A friend pointed out a yearly event to me called National Novel Writing Month (or "NaNoWriMo"). The concept is pretty simple: you sign up and during the month of November (starting on the 1st), you try to crank out a 50,000 word novel.
The goal is not to write a best seller, the goal is just to actually write that many words in that short amount of time. Yes, this means a good portion will be crap, but the fact that you've actually written something in a month as opposed to continuing to put off writing anything until you "have time to write" means that it will, theoretically, force you into a groove.
I have no illusions: this is going to be extremely tough. I haven't written anything of real length since college, but I always did my best (only?) work hours before deadlines. With a tangible deadline of November 30th, I'm hoping I'll get cracking (and hopefully sooner than hours before the 30th).
Besides, I figure I haven't really got anything to lose by giving it a go, and with at least one other person doing it with me, we'll be able to egg each other on.
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Kerfuffle (noun) - A big commotion or fuss.
7 comments:
I'm totally in for this
I had no idea about this, but I have to get in on it! Thanks, Random Blog Guy!
I did it last year. Also had a buddy. We both finished. The buddy thing really helps.
Also there's a cheap book full of tips. The guy who came up with the concept wrote the book so it helps if you buy it. If you don't buy it, go to the library and check it out or read it in the bookstore. Very very helpful coaching in there.
Don't let three days go by without writing at least something.
Still trying to decide if I'll do it this year.
Good luck!
If you do decide to do it, friend me! I'm "robustyoungsoul" over there as well.
Wow!!! Hooray for people taking an entire month to devote their time, brain, and possibly soul...? (you never know) to the beautiful art that is lituature!!! You should post what you write all 50,000 words of it!!! Good luck to you my good sir!!!
~*Michelle*~
I just happened upon your site. . . I have no sign on
You can do it! It's really not that much text for a month's time. You can absolutely do it without filling it with crap. -h
I've done it three years in a row. Successfully two of them, "life" forcing priority changes the third.
I can hammer on NaNo for two hours a night, and make my quota, but I usually go into it with characters, plot, motives, etceras, already ready, and just have to, in a nutshell. 'Transcribe' the events as the characters play it out.
When you think about it, most bloggers hammer out more than the 1666+ words a day that 'on pace' requires, just posting and commenting to blogs.
NaNo, should be easy for them.
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