Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Me and NaNoWriMo


I can barely look up from my computer these days. So, if this blog post today comes out crooked and misshapen, it’s because I’m writing a novel. In one month. For a long time I’ve heard about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and these crazy people who sign up to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I admired them - from afar (From a far distance, actually.)

It usually takes me nine months to a year to write a completed novel. I’ve done it 18 times, so I told myself that I should know my own novel writing process by now. 

And yet, a week before NaNoWriMo began I started thinking about it. In the past few years my writing has been in a bit of a slide. This can happen even to seasoned writers. I had several health concerns, plus other things that got in the way. And so, I thought, maybe NaNoWriMo can help jump start my writing career back into my writing career.

I signed up. I’m pleased to say that at the end of 6 days I have written a bit more than 10,000 words and am working hard. I entered the exercise not knowing what my novel was about. All I had was a title and a vague sort of theme. 

So - for all of you out there doing NaNoWriMo this month, best of luck and let’s keep each other accountable.

Here’s the NaNoWriMo website in case anyone wants to see what it’s all about: http://www.nanowrimo.org Consider it for next year!

3 comments:

Dorene Meyer said...

Sounds like fun - and a lot of hard work! I've thought about the book-in-a-month a few times.

The closest I came was receiving a grant that I had applied for which purposely forced me to finish a novel in the alloted time. I just had 6 weeks in the fall of 2010 before I started teaching. It was very good for me because I was "blocked" on this project. Nothing like an extra little push to release a log jam of our own creation.
I think NaNoWriMo would be great because you have the support of others on the same journey.

Peter Black said...

Wow, Linda! Ten thousand words in 6 days -- tremendous. Congratulations!
And I hope your objectives for your writing career receive the boost you desire.
I wish you every success with this project.
~~+~~

Carolyn Wilker said...

Way to go, Linda. You're well on the way. I write like you do (but not nearly as much :) ) with little idea where I'm going.

No NaNoWriMo for me this year.

Carolyn Wilker

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