Get Ready for the Countdown to NanoWriMo!
Traci Kenworth
It’s here. That magical time of year when millions of fingers poise over the keyboards, press that pen or pencil to the paper, or whichever method you prefer to pursue NanoWriMo. Nano is a once a year writing challenge to help support those who choose to come up with a 50,000 word novel. I’ve done it once a couple years ago and won the challenge. I came away with an 85,000 count book which I’m readying to send off to agents now.
Yes, there must be rewrites for what we do during the challenge. We can’t just rush our work out there, hoping to find a home. SH has gone through several versions of rewrites. My female character needed strengthening, a lot of the backstory needed cut, the secondary characters needed brought to the forefront to complete their roles in the story instead of just popping up at the last minute to announce their deeds in it all. Yep, it’s come a long way; but now, it’s something to be proud of. Just as yours will be, if you put the time and effort into it.
I suggest going into the challenge with an outline, character charts, setting boards, any handy clippings or print-outs about characters/scenes etc. you feel might help you in the course of things. Adjust your time. Don’t sit and write the whole word count out at once, if you struggle doing so, do it in increments. A half-hour here, half-hour there. It’ll add up. If you do about 2,000 words a day, you’ll nail your goal.
My experience was that it was both easier and harder than I thought. Easier, because I managed double the word count, so I overshot my goals, harder in the wear-and-tear it puts on you but let me tell you, in the end when you hold that book in your hands, it will all be worth it. You will have accomplished something most people only dream about. Writing a book is hard. Anyone can say that they’re going to do it but to actually do it, and write one that sells? It takes skill and hard work. Nano can point you on the right path. Why not sign up today. And stop by my page and say, “Hi.” I’m always willing to welcome more friends along the way.
Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author 
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