1/21/2023 0 Comments November book writing challenge![]() The quality of the output isn’t nearly as important as the process of building that writing habit. The point of challenges like this is to build stamina and boost motivation. Writing Challenges like NaNoWriMo aren’t about polishing a complete piece, but about setting aside that impulse to tweak and tinker and just get those words down. ![]() The goal isn’t to produce a polished manuscript but to get the words down on paper and get that first draft done. NaNoWriMo–and other similar challenges like it–doesn’t pretend that the 50,000 words produced in that month will be submission-ready. Fact 2: The goal is to get the words down on paper. Any writer knows that 50,000 words is a far cry from a full novel (unless you’re writing Middle Grade or Early Chapter Books) so it’s to be expected that the novel won’t be complete. Fact 1: You don’t have to write a whole novel.Īccording to NaNo rules, all you have to do is produce 50,000 words in the course of the month. While I myself have never done a writing challenge like NaNo, I have spoken to many friends and colleagues about their experiences and here is what I have gleaned. Some might argue against NaNoWriMo, claiming it’s impossible to write a novel in one month but most of these naysayers don’t have all the facts. The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to silence your inner censor, shut off the editor part of your brain and give in to the frenzy of that first draft. Today I’m interested in hearing about your experiences with writing challenges like NaNoWriMo.įor those of you who aren’t familiar with NaNo, it stands for National Novel Writing Month and it’s a month-long challenge where the goal is to write a novel in November. The NaNoWriMo website has multiple tools to help you prepare, if not for November, then for your next writing project.Welcome back to Write It! Wednesday, where we ask a question and you answer either in the comments or on your own blog. In addition, two of my NaNo novel projects have been traditionally published. Since then, I have become an annual Wrimo, a writer participating in the November challenge, and won three times. However, I considered myself a winner and went on to publish five of the stories drafted during that NaNo experience. Unfortunately, the output for the stories fell short, each story 3,000-5,000-words, and not enough for a 50K accomplishment. At my first event, I felt overwhelmed by the writing goal, and challenged myself not to a word count but to complete ten short stories. You can do this! Since 2006, nearly four hundred NaNoWriMo novels have been published via traditional publishing houses, and over two hundred books have been published by smaller presses or self-published. Still, since the reward is the accomplishment and the satisfaction of writing, there is little incentive to cheat. No precautions are in place to prevent cheating. It is a challenge to your writing prowess and solely vetted by you. You might ask, who verifies the entries? But the answer is there is no moderator. Instead, anyone who posts 50,000 words is declared a winner. Unfortunately, there are no official prizes. ![]() Meanwhile, while you strive to make your daily wordcount, you might just develop a writing regimen that fits your lifestyle and establishes a routine that will benefit you in the future. Or attempt to win by reaching the 50K word goal by the deadline. There is a whole community rooting for your success. Libraries, bookstores, and community centers open their doors to novelists and offer a welcoming environment in which to write. Regional volunteers called "Municipal Liaisons" help connect local writers, hold in-person and virtual writing events, and provide encouragement. Writers who wish to participate register on the NaNoWriMo website where they can post profiles and information about their novels. Furthermore, last year, participants came from 671 regions on six continents. In July 1999, twenty-one participants signed up, and twenty-three years later, in 2021, it attracted 427,653 writers, including over 90,000 students and educators. Its primary event is an annual international writing challenge in which participants attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during November-thirty days, 50K words. National Novel Writing Month (often shortened to NaNoWriMo ) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization promoting creative writing worldwide. In that case, I throw down the gauntlet and encourage you to join the hundreds of thousands who do. So, suppose you haven't experienced the frustration, agony, and satisfaction of participating in National Novel Writing Month. The time to gather your ideas is now! I, for one, have pulled out my notebook, flexed my writing muscle, and started pre-event planning. I’m not talking about the approach of a chilly winter, but a call out that we are in the countdown hours for NaNoWriMo 2022.
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