Why NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is an online challenge that takes place from November 1st to 30th each year. The goal is to write 50,000 words in total or 1,667 words each day.

“Are you crazy?” that’s the usual response when I tell people I’m attempting to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. This is usually followed by, “How on earth do you do that?” and/or, “Why on earth would you want to do that?”

Maybe I am a bit crazy but I have a number of quite rational reasons why I participate in NaNoWriMo:

1. I love a challenge (it’s like a marathon for writers).
2. It’s not as hard as you’d think (in fact, most career writers spit out this many words every day of their lives.)
3. If I hit the finish line I’ll have an entire first draft of my novel.
4. There’s no time to edit as I go, which is a good thing in a first draft.
5. It’s addictive (honestly, once you start you can’t stop).
6. An added perk for children’s writers like me – I may finish early!

This is my second NaNoWriMo and admittedly my first attempt is still languishing on my computer in a slightly stuck second draft. I’m a bit too scared to tackle it at the moment, but when then the time’s right I'll pull it out and lick it into shape.

At the moment I’m more excited about my latest baby, an as yet untitled, middle grade novel which is currently a healthy 27,761 words. I plan to put it away for a while. I’ll be sick of the sight of it by the end of November I’m sure.

My plan is to put it away for a few months. Sometime in the new year I’ll rip it apart with fresh eyes, and stitch it back together with magic patches and invisible thread. Then, when it’s sparkling, I’ll send it out to the world.

Hooray for NaNoWriMo!

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