Ever hear someone mention the illusive NaNoWriMo (Nah-No-Rye-Moe)? Come on, say it with me. Na-No-Wri-Mo. Not so bad once you get used to speaking like you're five.
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an event that occurs from the first of November to the end of the turkey-laden month that pushes authors to write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days. Only 30 days?
For everyone who has given creative writing a go, especially fiction writing, this time frame can be a little daunting. Only 30 days to develop a fully functioning story that makes sense? Only 30 days to get from start to finish, with no gaping plot holes? Only 30 days to do a decent job? Many authors may feel constricted in a 30 day time frame to even try and accept the NNWM challenge. But if we're all scared of it, will great novels ever be written again?
NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization that has helped thousands of aspiring authors in the world pursue their dream of being a novelist. Many finish their 50,000 word masterpieces in just one session of NNWM, but some can take more than one -- although that's not the ideal situation. Published author Erin Morgenstern wrote, "Night Circus" in just two sessions of NNWM. This novel -- which is amazing by the way -- has graced the New York Times best seller's list for seven weeks and has won an Alex Award from the American Library Association in 2012. Even Rainbow Rowell, famed author of "Elanor & Park," wrote her novel "Fangirl" during this worldwide event. Many works that come out of NNWM end up on a publisher's desk and some are chosen to go into print for consumers, like with "Night Circus" or "Fangirl." The organization's website even features a page dedicated to published novels written during NNWM.
I started writing fantasy novels in middle school, and I always struggled to maintain the flow of creativity and sometimes it just wasn't there -- so it would take me months to get a substantial amount of the novel done. I've started another novel and just might take up the NaNoWriMo challenge to help me get it into high gear. That's what it's meant for, right? Authors can hit writer's block and this event can help each of us surpass that hurdle.
All authors know the struggle that comes with our passion. It can be a hassle some days to even get one sentence out of our heads -- then some days we don't sleep or take care of basic necessities because pages and pages are just pouring out of us. The worst thing a writer can do is force words out that aren't there. The work seems disjointed, not authentic, and awful. NaNoWriMo helps writers get in the mindset of writing and can positively help produce good writing. Don't like it? It's okay to scrap what you end up with at the end or even just to edit the majority of the work. The goal of NNWM is just to write and finish the novel. If one NNWM isn't a success, then just shoot for the next one -- or even challenge yourself in another month's 30 day time frame.
While the 30-day time span may be daunting, it can be enlightening and can help you develop the backbone to a great novel. Knowing that authors have successfully published books written from NaNoWriMo is inspiring enough to get going. You can visit the official website here, to get helpful information and tips on how to get started! And while the official NNWM month is November, you can take up the challenge in any month to start your novel!
So let's all get our computers, or pen and paper, and just get writing! See you, and your finished novel, on December 1!
