The leaves are beginning to change, the days are getting shorter, and the air is filled with a faint whiff of “I’m going to write me a novel.” Yes, it’s nearly November, which means nearly time for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, wherein thousands of people around the globe attempt to write a novel in a month and opt for plot over pumpkin pie, turning points over turkey, and foreshadowing over football.
Are you participating? What do you think of NaNoWriMo? Is it a great opportunity to finally get over the hump and get that novel going? Or is writing best done when not in a mad dash?
Let this also serve as a preview for a NaNoWriMo themed week on the blog next week, wherein I will attempt to get those who are participating in the right frame of mind to write pages like they have never written pages before.
Zak says
Down here in Australia,
We too, are noticing a changing of the seasons. We don't have the added-advantage of crappy weather to keep us locked indoors. We are indeed coming into our wonderful Summer months and Nano Wri Mo is a particular and peculiar challenge for us Aussies. How does one write whilst surfing the waves?
I personally love Nano, but I must admit it's hard giving up those bright sunny days for hours upon hours in front of a screen.
And, to top things off, it's also exam time, first exam on the 16th of November. Which, I guess is about hump-time for Nanoeers! We shall see what this year brings.
Good Luck to all the Nano participants this year!
ntrwst says
I'm revising this yr. but I've done it in the past and loved it. It teaches you to let go of the editing and write. I love it.
Julie Arduini says
This is my first year. My first love is fiction but so far most of my writing credits is in non. I write with a surrender theme so I'm excited to take this to fiction.
Anonymous says
I want to participate. But I have been very very "blocked" lately. So I'm wondering if I should (instead) committ to the 1667 words per day (I know I can do that) , but let it simply be ANY kind of writing (as long as it is creative…so my blog or journal will not count…a part of a story , anything).I don't like that lack of direction either, but its been a hard month for me on many levels and I've been "blocked" completely.
I also know I spend far too much time reading. I need to find my VOICE and true genre that I wish to write in (I have no idea) , so I'm reading anything and everything I can get my hands on to spark some feel of where I lie. BUT I am also sabotaging myself because then I never write. I wonder if its worth it anyway at my novice stage. Tough to know. If you have thoughts on any of this, let me know!
Anonymous says
Last year, I participated in nanowrimo, and I found myself burnt out by the end of it. I had a half a novel that I did not finish a first draft of until the beginning of this year.
This year I am participating, but this time, I'm using nanowrimo to complete another novel I started this year. This way when I end up burnt out; I'll have a first draft finished around 90k words.
However, the biggest strength of nanowrimo is not the word goal. The biggest strength is the community that takes part. And it's the community that makes me come back each year.
L.C. Gant says
I did NaNo for the first time back in 2006 and have gotten away from it since then, BUT I'm all in this year, baby! I can't wait!
Oh, and BTW Nathan, do you mind adding the link to NaNo in this post so folks who haven't participated before know where to go? Just a suggestion. Happy NaNoing!
pamala owldreamer says
I wouldn't miss it.This is my second year.I am doing the final revisions before sending a query out.I loved every minute.I am a pantser at heart still learning the value of note cards. I sit butt in chair and write whatever comes so this format was perfect for me.I knew on the first day who my characters were,what the story was about and how it would end.Yes I have had to edit and rewrite more than I would if I'd taken more time,maybe,but I think the premise is good,characters are interesting and the ending good.I plan to have this #1 in a series.
Anna says
I'm finally participating in nano officially for the first time after watching on the sidelines for the past three years. I'm hoping that it will give me the discipline I need to churn out pages instead of sitting around thinking about writing like I usually do. I can't wait to participate in write-ins and meet some great people.
Jeanne says
Definitely. This is my 5th nanowrimo and I'm totally looking forward to it.
This year it's going to be all about silliness. I'm still rewriting last year's nanonovel and it's making me stress/hate writing. So I'm taking Nov off of that novel to write and (hopefully) to remember how much I love writing. That is what nanowrimo is to me. A month to give yourself to the love of writing.
Ruth Donnelly says
Yes, I love NaNo! It forces me to write, write, write… and the result is that I'm more productive for months afterward.
Kathie Leung says
I've been doing NaNoWriMo for the past 8 years, meeting the challenge all but one of those years. My very first year I wrote "And then there was Sam" and am happy to report that after some major rewrites, getting my skills honed, learning to listen to my voice and not the voices of the masses, am just about ready to seek representation.
I was tempted to say no, not this year. But all the other years have given me some great starting points and so I've decided to start on a new genre for me, but one that I've been wanting to try my hand at, literary fiction.
So the short of it – aw, hell yeah!
Now here's a question for you, Nathan, is it better for an aspiring author querying a first novel to leave out any mention of participating in NaNoWriMo as a whole in the world of literary agents and publishing or can it be seen as a plus?
Aimee Bea says
I'm going to try this year. I've never done it before, and I don't think I can do it, but I'll try. 🙂
B.E.T. says
I am definately participating this year. It's only my second year and I'm revved up to use the extra motivation to finally finish off this idea that's been floating in my head for forever.
It's just, the sheer community, the tacit competition with a deadline. It's good practice for getting a rough draft put out there so you actually have something to work with as far as editing and revision goes.
Jan Markley says
I think it's a great idea if it gives people the motivation they need to dedicate a month to writing. Since I'm working on two w-i-p I try to write as much as I can anyway.
Candice Beever says
I am definitely doing Nano! This will be my second year and I do it to fall in love with writing all over again. After eleven months of editing, agonizing, and some of the other not fun parts of being a writer, it's amazing to just sit down and write with reckless abandon. Not to mention the rush of accomplishing something that seemed impossible thirty days ago. I love it!
Robin says
I just signed up today – I've turned out 50,000 words in a month before, though it was total crap. Maybe this time I'll get a little substance out of it!
Anabel says
Yes! For the first time. The last four years I've been in Law School and never had the oportunity to do this because my finals were close to November. But I'm done with school and I'm so excited to start writing this novel. Now let's see if I'm equally enthusiastic by the end of November.
bellewhittington says
Heck to the yes! 🙂
I'll be writing my sequel this year to the novel I worked on in last year's Nano!
I don't know…there's just something exhilarating in the idea of the camaraderie of writing a mad dash with thousands of others. Somehow, for 30 days, the world becomes smaller and warmer and full of beautiful words.
stephaniecain says
I started doing NaNoWriMo about 6 or 7 years ago and decided to do something completely different that year. I went for urban fantasy, instead of the epic fantasy I'd been writing since high school. To my surprise, I turned out the novel that I think is closest to publishable right now — though it still needs more revision, three revisions later. So I'm definitely doing it again this year, and I'm planning to shift sideways into paranormal suspense this year. 🙂
My two favorite tools for NaNo are index cards and the Outlining a Novel in an Hour by Chris York.
MichelineMcAllister says
I have done it three times. My first NaNo book got published….Love You, Love Your Work, Let's Do Lunch!….I think it is great fun. If anyone wants to be my buddy I am
michelinewrites
This said, I have read some negative comments, it doesn't mean it is bad just because it comes from NaNo, I have written and published both ways.
Denise Jaden says
Big fan of NaNo here. My first YA novel just came out last month and it was also my first attempt at NaNo. Yes, it's a mad dash, but heaven knows I need something to get me in gear.
Claire Dawn says
I'm a nanner and I'm proud!
Although I pity the December deluge agents must receive. Hmm, November's probably a great time to query though…
Ty Johnston says
I'm not planning to participate as I have other projects going on.
Personally, I don't care for NaNo. I think it's a good tool for those who seek the camaraderie or who want the motivation, but heck … I'm writing all the time anyway. What's another month to me?
Teri Bernstein says
In 2009, I lasted for about 25,000 words and quit a few days before thanksgiving. Participating worked this bit of magic: it turned me into a daily writer. This year, I have a clearer view of my project so I am gearing up.
Myste says
I love NaNo! I participated last year for the first time and came in just under 100k (am now trying to edit it down to the 80's to make it more marketable. But I love the freedom of not trying to have it perfect on the first draft. You can always fix a scene that doesn't work, but you can't fix what was never written.
Kate Langton says
Yes, doing it. This will be my seventh Nanowrimo and one was done in Edinburgh, Scotland. Very interesting doing 'National' Novel Writing Month in a foreign country.
To be honest, I don't find that my Nano wins are publishable quality by the end of the month, more a rough draft really. For this reason, I am deserting the Pantsers this year (those who write by the Seat of Their Pants) for the Outliners.
Am having a fine time with the plot holes. Ha.
Beth Terrell says
Absolutely yes to NaNo. I've done it six times and seem to win every other year, so this one needs to be the one that breaks that streak–I"m shooting for two wins in a row this time.
Why NaNo?
1) The 1600 + words are close to what I'd like my daily count to be anyway. Most professional writers do at least 1000 a day.
2) At work, we have slightly less-busy-than-usual period around November, which allows me to get a first draft done then and edit the rest of the year. Editing is much easier than writing for me during the busy season.
3) It's great to meet fellow writers in a month-long celebration of writing for its own sake.
4) It's a wonderful reminder that writing is FUN.
5) I love the feeling of committing to an intense, month-long writing exercise.
Terri says
I've done Nano for the last several years. It is like a sort of addiction. It works for me.
wendy says
Awww. How nice. I won't be participating in NaNoWriMo, but I'd like to write pages like never before. Looking forward to some mentorship there. 🙂
Terri says
I've done Nano for the last few years. It is fun, and I enjoy it.
Anonymous says
It's early November already? Thought it was still late October…
I will be participating for the second time. Last year I learned to my surprise that I can write horror! But the best part of the experience for me was the freedom to write as poorly as I wanted, while at the same time getting some much needed bootcamp style butt-in-chair-and-write discipline. Booya!
Gayle C. Krause says
Yes. This will be my first year. Looking forward to the rush of writing fast.
Tess Cox says
Yes, this will be my first year. Need to finish a first draft. It's exciting. I'll be doing part of my writing using paper and pen in INDIA of all places. Will miss Nathan's encouraging tips given in November, therefore looking forward to reading all I can before November 1st!
Regan Leigh says
I'm trying NaNo for the first time this year. I'm excited to see what it's like. But then again, I'm kind of weird in the way I write. I always write books in a crack fueled mad dash — without really doing crack, I swear. 😀
Both of my first two books were each written in a month. Does it make for crazy long edits? Well, yes. But it's how I work. I want to get the ideas out fast and in one piece.
I think that's why I usually paint with acrylic paints. I love the look of oil paintings more than anything, but they take too long and make it impossible for me to finish a painting in just a couple of sittings.
Nicole Zoltack says
I love Nano. Yes, I'm doing it this year. November is by far my most productive month of the year.
Peter Dudley says
Not sure. Did it four times with success, tried a fifth but failed. I am fortunate to be joining a few other writers [waving at you, you know who you are] for four days at a writing retreat early in the month. Can I pound out 12,500 words a day for four days? We shall see. We shall see.
Pete Miller says
No. Not doing this year as I am finishing up a several short stories. I did it last year, though. My 13 yr old daughter and a friend are giving it a go, though.
elementalmoon says
I'm actually using NaNoWriMo as NaNoEdMo this year because I'm a full time night student and full time day worker, so finding the motivation to continue my revision process has been difficult lately. And I can't start anything new until the revision is out of the way! I'm hoping to get through my final set of revisions(as I've been working on the process for over a year now) in this next month. We'll see how that goes…:D
Vacuum Queen says
Yes, with my two kids in one combined project. We're not officially signing up, but will be using the site's prompts just for fun.
My son used to be a great writer, but years of writing only perfect 5 paragraphs essays in school have left his writing, hmmm, compact. Short. Detail-free. Formulaic. Bleh.
I'm hoping to just push and push the amount he can write, without care towards the actual story we're writing, or the mechanics. Hoping to have some fun.
Ganz-1 says
I'm participating for the first time. Can't wait to start as I already have the idea for the story I'm going to write during the month.
sheilamcperry says
I'll be doing it for the 5th time – I have 4 previous NaNo novels in various states of completeness lying around on my computers – spent about 3 years editing the first one, but only 2 on the second so I think I'm finally getting into the swing of things!!
Where I live (in Edinburgh) we have a real world NaNo group with lots of write-ins and other meetings, and I find that a huge help as I don't meet many other writers in the normal course of events.
Allison says
This will be my second time participating. Part of the reason I'm doing it this year (now that write-a-novel is already crossed off the to-do list) is because I'm actually quite a slacker when it comes to writing, and NaNo motivates me with a non-self-imposed deadline. Although I can see this changing in the future, right now it doesn't matter so much that what I am producing is rather horrible, what matters is that I'm writing
Rasana Atreya says
First did this in 2007. It is a great way to get the juices flowing. I love the Pep talks, love monitoring the word count of my buddies and thinking – damn! I need to catch up with them! 😉
The energy of the community is a wonderful thing because you get so isolated writing alone. Like Bush said, "Bring it on!"
Annikka Woods says
I've participated every year since 2003. I haven't WON every year but I at least made some kind of effort. I'm going to be doing it this year but my goal is a little different. 50k became too easy for me. Last year I did 75k. I'm upping the ante again this year to 100k in November.
No, I don't have copious amounts of spare time. I just have no social life during November. LOL
Julia says
Certainly I am participating! I love the craziness of it and the deadlines (you know, the whooshing sound they make as they pass me by). This year it'll be extra fun for me – I will be teaming up with my son to write together. However unusable the thing will end up being, I know I will love every moment of writing it.
Little Bonobo says
I'm not officially participating this year, but I'm setting a goal to finish my first draft of my WIP by the end of November (I've got about 20K words to go), so I'll still be writing like a crazy person.
Patrick Neylan says
Never heard of this before, but it sounds like a terrific idea for all us procrastinators. Only problem, now I'm in the mood but I can't start for over a week.
Sheila Cull says
Mad dash – ridiculous. It's a lifestyle, nothing you can do in a month.
Like Gladwell said, 10,000 hours.
G says
I don't plan on participating.
Personally, I think its much ado about nothing.
If you're gonna write and if you're motivated to write and are writing for the other 11 months of the year, this will not make any difference.
Unless you're one of those people who are actually gonna stop what you're currently working on just to start up something new for this non-contest.
In any event, it will give me a heads up to avoid any topics related to this in my reader for the next month or so.
stacy says
I'm participating after a two-year hiatus. Excited.