Staff Writer
National Novel Writing
Month (NaNoWriMo) is a large, non-profit organization that aims to inspire
writers, young and old, to take a walk on the wild side and write a 50,000 word
novel, all in the month of November. NaNoWriMo was founded in June, 1999, by
freelance writer Chris Baty and 21 others. The next year, it was moved to
November, to take advantage of the less than admirable weather. Now, 15 years
later, millions of aspiring authors take part in the challenge.
Members of Apex High’s
Writer’s Club have hunkered down for the cold month of November to participate.
There are several ways to participate in NaNoWriMo, and only a few involve
50,000 words. Participants can set their own word goals if there isn’t time to
write the 50,000 words.
The most important part
of NaNoWriMo is planning. The NaNoWriMo Forums, on nanowrimo.org, are packed
full of useful resources to help participants with their questions about
characters, plot points, and random concerns they need answered. Writers from
all over can talk and share tips and tricks for a successful November novel.
In addition to support from fellow writers, professional authors like
Veronica Roth (Divergent series) will be pep-talking all to the top!
When, and if, participants
reach their goals, they have several options. They can quickly run through and
edit before November ends, or they could send it in, as is, to a publishing
company. The NaNoWriMo forums give a list of publishers and websites that will
help aspiring writers become a published author.
NaNoWriMo brings out the
best and the worst of writers everywhere. On one hand, they’re buzzed and a bit
loopy from all the caffeine they’ve ingested while spending hours on end,
typing and developing Carpal tunnel syndrome. On the other hand, participant
Jessica Stiehm stated, “We become these antisocial balls of ‘If you look at
me the wrong way, I’ll print out the work I’ve done so far and beat you with
it’.” All in all, the participants who make their goals, 50,000
words or not, will feel accomplished and hopeful for next NaNoWriMo.
