NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month. It’s an annual event where writers pledge to write a novel (40K or more words) in a month. There are websites where you can register and find other enthusiasts, and cheer each other on.

I have never participated in NaNoWriMo, but I’ve always been intrigued. I like the idea of committing to something, and being part of a community of writers. But the idea of writing for speed, at the probable expense of quality, doesn’t work for me.

But this year, I think I’ve found a way to participate. Instead of pledging a word count, I’m pledging 30 minutes a day.

Each day in November, I’m going to carve out 30 minutes and sit my butt in the chair and write. Perhaps it’ll only be two sentences, perhaps a whole chapter. I won’t end up the month with a novel, but I’m hoping to end up with a sustainable habit that can eventually lead to one.

I call it NaWriDaMo, National Write Daily Month.

And yes, I’ve already done 30 minutes today, on something that might, one day, be a novel.

11 thoughts on “NaNoWriMo

  1. Good for you. I’ve pledged to do one hour a day beginning in December (November really doesn’t work for me). It’s going to take more than a month, but I have to start somewhere! 🙂

  2. I think I’m going to settle for trying to get a short story completed. 40000 words is a bit much for a cold start since I will also have to deprogram myself from work writing.

    • Richard, how funny. I can imagine that the writing you do for work is very different than fiction. Unless it’s science fiction. 🙂 I had no idea that you were interested in creative writing.

  3. What a great idea for an approach that works for you. Even if the name sounds a bit inauspicious. I think that approach might work better for me too.

    For an explanation of why they suggest writing for speed at the expense of quality, read “No Plot, No Problem!” by Chris Baty, the founder of NaNoWriMo. In short, it’s a way to overwhelm & silence the inner editor that stops us by criticizing, so that you can actually get some words on the page. For beginners or the intimidated, this can be crucial.

    • Oh, I’m a fan of the NaNoWriMo concept. I think it’s a great motivator to get folks writing and love the sense of community. Kudos to Chris Baty and NaNoWriMo participants.

      I’ve wanted to join in for years, just knew that the basic NaNoWriMo format and commitment didn’t work for me. So, I’m doing my own variation. It lets me feel a part of the “let’s write in November!” movement, but at my own pace.

      And since writing the post above, I have run across the NadaWriMo (I didn’t write anything in November) meme, so perhaps NaWriDaMo would be a better acronym. 🙂

      • I hadn’t realized NaDaWriMo was a meme, I was just joking. I think it’s a good name and you can make it mean what you like! And I agree that their approach has some flaws. For me the pell-mell approach left me exhausted and not at all interested in continuing. That’s why I like your NaDaWriMo idea!

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