Those of you who read my article last week on how to plan a novel in less than five minutes may have begun to discover that there's a novel within you, and that it's not too hard to discover. Last week we discussed how you can figure out what kind of novel you'd like to write in an unbelievably short amount of time. Now that you have your idea, however, what do you do now? Surely you can't actually write that novel; it takes months, maybe years to actually complete a novel!
Well, if you were surprised to find out how quickly you can plan a novel, you'll be thoroughly shocked to realize how quickly you can write one. While many authors spend large periods of time working on their novel, many others spend minimal time on theirs. In fact, November marks the time when many aspiring authors, some experienced and some novice, vow to write a complete 50,000 novel in a single month.
The year was 1999, and San Francisco native Chris Baty had an idea. Fueled by young-adult ambition he and twenty-one others decided that, in the month of July, they would complete a 50,000 word novel (a short word count for a novel, but long enough to allow for a fully-developed plot) from the first to the thirty-first. As expected, only six of the twenty-one completed their monumental task. Year after year, however, this trend caught on and spread throughout the country, challenging writers of all experience levels to take on the challenge.
The challenge was called NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, and it is now an international phenomenon where, during the month of November, aspiring writers lock themselves in their offices or camp in cafes away from friends, family, and obligation to complete their 50,000 words, roughly 1,667 words per day.
As insanely difficult and unfathomably impossible as NaNoWriMo seems, one may be surprised by the hundreds of winners NaNoWriMo is proud to crown every single year. In fact, I encourage each and every one of you to vow on this very day that you will participate. Why? Because NaNoWriMo is for everyone; you don't have to be an author or even a hobbyist to write a complete, salvageable novel in a month. In fact, all it takes is the will to do so. Still not convinced? Today we're going to take a look at three reasons why you should participate in NaNoWriMo this year.
1. You'll Test Your Limits
The purpose of taking on any challenge, whether it be physical, intellectual, or creative, is to see how far your skills go. If you've ever participated in a challenge that you cared deeply about, you likely were shocked to see how successful you were, whether you won or not. When you participate in NaNoWriMo, you'll see just how easy it is for you to write a novel, all while being inspired to push yourself farther and farther. Going by this, it's not surprising that many NaNoWriMo veterans like to increase their word counts by tens of thousands of words each year; they want to see just how much they can bend before they break. NaNoWriMo, whether you complete it or not, will show you just how much potential you have as a novelist, and will inspire you to pursue greatness.
2. You'll Learn More About Yourself
Quick, write down the first two words that come to mind! What were the words? Did they surprise you? Spontaneity is the heart of NaNoWriMo, and is something that can tell a lot about a person. In NaNoWriMo, you're not supposed (read: not allowed) to slave over every word you write and edit as you go. In NaNoWriMo, your work is supposed to be sloppy and crude; it's a first draft. There are two types of NaNoWriMo participants: Planners and Pantsers. If you're someone who likes to plan, you're part of the NaNoWriMo majority, creating a strict outline of what you'll write in November. However, if you're a Pantser, then you prefer to let your writing be a journey in itself, letting the plot be forged as you go. While planning seems to be the superior way, that's not always the case. Some of the best works of NaNo literature is the product of spontaneity, as it allows for the subconscious mind to take control. This is also a good way to get to know yourself and what your interests are, as you won't be thinking about what you're putting on the page. If you're starting NaNoWriMo as this article is being published (in the first few days of November, that is), you should likely be a Pantser, which will take you on a month-long journey through your mind, allowing you to write as you go and put whatever you want at that specific time down on the page. Coherent? No. Interesting? Yes.
3. You'll Stop Being a "Someday" Novelist
"I'd like to write a novel someday."
There is no more tragic, painful sentence in existence to me. Most people have some sort of dream or desire they'd like to accomplish someday. The problem with this is, when exactly is someday? When you pledge to participate in NaNoWriMo, someday becomes today; you're not going to be a novelist someday, you are a novelist today. When you participate in NaNoWriMo, you're ending the tragic cycle of procrastination and instead, jump straight into the rocky, uncharted territory of novelling, and don't let yourself look back. Don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow will become next week, then next month, then next year. Do it now.
If you've finally decided to take part in NaNoWriMo, you can sign up on the official website here. Remember, there's no better day than today to write your novel.
