National Novel Writing Month

Naturally, with October partway over and November on its way, my first post had to be about Nano. I’m counting down the days until November 1 on the dry-erase board above my bed (22 days!), and it just can’t come fast enough.

For those of you who don’t know, National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo, is a month-long novel-writing palooza in which writers around the world (novices and veterans alike) attempt to write their own 50,000-word novel in just 30 days. And by “around the world,” I mean “around the world.” From Egypt to Wyoming, from Hungary to Ontario to Sri Lanka, writers all over the globe race against the clock to get those stories out of their heads and into a word processor.

(Or onto paper, but a word processor keeps count of the words-so-far for you.)

You might be thinking: That’s crap. And in two ways, you might be right.
It can be stressful, trying to complete a 50,000-word novel while working, going to class, raising a two-year-old, taking care of a Labrador, or whatever. And, let’s face it: Most of what you write at that speed will probably be crap.

But that’s okay, because Nanowrimo isn’t about producing a best-selling literary masterpiece that the critics will love and that will set you up for life. Nano is about actually writing that novel you always said you would write. For the duration of November, duct-tape your inner editor to a chair and throw him in the closet.

You can always edit in December.

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You can find the UTWG Nano thread here.

You can add Elizabeth as a Nano buddy here.

UTWG write-ins will be at Biggby Coffee on West Central Avenue at 7:00p.m. on Mondays. Nano kick-off party TBA.