National Novel Writing Month
Last year, a friend got me interested in the National Novel Writing Month contest. Every November you write as much as you possibly can for an entire month (the goal is 50,000 words, or 175 pages!) and then spend all of Decemeber editing it. Because the entire month is spent ferociously writing, it’s expected that the writers will come up with some less than wonderful content. That is why you ONLY write in Novemember, and against my nature, edit later. I think the idea is intriguing – i may just try it this year! Several factors have come in to place to make this easier – trying to work around the Thanksgiving holidays. This particular year I’ll be in San Antonio for Thanksgiving, and will have this blog to add thoughts to, which will help tremendously. I’ve got lots of ideas, but not sure how it will be fleshed out into a novel! Seems pretty daunting to me, but maybe it’s worth a try, right?
To start this process off, I shall see if I can at least make one blog entry per day for several months, until I can get my creative juices flowing, ideas pouring out, and then I shall be the next great American Novelist! 
If anyone has any suggestions, tips, or otherwise, PLEASE let me know!!! I am all ears. (or is it all ‘eyes’?)
MJ Cohen replied:
I have attempted nanowrimo the past two years. The first year I bottomed out at 2700 words, mostly due to laziness. The second year I had a writing buddy who was also in a writing class with me at school, and so we would set goals and see who could write the most or reach a certain goal the fastest. As a result, we both won. I don’t think I would have been able to finish if it wasn’t for her.
The best advice I can give anyone is to get a writing buddy, even if it’s just someone you know online. It really helps (for me at least) to have that competitive edge.
June 1, 2008 at 3:35 pm. Permalink.
writemeg replied:
NaNoWriMo is awesome. Last year was my first year participating and I had an absolute blast! I hadn’t written a novel in years and wasn’t sure I could do it, but the entire premise really intrigued me and, thanks to the diligence and playful nagging of friends, I really dove in.
I think the most important thing to do is to have a strong support system around you — people who understand what you’re doing and how challenging it is.
And, as you mentioned, the tendency to edit as we go has to be overcomed. Just allowing yourself to sit and write — without re-reading or critiquing anything you’ve written — is really difficult.
Definitely give it a shot!
I don’t think you’ll regret it!
June 5, 2008 at 2:38 pm. Permalink.