NanoWriMo: Always Wanted to Write a Novel?

by Emily Price | More from this Blogger

25 Oct 2006 01:07 AM

If you have ever wanted to write a novel, then now is the time to do it! November is National Novel Writing Month. In honor of National Novel Writing Month each year thousands of writers work towards a common goal: to complete a 50,000 word novel in a month's time.

In order to participate in the contest all you have to do is sign up on the National Novel Writing Month (NanWriMo) website. The contest is entirely web based. You can begin writing your book at 12:01 am November 1st, and attempt to complete it by November 30th at 11:59pm. A completed manuscript is considered to be a 50,000 word document which is the equivalent of a 175 page book.

Last year there were over 59,000 participants in the event, with over 10,000 of then crossing the finish line and completing a novel. Winners receive nothing more than the satisfaction of knowing that they are in fact a winner, and of course, they will have a completed book.

Throughout the month you can log onto their web page and upload your word count for the day, charting your progress. There are forums where you can get help with you plot, discuss writing problems you've encountered, or meet people in your area who are also participating.

Most areas also have Municipal Liasons that are in charge of setting up a kick-off party for participants in your area, as well as an ending celebration. Most areas will also have "write-in's" where participants can get together on a weekly basis and write together.

The idea behind the event is that most people have a novel in them, a novel they are dying to write but every time they start to write it they get sidetracked, come up with something better to do, decide its crap and go back and edit themselves. Nano is a pure quantity over quality endeavor forcing you to keep writing no matter what.

If you've always wanted to write a novel, now is your time! Check out the Nano Website today!

 
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Learn more about Emily Price
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Emily is a freelance writer and video editor in Raleigh NC.

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User Comments

Megan Bayliss (3586) 25 Oct 2006 02:20 AM

I love this concept of forcing the novel in a month. Great way to focus. I won't be registering for it though!

Aimee Amodio Online! (11995) 25 Oct 2006 09:17 AM

I tried NaNo last year and MAN OH MAN it was a lot harder than I thought. If you can manage writing something like 1600 words every day, you can make the 50K. I made 25K, which I was pretty excited about, because it was more fiction than I'd written in a long time. Good luck to NaNo 2006!

Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 25 Oct 2006 09:35 AM

I have writing friends who have done this and are always glad they participated!

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 28 Oct 2006 04:34 PM

Thanks for reminding me. I've been saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not sure this is going to be the year. Can they have it in a month that doesn't have any major holidays? ;o) It IS a really cool idea and a lot of people have great success with it. Nice article!

Emily Price (4736) 02 Nov 2006 04:16 AM

There are actually quite a few copycat groups who write novels and screenplays even in months that are not November. Istarted my ovel last niht and am a little over 2000 words...best of luck to those praticipating!

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 02 Nov 2006 10:33 AM

I did a BIAW once -- Book in a Week -- and I thought I wouldn't get very much done, but I really did. The goal was just to spill out as much as I could without going back to edit, regardless if it was any good or not. I thought I'd have to go back and do a ton of editing, but what I came up with in that week was pretty good. It's fun to do this type of thing when you're doing it with other people because you are cheering each other on and you feel part of a community.

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