If you’ve ever wanted to challenge yourself in your writing, I highly encourage you to try NaNoWriMo this year. In a nutshell, NaNoWriMo is a self-challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.
Sounds impossible? It really isn’t. Especially because their is a wonderful website (http://nanowrimo.org/) that helps you track your words, connects you to other writers taking the challenge AND provides emails of encouragement the entire month. I have actually won NaNo five times (or is it six) since I started doing it. In fact, two of my NaNo novels have gone on to be published.
Alas, I won’t be officially participating this year. A crazy schedule has seen to it that I simply cannot dedicate myself to the challenge like I want, but I will be there in spirit. I will also be working to finish writing Scouts of the Apocalypse 2 in that time.
Now, if you are afraid of failing the challenge or you simply think it is insurmountable and should never been undertaken by a sane mind, let me leave you with this thought: even if you only write 1,000 words more because of the challenge than you otherwise might have, that is still an accomplishment. Never sell yourself short in that regard. It could be those are the words between you and that first publishing contract. 🙂
And if you are taking the challenge, please let me know how it’s going. I would love to hear from you.
Good luck!
