NaNoWriMo 2012

For any writer, NaNoWriMo is one of the toughest challenges they'll ever face. 50,000 words in 30 days? A daunting task for any seasoned pro. But the great thing about NaNoWriMo is that while you're under a lot of pressure to finish a first draft, the pressure only comes from you. That's right--nobody else is forcing you to finish your novel. You may have legions of adoring fans, or you may be writing for the first time, but one thing is certain: you're writing because you love it. You're writing because you want to challenge yourself and see what your limits are. Your inner competitor stretches its muscles, gearing up for the race. And as soon as the race starts, you begin with great results. You're gung-ho, you're focused, and most of all, you're going to make this novel your bitch.

 

And then, about halfway through the month, you lose steam. Your marathon runner has slowed its pace, sometimes stopping to catch a breath. This is where the lines and words start to blur together. This is where you can't stop and think about what happens next. You just have to write. Who cares if Bob's best friend, Charlie, decided he wanted to rob the bank he works at, when it has absolutely nothing to do with the story at all? The great part of NaNoWriMo is that you can write utter bullshit and it's OKAY. As long as you have 50,000 words by the end of the month, you're good to go. Worry about editing when November is over and December has begun. You can return to the scene where Charlie makes a glaring mistake in his life, highlight it all, and then press the "delete" button.

 

Now, here we are, with the final days ahead of us, looming like a dark storm on the horizon. Stay strong, fellow WriMo's! But most of all, be proud that you are making a serious effort in writing a novel. Many people claim they can write a novel, yet never do. Many try but fail. And many are like you--determined to follow through to the end. I'm proud of anyone who has the guts to attempt NaNoWriMo, whether you write 500 words, or 50,000 words. Doesn't matter which, as long as you tried.

 

Happy writing, everyone!