Have your friends always told you that you should write a book? Have you ever thought about writing a novel or other transcript and never quite found the motivation to get around to it? Well, now is your chance. The folks over at NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are again offering up their November Challenge...write a 50,000 word novel/transcript in just 30, all while dealing with the Thanksgiving Holidays!Sound impossible? It's not...I've participated twice, the first time health issues and life seeing me falling short, coming in with around 36,000 words. Last year, I decided to take the challenge again, and cannot explain the exhilaration felt crossing the finish line successfully with about 4,000 extra words to boot. What I found, was the challenge focuses you, forces you to be disciplined about your writing...would say those taking up the challenge try to set aside (on average) two hours a day to successfully complete the challenge. Plan ahead...if you know that your entire family is coming to your house for Thanksgiving Weekend, and that your writing time is going to be short, get ahead of the word curve count so you can take a day or two off from your writing.
To successfully complete the challenge you need to average about 1700 words a day...last year, I wrote every day, but found that two weekends of some very dedicated writing were the big difference for me...OH...did I mention coffee? I had lots on hand, and also set up a series of rewards for myself for major milestones in the task. 10,000 words treat yourself to something you really enjoy...a trip to Jova Love for a really good pastry and cup of coffee perhaps? Also, use NanoWriter's terrific forums to get inspiration, plot ideas, or to just complain that your fingers are sore from pounding your keyboard in frustration.
If you are thinking of participation, and want to join in a Sullivan County Write In event (we all meet at a location for a couple hours to write and share the fun), drop me (Sherwood) and email at marcwoodsocialimaging@gmail.com as I am planning on participating in this challenge again this year, though right now still have no clue what I will be writing about.
Shared Letter From Nano Writers
Greetings, NaNo-novelist!
Have you seen the countdown clock on
NaNoWriMo lately? The 2011 noveling extravaganza begins in just 7 days!In preparation for this wild and wordy festival of writing, we've relaunched
NaNoWriMo.org (and that very hypnotic clock). The site is now built upon the extra-sleek framework of 
Ruby on Rails, which means the forums are speedier than ever, and slow page-loads are a distant memory. (Though you can still fondly reminisce on those with me in the NaNoWriMo history.)Come on over to NaNoWriMo.org today to check out all the shiny newness, including an all-star cast of pep talkers, the 2011 batch of web badges, our revamped forums, and special noveling goodies in the store.You can also find the
local chapter closest to you, and catch up on news and events there in the regional forum!If nothing else, come by to witness the sheer speed of it all. Heavens to Betsy, the speed!
If you know any kids, teens, or educators who would enjoy this challenge, be sure to send them over to
NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program! Director Chris Angotti has cooked up the best resources yet for our 50,000-plus young novelists around the world.We can't wait to see you in NaNoLand!
Counting down to go-time,
Lindsey Grant
Program Director
