November is just around the corner. Y’know what that means? National Novel Writing Month! (NaNoWriMo for short.)
NaNoWriMo challenges you to write throughout November, piecing together a narrative until, voila! You’ve got a 175-page, 50,000-word novel on your hands.
That may sound daunting, but it’s totally doable! In fact, more than 15,000 people did it last year.
I lasted about two days when I gave it a go during my senior year in college. But you? You’ve got gumption, and an awesome blog here on WordPress.
If you want to go for it, just follow this simple plan:
- Every day, take a minute to sit down and write a story. You don’t need to have it all planned out, just write.
- Post each delicious literary morsel to your blog and tag it with “nanowrimo08.”
- When you’re hitting a wall, use that tag to check out what others are doing and gain inspiration.
- Go to NaNoWriMo by midnight on Nov. 30 to have your novel verified.
- Print business cards with your new title: Great American (or Indonesian or Argentinian or…) Novelist.
For some extra motivation, you could read an excellent novel while you write one! Some Automattic faves…
Jane: Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, Maus by Art Spiegelman.
Michael: Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille, Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, The Plague by Albert Camus, Crime and Punishment and The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
Marianne: Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Mark: The Stand (Uncut) by Stephen King.
Nick: Anything by James Patterson.
UPDATE 11/04: A number of you have asked about international participation and writing in other languages. You’re free and welcome to participate, regardless of language or location. Check out the NaNoWriMo FAQ for details.
WordPress.com News 
Oh carpal tunnel syndrome here we come….
hmmm… thanks Heather.. 😀
Dookie fishsticks. I’m good at writing, but I’m not even in high school yet. I don’t have a chance on winning. I won’t try. It’s a good contest thoughand I’d like to read the winning book (that is if it get published).
Between 12 400-500 word blog articles a month, plus a full work schedule, this will be difficult… bring it
I was going to do this last year but I didn’t so I’m really going to try this year since I’ve been having some ideas lately. I’m excited! ^.^
Sounds good. I’ll probably use another blog for it. Am a Malaysian who never wrote a novel, especially in English. I’ll give it a try though.
I think this is a wonderful idea. There is so many stories in me. I will release one to nanowritemo.org and just so that I do not confuse people. I am going to start another blog just for this task. I’ll keep you posted.
Sounds great! I already have a novella blog going so I will give this a shot also. Thanks for the info!
Well it is really amazing!!!!
If only I could not work for the whole month
I’m all signed up and ready to roll!
Go Heather!
this is my second year. I’m at a loss, as I was last year at this time… but some how, one day at at time, I’ll get there again! with some similarly amazing moments of insight along the way, hopefully! GOGOGO!
Karen
Do I have to write in english?
Wow, what a fantastic idea! :^) Can’t make any promises, but I’l sure try!
I’ve done it every year since 2005, and managed to be one of the winners each year too.
Already done 8k, it’s gonna be a good month 🙂
Earlier, I referred to a book – “OUT WEST” – which I wrote ages ago, and which has been languishing on my blog for months, all Twenty-Three chapters of it, for fellow bloggers’ perusal.
I had forgotten that I added a further chapter later – Chapter Twenty-Four, and I repeat: it is not a novel, unfortunately…
Thats cool. ^_^
Happy NaNoDay! I started my NaNovel last night at midnight and I am also blogging about it for National Blog Posting Month which challenges bloggers to make a post a day for 30 days! If anyone thinks a novel is daunting, you may want to try that. Me, I’m crazy…I’m doing both for the first year and have been loving the dialogue and community happening because of NaNo. Despite some negative NaNoNaysayers in the blogosphere, I have found a lot of positive writing advice and support and some of my own personal motivation growing too. Have a great month!!!
This would be my second time doing this and I’m kinda sorta excited because the first one i did, i published.
Oh, I’d love to! But then, I know I won’t be able to finish it until nov. 30 but at least I’ve tried. Thanks for the info by the way. Now I really have to do it!
hey everyone….i tried out nanowrimo last year but I could write only 737 words! this year i’ve created a separate blog for my novel where I shall be posting my daily updates! Do read it.
I wasn’t a winner last year, but I drafted a whole novel. I’m diving in again this year. It’s especially fun if you can get to a write in and meet other NaNo-ers. Write on!
Will Entrekin, the point is to get people–anyone & everyone–to write. You’re obviously not familiar with the NaNoWriMo philosophy. For one thing, NaNoWriMo certainly doesn’t encourage writing crap, it simply says that it’s OK to write crap, because *real* writers do write crap sometimes. That’s what a draft is. Besides, certainly some genius will emerge from that spewed crap.
Are you a real writer, Will Entrekin? I have never heard of you. Are you aware that real writers are WriMo supporters? Last year NaNoWriMo participants received motivational emails from such famed writers as Sue Grafton and Neil Gaimen.
I dare you to participate.
I’m in!
wow interesting
I love NaNoWriMo! I did it last year.
How do you “win”?
Everyone have fun! This is my seventh year — I’ve managed to finish in every odd-numbered year since 2002 (and I’m determined to break that pattern this year). In my experience, the times it has worked best have been where I had only the most basic, rudimentary plot (nothing complicated, very few subplots), and could “wing it” most of the time. The idea is just to pile up the words, and manage to finish. Only afterward do you decide if it was all trash, or if there’s something there to build on. It’s all about the fun, and tearing your hair out along with all your pals.
This is my first year trying NaNoWriMo and I’m all excited. It got me to write first thing this morning…29 more days to go!
How freakin cool to read about NaNo here! I’ve been posting about it on my two blogs all of October. I’m a first-timer, and also bringing my middle grade school students along for the ride. Alas, Day one, 4pm, and 0 words written. Off to tackle my muse.
I already wrote one check out my book blog
ooh, i signed up this morning!
I’m excited to do NanoWriMo this year. I’m a huge procrastinator so this is a great opportunity for me. I have no choice but to finish this year because I’ve told everyone I know I’m gonna do it. Good luck to everyone participating this year!
I startes last night in Amsterdam. Game on!
ok – it’s 6pm and it’s still Nov 1st. But using your plan – you say write a story everyday – does that make it a novel?
Thanks for letting us know about this.
uh-oh, I just b###### about it. I don’t agree with the concept. Writing is storytelling and as such should be nurtured, not challenged to produce mere “quantity” words. That’s my $0.02. 🙂
this is my second year – i won last year and i intend to do it again this time round!!!
We can all “do it”. But some of us do it better than others. Writing novels, I mean…
The best part of NaNo? Reading backwards on December 1st!
Perhaps or maybe, i can or cant……..;O)
Road To Universe……
Regards,
Nils Petter Nilsson
Well, it will be a new one on us but hopefully we will gain more interest of our present blogging.
I joined but haven’t been able to log in today. Guess the site is busy……
I have never written a novel before but realized i may have gift at writing. since I started blogging, I cant stop. Its great. Ive even started writing a novel recently. I think I might intergrate it with this. I dont know if I can do it every day for a month but I am going to give it a try.
How does this work?how am i entering it?well i’m just register this blog for 5 days and this is my first blog i ever have?does it cost anything?i hope i can join it too
Oh, you win by completing 50,000 words? Do they have to be in a row?
@radiondn and others: There is no “winning.” Just a really awesome feeling when you reach the word count at the end. There isn’t a selection process or a winning published work (though you could certainly try to get your work published). Everyone who finishes is a winner.
Please consult the official NaNoWriMo website for more info.
Wow. I don’t know if I’m quite up for this challenge, but it has inspired me to write something right now. I’m not sure about a whole novel, but I’ll shoot for two finished short stories (in their final versions). Thanks for the motivation!!
Sounds like a blast. I will be getting my nano on shortly.
I for one quit writing every now and then.Lets see if i will write one page 🙂 .Still i would love to give it a shot. loved the concept .
Wow! that sounds intense, but i don’t know if i could, I would totally be up to it. On the other hand I have this big obstacle that will not let me do it. None other than School, but maybe next time, keep me posted. wow too bad I will get to miss it, I am totally up to the challenge but school interferes too much.
I’m doing it, but posting it in my personal blog. I’ve done it every year since NaNo’s 2nd Anniversary. I’ve got my caffeine supply ready, and my local NaNoBuddies, including my son.
I’ve been so busy at work that I’m afraid I’m going to have to end up writing half of it on my phone, but I’m doing it. XD
I’m so new to this, i just signed up today and not even sure how to set up my page yet. It is exciting though, and this competition was a inspiring welcome. Hope to see you all when i figure out how to do it all. 🙂
Hi, again: Guess what…! This is the third time I have referred to my book – “OUT WEST” – in these comments. It’s not a stupid attempt to get fellow bloggers’ attention. It’s just the fact that “OUT WEST” has been on the Web for so long, now, that it has practically passed out of my mind…
But I had to let you know that I had added yet another chapter – Chapter 25 – and forgotten about it. So there you are. I reiterate: I already have a book languishing on my WordPress blog, but it is not a novel. It is an account of my one and only trip to the States and a final meeting-up with a cousin I last wrote to during WW2, some sixty years ago…
I’m eighty, so perhaps you’ll forgive the lapses…
Nice. I might give it a go.
shall I post in English?
I´m in, but is it a must to write EVERY DAY? ‘Cause if I start today I´ll be one day behind 😦
well this is a very stupid question but i have to ask it: it says write a story everyday. can’t i write other stuff?? lol!!
I’m in for the first time (but did a test run NaNoWriMo in September after reading Batey’s book “No plot, no problem”). Now, on the 2nd day, I’m still plotless, but I’m writing my way in … am very curious what’s going to happen!
At least, I will blog about the (non-)progress 🙂 Good luck to all fellow writers!
My first time to write a novel and to join the NaNoWriMo. I welcome this opportunity and am so excited to be part of NaNoWriMo’s 10th birthday. Kudos! Cheers to all participants.
thank for the head’s up! sounds interesting, definitely worth a try
Love it! At the school where I teach we’ve been participating for three years now. The first year we fell flat, but last year we made it through the entire month, with a little twist. We have a sign-up for each day of the month, and each person who signs up adds a chapter. It’s a collaborative story written mostly by students, with about three or four faculty participating, and last year’s was published by our US Principal, with a copy for each of us plus one for the Library. We’re off and running again for this year!
Cool but i wont
The Kool-Aid guy says it best. “Ohhhhh Yeahhhh.” I am totally doing this.
At first, I gave it an eyebrow lift, but as I read it, along with the comments, it’s a total wow for me. An interesting attempt, I must say.
A novel, huh?
‘Am bracing myself for the Sa-tis-fac-tion. Lol.
Go go go!
GB. :’D
I have tried to sign up but the nanowrimo server has been down for 2 days. what do I do? can I sign up later? I cant even access the contact page.
it’s national, that means we have to write in English, right? ermmm… not really confident with my English, limited vocabularies and so on. and i tend to make it bilingual (perhaps to add word list or something like that at the end of the entry for each chapters) …will it accepted? where do i could find the details on rules then? i’m kinda interested! m(_ _)m
I am in and I am blogging about it as well. I hope I actually get past 1000 words this year 😀
Just finished a novel, too busy editing to write the next one just yet!
Sounds like a playground.
I am really gonna try to do this…I’ve been writing this journey for a while now, and this is just the encouragement I need to keep it going.
that’s good idea 🙂
but, may i join if i write in indonesian?
Oh well, my blog novel is already at 172 posts and 500 book-pages. I’ll watch and root everyone on. 🙂
“While it’s wonderful to support writing, real novelists know that every month is novel writing month, because real writers never stop. A badge and a business card do not a great American novelist make, and neither does spewing 50,000 words in 30 days, especially if said words are crap.”
I think you sort of missed the point of the whole event. I’m a “real novelist,” but anything that gets people to sit down and write something is a good thing, I think, no matter what motivates them to do it, or whatever they decide to do with the result.
Sounds fun!
I’m on year two! Go Wrimos!!!!
Thanks, Heather, it sounds exciting. My son was always telling me I should write a book. Maybe this is the month I will get started.