Monday, October 12, 2009

National Novel Writing Month -- NaNoWriMo -- 2009

The next creative writing challenge has arrived...National Novel Writing Month, which happens to be November. From Nov.1 to Nov.30, the challenge is about quantity, not quality. You must write 175 pgs (that means 12pt font, times new roman, double-spaced, 1in margins) or about 50,000 words. Yes, while it sounds incredibly daunting, it can be done. Out of the typical 100,000 people who attempt this crazy game every year, about 10,000 actually succeed in logging the required word counts.

In fact, once your account is set up on the site, there is a running graphic tally of your output, provided you keep it updated. They will even keep track of entire communities to see how they are doing...I'm associated with Burlington, Toronto and Newfoundland, of course!

So far, two of you are game to join me: Michele and Sylvia...bravo! Hey....just think about the fact that you'll have a substantial first draft of that novel you've always wanted to write. Who knew?

5 comments:

  1. Okay here is my plan....I am staking out a comfy spot in the Second Cup near home....I can't let those youngins who always seem to have their butts glued to the much-coveted, comfy armchairs. I'm thinking Halloween will keep them in bed longer Sunday morning. ;) wooohahaha!
    What can I say? I need my comforts to create.
    This will be a new experiment for me. I've never written in public before! lol If it is too noisy, or too distracting, it is back to my abode.

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  2. Okay so so much for big plans and great intentions. I left the grand van land of Burlington and was motoring along when my sojourn home was brought to an abrupt stop on the 403 for road work. Yes friends this was at 1 am. It took 40 minutes to crawl about 5 km. After that it was smooth to Yonge and Sheppard. The only saving grace is we gained an hour of sleep.
    I am here now girls, you must be up writing. I admit I had to eat and be all distracted and answer an email or two and choose just the right background music for my scribe marathon. Today I will write until it feels right to stop and rest with tea and water breaks in between. Good thing about this marathon is I can stay inside my apartment in my cozies. Yes I felt that this kind of writing requires my full attention and not the sound of a coffee grinder or a steam maker in the background. So the youngins at the Second Cup can have those chairs.
    Before I sign off.....Sylvia and Bobbie I am with you in spirit my sworn sisters! Write, publish and be damned! ;) Progress report to come later.....

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  3. Okay girls, I think I have done my unintended quota for the day. I have completed 3879 words. not bad for a first day. God I hope I can keep this up!
    Some John Coltrane and other classic jazz helped get me through.

    I hope you are both doing well and writing like mad!
    Updates please!

    Man I have already cried writing this. Oh lovely catharsis! lol

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