Happy NaNoWriMo everyone. National Novel Writing Month starts November 1. It’s a great idea. Write a 50,000 word novella novel in thirty days. I’m not going to do it even though it’s a great way to switch off the inner critic (because it’s all about the numbers) and just write. As the NaNoWriMo folks say,
“Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that’s a good
thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving
yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and
editing and just create. To build without tearing down.“
It’s similar to Eric Witchey’s advice to practice speed writing.
Ain’t nothing to it but to do it. So, if you’re thinking about doing it, here are some interesting links that I’ve come across:
- Paperback Writer. Lynne Viehl offers Twenty Bits of Advice from a Pro for the New NaNo’er (plus links)
- The Plot Whisperer. NaNoWriMo Martha Alderson wonders if you’re a “pantser” or a “plotter.”
- Word Strumpet, Charlotte Rains Dixon, MFA, offers Top 5 Ways to Prepare for Nanowrimo