dreamed of writing a novel and just never got around to it. Well, now is your chance to accomplish this personal feat. The great thing about NaNoWriMo is that it is merely a fun, personal contest to put 50,000 words or more together for a short novel.
From the NaNoWriMo site:
"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly."
I wanted to try it last year but was unable to find the time. This year I may not have the time either, due to burgeoning responsibilities at work. However, if my wife can support me a little, I may be able to take a crack at this and write my first complete story since college. The best part is, I have a plot in mind from start to finish that promises to be as fun to write as it will undoubtedly will be awful to read.
"Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children."
That is certainly a relief even as it scares me a little. But, I just wanted to share this opportunity with other writers out there. It might tickle some fancies.
As for my plot? It will have an angel in the story playing a major role. Written by an atheist, you just know there will be something twisted about it. Too bad it will be too horrendous to share (or should I say that it is a good thing!), but at least I can say I wrote a (short) novel.
From the NaNoWriMo site:
"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly."
I wanted to try it last year but was unable to find the time. This year I may not have the time either, due to burgeoning responsibilities at work. However, if my wife can support me a little, I may be able to take a crack at this and write my first complete story since college. The best part is, I have a plot in mind from start to finish that promises to be as fun to write as it will undoubtedly will be awful to read.
"Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children."
That is certainly a relief even as it scares me a little. But, I just wanted to share this opportunity with other writers out there. It might tickle some fancies.
As for my plot? It will have an angel in the story playing a major role. Written by an atheist, you just know there will be something twisted about it. Too bad it will be too horrendous to share (or should I say that it is a good thing!), but at least I can say I wrote a (short) novel.
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Comment by Dave G on October 21, 2009 at 12:09am -
I've considered trying NaNoWriMo, but the hardest thing has always been the time. Although, you'd think a couple thousand words per day wouldn't be so hard...
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Comment by Shine on October 21, 2009 at 6:18am -
I so want to do this! I have an outline for a book that I have been wanting to write, but school seems to have an insatiable appetite for my free time...
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Comment by Reggie on October 21, 2009 at 7:46am -
Time is a fickle mistress that never seems to be around when you need her.
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Comment by a7 on October 21, 2009 at 11:24am -
for myself maybe next year, however I would love to read your finshed short novel, ill trade it for my attempt next year.
my plot is about bringing to an end republican terrorist activity in Ulster once and for all.
George
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Comment by Reggie on October 21, 2009 at 12:58pm
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I would love to read your finshed short novel
You may live to rue those words! But, I don't think I could inflict such agony on a fellow atheist.
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Comment by Prazzie on October 21, 2009 at 3:17pm -
Oh no :( I took part in this in 2006, but I didn't finish. I tried to log in now and my account appears to have been deleted, along with my little sci-fi masterpiece which I have always intended finishing one day, maybe...Bummer. I wonder if I saved it somewhere else, hmm.
I won't take part again anytime soon, it's too harrowing.
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Comment by Prazzie on October 21, 2009 at 3:19pm
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Checked the FAQ now, they purge accounts if you don't log in for more than a year. So if you do this, give up just after 28k words and then go away for a couple of years, back your novel up!
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Comment by a7 on October 21, 2009 at 4:04pm
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just while were talking idea's
My bad ass group of loyalist minded atheist assassins go on to free the world of terrorists, starting with the plo, hamas and other muslim minded terorists.
the group have a slogan
NO SURRENDER
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Comment by Reggie on October 21, 2009 at 6:44pm
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they purge accounts if you don't log in for more than a year. So if you do this, give up just after 28k words and then go away for a couple of years, back your novel up!
Yep, yep. I would never trust someone else with saving my horrible novella.
My bad ass group of loyalist minded atheist assassins go on to free the world of terrorists, starting with the plo, hamas and other muslim minded terorists.
It'll be like the Delta Force, only if Chuck Norris were an atheist!
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Comment by a7 on October 22, 2009 at 7:44am
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chuck norris man, no thanks reggie, I was thinking george cloney could play me in the movie.
george
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