NaNoWriMo Anyone?

The Sassistas! would like to acknowledge and thank half-a-sista who dished today's sass.

Have you ever wanted to write a novel but lacked a reason or the encouragement to do it? I have a solution:  NaNoWriMo.

National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 with 21 participants. The goal was to complete a novel of at least 50,000 words during the month of November. The idea proved very popular.  By 2008, 119,031 adults from all over the world participated. 21,683 of them “won” a certificate for writing 50,000 words or more during the month of November. And the best thing? It’s free.

The organization collects tax-deductible contributions to cover costs and to fund specific programs like NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program (YWP) and Script Frenzy. YWP offers young writers (17 and under) a place to set reasonable goals for writing during the month and to receive support and advice on writing which has been tailored to their needs. Participants from ages 13-17 can also sign up for NaNoWriMo and the goal of 50,000 words. Script Frenzy is about writing a script in the month of April. To date 4.8% of the Wrimos (event participants) have contributed $418,010. With 6 days left (a countdown clock on the web site ticks away the seconds), the collective word count is over 1.6 billion words.

For the third year I joined. I have written 73,147 words and will reach 100,000 by today, November 30.

The first year I wrote a novel about compassion and reconciliation, a modern day story of Job. Year Two I wrote a novel about a drag queen who becomes the earthly incarnation of the Blessed Virgin. I’m working on revisions and edits and hope to have it to an agent by the end of March 2010, or sooner.

This year I worked on four pieces:  the vampire novel (24,962 words), a story of revenge (12,879 words), a novel about a woman who decides the only way out of her marriage is to die a natural death (10,156 words), and the memoir of the last five years of my mother’s life (16,461 words). I write on one story until I get bored or can’t think of what to write next and then work on another piece. I’ll have over 50,000 on vampires by the end of the month and maybe over 50,000 on the memoir.

Maybe you’d like to join next year? For more information on the organization, check out the website (linked above) and take a look at what it offers.  Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo?  Have you ever wanted to write a novel, a memoir, or anything else?  Please share!  Write on!

Comments

[Flannista]

half-a: thank you for this post. In various comments over the past month, you have referred to NaNoWriMo, and I thought it had something to do with Natalie Goldberg!

First, when do you find the time to write? I can barely churn out 300 words a day for a Sassistas! post: about 8,000–9,000 words a month.

Second, how does churning out so many words improve actually improve one’s writing? (This comment is about 75 words long, by the way.)

[Flannista]

Could you post what you consider to be two of your best sentences from each of your projects?

[Flannista]

I think we need to write haiku about NaNoWriMo. That's a challenge, PEACEsista!

[Flannista]

Hmmmm. Typepad hasn't frozen my computer yet.

[Flannista]

half-a: when I googled "NaNoWriMo images" yesterday, several images such as these appeared:

http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/uploads/2008/11/nanowrimo_1_w.jpg

What do you think?

[half-a-sista]

TypePad froze up on my first comment...a chance to write a few more words.

Most people think NaNaWriMo is a virtually unknown form of Japanese martial art although the popularity of it keeps growing.

Will try for a shorter post this time.

[half-a-sista]

Typing on the computer allows me to write approximately 2,000 words an hour if the words are flowing. So, in theory I would only need to spend an hour and a half writing everyday to write over 60,000 words during November. I spend that much time wandering the city everyday. It's how I spend my available time that makes the difference.

[half-a-sista]

TypePad Froze my computer again. So short is in for TypePad.

"Churning out" makes it sound like I put words down just to get 50,000. I'm telling a story and that's what I do.

How does it improve my writing? Like 10-minute writing practices, this 50,000 word challenge allows me to write anything I want. And, as with most practices, the more of them I do, the better I become.

[Chrysosistah]

I never even know there was such a thing as NaNoWriMo - anything that helps kids write more, or provides guidance, is good with me. It sounds to me along the same lines as the various run or swim-a-thons we hear about - it gives people a goal, something to shoot for, and raises money to help others. All good stuff!

[Chrysosistah]

know, knew...jeez, I need my coffee!

[half-a-sista]

TypePad froze again (TPFA). Flann, I'm only telling you about the freezes as info. I don't expect you to do anything more than you already are.

Your link to the poster on 101 Reasons to Stop Writing is funny. I happen to like crossword puzzles and the thought of doing 500 of them appeals to me. Similarly I like the challenge of writing 50,000 or more on a story. Not everyone will like it. Apparently enough people like NaNoWriMo to make a joke of it. That says more than the joke.

[Flannista]

So sorry, half-a! My computer freezes up whether it’s a long or short comment. That is why I am still drafting my comments in another platform and then copying and pasting them – so I don’t lose them.

[half-a-sista]

I passed the 50,000 words sometime around the middle of November. I now have 100,221 words on my six writing projects. I'm at 49,011 on my vampire story and halfway through the first edit so I will make my 50,000 on this one project by the end of the day barring unforeseen circumstances.

[half-a-sista]

Chryso, I agree that a program that creates an interest in writing is a good one regardless of what the people write. West has told me that writing programs for children, teenagers, and young adults are growing in popularity because of college entrance exams that require good writing skills.

[Chrysosistah]

In answer to the post's question (nice post, by the way - very informative), no, never felt drawn to composing a novel or memoir or anything else. Don't keep a journal, couldn't do a diary as a kid. Of course, I've had to creatively write for school, always a matter of blood, sweat & tears and the gnashing of teeth.

[Flannista]

I think Typepad is monitoring the comments, so if your computer is freezing up, please post that.

I am running around getting ready for my creative session, but promise to sass more when I get back home this afternoon. Until then, I have an idea for a memoir and have been tinkering at it for about 20 years. More on that later.

Still would like to read some of what you’ve written, half-a.

(SECOND attempt to post.)

[Carolyn]

I, too, would love to read some of what you've written, half-a. I envy your ability to produce such a high word-count. I'm sure that takes much discipline.

[Carolyn]

Typepad, if you're reading this, you're f**ked up. Tried to post a couple of times-nothing. Then posted and you didn't require that I figure out anything in that shaded 'code' box before you printed my post. Needless to say, I hate you.

[half-a-sista]

Chryso, I don't know you well, but you seem to have a lot of stories to tell. They are the same things you would write about. Nothing worse than someone who says, "You must write creatively." Just write what you feel like writing. The key is to sit down and write regularly.

Carolyn, wish I had more discipline 'cause I could turn out 100,000 per month of short stories, novels and such. A goal like 50,000 words helps and someone else to report to.

[PEACEsista]

Half-a, thanks for sharing your experience with this. In an earlier post, you mentioned awaiting the arrival of one of your short stories, which made it to print. Was it delivered and how did it feel to see it in print? Getting something published is a powerful affirmation to "continue under all circumstances." Congratulations, half-a on your many writing achievements!

[half-a-sista]

PEACE, thanks. Have you ever wanted to write a novel? I know you write because of the many writing workshops we've been in. What would you like to write that you haven't.

Right now, Flann is teaching creativity to creative people. Hope they appreciate her sense of humor and her knowledge.

I received 20 copies of the magazine with my short story in it. Six go to a friend who wanted to send copies to some people he knows. I have 14 left. It was a bittersweet experience. More later...in case TypePad eats this comment.

[half-a-sista]

My name appears on the cover of the magazine (along with others). That was a treat. Then I turned to my story and read it. Of course, I noticed things that could be changed. Then I found a glaring typo that the proof readers hadn't caught. "whose eyes" came out as "who (se eyes)" and that hurt me to see it. Long story which I won't go into.

Today the typo bothers me, but I have dealt with my initial reaction.

[half-a-sista]

This is a section of a piece called "Desecration Day" about a trip with my mother and aunt to decorate my uncle's grave. At this point in the story, my aunt has been unable to find and "in ground" vase purchased with the lots. She has been stabbing the ground with a bread knife (long blade) to hit the metal vase. Fortunately she didn't find it and sent me off to the manager's office to get help.

"I didn’t want to know what they had done because I knew they had been up to something. When I arrived at the throw rugs, I could see that both of them were covered in grass trimmings and dirt. The manager stood with his jaw dropped open.
“Honey, we didn’t need him. When your mother and I couldn’t find the vase I paid for...” she turned her head to look up at the manager. “...we simply dug a little hole and planted the mums on top of Roy. He would enjoy that.” She looked very happy. They both looked very happy. The manager didn’t.
“You...you...you can’t go that.”
“Can’t do what, young man?”
“Can go around digging holes in the cemetery. It’s...it’s...well, it’s grave desecration. That’s what it is.” His color had grown much redder. Sweat poured off his face. His handkerchief looked sopping wet. “It’s against the law to dig holes here.”
“If we had been able to find the vase, which, I will remind you again, we paid for, my sister-in-law and I wouldn’t have been reduced to digging this hole. Now would we?”
He had lost this argument. I hoped he realized it."

[Chrysosistah]

Frankly, writing seems like a brave experience - I've been too intimidated, too afraid of critique or having it thrown back in my face to wish to commit anything to pen & paper. Easier to avoid it than to tempt scorn. It's my own hang-up, I know....

Really a bummer about the typo, I can only imagine how that would be irksome, since the audience would not know how it came to be there! But still, the overall experience surely was positive?! (wanna divulge the magazine name?)

[babysis]

Thanks for the cool post today. I'm slightly intrigued, but that will probably pass. I have often mused about doing ANYTHING consistently each day, like writing, drawing, reading, exercising, but I never stick with it. I love that you and many others have found this tool useful. I read the Staff bios and they sound like fun people. Maybe I'll sign up for next year. I'll have a whole year to be optimistic.

In the meantime, keep writing and inspiring others to write more. I'm impressed with your accomplishments.

(SECOND ATTEMPT TO POST)