OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
National Novel Writing Month is November every year and the aim is to write 50,000 words in 30 days on a new piece of work. Basically, it's a novel in a month. But don't be afraid – no one gets to read your “novel” so it is basically a first draft piece of work. Here's Nanowrimo in a nutshell.
You should do this because:
- You have always said you wanted to write a novel, so let this be your first step. I felt like this last year (Sept 2009) and last week (Sept 2010) my thriller novel ‘Pentecost' came back from my editor. Yes, I started ‘Pentecost' in NaNoWriMo last year and now it is a 70,000 word novel ready for rewrites. Woohoo! I only managed just over 21,000 words in November and most of that was cut out but the idea sprung from Nano as well as a lot of the key ideas and plot. It catapulted me into a novel in 2010.
- You need to understand how to write a first draft fast. I didn't know how to write fast last year. I hadn't learned about separating the creator and editor in my mind and so I agonized over my writing. I felt I had to create a perfectly crafted sentence before writing fiction. Then I was introduced to “Write or Die” and word count goals, and behold, a novel began (the first of many!) Nanowrimo is about quantity of writing, not quality so you are forced to get the words out. There are no blocks here!
- You will learn a lot in 30 days of writing. Check out my NaNoWriMo posts from last year including videos of my progress and lessons learned. It is an amazing way to get into the nuts and bolts of writing a novel. I was stunned by how much I learned through the process of writing itself and then investigating as I went.
- You will be part of a global community. Join in the hashtag #nanowrimo on Twitter or the blog posts from writers around the world. Check in at NaNoWriMo.org to see what other people are up to. Receive the brilliant encouraging emails that help you along every week. You can even join in live or online writing events. Thousands of people do this, it is a community writing month!
- You can clean the novel up later, it's just a first draft! The aim is to write, not to be perfect. So get the ideas flowing and you will discover that actually writing encourages the muse. You don't need to sit around thinking – just write! Editing the novel comes later and that is a much more extensive process, but no one can edit a blank page.
NaNoWriMo 2009 changed my life. I can say that hand on heart. It gave me the courage to write badly and to start writing fiction, to put words on the page and to let the ideas flow. I have spent most of this year reworking those ideas, but that month started the process. Without it I may still be saying “I wish I could write a novel” or “I only write non-fiction”. If you have a dream to write a novel, I urge you to register for NaNoWriMo and get started on Nov 1st! (Click here for information)
PS. After saying all that, I have to admit that I won't be doing NaNoWriMo this year as I have rewrites to do for Pentecost in order to have it ready to enter the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in Jan 2010. I did want to be ready but I am not pro enough to be able to complete a novel in 1 year yet! I hope you are still encouraged to join in.
Will you be joining NaNoWriMo this year?
View Comments (19)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 2 Next »As a college student, November is always a terribly busy and stressful month. I couldn't do NaNo last year because I had too many classes and too much work, but I think I'll have enough stuff out of the way come November to go for it this year. :)
I feel the pain Taylor. The day job is pretty out of control right now too!
Thanks for this. One more reason - it's fun whether you win or not, working within a community of writers is a blast.
Hi Joanna,
A note to thank you for writing that post which was just what I needed to convince me to sign up this year for the first time. Why not?
Margreet
Author of: Running Shoes Are a Girl's Best Friend
Powered From Within: Stories About Running & Triathlon
A Work in Progress: Exercises in Writing
Sunshine on a wooden floor (poems)
I'm sure you'll enjoy it Margreet - you are pretty prolific already it seems!
Hi Joanna
Firstly thanks for replying to my e-mail that I sent you around two weeks ago.
I am definitely going to participate in NaNoWriMo as I think it will help me get my first novel finished. I am still lacking a lot of confidence over the whole writing a novel for the first time thing. I think participating in NaNo will help me with that a lot because of course I don't expect to win, but it gives me the motivation I need.
Thank you for this wonderful article.
Hi Gary, I was petrified when I started NaNo last year as I really thought there was no way I could write fiction. Lacking confidence is a common issue! but seriously, give it a go and you will be surprised! If you watch some of my videos, I explain how surprised I was when ideas just started to flow. Have fun!
This is such a hot topic right now! I just posted about NaNoWriMo today and Twitter is buzzing about it as well. http://blog.juliealindsey.com/
This event is a great opportunity to get a solid start for the manuscript you always wanted to write. Great advice. Thanks!
I signed up the other day! (Deep breath)
I've been saying I'd write one for years (like you mentioned) and now I have no excuses. I'm so excited there's an active chapter in my city with write-ins (sessions in a cafe where everyone meets to write together).
Thanks so much for pointing us to your resources from last year. I'm resolved to go in with at least a rough outline!
I'm glad you will try for a rough outline, I know that would help as it means you don't sit there thinking what to write, but you have at least a starting point every day. An active physical group to join is excellent - have fun!
Hi,
Just wondering is NaNoWri only for fiction writing? I was planning to start work on my next non-fiction manuscript soon and being part of a group would be a great motivator. I like the idea of their 'pep talks' !
Anyhow, from what I've read it is only about fiction, but just thought I'd ask here, in case you may know more. Thanks Joanna.
I entirely agree with you, Joanna. My debut novel "It Can't Be You" is being published in December by Cedar Books, imprint of Pustak Mahal, one of India's largest publishers. It stemmed from 50,000 words written for NaNo 2009!
Another major advantage in doing NaNo is the amazing spirit of helping and sharing amongst participants. I must admit I learnt a lot through the NaNo experience. I would most heartily recommend it to any one interested in writing, but hesitated to try.
For lots of years now, November has meant only one thing for me, NaNo time! Thank you for this post and good luck with your re-writes!
A well-written post. I can see why you are successful at writing a book. And you've got me thinking about it, when I never thought I'd EVER be interested. If I can't do this in November (lots of company), maybe I could set up something later in the year with accountability.
My brain is cooking on this now. Thanks for your thoughts on it.