This month is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. I am so excited!
Twenty years ago, in 1999, a man named Chris Baty and a group of friends attempted to write 50,000 words during July. Let me clarify, 50,000 words each! That’s a lot! Their attempt to write a whole novel in a month created what is now known as the NaNoWriMo challenge. Now writers from all over sign up and attempt to write 50,000 words in November. Each writer is considered a winner if they reach 50,000 words.
I found out about NaNoWriMo only a few days ago. If I had known about it sooner, I probably would have entered. I am in no way prepared to write a 50,000-word novel, start to finish, this month. So, in the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I am setting a different goal. My goal is to finish the manuscript of a story I am currently working on. By the end of the month, I want to have this manuscript completed! Next year I plan to have a story outline ready so that I can participate in the challenge come day one.
Last week we discussed rewarding yourself. We talked about setting goals! Well, here is one of my goals for this month: complete this manuscript!
On nanowrimo.org, you can sign up, track your progress, set your goals, and connect with others to help you finish your novel! They also have a Young Writer’s Program, where you can participate in the challenge under the age of eighteen. With the Young Writer’s Program, they also have multiple writing challenges throughout the year. See? Anyone can do it!
National Novel Writing Month doesn’t mean you have to write 50,000 words, although it is a great thing to do and a fantastic accomplishment. It’s about writing a novel, creating a story that only you can share with the world. No one else can tell it! Remember that.
In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I challenge you to write something, anything! It doesn’t matter how silly it sounds, only that it’s written. Murr Lafferty, the author of I Should Be Writing, says, “Even if you write complete garbage that you don’t keep, you are still learning what doesn’t work.”
-R.E. Klinzing
R.E. KLINZING 
Challenge accepted! But doing it unofficially because I’m being a rebel lol. I’m with you, though, kinda just finishing my manuscript by end of month. They do this in April as well, although you probably already know, but it might be a great time to try it? Either way, best of luck! 🙂
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That is awesome! I wish you the best of luck in finishing your manuscript! Let me know how it goes!
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