NaNoWriMo, Anyone?

One of these Novembers I’m going to do NaNoWriMo, the 30-day 50,000 word write-a-novel challenge. I have too many irons in the fire this year, but know of several writers who are participating.
Writing Tip for Today: Why would anyone want to participate in National Novel Writing Month?

  • Explore Ideas. You could give yourself a break away from your “serious” writing projects and explore a story that’s been percolating in your imagination. Maybe you aren’t sure if a story is beefy enough to be a novel, or you have a character without too much plot in mind. In any case, you can unleash your right brain and go for it.
  • Get Rid of Your Inner Editor. One of the cool things about Nano is that in order to get 50K words in 30 days or less, you don’t have time to be picky. You can turn off that irritating self-editor and keep your right brain pushing creativity all over the page. All that with no little pursed-mouthed critics fussing with your prose.
  • Have Fun. To ordinary people, writing nearly 2,000 words per day sounds like terrible punishment. To a writer like you or me, it still sounds like punishment, but if you write with abandon, you may be able to have some fun. Even the most cynical or sarcastic writers settle down and write some meaningful scenes. Who knows, you may have started your masterpiece. And all by diving in with NaNoWriMo. It’s not too late–if you wanted to join but forgot or put it off, you can still catch up.  For more info, go here.

About Linda S. Clare

I'm an author, speaker, writing coach and mentor. I teach both fiction and nonfiction writing at Lane Community College and in the doctoral program as expert writing advisor for George Fox University. I love helping writers improve their craft and I'm both an avid reader and writer of stories about those with wounded hearts.

3 comments on “NaNoWriMo, Anyone?

  1. Jeremy–While it’s true that life gets in the way of writing, kudos to you for not letting “the day job” stop you. And I agree, Karina, it’s so much fun! Keep writing!
    ~Linda

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