It’s NaNoWriMo Time

There’s no better place to think about books than Square Books, one of my favorite bookstores.

It’s almost November, and November means novel writing!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) happens every year in November. Writers all around the world, believing that a truly rough draft is better than no draft, sit at their computers and try to bang out 50,000 words on a new novel draft. The rules are simple: 50,000 words. New project. Outlining can be done ahead of time. 

The first year I did it, I won, which means I achieved 50,000 words and a complete draft of a really bad novel that will probably remain forever on the shelf. That first year was also the last November I wasn’t a mom, and I have not completed NaNoWriMo since.

But this year, I’m prepping my Google Docs and stretching the muscles of my imagination to give it another shot. Admittedly, I’m not going to try to win. There is no way I would make 50,000 words this year, and I know that going in. But I’ve decided to join the community anyway, with my own private goal set and a novel I already have in progress.

Why am I doing it when all I seem to write about is how busy I am, and I know I won’t win? 

It’s fun with community.

I really love the online forums where people gather to talk about everything. I have several favorite groups, but one is my regional group, by state and closest city. Even if I never go to an actual write-in or participate in any part in-person, it’s still really fun to write in community, to join a writing sprint, to see who else is struggling, and to know I’m not alone.

It helps me think about a story all the time.

When I’m not writing regularly, writing is not one of the top things on my mind. But a goal for a set number of words in a month means that I’m going to be thinking about writing even in times I can’t spend tapping at the keys. I’ll be leaving voice notes for myself and jotting reminders on whatever paper I have. Participating, even in small ways, puts my mind back in a writing mindset.

It helps me get words on the page.

I’ve been thinking around this particular book for several years, changing the outline, redoing the plot and the chapters, but I’ve never found the angle that has kept me focused. I’m hoping that participating in NaNoWriMo will help me really dive into this novel and see it through. I’m not concerned with whether it is published; I just want it to exist, and I love the process of writing fiction. I want to be committed to the fun.

Last but not least, I plan to buy myself a present when I reach the goal I’m setting for myself this November, which is not 50,000 words, but is enough of an accomplishment that I will be ready to celebrate.

Here’s to November, to lots of new words, and to the delight inherent in writing.