November is my favorite month of the year – not because of the Thanksgiving holiday or my birthday, but because it’s National Novel Writing Month ( NaNoWriMo.org )

For those new to NaNoWriMo, this event is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days – specifically, the month of November.  No prizes – just a chance to stretch your writing muscles with a like-minded group of other writers.

I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo since 2004 – in fact, 2004 may have been my best attempt, both in terms of quality of writing, as well as the euphoric response to crossing the 50k finish line.  However, I’ve also reached the finish line 5 other times, and while my personal satisfaction in other years has ranged from ecstatic to relief that it’s over, all efforts – even in the years I didn’t ‘win’, have had a positive impact on my writing.

Why Should You Participate in NaNoWriMo:
If you have even a passing interest in writing stories (short other otherwise), I think it’s important to try NaNoWriMo at least once to see for yourself what you are capable of.  My first NaNoWriMo, not knowing what to expect, I shocked myself both in the ability to keep up with the writing pace (1667 words per day) and with the creative, mind-blowing ideas I came up with on the fly.  I have always wanted to be a writer, but NaNoWriMo 2004 changed my outlook on writing:  I realized I am a writer.  Hopefully if you decide to try NaNoWriMo, you’ll have a similar experience.

What You Need To Know:
•    You need to sign up at  NaNoWriMo.org .  NaNoWriMo is free to all users, but for a $10 USD donation, you can help keep NaNoWriMo running.  The site even offers alternate ways to help if you can’t donate financially.
•    Start thinking ahead about plot, characters, locations – anything you want to incorporate into your story.  You can keep notes; you just can’t write any of the story before November 1st.  Some people prefer not to prepare ahead of the event.  This is a choice you’ll need to make – some years I’ve written outlines; some years I’ve opened a word document on November 1st and just started rambling.  What’s great about NaNoWriMo is that outside of the ground rules found on the NaNoWriMo Welcome Page, participants can write however it works best for them.
•    All your words count.  NaNoWriMo is about quantity over quality, and as Anne Lamott would say, writing a “sh*tty first draft”.  So if you write 7,000 words and realize you hate what you’ve written so far, write in a huge earthquake where everyone dies and the world is born again, and move on with your new story.  Or, like me, change your font color, gray-out the previous text you’ve written so far, and then keep going.  All words count toward your 50,000 word goal.
•    Read in preparation.  Books, magazines, writing websites, or the book, “No Plot?  No Problem!”  (Found here on Amazon:   http://www.amazon.com/No-Plot-Problem-Low-Stress-High-Velocity/dp/0811845052 )  by NaNoWriMo’s founder  Chris Baty.  Read, get motivated and kick start your creative process ahead of November.

Do you intend to participate in NaNoWriMo 2012?  Comment below and share what you hope to gain; or if you’ve participated previously, share your NaNoWriMo strategies and advice.

Happy Writing!
-Heather

Originally posted on Spare Time Writer dot Com