Every year in November, a writing challenge is issued for potential novelists around the globe. This challenge is called National Novel Writing Month. Participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is the ultimate writing gauntlet that forces potential authors to push through procrastination, laziness, and lack of enthusiasm to birth a novel that is 50,000 words or more. Authors who take on this challenge are often faced with battling later nights and earlier mornings than usual. The great news is that it’s all to reach an amazing goal – a full novel written in one month!
For some of us (myself included). it’s hard to find the time to start. After all, how do you convince yourself to sit down and tackle a full 50,000 words in a month (1,667 words per day)? It requires sitting still. It requires focus. Most of all, it requires a desire to do something new and different.
So, why bother starting? Well, you’re a writer, and you’ve got a lot of words left in you! More importantly – how do you stay focused? You have to think about the end goal – winning!
What do you get when you win NaNoWriMo?
- First Class Bragging Rights – Finishing a book is a big deal. Not everyone can remain dedicated and “crank out” a book in only 30 short days.
- Ability to Engage in Self-Publishing Your Work – Writing your novel during NaNoWriMo gets you on the fast track to self-publishing your work and holding the title of “published author.”
- Feelings of Pride – Imagine how proud you will be once you’ve finished writing your novel and can move on to publish it, share it with friends/family, or keep it as a “trophy” and evidence of your success.
Outskirts Press Vice President, Kelly Schuknecht, who is participating in this year’s month-long event explains her tactic for staying ahead on her NaNoWriMo Day 19 check in: “…I now have 33,138 words on ‘paper’! My novel is almost 2/3 complete and I have made it my goal to always stay slightly ahead of the daily goal to give myself some room in case I get behind over the Thanksgiving holiday. Now there are 12 more days and I have 16,862 more words to go! I can do this!”
There it is in plain words – participation is possible. Setting a goal and achieving it is possible. All that it requires is a positive buy-in on your part. You have to make the first move. You have to take the first step.
Even if you aren’t sure about where you will end up during NaNoWriMo this year, let us know where you are in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you (and cheer you on!).
Are you thinking about self-publishing the book you’re writing for NaNoWriMo? Let’s talk…
