Authors Tools Blog

November is approaching fast. It’s time for another National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Will you commit to writing 50,000 words during November?

Before I found out about NaNo in 2003, I was the queen of beginnings. I had lots of first chapters, some books of three chapters, a couple of books with six or seven chapters. However, I had never written all the way to THE END.

NaNo caused me to send my internal editor on vacation and actually get through the entire book. It’s a wonderful way to get through the first draft.

Planning to write 50,000 words in 30 days doesn’t seem as daunting when 100,000 others are doing the same thing. The forums on the website provide fellowship, support, and all sort of interesting research information.

Some people think that novel written in 30 days has to be worthless. Many NaNo novels have been published by major publishers including Harlequin, Simon and Schuster, Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner), Harper Collins, Ballantine, and Berkley among others.

There are many reason to participate in NaNoWriMo.

• NaNo gives you a chance to try a different way of writing.
• If you are a plotter, try pantsing. If you usually writing into the mist, try drawing up an outline or a plan
• Try out a new idea.
• If you have an idea that you aren’t sure would sustain a full novel, give it a try. If your story doesn’t work out, all you’ve lost is 30 days. If if does work out, you have a first draft of a new book.
• NaNo provides opportunities for promotion.
• NaNo is a recognized world-wide event. It gets lots of media coverage. The website even provides a NaNoWriMo Media Kit to connect media professional with authors.  
• Gain new readers.
• If you upload an excerpt of your novel to the website, you’ll find new readers who want to read the entire book.
• You can learn to ignore your inner editor.
• Quit trying for perfection on your first draft. NaNoWriMo gives you permission to write crap. Send your editor off on vacation to rest up before the hard work of the re-write, and just let the words flow. 
• NaNo has local groups around the world.
• You can get away from your computer to talk with others who understand the challenge and the characters who whisper (or yell) in your ear. There are also “write-ins” where you can bring your computer, AlphaSmart, or notebook and write in the company of fellow NaNoWriMos.

It’s true that most novels are longer than 50,000 words. However, if you have completed that much (or more) you have a very good start on a marketable book.

It’s only 1666 words a day. I just read that Nichols Sparks sets his daily quota at 2000 words per day.

Give it a try. You’ll find that magic happens when you are completely involved in the story.

Take October to plan (or not). What have you got to lose? Just do it.

Write on,

Lynn Jordan