For the first time ever, I’m accepting the challenge that is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, aka November).

I first heard of NaNoWriMo a few years ago when I was still in college. At first I was super excited about it.

“Oh sweet action,” I exclaimed. “A whole month dedicated to novel writing. What a wonderful, fantastic world.”

But then I got to the crux of what makes NaNo, NaNo…

About

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought fleetingly about writing a novel.

Fifty THOUSAND Words??????

I was all like

I’d NEVER written that much in one month before. Ever. It took me a whole year to write my first novel, and I’m not positive that it’s 50,000 words.

Taking into account my anxiety disorder, my sleeping habits and my TV shows, I always backed out of the challenge. I thought I’d be left to my own, with no support and no direction. Drowning in a sea of hopeless words.

Turns out that’s not the way NaNoWriMo works at all!

There’s a whole world-wide community of writers. Writers who are published, writers who aren’t, even some writers who haven’t written anything since high school but would like to give it a go. There are forums where you can get advice on your plot, your characters, your font style. Even if you don’t have any idea for a story to write, there’s a forum full of plot ideas just waiting for you.

You get writing buddies. You can get a mentor. There’s even real life groups that will meet up in your city or region to do writer things.

This support system, this community is what gave me the courage to try this year. These people are all here for the love of writing. And so am I.

And hey, if I don’t make 50,000 words by December 1st, is it going to matter?

Nope.

It’s not like I’ll have to give up writing for good.

I’m going to be keeping you up to date with my progress throughout November, as well as supplying you with lots of useful tools for writing and surviving the WriMo. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

Want more NaNo?

• Lionheart Writers is a great blog full of excellent NaNoWriMo tips, and great writerly wisdom. Go there! 

• Go straight to the source! It’s pretty! NaNoWriMo.org

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• The #NaNoWriMo Checklist (writingishardwork.com)
• NaNoWriMo (corinnedesjardins.wordpress.com)
• Countdown to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) | Accept the Writing Challenge and Turn Pro Now (veronicamariajarski.com)