National Novel Writing Month
I've decided to dedicate this blog to NaNoWriMo for the time being. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month which is a project designed by Chris Baty of California and takes place in November. It is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in one month, which is quite a feat but not impossible. It involves writing 1,667 words a day for the 30 days of November (why they didn't choose a month with 31 days I will never understand).
I have participated for two years now (2007, 2008) and "won" in 2007 with my novel titled "Hear Me As I Am"about a little girl, Margot, who was deaf until the age of 6 when she received a cochlear implant. The novel is set up as Margot's journal who is 11 at the time she is writing and details her life since she became hearing and how writing changed her life. It was not the most interesting of plots but I found myself wrapped up in the world I created and falling in love with my characters. That is the joy of NaNoWriMo, it doesn't have to be good and it probably won't be. It is about quantity over quality. No one else has to like your novel because it is for you. Plus, you're not alone. Tons of people participate each year (right now the total of registered authors is 46,018!) and there are forums to discuss everything from plot problems to your favorite writing music as well as pep talks from famous authors and NanoVideos from the people at NaNo headquarters (called the Office of Letters and Light). Not only is there world of support online but there are local groups that get together for write-ins which you can look up on the NaNoWriMo webpage.
I'm going to keep up this blog through the month of November sharing my woes, worries and writing epiphanies. Who knows, maybe I can convince someone to join me or at least give a few tips of my own.
www.nanowrimo.org
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