In case you haven’t heard, we are now entering NaNoWriMo, more formally know as National Novel Writing Month. If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend you go to their site and do so. The stated goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words in a month. It’s a great chance to put away your inner critic, be a part of a huge online and in-person community and write! I’ve had great experiences with it in the past. Three years ago, I finished the first (and so very rough) draft of my first manuscript and two years ago I wrote a short story that I later turned into a full manuscript (that I am currently working on with an editor).
While I have listed a project for this year, I’m not planning to try to write 50K this month. I have several reasons for this. Mainly, my dad passed away in August, and the last few months have been really tough, so I’m trying to allow myself more down time without the pressure that comes from fully jumping into the NaNo challenge. Second, I have several writing goals that are very important to me, but won’t contribute to a wordcount, and I don’t want to put them off. Instead of 50K, this month I decided to make a list of the writing goals I have and work on those. They include editing my current manuscript, taking an online marketing class for creators, submitting short stories to contests, and yes, also getting in writing for my current novel and several other short stories.
I want this month to be productive, but in a way that aligns with my goals. With that in mind, I put together some suggestions of way to participate in NaNo that may not be the traditional way.
· Make a list of writing goals for the month. Then do them.
· Decide to write everyday for a set amount of time.
· Set a goal to write at least XX words per day.
· Create an outline for the story that’s been floating around in your head.
· Write a number of short stories, then submit them to contests or anthologies.
· Commit to doing something that ‘scares’ you but will be good for you as a writer. Maybe it’s letting someone else read a story you’ve written or it’s sending a query letter to an agent.
· Go to a writing event. NaNo has a lot of in-person writing events and a lot of writing societies do regular meetings. The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society that I work with is having a panel later this month to discuss query letters.
All that said, I wish you all the best with your writing for this month and beyond! I do have an account on NaNoWriMo as brandiejune, so feel free to add me as a friend. Whether you want to write 50K this month or have a different writing goal, we can all use some writing buddies!
Now go write!