In two days National Novel Writing Month begins. It’s a month where a bunch of aspiring writers/creatives get together online and in
their communities with the goal of writing a 50, 000 word novel in the 30 days of November. That’s a small novel around the size of the Great Gatsby which you likely read in High School.
I first found out about it online when I was just two months into my degree. I was eager to try but I thought, ‘this is crazy, I’m super busy with my university classes, how could I ever find the time?’ and then I realized something important: my life was only going to get busier and busier from that year on (which I was right about). So I decided to do it.
It was marvellously thrilling. Not every step of the way, there were times when I hated it and wanted to quit. But 30 days isn’t that long. The story itself was crap and I dealt with the concept very childishly, but hey, I was 18 and I wrote a novel.
10 reasons why you should do nanowrimo this year:
- It will open your mind creatively.
- It will help you realize the things that aren’t all that important in your schedule.
- You can draw off this experience of doing something hard and finishing it.
- You can say you’ve written a novel.
- You will learn something about yourself.
- You will learn to write every day.
- You’ll have the thrill of writing in coffee shops, and staying up to bizarre hours, all while holding down a job/degree.
- You don’t have to be a perfect writer (see No Plot? No Problem!).
- You will build confidence.
- Win or lose, you will rock for even trying.
Like I said, when I look back I knew my story was pretty awful. The point was never to be a good writer, but to get the process of writing started. I had to kill the snob in me who said, “I will only write if it’s good.” You’ll probably have to kill the snob in you too. THAT’S ALWAYS A GOOD THING. Writers who don’t write aren’t writers. They’re just people who like literature.
So go sign up and maybe even get connected with people in your community who are doing it with you. Maybe you’ll find a kindred spirit writerly friend!
As an aside, every year I contemplate doing it again. After browsing that website, it really made me want to do it again. I have approximately ONE day to decide. Gulp.
I’m in. I was on the line because I have no clue what to write about. I can write things that have already happened, but write things that are make-belief? We’ll see. I have no plot ideas, but No Plot, No Problem, right?