11/1/2009

About National Novel Writing Month & why I choose to participate

The first time I heard the term “National Novel Writing Month” aka “NaNoWriMo” was October 23, 2009. I was telling Michelle how Cyndi said I needed a hobby. She suggested I join NaNaWriMo with her. My response was, ” join what?”

NaNoWriMo is a multinational, yearly, novel writing event (their website: www.nanowrimo.org). They suggest that the contestant use the month of October to prepare (many writers spend all year preparing to write their novel) in contrast I am VASTLY unprepared but no less enthusiastic about this endeavor. My grammar needs work (hey! It’s been 9 years since I was in college – give a girl a break!). That part of the process is saved for December anyway – this month is all about brainstorming and free writing.

It took me less then 30 seconds to say, “yes” to Michelle’s suggestion.

I have no professional writing experience. When I was 12 I wrote a full-length romance novel over a weekend (because my friend and I decided that I could write a better romance novel then the one we had just read). When I was 15 I wrote another one. If I can write 85 pages a day as a 12 year old – I can certainly write something intelligible, over a month, as a 32 year old… I hope…