It’s nearly that time of year again, National Novel Writing Month! For those who don’t know it the aim of NaNo is to write 50,000 words of a novel in a month (in other words give up every minute of your spare time for a month). Last year I wrote historical fiction and ‘won’, hitting 50,000 with 5 days to spare but this year I think it will be more of a challenge because I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone. I’m thinking that this year I will try and write something contemporary and funny. These are two things that I am not so it will present a considerable challenge to get right!
Reasons for doing NaNoWriMo this year:
• To write on the train to work instead of browsing the entire content of the internet in a vain attempt to avoid eye contact with my fellow commuters
• To be allowed in the library after opening hours (I’ve always been one of the cool kids huh)?
• It will be useful escapism in the event that Donald Trump wins the election
• I want to beat my work nemesis, Jen, who is also doing NaNo
• Since moving from the UK I have still made very few friends here so it will detract from the fact that even my cat has a better social life than me and make me feel busy
I may joke about it being a challenge and a little stressful but in all honesty it is a lot of fun and immensely satisfying. There are thousands of other people doing the same challenge and a lot of mutual support and cheerleading which makes a very solo activity feel like a team sport. I will be posting about my progress throughout the month and if you guys are curious I might even share some excerpts from my soon to be terrible novel!
Are you doing NaNo this November? I’d love to hear about your plans!
Old England to New England 
I hate it! WP becomes a dead-zone in November because of it.
Haha I can imagine actually with so many people doing it!
Always writing and always revising.
Does a novella count?
As far as I know, any kind of writing counts! 🙂
I think I’m going to finally go for it this year! I’m hoping to challenge my students to do the same. It’ll be difficult with my busy schedule, but better to try and fail than to not try at all, I suppose.
Good luck, let me know how you get on! I’m glad you are encouraging your students too, I wish NaNo had been around when I was at school!
This is my first year giving it a go at NaNo but I’ll be trying to write fiction. I’m rooting for you just the same! 🙂
Good luck, the first year is pretty daunting but also a lot of fun!
Thank you!
This is probably my third year (I’m actually not positive about this; my first year trying this was 2013, but I haven’t tried NaNo consecutively every year since) attempting to finish my novel for NaNo. I haven’t actually won a single year yet. I usually find myself giving up before the month is over. Hopefully this year will be different, though. I am absolutely determined to finish, this time around.
Good luck with your effort this year! I am worried that I will end up giving up this year as I don’t have a decent novel idea yet but I think just taking part is awesome. 🙂
Good luck to you, too! I think my problem with my novel, for right now, is that I only have it figured out to a point. I know what I want to happen at points A, C and E, but I do not have the stuff in between figured out yet (points B and D). Hoping maybe I’ll just come up with those points if I just let loose and write.
I’m doing it! 🙂 It’s my first time and I am a little bit more scared each day that passes now… November is coming!!!!
Good luck and I hope you have a lot of fun! I also hope you are more prepared than I am right now! 🙂
Anxiously awaiting midnight here in America to start Nano. Although, I just might jump at the GMT midnight like last year. Can’t wait to follow you. Last year was a blast!
Good luck with this year’s effort, I admire your dedication to NaNo! Starting at midnight was tempting but I was too tired haha.
I love having a goal! NaNoWriMo motivates me to complete my writing goals
It’s definitely a good motivator! Good luck with your novel. 🙂