How many of you have heard of NaNoWriMo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month and was a crazy idea dreamed up by a group of friends in America in 1999. The main idea is to write a novel of at least 50,000 words over the 30 days of November. Here's NaNo in a nutshell (taken from the website):
"NaNo in a Nutshell
What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month's time.
Who: You! We can't do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let's write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.
Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.
When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster and browse the forums. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.
Where: You write wherever you’d like. On your computer, on your iPad, on a typewriter---anywhere is fine, just as long as you’re writing! For a more in-depth NaNoWriMo overview, visit the devilishly handsome "What is NaNoWriMo?"and "How NaNoWriMo Works" pages."
The website and forum have just finished their annual reset. From now to the kick-off on 1st November the forum will be getting busier and more excited. Each year the number of people joining in increases massively, and a few of the participants have gone on to get their NaNos published as real books. I've hung around in their forums for the past 2 NaNos but not actually written anything. I may actually start something this year!
How about you? Throw me a comment below if you'll be NaNoing this year. I am giving you almost a months notice ;)
Woo, I'm nanoing this year! (I actually found your blog through the forum there... hehe)
ReplyDeleteI think "NaNo" is a great idea. I'd love to participate, but between work and grad school I don't know if I'll be able to make enough time (although I do appreciate the early notice...)
ReplyDeleteI did catch a couple friends talking about it today, actually, so maybe I can put together a large group and make it happen!
Go for it Andrew! That's one of the things that has stopped me doing it so far, I can't whip up any interest in it from friends and family. I think having people to compete with on the word count would be good motivation.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about attempting it this year. I have a story idea that has started as a screenplay, but I may try to expand upon it as a novel. That way I can make money off the novel, and then show off the screenplay, and thus make even more money off the movie rights. Clever, right? But seriously, I think I'll go about it. Good luck with your writing!
ReplyDeleteFellow Nanoer here :) In fact your blog was in the blog thread, and it's always fun to seek out others sharing in the November madness! I say go for it - good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely giving it another shot this year! Can't wait to get going though - it's really hard not to start writing now!
ReplyDeleteI'm Nanoing for the first time this year, well if I can think of a plot before November that is!
ReplyDeleteI am planning on giving it a go- thanks for the idea. Unfortunately I only have vague ideas but I reckon I might be able to ramble enough...possibly.. but I am making no claims that it would be good or even readable.
ReplyDeleteNaNo is how I found this blog (on that blog advertising thread :D)
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