| NaNo-What-o? No, NaNoWriMo! | | | | mean some late nights, and coffee is a staple! |
| That time of year has come upon us again. No, | | | | 2. Buy a plastic shower cap. |
| I'm not talking about Halloween, or Thanksgiving, | | | | When it is 2am, two days before Thanksgiving, |
| or any of the holidays. No, no, I'm talking about | | | | your entire family coming to visit, and you are |
| something much more important - NaNoWriMo! | | | | only 30,000 word into your NaNo novel, you will |
| What exactly is NaNoWriMo, you ask? Well, I'm so | | | | need to place this shower cap on your head in |
| glad you asked. | | | | order to remind you not to pull your hair out. |
| Here let me tell you... | | | | 3. Lock up all firearms. |
| NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth | | | | The temptation will be too great at 5am after no |
| NaNoWriMo, get it? Okay, according to the site, | | | | sleep, when one of your novel's character decides |
| that is pronounced: NAN-no WRY-Mo. Most | | | | to take the storyline in a whole new direction, |
| authors I know who are participating have come | | | | NOT to shoot your computer monitor. Be sure all |
| to just call it NaNo. It comes in the month of | | | | firearms and baseball bats are securely locked |
| November, every year since 1999. | | | | away during the month of November. |
| Every year in October, opens up for new | | | | 4. Buy headphones. |
| subscriptions for eager novel writers to challenge | | | | This is not to listen to music. No, these will be |
| themselves by writing a novel of at least 50,000 | | | | what you put on your head to block out all the |
| words during the month of November. There's a | | | | sounds of people in your house whining, "You're at |
| catch though - you can't start writing the actual | | | | the computer writing again?" Be sure not to buy |
| novel until 12:01 your local time, November 1, and | | | | headphones with a cord though. The temptation |
| you must be finished with the novel by the end | | | | to strangle yourself or them will simply be too |
| of the month. Now, the novel is not limited to 50K | | | | great. |
| words, but to 'win' the NaNoWriMo Challenge, you | | | | 5. At 11:59pm, October 31 - promptly disregard |
| must not only write at least 50K words, but you | | | | and temporarily forget anything and everything |
| must also finish the novel. | | | | you have ever been taught about writing. |
| There is a list of author's who have actually had | | | | This is important. NaNo isn't about writing the |
| their NaNoWriMo novel published, and many people | | | | perfect novel or the great American novel. NaNo |
| who wrote novels for NaNo and went on to self | | | | is about writing A novel, crappy, good, in |
| publish. | | | | between... the point isn't to make it perfect, but |
| So what's the point to it all? | | | | to challenge yourself to do something different |
| Well, for someone who has never published an | | | | that you normally would not do if you were not |
| novel, NaNoWriMo provides a great motivation, in | | | | participating in NaNoWriMo. In order to finish a |
| a fun environment, with lots of other aspiring | | | | novel in 30 days, you will have to let go of your |
| authors to support an encourage one another and | | | | preconceived notions about writing novels and just |
| finally tap out that novel that we all think we have | | | | let your writing flow. Honestly, you may be |
| dwelling inside of us. For the experienced or | | | | surprised when you let go of all the 'rules' of |
| published author, NaNoWriMo really gives the | | | | writing just how easily writing can flow. |
| author a nice challenge, by adding a deadline | | | | 6. Learn how not to edit. |
| environment, accountability and a means for | | | | NaNoWriMo is about writing a novel in 30 days, |
| checking progress. This can help an author who | | | | not editing one. In fact, NaNo has March set aside, |
| has been tossing around ideas for their next book | | | | or maybe it's February, but nonetheless, there is |
| really dig in and push the creativity out of them. | | | | a month set aside by NaNo to edit your crappy |
| The first thing you do is visit the website at | | | | November novel. November is National Novel |
| nanowrimo.org and register for an account and | | | | WRITING Month, and your goal is only to write it, |
| create your profile. This is completely and totally | | | | not to edit it yet. Also, it's not National Novel |
| free. NaNo is supported mostly by donations. | | | | RE-writing month, so save the rewrites for after |
| After you have created your account and profile | | | | you have actually WRITTEN the novel. |
| you can join the user forums and discussion | | | | Now, let's get a bit more serious about NaNo. |
| groups, also free, and get to meet other authors | | | | While you cannot start writing the actual novel |
| taking the challenge this year. Last year, NaNo | | | | until November 1, you can indeed start writing a |
| boasted an impressive 59,000 participants, which | | | | plot outline and developing your characters right |
| means you potentially have 59,000 other writers | | | | now. If you get a good outline prepared and learn |
| all there to cheer you on. | | | | and know your characters well, you will be able to |
| In addition to the website, many areas in the US | | | | really just sit down and pound out the story. |
| have local NaNo meetings with other participants | | | | There's a couple of weeks left before the actual |
| in close physical proximity. The group in my area | | | | kick off, so you should have plenty of time to |
| met regularly during October and November at | | | | register on the site, set up your profile, and start |
| the local Starbucks. | | | | working on your outline and character |
| Now, after you have created your profile, have | | | | development so that you are ready to begin |
| added all your writing buddies, joined a local group | | | | writing, writing, writing, during the month of |
| to track progress by your area, you are now | | | | November. |
| ready to prepare to write your novel. Now, | | | | I have found this challenge to be a lot of fun, a |
| remember, the rules say you can't start until | | | | little bit crazy, and highly motivating for me as a |
| November 1, on the actual writing, but there are | | | | novelist. I completed a novel through NaNoWriMo |
| many things you can do to prepare. | | | | last year called, "In Her Own Back Yard" and this |
| Below is my self-help list for preparing for | | | | year, my novel is titled, "Another Lifetime." |
| NaNoWriMo (btw, I was a NaNo 'winner' last year | | | | Don't forget to read the FAQs, because not only |
| too): | | | | are they informative, but they are hilarious to |
| 1. Buy lots of coffee. | | | | read too. And be sure to sign up for the weekly |
| If coffee is not your caffeine of choice, then buy | | | | prompts from Chris. He's funny, motivating, and a |
| lots of whatever is. Fifty thousand words is much | | | | total hoot to read. |
| more than most realize. Think about this, most | | | | Feel free to add me as a writing buddy |
| articles on sites like Associated Content are only | | | | (michelleldevon) and let me know your NaNo |
| about 600-1000 words long. That means you will | | | | name so I can add you and together, we'll see if |
| be writing, on the upper end, the equivalent of | | | | we can't each crank out a crappy novel in the |
| about 84 articles in one month's time, but with a | | | | month of November. |
| plot and story line, hopefully, that should be | | | | Best of luck to all who participate. |
| consistent and flow together well. That might just | | | | |