National Novel Writing Month
The Demand of NaNoWriMo:
Inspiration from the Writing Trenches
This is it! We are about to wrap up the November demands of this literary marathon National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). And it was like no other. This challenge for participants across the globe, to write a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days may seem daunting, but it’s a celebration of creativity and dedication that has captivated the hearts of countless wordsmiths. Yet you and I are still in it. We have dealt with the ebbs and flows of all, but the last few days, hours, or minutes are still upon us. We are clinging desperately to the last stretch in a writing frenzy. You can imagine yourself at the lip of the trenches, your hands with a strength you never realized you had, pulled you up the steep side, fingernail by fingernail. But you’ve done it. You’ve drug yourself up and with one last burst…no, demand, you need your mind and body to complete the action to lift you clear of the edge. In other words, you have to finish.
It’s possible you might be fading, the work too taxing, your energy sapped. But it’s all downhill, my friend. Look at what you’ve accomplished.
- You’ve joined a global community of writers who support and encourage each other.
- Establish a daily writing routine and overcome writer’s block.
- You’ve explored your creativity and developed writing skills.
- You helped raise funds for literacy initiatives just by supporting the writing challenge.
- You’ve challenged yourself to face your fears of imperfection and grow as a writer and individual.
- You’ve gained a newfound confidence in your abilities, which can be invaluable for your future writing endeavors.
- You’ve taken risks, experimented within your genre, and explored ideas you might not have pursued otherwise.
- You’ve met daily word count goals.
- You’ve become more skilled at managing your time and prioritizing writing in your schedule.
- You’ve gained the ability to start and finish a long-form creative project.
- You have taken the time to learn valuable lessons about storytelling, character development, and pacing by actively engaging in the writing process.
- You’ve fostered perseverance and determination, qualities that can be applied to other life challenges.
- You’ve discovered strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller, helping you to refine your craft.
- You have a tangible draft of work, a collection of your creation, that you can work on and revise.
Only a writer knows
I won’t mention the 5 lbs. of chocolate you consumed or the fact you’ve not seen your family at the dinner table in a month. But that was all agreed upon before you started. Now you need to focus. There’s a profound sense of accomplishment that comes from setting a challenging goal and achieving it, regardless of the end result. To write a novel in a month is an adventure in itself. I remember my first NaNoWriMo. I was woefully unprepared and spent the first week prepping (e.g., outlining, organizing, and figuring out my full idea). What time should have been writing was time I spent planning. But I didn’t stop. That NaNoWriMo I achieved over a 35000-word count to add to a novel idea that I barely recognized and didn’t want to let go. I’ve since taken it to a length of more than 80K. I am not going to get into the purist Wrimo, who starts a brand-new novel during the challenge versus the Rebel (who may be picking up where they left off in a novel to finish it off, or simply edit. But this fun month is not only about word count. There is so much more to becoming a writer, knowing your identity, and finding your pace and balance in a writing challenge as a writer. If you do what I did you can easily plan to attend Camp NaNo and finish off your novel during the April month. But if you are so close to 50, you’ve got to do it now. You’ve got this. Finish it out. Eat, sleep, dream tomorrow. These are the last hours of the push and you’ve invested the time. Let’s wrap this up with whatever you have left in the tank to give. And celebrate the win no matter what. Congratulations. Happy Writing. You are now a part of our club forever.
I also want to give a quick shout-out to PLOTTR software which is very intuitive. My new favorite writing aid. This plotting software is da bomb. Use any of my affiliate links below and I might get a small commission. Thanks.
Check out my Youtube channel for PLOTTR videos @jlnichauthorsff
Joseph Michael’s Learn Scrivener Fast e-course
Please read and review my serial publishing novel, Sparrow’s Legacy, on Kindle Vella. You can read the first three chapters free on Amazon by searching for “Sparrows Legacy Kindle Vella” or clicking here. I. Please subscribe to my website if you want to be notified when I’ll be publishing or to get free samples of my work.
JLNich, Science Fiction Fantasy Author
