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  • Gearing up for NaNoWriMo

    Let’s call this Monthly Mania Monday. This month—in case you’ve been living in a cave—you might not know it’s the upcoming November National Novel Writing Month.

    Are you doing NaNoWriMo? I’m not.

    That’s because a) I don’t have time, and b) I’ve already put in my obligatory decades of practicing getting words down on the page.

    But I know a lot of you are. And (here’s a surprise) I think throwing yourself into fiction like a barrel bouncing out of the back of a speeding truck is one fine idea.

    Anything that gets you into a community of writers having a good time is a great idea in my book. Write because you want to! Write because you love it! Write because it’s fun to hash over your daily wordcount and character developments and plot snafus with other folks with the same problems!

    For those of you wondering exactly what NaNoWriMo is and how to get the most out of it, lots of people are willing to help:

    Joanna Penn explains NaNoWriMo.

    Marelisa Fabrega gives an extensive nutshell overview of the process of creating a novel, specifically aimed at NaNoWriMo participants.

    Maria Schneider brings us Alegra Clarke and her laughing, sweaty mania for NaNoWriMo.

    Debbie Ohi has thrown her cap in the ring and wants to hear from the rest of you who do, too.

    And Po Bronson has written a piece that serves to remind us NaNoWriMo is just that—a month of novel writing—and not the long, ardurous process of becoming a self-supporting creative writer.

    It’s about the good time. A whole month of one, long, dedicated good time. As it should be.

    9 Comments

9 Responses to “Gearing up for NaNoWriMo”

  1. Gretchen said on October 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Aww, I LOVE Nanowrimo! I’m not in this year, but it does bring back fond memories. Definitely a great event!

  2. Victoria said on October 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    I know so many people who are doing it this year. You should definitely read Alegra’s piece on becoming sweaty and nuts halfway through!

    Victoria

  3. Iapetus999 said on October 12th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    I’m in!
    This year I’m taking it seriously, meaning I’m going to try to write a novel that I hope to market (if it turns out any good).

  4. Lady Glamis said on October 12th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Awesome links! I’m not doing NaNo, either, though. Lots of reasons why, but mainly because I’m too busy with the book I’m on and don’t need to start another. And I think November will be my reading month. :)

  5. Victoria said on October 12th, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    A couple of years ago, I’d never even heard of NaNoWriMo, and now it seems like everyone is doing it.

    It’s a community—and, as we’re all learning about the Internet these days, what’s out there means nothing if it’s not about community.

    Two months from today: Monthly Mania Monday, second week in December. Let’s check back in with NaNoWriMo, and you guys who did it can tell the rest of us how it went!

    Victoria

  6. Joanna Penn said on October 13th, 2009 at 2:12 am

    Thanks for your link Victoria! I appreciate your support even though you aren’t doing NaNo!
    Thanks, Joanna

  7. Benjamin Solah said on October 13th, 2009 at 4:21 am

    Great links. I do NaNoWriMo every year and love it every year even though I’ve never won.

  8. Victoria said on October 13th, 2009 at 10:36 am

    You’re very welcome, Joanna! I hear more and more from people who love NaNoWriMo for the sheer comraderie of it—writing can be a lonely, scary business, especially when you’re starting out, and there’s nothing like packing everyone into one little boat together and telling them to row for the lives to bring out the human bond between us all!

    Victoria

  9. Victoria said on October 13th, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Benjamin—Good for you! Do it for the craft, not for the winning. Nobody’s going to remember whether or not you won NaNoWriMo in 2009, but if it teaches you craft and dedication and brings you into a community of people who love what you love, you’ve added permanently to the meaning of your own life.

    Victoria

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Bhaichand Patel is the author of two nonfiction books: Chasing the Good Life (Penguin Books India, October, 2006), and Happy Hours (Penguin Books India, October, 2009). I edited Patel's debut novel, When the Streets Were Dark and Cold.

In 2009 I edited two nonfiction essays for my friend Lucia Orth. (Many years ago, my contribution to Baby Jesus Pawn Shop was simply a peer critique and participation in a standing ovation.)

The poet Chris Ryan is the author of The Bible of Animal Feet (Farfalla Press, 2007). He has recent stories in Pank, Anemone Sidecar, and A Cappella Zoo. I edited Ryan's novel The Ishmael Blade and worked with him on his debut novel Heliophobia and WIP Pogue.