Have you ever wanted to write a novel? Is there a story inside your noggin waiting to escape? Well here’s your big chance to let it all out. In November NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are launching 30 days and nights of literary abandon! You’ll have one month to crank out that novel you’ve been dying to share with the world!
This will be your time to shine!
Yeah right Dave, one month to write a novel, pull the other one.
Seriously, dear blog reader, one month is all you need. I’m going for it, so why can’t you? It took just under 1 year to write my novel, The Range, so I figure I can manage to write 50,000 words in a month, no sweat. It’s going to be just currrrazy!
So what is NaNoWriMo?
That’s a good question! Here’s some basic information to whet your literary appetite:
What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month’s time.
Who: You! We can’t do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let’s write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.
Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era’s most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.
When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster and browse the forums. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.
Where: You write wherever you’d like. On your computer, on your iPad, on a typewriter – anywhere is fine, just as long as you’re writing! For a more in-depth NaNoWriMo overview, visit the devilishly handsome “What is NaNoWriMo?“and “How NaNoWriMo Works” pages.
You had me at “Currrazy!” so how do I get my writing groove on?
That’s easy. Head on over to NaNoWriMo and sign yourself up. You can fill out your author profile, check your NanoMail, search for Writing Buddies and get yourself a badge to go on your blog, like the one on the right. There are forums and all sorts of crazy ways to keep in touch with fellow Wrimo’s. There aren’t exactly winners as such, except those who complete their 50,000 words and upload their novel for word count verification before the deadline, midnight November 30th.
You can write what you like so long as it’s fiction, and don’t worry about the quality, just let your imagination take over and worry about all the editing and faff when the month is over. It’s all about the quantity not quality. The idea is to get your novel out of your skull and into the real world. Whenever you’ve written another chunk of your novel simply login into your profile and update your word count. This is where things get competitive, must keep up, must write more, argh my brain hurts, someone bring me a dose of sanity!!
Go NanoTeamIndy!
Indigo Spider is in the process of setting up a team of dedicated writing nutcases enthusiasts to support one another throughout the crazy month. We’ll have a Twitter stream – #nanoteamindy – where you can drop in and share your anguish/tears/smiles/rants and raves so expect plenty of jiggery pokery, japes and general silliness!
I wanna start right now!
I hear ya, dear blog reader, I’m eager to get my fingers dancin across the keyboard. I’ve already got an awesome idea for a story. Here are some ideas to get your brain in gear for November 1st!
Make notes – Jot down story ideas, characters, plots etc. Don’t actually start writing yet, that just spoils the fun, you don’t have to join the Scouts to borrow their motto: Be Prepared!
Grab some inspiration – Be that music, art, a favourite novel, movie etc. I’m preparing a playlist of music to spur me on through the challenge!
Read through the NaNoWriMo website – There’s loads of stuff to read up on the website, get in tune with the challenge, familiarise yourself with the forums. You can even join a Wrimo Region to chat with folks near you. From what I’ve seen some members even get together for a drink or bite to eat and discuss all things Wrimo!
Don’t Panic! – If you think about it, 50,000 words over 30 days is only 1,666 words a day. How hard can that be? Not that hard if you consider how much writing you do every day without realising. Do you send emails? Leave comments on blogs? Write a blog post? Tweet? If you add all that shizzle up yo might be surprised at the word count!
Remember, this is a crazy fun time where you can finally let that novel out! Enjoy it!
Related articles
- NaNoWriMo #1 (nettiethomson.com)
- NaNoWriMo on the brain (angeliquemichaels.wordpress.com)
- NaNoWriMo: To Wait or Not to Wait? (susansheehey.wordpress.com)
Excellent write-up! You beat me to it but I’m happy you did since you did a much better job then I would.
As an FYI — NaNo is updating their site so all the badges and info will be up to date beginning October 1st — ish… they had a snag or two so it may be a day or two after that.
I have my giant coffee mug, supply of coffee and coffee pot ready. Plus, I’ll be stocking a few extra bottles of wine and chocolate for those nights when I’m wondering ‘what was I thinking!?’
Can’t wait, fun times ahead!
Thanks Indigo! I can’t describe how much I’m looking forward to NaNo, it’s like Christmas! I’ll be getting stocked up on the essentials too, Pepsi Max is a must, bottled water, ice cold, plenty of snacks and I must find my glasses. I’m sure I left them somewhere.
Exciting times! Woop!
This sounds interesting. I’m going to give it some thought.
By the way, I’ve been away for a while and just noticed the new pics in the header. Just love them. Absolutely perfect for your blog!
Thanks! Give it thought then sign up! It’s an awesome challenge!
Good luck Dave! Look forward to more reading!
Thanks Bren! I’ll be posting regularly throughout November, maybe even daily!!!
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Well… This is my third time back to this page. All I can say is that I’m thinking about it. Such a tempting challenge, but I’m a grad student and will be in the thick of course work in November. I can’t possibly participate in something like this. . . but having trouble letting go of the idea, the challenge, too. Oy. . .
I could never advise or encourage anyone to embark on such a quest knowing their studies may suffer as a consequence. There will be other times, of that I’m sure. However, even though the goal of NaNo is to write 50,000 words, it doesn’t mean you have to reach that goal at any cost, you could just participate as when your schedule allows. At least that way you can experience some of the crazy fun!
Well, I bit the bait. I’m in! Go NaNoTeamIndy!
Woot! It’s going to be a strange and crazy ride!
Best of luck, Dave! I won’t be entering… I like to save my fiction-writing superpowers for when tax time comes around!
Hehe, I like that! Using your writing superpowers to save the world, well, the tax world anyway!
It is the passion bit that I need to let go with – I care too much what people think and I feel frustrated with how it restricts me in expressing my thoughts. But yes, I should write what I want to say and then attract the audience who will love it (and those who hate it), but at least I will be true to myself.
I don’t think I’m one for fiction but boy! I love a good debate about real things. Just a pity that I find so few who have the b*&ls to get involved. Not much fun to debate with a wall or a couch. (I found they agree with everything I say and think 😉 Maybe that’s a bit rough… my apologies – I’m practicing being passionate! 😀
Oh you can’t beat a solid debate! You can always use fiction as a platform for a debate, have characters argue with each other! I think it’s sometimes tough to find a balance between saying exactly what you want to say and trying not to offend people. I don’t get much time these days to read many post by my favourite bloggers, but when I do I see their passion clearly when they’re excited by a certain topic.
I’ve always written what I want, rants and raves, interesting topics etc. It would feel weird to write something I didn’t feel passionate about. Let it all out and if people don’t like it then they don’t have to read it, if they love it they’ll come back for more, even it’s to argue against your point, at least you have prompted them to think about what you had say!
…Perhaps it is my uncertainty of where the balance is between speaking your mind and offense that inhibits me, rather than the confidence to speak my mind as such… (Sometimes I can’t help but wonder… if people only knew half of what I thought… I always try to be polite, but maybe it has to do with whom you surround yourself with too.)
That’s quite true, if you surround yourself with loud opinionated folk then you’ll likely take on those aspects. In my younger days, those wild and crazy times, I was very much a loud and noisy person, but I’m happy to say I’ve mellowed somewhat and strive for a calm life. However, I’m quite happy to speak my mind, as I did in a queue this evening at the supermarket – a guy was trying to push past me and I didn’t hesitate to tell him there was a queue so he should use it!
But like you say, it is that balance that’s not easy to find. I think you have a marvellous writing voice, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about your recent travels, the New York posts where top notch!
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Hello there! I’ll be attending NaNoWriMo 2011, I could sure use some support and readers (I’m also a good reader myself). I’ll follow you guys on twitter to get updates ^^
Already super excited about this, I’m starting to write random stuff on my blog for that post-a-day challenge!
Yay! Another NaNo eager beaver! Indigo Spider has set up a Twitter stream #nanoteamindy so hopefully there will be plenty of support during the crazy month! Also if you want, look me up on the Writing Buddy section of NaNoWriMo – Dave Farmer, and IndigoSpider too, she’s quite the inspirational character!
It will be my first time doing NaNoWriMo and I can’t wait. Thanks for the info about the Twitter feed I think it will make a huge difference being able to share the experience with others!
It’s gathering momentum now. This will be my first time going for the challenge so I’m hugely excited about it. I look forward to seeing you on Twitter – #nanoteamindy
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I love it that you added Don’t Panic to the list! So very Douglas Adams-like. 😀
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I’ll be doing NanoWrimo again this year. (it’s my 4th) Sounds like a fun team. Anyone can join?
4th you say? Gosh. A seasoned Wrimo! Sure, anyone can join, drop a comment here or over at Indigo Spider or join in at #NaNoTeamIndy.
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Hi – quick (stupid!) question – I’ve also got a wordpress.com blog (gillyfraser.wordpress,com) but for some reason I can’t persuade it to let me put a NaNo badge on. Can you tell me (in words of one syllable…) how you did it please? Thank you!
Hi Gilly. I’ve dug out this link for you. I had problems getting an image (badge) into my side bar so I wrote this tutorial for others to follow. It’s VERY step by step and no big words!
https://davefarmersblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/how-to-add-an-image-widget-to-your-side-bar/
Thanks Dave! Really appreciate that. And all the very best on NaNo
Gilly
No problem! Glad I could help! And thanks!
I’ve done it – and it even worked! Thanks Dave – chancing upon your blog was a great stroke of luck – especially since it’s also an excellent blog.
All the best
Gilly
Your more than welcome! 😀
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