Each November, tens of thousands of people around the world hunker down in front of their computers, typewriters, desks and coffee tables to pen a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I am one such person.
My first encounter with National Novel Writing Month–or NaNoWriMo as we all call it–was 30th October 2008. I had pretty much one day to make up my mind as to whether or not I was going to attempt the 50k word/30 day challenge. By the 31st, my wife and I had purchased Chris Baty’s book No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days and set our minds to the task of writing our first novels.
What followed in those 30 days was nothing short of transformative for me. Every day I looked forward to work being finished and noveling to start. Competitions emerged between me and my fellow WriMos. The forums erupted and the words spilled down onto the digital page in a rush. It was thrilling and exhilarating.
Each time I finished a section or chapter, I would post it to my blog. Certain friends and acquaintances were invited to register to read the novel as I went along. I kept the words semi-private. This exercise was partially one in humility, but not public embarrassment.
NaNoWriMo is an amazing experience the first time you participate. I’ve heard from others that it only gets better. If you haven’t participated before, I invite you do so. Head over to NaNoWriMo.org and sign up to write with us in November. The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. And I can’t think of a better way to spend my Novembers.