Well, since it's there and I'm interested (not to mention
participating), I thought I might as well blog about it.
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a major event 200000+ writers strong, where authors and writers of all types, with varying amounts of experience, band together to write a 50000 word novel throughout the month of November. 30 days, 50000 words. It's really rather a smaller book, but a
huge undertaking, true. At about 1700 words a day, it's no small commitment. However, it is also a worthy commitment for any writer (though specifically novel writers, but not exclusively; more on that later) who's spirit is willing, but who's flesh is weak; who want to write a novel with all their hearts, but find it difficult to accomplish while maintaining the stressful daily life of the modern age. Or perhaps they just like a challenge, or need an outlet (or excuse) with which to properly write their full length story at last. Or perhaps they had a crazy dream when they were twelve and dove head first into a monstrous undertaking without a rational thought in their heads, despite having Lifezilla snorting radioactive flame over their singed heads and snapping ravenously at their heels. Perhaps.
Anyway, I would have liked to keep my own commitments, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to connect with other authors and have a pretty little word counter dashboard on my computer screen. :) So I joined
this site here and now I'm totally swell. Oh yeah. And you could be too. (Believe me, the site is quite useful; it reminds you of the commitment, you can chat with people and encourage each other. And there are numerous resources that the site offers to aid you in your novel weaving journey to the
land of The Not Yet Written! [Okay, I really need to get to bed now...])
Also, now is perhaps a good time to mention the Rebels. You say, "Do I have to write an novel? What do you mean by novel?" Well, they define "novel" as a lengthy work of written fiction, but some people have ideas of their own---Graphic novels, a volume of poetry, a collective of short stories, etc. They are known as the NaNoWriMo Rebels, and they are just as legit as "normal" novel writers, but whether or not they chose to validate their novel online (more about that
here and
here) is up to them and the staff. I myself am writing other works alongside my main novel, but for the most part, right now, it's just a novel. I've wanted to write a novel, it's what I've always aspired to do, and though I love being a rebel and
love poetry and graphic novels, right now, I'm good. But that's just me.
Motivations and methods aside, NaNoWriMo is
the perfect opportunity for authors like me to chat, swap info and ideas, support each other, and go on a fantastic, insomnia-caffeine-and-adrenaline-fueled writing adventure, so if such a crazy feat suits your tastes (sorry the notice is late, but I've been writing a novel, you see...and of course, that little bit about Lifezilla...) then grab your laptop, typewriter, or pen and paper (or sidewalk chalk and a wall is good too. Or finger paints. Whatever you like to write novels [or novel-sized works] with) and
join us!
