NaNoWriWHAT? Yes, I am participating in National Novel Writing Month known to us in the writing community as NaNoWriMo. It’s a challenge where during the month of November, in 30 days, you write 50,000 words. Traditionally NaNo is about writing 50,000 words of a brand new novel, completing that first ugly but finished draft. I have never done anything like this before and I was really keen to try it.
NaNo came at a perfect time because I am currently querying my YA fantasy adventure novel. While that takes time (and the wait is agonizing I can assure you,) I’m distracting and challenging myself to write a whole novel in the month of November. I consider myself a writer of fantasy and historical fiction. My fantasy often has many historical tidbits while my historical fiction leans on the romantic and adventure side, and maybe a little magic is thrown in there too. For me, reading is an escape. And I hope my writing can offer the same, crafting meaningful yet, at the same time, escapist content. With fantasy and historical fiction, I can to be in another world, in another time.
It took me two years to draft my epic 110,000 word fantasy manuscript. I planned it over the course of a month or so when I was really inspired, detailing the entire plot of the novel. The editing took all of this year and for the first time since May 2017, I didn’t have a project to work on.
Then it was four days until November and NaNoWriMo. And like the crazy person I am, I decided to participate! There are a couple of people in my writing group who are also taking on the challenge. It’s motivating to have other people to do it alongside. We have been encouraging each other and checking in with each other’s stories almost every day.
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About my new project
I cannot describe this new project as anything but delicious! It’s a historical romance (erotica too) that is so much fun to write! I think that’s the point sometimes. Writing doesn’t always have to be tedious and full of meaning. It can have a snobbish upper-class lady (who loves to garden) fall in love with an arrogant yet dashing lower-class servant.
And I think the more light-hearted nature of this book is the perfect project for November. I’m feeling really confident in this story and my writing style. It’s coming together better than I could have imagined despite not plotting almost at all.
Don’t get me wrong, NaNo has been challenging. And seriously tough to get words in some days. But it’s about doing it anyway when things are hard. Pushing yourself to create because it’s important.
Learn more about National Novel Writing Month at nanowrimo.org.
So here’s to declaring my intention to write 50,000 words this month! Have you ever heard of National Novel Writing Month?
Happy Writing-
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