NaNoWriMo: My Passionate Challenge
As many of you know, or are aware since I have been posting about it, NaNoWriMo is just around the corner! November is National Novel Writing Month where people around the world challenge themselves to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. This may seem daunting to you, but it’s only 1,667 words a day. That’s less than 12 tweets! If you have ever thought about, dreamed about, or considered writing a novel this event is a great motivator and there are lots of groups to support you and help you if you feel stuck. Participation is absolutely free, but the joy you feel when you win is priceless.
Instead of 50,000 words like most people are doing, or even 100,000 words like I challenged myself last year, I am pushing myself even harder this year and striving for 150,000 words in 30 days. Seems insane, but it’s only 5,000 words a day. I believe I can achieve this goal because last year I wrote around 122,000 words in just 26 days.
What’s my plan? I don’t really have one. I am what you call a “pantser”. I fly (or write) by the seat of my pants and let the characters decide where their story goes. I find that I write better and write longer books this way. I do have a general idea of at least where I will start and an event somewhere in the middle that I would like to happen, but aside from that I am going to let it happen as it wants. This will be book two of the Pirate Princess series and as of right now it is untitled. After I’ve written it and really figured out what’s going on within the story, I will work on deciding a name.
If you’ve never participated before check out the website at www.NaNoWriMo.org and if you’d like a writing buddy feel free to add me, my username is “cbanks”.
Remember, nothing will be written if you don’t put pen to paper or finger to keyboard. Every famous writer started with a blank document, a single word, or a small idea and it just takes pressing that one key or writing that first letter for you to pass by all of the others who don’t try. Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a learning tool. No one will see this document unless you allow them to. NaNoWriMo doesn’t share your words and even if it’s crap at the end, you can learn from your mistakes and use this as practice.
What are you waiting for? Go sign up and start writing on 11/1/15 12:00 AM.
Catherine Banks’ books are available at all ebook retailers and in print at Createspace, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
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