The month of November is the signature time for would-be authors and published authors alike to buckle down and create a new book. The National Novel Writing Month organization has been around since I believe in 1999. It is a non-profit organization designed to provide an online environment for writers to tap into their creative side. The organization keeps the lights on through donations. Through the organization, there have been over 300,000 novels completed, while there are over three-quarters of million novels in progress as I speak. It appears that it was targeted towards young people, but writers of all ages are welcomed. The online community allows you to partner with others in your genre. The one thing that most writers don’t have in their circle, is someone who might be supportive of their need or passion to create. Yes, they believe you and your ability, but because you are unknown in the writing industry or have not made it to a best-sellers list yet, they don’t see the vision.
The comradery on the National Novel Writing Month organization is a great boost. As you log your progress on the site, you earn badges to motivate you to continue adding chapters to your story. You also have the ability to team up with others for critics. All in all, it’s a safe place for likeminded individuals to bounce ideas off one another, test your story concepts and create your first, second, or third novel without wondering if writing is for you. You can get through this challenge in a few ways.
Goal
The golden rule for reaching the 50,000-word threshold is creating 1,667 words each day consistently for 30 days. I know it easier said than done, but it can happen and does every year. Of course, once your concept is fleshed out you beginning writing. Don’t worry about the length of your chapters. Don’t concern yourself with starting at the beginning or working your way backward from the end. Just write whatever comes to you as concise as possible because you want your words to make sense. Surely, you will have to clean it up later. Remember the whole purpose is to create your first draft of your would-be novel.
Three-ways to meet the goal
The issue is more about finding the time to write than then actually writing part. You can use dictation, when a passage comes to you, write it to yourself in the form of a text message reminder or send yourself a voicemail of the passage that comes to mind so that you can type it up later. I mention all of these options for the newbies. The process doesn’t have to be you sitting down with pen in hand or in front of a computer. As long as at the end of the day, you meet your 1667 word count, you will make it to the finish line. Personally, I have used everything that I have mentioned.
Allow me to share with you my experience through National Novel Writing Month. I have participated in National Novel Writing Month twice before. This is my third try. I did not make it to 50,000 words my first go around which was back in 2016. However, I did end up with a short crime story released in 2017 called Charlie the Hood Houdini. I did complete my second relationship or contemporary romance book in 2017 during National Novel Writing Month. It is entitled I Hate Him and it debuted well. Now, here I am in 2019 trying to get to the goal of 50,000 words for a murder mystery. It is the 15th day of November 2019 and my word count is at 22,500. I here to say, if you are interested in crafting a book, join us at National Novel Writing Month, you would be surprised at what you can achieve if you put your mind to it. And if your story doesn’t reach the 50,000 thresholds, so what. There are many authors who write short stories that are called novellettes and novellas.
As long as your story is well-rounded, it can be great. I think some writers get so hung up on the fact that the genre they choose to write in requires 50,000 – 100,000 words that they lose sight of making sure that their story is succinct and never wind up with a finished product. My books on average are 45,000 words. My readers enjoy the stories that I write and I am humbled by it. There is still time to join the lot of us who use National Novel Writing Month as the kick-off to winter writing and you can too.