Ready...Set....Write

Yes, my fellow cohorts, that time of year is upon us once again. The time for staying up late whilst slamming your head against your keyboard, hoping that instantaneous yet rhythmic connection will help the words flow out of you and form themselves coherently upon the screen.

National Novel Writing Month has begun.

National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) is an internet based, non-profit organization, open internationally to anyone who’s willing to declare themselves an author for a month. From now until November 30 at 11:59:59 PM, you have the month to write a 50,000 word novel. To give you an idea of roughly how long that is, take a look at Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, or The Great Gatsby.

Nanowrimo is one of the most accessible writing contests. An author can choose any genre: from erotic fiction to psychological thriller to an eclectic series of short stories. The choice is entirely yours. Anyone who is able to attain a 50,000 word document by the end of the month is declared a winner.

The official project website is www.nanowrimo.org. The contest is entirely free, and there are no penalties if you don’t finish the 50,000 words by the end of the month. To sign up, just enter an email address and an account will be created for you. You can use the website to keep track of your writing progress by entering your official word count when you log in. At the end of the month, simply copy and paste your novel into their word-count machine to verify that you’ve completed the 50 thou and you will be declared a winner.

This will be my fourth year doing Nanowrimo and I’d love to offer you some advice that I’ve formulated over the years:

1. Find a coffee that truly speaks to you.
Nothing says, “Lauren, sit yourself down and get to typin,’” better than a large hazelnut coffee with no sugar and extra milk. Some days you will simply need that type of motivation. Find a caffeinated drink that will supply you with an encompassing, comforting taste while still maintaining an ever-uncompromising-get-stuff-done-attitude.

2. YOU ARE NOT JAMES JOYCE. Embrace it.
Chances are you will be writing a lot of crap within the next few weeks. And that is perfectly fine. You are not trying to write the hardest novel in the English language in a month. Do not delude yourself with images of grandeur.

3. YOU ARE NOT JAMES JOYCE. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use his style.
Stream of consciousness is one of the best writing techniques for upping your word count. Write down that interior monologue that plays like a record on the gramophone that is your mind. Even if your inner monologue is saying to you, “I hate writing. I rather do think it is time to give up this charade and get back to…,” write it down. I started my novel off this morning with just that.
And, if the mood should strike you, why not make up a word or two?

4. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your word count.
I frequently get the urge to delete everything I’ve written because I think of how embarrassing it would be if someone came across it. Don’t let your self-esteem get in the way of writing. This month is about creation, not nitpicking and editing. Create, don’t destroy….That’s next month.

5. Keep your eyes open for inspiration.
Nanowrimo is not just about writing. It’s about observing the world around you and choosing writing as a medium with which to express it. You are bound to run into hilarious characters and situations, especially on a college campus. Why not incorporate them into your story?

And finally, one last thing to keep in mind:

6. The Will to Power!
Nanowrimo is a choice you have made. No one is forcing you to give up a bunch of free time for a month to sit in front of a computer screen, slamming your fingers against a keyboard, and trying to string together some sort of narrative. In order to successfully win Nanowrimo, you’ve got to find a reason to write. And once you’ve found that reason, cling to it will all your might for that month. “Hmm, I’ve always wanted to try writing out that idea I’ve had,” is a perfect reason. Keep it at the forefront of your mind during this time.

Good luck fellow amateurs. May your month be both gregarious and bountiful!