Four Reasons to Do NaNoWriMo

An inside look at an intense writing competition

Originally published on October 30, 2016

If you know that I like to write, you’ve probably heard me mention my participation in an annual, worldwide writing competition. This is NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. The premise is quite simple: throughout the month of November, or 30 days, write the first draft of an original novel that is at least 50,000 words long. This will be my fourth year participating, and hopefully my third “win” (yes, that means I have two 50,000 word extremely rough drafts of novels in my possession!). Here is a list of reasons why I think NaNo is a good thing to participate in if you love to write and don’t have time to write.

1. Write, don’t edit

The biggest challenge everyone faces (besides the blank page) is forcing yourself to not edit as you write or carefully select where you’re going next or use previous material. Besides whatever outline you choose to create during October, you are supposed to just let the story go. Shut off your Internet and just write. Shut off your inner editor and just write. I think this idea behind the contest is a good one. Too many people are stopped in their creativity because of writer’s block or fear of a blank page or not letting yourself go on because the sentence isn’t perfect. The goal is quantity, not quality. Anything can be edited. 

2. You’re not alone

One good thing about the NaNo website is it does group you by area, so I can be in contact with and see the progress of people around Erie. There are also many forums for all the different genres or if you need help on worldbuilding or character names or just want some motivation. You are not alone in your crazy endeavor, even if you are the only person in your day to day life you know who does it. The number of participants is going up every year.

3. Good habits

NaNo gives you an extra challenge and task for an entire month, but it can also be fun time as well. Coming up with a routine is always fun. I’m not one to get up early to write, but I’m already looking forward to staying up late to reach the targeted goal of 1,667 words before midnight every night. I will be up at midnight on November 1^st, a blank Word document open and ready to begin.

4. Forced to write

At the beginning of summer or a new semester, I tell myself “this is the year I finish a draft of a novel!” But inevitably, things like schoolwork get in the way and so I don’t make the time to write consistently. However, come November, I am forcing myself to write something every day. I am taking about an hour out of my day to focus on creating something new, in a world I don’t know very well. And even if I never revisit and polish what I wrote in November right away, it will always be there waiting for me.

I am looking forward to this year’s NaNo with great excitement, ready to join the WriMos worldwide who embark on this albeit slightly insane journey each November.