Starting on Monday, November 1st is National November Writing Month where some brave souls try to write 50,000 words during the month of November.
For those who may not be aware:
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. Last year, over 165,000 participated and more than 30,000 of them crossed the 50K finish line by the midnight deadline and walked away novelists.
Recently the most well-known NaNoWriMo alum I know about is YA novelist, Carrie Ryan, who wrote what would become The Forest of Hands and Teeth during NaNoWriMo in 2007. She is now writing the third book in her series and received a nice 6 figure advance for The Forest of Hands and Teeth and the sequel, Dead-Tossed Waves.
I've done NaNoWriMo two years in a row, but this year I will not be taking part in the festivities. Not only have a I started a new full time job, but I have edits on two books that are set to be released in December, as well as starting on another book staring a character from The Claiming of Suzy that I hope to finish writing by the end of this year so it will be released by Spring 2011.
Last year I was able to write 75,000 words in 28 days, increasing my daily word count to 3,000 words. If you think there is no way you can write the 1,600 words needed a day to make the 50,000 in 30 days, take me as an example.
Before I did NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2008, I was lucky that I could write 500 words in a day. Because of NaNoWriMo, I was able to write over 1,000 words a day and even more. Now my average daily word count is between 2,000-3,000 words a day. Some days I even surprise myself and can write 4,000 words a day . How was I able to do this? Believing in myself, (closing down the internet, that evil time suck) and the will to accomplish a specific goal.
To all my NaNos, good luck and may the writing force be with you!
7 comments:
November is really going to suck. I've already made my apologies to my friends and loved ones in advance.
I have signed up too for the first time :D
Did you get a new job?? Congrats!!! I had not heard. :)
I'm purdy excited about the NaNo this year, too. And it's true that the Internet must be shut off, otherwise, I don't get anything done, because I keep having to go online to do "research" and then all my time gets sucked away.
The best bet is just to sit down with a nice cup of hot tea, a quiet spot, and a working computer. I wrote 35K words last year, while working, and that was a feat. This year I'm certain I can do more.
Yeah! Let's kick that 50k out of the water!
You have a new full-time job? Congrats! That's fantastic news! I hope you're really enjoying it! And all the best with the editing and writing!
Good luck and have fun!! :D
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