Rise to the Challenge: November is National Novel Writing Month

Obviously, the LBS is all about blogging…. but we have noticed that a lot of you have attempted to write/publish a novel at some point in time, especially those who have a sincere love for writing (not just blogging). If you have ever attempted to write a novel, successfully published a novel or simply toyed with the thought… we suggest checking out NaNoWriMo and telling us your thoughts, experience, etc. in the comments!

For over a decade, writers from all over the world have come together during the month of November to undertake the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. This is not a task for the faint of heart or those easily inflicted by writer’s block. In fact, on first glance, writing 50,000 words in 30 days may seem impossible and almost crazy. However, every year, more writers join the NaNoWriMo challenge. Many of these writers accomplish this amazing feat, some even for multiple years in a row. Why do they do it? How does a writer get started?

How to Join NaNoWriMo

Joining NaNoWriMo is easy and free. All you have to do is navigate to NaNoWriMo.org and sign up for a free account. The site offers many features that help you keep your writing on track and encourage you to meet your writing goals. In fact, it’s the NaNoWriMo community that provides the motivation that writers use to tackle the challenge every year.

Your dashboard on the NaNoWriMo website provides a word count tool that allows you to track and display your progress throughout the month. You can upload a sneak preview of your novel and share it from your profile with anyone who is interested in your work. You can also add other writers to your friend’s list and watch their word count progress from your dashboard. This is a great way to stay inspired as you push yourself and your friends to reach a higher word count over time.

NaNoWriMo encourages writers to connect with other writers through regional forums and private messaging. Many writing groups have formed during November as members organize events across the world. This is a great way to meet new writing friends and find the moral support needed to stick to your writing goals.

Throughout the month, NaNoWriMo sends out pep-talk emails, often written by famous and published authors. These messages provide participants with humor, encouragement and insight about the writing process. At the end of the month, those who complete the challenge also receive a printable certificate to announce their triumph.

Benefits of NaNoWriMo

Even if you’re just a casual writer, NaNoWriMo offers an experience that teaches and inspires. You learn how to set daily writing goals and discover self-discipline you may not realize you have. NaNoWriMo teaches you how to consistently write, no matter what level of inspiration you have. This helps to reinforce skills and habits that lead to becoming a more productive writer.

You also learn how to write a rough draft, which requires you to write without self-editing. For the perfection-seeker, this is often one of the hardest aspects of making it through NaNoWriMo. If you are going to meet your daily deadlines, you can’t allow yourself to be bogged down with fixing mistakes or editing during the writing process. You can edit your work once the month is over. During November, the backspace key is off limits.

Final Thoughts about NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is a challenge that teaches writers how to write by pushing them to write. While this may sound stressful, once you overcome the desire to edit your work, writing a free-form rough draft can actually become liberating. You learn important skills such as pacing and goal setting. You learn about your own writing quirks, and often discover things about yourself and your stories that may come as a surprise.

Some authors who finish NaNoWriMo go on to polish their drafts and publish their novels. Connections writers make through the forums and local writing events extend beyond the month of November. Accomplishing the final words of the 50,000 word count goal is like crossing a marathon’s finish line.

If you have a story brewing in your mind and some time on your hands this November, come join writers across the world as they rise to the NaNoWriMo challenge. Signing up only takes a moment. The accomplishment, friendship and experience can last a lifetime.