Friday, October 16, 2009

A Novel In 30 Days

Good grief. Who in their right mind would try to write a novel in thirty days? No one in their right mind would.

That's how NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) came to be. Every year since and including 1999, men and women who are crazy, spend thirty days writing crap that they're allowed to call a novel. The final result of thirty days of writing is never read by anyone unless the writer chooses to be ridiculed and laughed at.

A few months ago I announced here on my blog that I was going to join the ranks of thousands who have taken on this challenge. As November 1st looms larger with every passing day, I'm faced with the reality of the task. My biggest fear is that I'll be crazier at the end of the month than I am right now.

I'll share more about NaNoWriMo in the next few days as I ponder whether I should strain my brain or wimp out.

Please go to my next several posts for more information regarding National Novel Writing Month.

11 comments:

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Myyy...
Sounds like a homework back in school days!
Creative Writing should not have a dateline...but I guess it's all about having fun...errr I just hope so Shaddy ~haha...
TGIF*

Lisa said...

Hi. I came from the delightful A New Simple Something.

I say "go for it"!

(drain my brain was my favorite, I'm changing it to train my brain, thank you)

Linda Yezak said...

You'll love it, Shaddy. It's a lot of fun. So many of my friends are doing it that it makes me want to give it a go again. Give the Lady a Ride is a result of the 2007 NaNo contest.

Good luck!

Sarah said...

I know what you mean! It is a daunting task isn't it? Whatever you decide, I'm backin' ya 100%. If you decide to do it, will you have time to write your blog posts?

Anonymous said...

ummmm..Go for it...no...don't....yeah what the heck....well...maybe not.

Oh, I am no help. I'll see you there if you deide to go for it. If not, I'll still see you here. :c)

Cheryl Peters said...

Lenore: Oh, but the deadline is the motivation to stop procrastinating and just write. I'll post more about that very soon.

Ocean Girl: I'm glad you came over. From now on I'll think of it as you do. I'll be training my brain, not straining or draining it.

Linda: You're talking me into it. I really have nothing to lose and possibly something to gain as you experienced. It's always fun when I tap into my mind and let the insides spill out.

Sarie: You always give 100% and I appreciate that. I hope to keep posting on my blog. When I do it'll probably be something in regards to NaNoWriMo although I should try to think about other things occasionally. I should make a list of blog post subjects to write about during November so if I have time, I'll have some ideas to grab up. Are you going to take the challenge too?

darksculptures: Something tells me I'm hooked. It's very hard for me to consider a challenge and then walk away from it. Once I get the wheels turning, my brakes don't work well. I didn't go through with the triathlon in spite of all my training so I guess writing 50,000 words in a month will be my stellar achievement this year. Knowing you're going to be pounding away on your keyboard with the same goal in mind is also a valuable motivater.

Annie said...

ok I laughed out loud at the 'writing crap they get to call a novel'!!! Brave woman for taking on this task. But if anyone can do it you can!!! And I bet it won't be crap!! Do pictures count? They do say a picture is worth a thousand words!!!

Rob said...

You should go for it Shaddy! I think that this year I may do this. I've the makings of couple of novels rattling their chains my creative attic. But you, YOU should definitely do this - you're one of the most creative folks I know. I'd be honored if I'd get to read it when you're done too.

Cheryl Peters said...

Annie: I'll be quoting the fellow who started NaNoWriMo. He's written a book: NO PLOT? NO PROBLEM! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. His book is very funny. Dang, I wish a picture was worth a thousand words in this case. I've have it made in the shade!

Rob: I think you should do it too. If practice makes perfect, by December 1st we'll be so perfect no one will be able to stand us! You'd be honored to read 50,000 words of my crappy writing? I appreciate your kind words but let me lend you a copy of one of the books on my shelf. I'm sure you'd enjoy The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Suess much better than my book attempt.

Beth W. said...

Whatever you decide, Shaddy, it will be a blast reading what you write about whether you do or don't, and what happens next! Of course, I'm rooting for you to do it, so I can get a blow by blow description of what it's like to participate in NaNoWriMo -- plus, I think you have the capacity to write a very funny book (maybe a midwestern Fanny Flagg?)

Cheryl Peters said...

Beth W: I'm tired already and I haven't even started. As far as quality goes in my novel, I'm aiming for approximately 3 inches above gutter level. A very funny book like Fanny Flagg...hmmm...well, I don't know about that, but I can assure you that I'm growing a fanny.

(Thanks for the encouragement, Beth).