Personal Update: National Novel Writing Contest 2009
Posted by Sean Stargazer | Posted in Creativity, Personal Updates | Posted on 06-11-2009
Tags: breakthrough, change, Creativity, Fantasy, Inner Growth, National Novel Writing Contest, novels, writers, writing
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photo credit: TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³
It’s November again; the year seems to have drifted by so quickly. Ordinarily, this time of year finds me plucking away, nose to grindstone at my massage therapy job. Usually, the months of November is quite uneventful; this year I’m doing something different.
I’m writing a novel in thirty days through the non-profit organisation, the National Novel Writing Contest (go here to find out how you can become involved.)
You read correctly. I am writing a 50,000 word novel that is going to be completed by November 30.
Why am I doing this? And how?
Let me answer the first question. I am doing this to expand my mind and to grow. Also, I have always wanted to write another novel. I wrote my first novel when I was about thirteen or fourteen.
What stopped me before were my limiting thoughts of hyper-perfection. Meaning that, I compared my hatchling novel to the great masterpieces of established authors. What I didn’t see was that those writers’ works were edited; I never read their rough drafts.
Secondly, how? As I have mentioned above I signed up at the National Novel Writing Contest [dot] org.
About NaNoWriCo
NaNoWriCo is an exciting and fun contest that begins on November 1. The goal of each participant is to write an 175 page novel by midnight November 30.
Who NaNoWriCo is for?
NaNoWriCo is for people who have always longed to write an novel but never did do because they lacked support or just scared away by the prospect.
The point of the thirty day deadline is to inspire quantity over quality. And lower the participants expectations and motivate them to take risks. December is for editing the novel, if you desire to do so.
Of course, you will write alot of rubbish. But that’s okay; it’s part of the process. You’re supposed to make mistakes, and open up your mind so you can learn.
In addition, it’s very reassuring to know that, all around the world, other new novelists are facing the same excitment and challenges as you are. You are not alone. There’s even a forum for the NaNoWriCo novelists to connect with others in their times of challenge and opportunity.
How NaNoWrico works?
The process is simple.
1). You sign up at NaNoWriCo [dot] org.
2) Read the email from the website.
3). Log into your account, and set your preferences ( set your time zone, affiliate yourself with a region, and create your author bio.
4). Read all the writing tips that can help you get started.
5). On November 1, begin writing your novel.
6). Update your word count as often as you like. The word count box is at the top of the page near the login link.
7). On November 30, you upload the novel for verification of word count. At that time, you will be added to the hallowed winner’s page, and receive a winner’s certificate and badge. The upload process will be published in mid-November.
I must admit that starting that novel was more scary than exciting.
First, I couldn’t think of a story to write. Then I had far too many ideas for my novel. And I had far too many questions.
In the end, I chose to write a novel that would be fun; that I wouldn’t take seriously; that I could learn alot writing without getting overly attached to the outcome.
With this criteria, I began writing on November 3. It’s still too soon to tell what the outcome will be. Or how the story will end. But I don’t much care. All that matters to me now is to complete the novel by November 30, and inner growth. Any other outcome would be wonderful, but not necessary.
Win or lose is beside the point. I believe that I am a superstar for even embarking on the journey.
What’s my novel about?
I’m writing a fantasy novel for young adults involving fairies, wizards, and demons; some of my favourite supernaturals.
I’m looking forward to finding out what the story is about, because I have no idea. I started writing with the first scene that came to mind, and the words, ‘It was a dark and stormy night.’ Ha, ha!
I’ll keep you posted, fellow travelers, on my progress as I write a novel.
As I come to the end of this post, I wonder who I will be once I complete the novel? What will the world look like to me then? What will I look like to me when I finish?
I leave you, fellow travelers, with a question:
What have you always wanted to do that you have felt too scared to do? Could you devote November to taking steps towards that vision?
Share your insights!
Peace & Healing, fellow travelers!
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