Good Morning! Ahhh, It’s the first day of November. This can only mean one thing to my fellow writing nerds. It’s National Novel Writing Month! It’s the time of year when those who dream of writing their first novel, need a shot of motivation to write something new or just want to join in to see where it leads crank out 50,000 words (estimated as 175 pages) for 30 days…. HARDCORE! It’s an audacious challenge that one can have with friends, strangers who are also in the NaNoWriMo pool or just with themselves.
Last year was my first time entering into the challenge and going for the gusto. Though I had constructed an earlier manuscript from previous years (not as a NaNoWriMo participant), I didn’t like the direction it was taking. So I stripped it bare and on the first of November I began to reconstruct the story with an upgraded thought on word play, scenes and character development. I finished the month with a little over 30,000 words.
Some folks may feel pressure or anxiety about completing the challenge with all 50,000 words while having J.K Rowling or Ralph Ellison quality of work. This may be possible if you have mastered or are so gifted with the craft of writing that you write with a golden pen. Otherwise, as with any writer, the quality of the work (especially for a draft) may just be crap that needs work, or it maybe good with room for improvement. The beauty of NaNoWriMo is the fact that it’s not really about quality. It’s about quantity. As stated on NaNoWriMo’s website;
“This approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.”
At the time I participated, my daughter was three with a need to be in my face (during the hours she wasn’t in school) wanting meals, trying to swindle me for cookies and pulling me on the floor to play blocks with her. I was in post-grad mode as I finally finished my undergraduate studies. I hustled a few freelance gigs for local publications while looking for full-time work. In other words, I was pretty much a domesticated chic doing everything short of balancing on my head, but was easily distracted by everyday life. Still, whenever I had a few precious moments or even hours (when my child slept) I took to my laptop or the computer desktop and commenced to exercise my brain and fingers.
If you are participating in NaNoWriMo, here are some things to keep in mind.
1. If you are brave, write with total abandon.
For me this seemed effortless, mainly because of the previous manuscript I was disappointed with and I had an idea of how I wanted to start over.
2. If you aren’t so brave, write an outline before you begin.
Most writers take great comfort in constructing an outline. While my literary abandon sailed along quite nicely all last November, I found my thoughts running out of steam as I continued on after last year’s NaNoWriMo had concluded. So, my stubborn self – which rarely, if ever, writes an outline – sat down and wrote one. That has helped A LOT as I finish up the manuscript. It doesn’t have to an elaborate plan. Just jot down topics you want to cover, some notes about the characters (Ah! Character development!) and whatever ideas, comments and such you want to include in the story.
3. Pace yourself.
Don’t get so caught up in the race and challenge of it all that you lose your mind over it. If you are a scatter brain (like me), carve out that time to write and be loyal to that time each day of the challenge. If the urge to write hits you outside of that carved time, by all means seize the moment. However, if you can’t really stop, drop and write in that moment jot down your thoughts as they flow in a notebook, on a post-it or on a gum wrapper. Also, when you are writing, remember to take breaks outside of using the potty. Just be disciplined enough to know when to return to the “work” or to known when the break is turning into full fledged leisure moment.
4. Set the mood.
I’m a hardcore music lover. A lot of times I write to underground, off the wall music. Sometimes I write with the TV on low as it turns into background “music” that eventually I drown out with my thoughts. Whatever it takes to get you into that zone of writing, go there!
5. Go to the well.
For the serious writer that is seeking to publish a novel here is some advice or a small lesson that was passed to me from an old college professor. It’s important that writers read other writers. Know those that came before you and become familiar with those coming up with you. We all know that reading is fundamental, but for a writer it’s so much more. Reading is like a thirst quencher, even when you aren’t thirsty. Reading other works opens the door for more inspiration, critical thinking and builds on vocabulary.
Though I signed up to participate this year, I’m not sure how much I will contribute. I mainly joined as a boost to finish my manuscript this month or at least by the close of the year. Nothing much in my life as changed since last year, with the exception that my daughter and I are both a year older and that the more I interview for full-time work, the more I’m convinced that being a stay at home mompreneur is my calling as I haven’t been the final pick of any of the jobs. On the flip side people are encouraging me to just finish my book and I am close to finishing.
For those of you are that are taking part of NaNoWriMo… Happy Writing! Oh! and don’t forget your coffee! 🙂
Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River 
Eleanie Campbell
November 6, 2011
I participated in NaNoWriMo last year and I finished a little over 50,000 words. I was unemployed at the time so that was a big help. I still struggled, but I will say that regardless of the naysayers NaNoWriMo is a great way to get your writing project started.