National Novel Writing Month Kicks Off November 1st

Here is a fun and challenging project to tackle: write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. No editing, no re-writes, just fast and furiously pounding away on the keyboard, averaging 1667 words per day!

November is National Novel Writing Month, sponsored by the non-profit Office of Letters and Light.

I am participating this year. I have a plot, a main character, and a setting. Now I must make the words flow....lots of dialog that I am certain will need a lot of editing....but that will be for December (and many months thereafter).

NaNoWriMo, as it is known, also sponsors a Young Writers Program, with hundreds of schools participating in this event.

If you complete the 50,000 words, you win! There are no prizes, just a certificate that says you are a Winner! Then the difficult re-writes begin.

Several NaNoWriMo authors have successfully published their work, inluding Sara Gruen, who wrote Water for Elephants.

I encourage you to participate. Just sign up at the website and join a regional support group. We even have local group here in Missoula who meet up at Liquid Planet on Higgins Avenue, Sundays at 2 pm. Join us!