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Welcome, aspiring authors! November is here, and that means it’s time for the National Novel Writing Month challenge! This is your opportunity to unleash your creativity, dive into the world of storytelling, and write that story you’ve been keeping in your head. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, NaNoWriMo is a fantastic way to get those words flowing. Let’s dive into what NaNoWriMo is all about and how you can make the most of it!

What is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it’s an annual challenge where writers from all over the world commit to writing the first draft of a novel in just 30 days. The challenge runs from November 1st to November 30th and encourages participants to set daily writing goals and create a complete draft by the end of the month. The typical length goal set for a traditional novel is 50,000 words. Yikes! That is a lot of words in not a lot of time. But if you break it down into smaller daily or weekly goals, it feels a heck of a lot more achievable! 

But if that 50k word count is stressing you out just imagining it, it is not a hard limit on how much or how little you can write during NaNoWriMo!! Some authors go for a shorter “Novella” length of between 17.5k and 40k, or even focus on making one or a few short stories in that time! It’s all about focusing on a single creative project and setting a goal that feels attainable to you. 

Why Participate?

Why hold yourself to this big, crazy, scary-looking goal when you probably have a million other things going on? NaNoWriMo is all about letting your imagination run wild. You can write anything from fantasy to romance to sci-fi—there are no limits! Especially at the end of a long semester of school, it’s good to let your creativity take over and give your work brain a bit of a break. It’s a challenge, sure, but when you’re working at it every day, that commitment to creativity will help you develop a consistent writing routine that can benefit you long after November ends.

Tips for Success:

  • Set a Daily Word Count: To reach 50,000 words in 30 days, aim for about 1,667 words per day, or around five and a half pages. Break it down into manageable chunks! Some days, you might be on a roll and exceed your goal amount, and sometimes, you won’t even get close, but keeping the routine of doing a little bit every single day will help you find a writing routine that’s best for you! You might also find that switching up how you write can be beneficial to meeting your daily goals. You could dictate a scene on your phone with voice-to-text, have a dedicated notebook to keep with you for when inspiration strikes, or even do something crazy like typing a scene out on a typewriter! (Anyone? No? Just me?) Something as simple as changing your format from time to time can help you reach your goals faster and beat back that pesky writer’s block.

  • Minimize Editing: Remember, the goal is to get your ideas down on paper. Don’t worry about making it perfect—editing comes later! This is a first draft. It’s not meant to be perfect, or ready to be published, or just fall out of your head in pristine condition. If you need to skip over a character’s name because you just can’t think of one that fits, or you just really, really want to skip ahead and write that super-cool dragon fight scene, great! Do it! As long as you write down your thoughts, you are headed in the right direction. 

  • Create an Outline: Having a rough outline of your plot and characters can help keep you focused and organized. Your outline is not a yellow-brick-road straight to Oz that you must not deviate from, but having an idea of your story’s major plot points (like that epic dragon fight) can help you steer your character’s in the right direction and keep you on track to meet your goal. Think of it like a long road trip. You can have an end destination in mind, even plug it into your GPS to keep you on the right track, but there’s nothing stopping you from exploring along the way! You might find story elements or scenes you want to explore or new characters to add to your party, and heck, your destination might even change along the way. You can step off this path whenever and wherever you like, but starting with some goals in mind can help you focus your story and create more interesting character growth if you have a rough idea of where you want your story to go!

  • Use Writing Prompts and Gather Ideas: If you get stuck, try using writing prompts to spark your creativity. There are tons available online, or you could even ask a librarian to help! If you’re really stuck, take a look at some of your favorite stories and pull ideas from them to get you started. Sometimes, re-reading your favorite book or something by an author you love can help jumpstart your creative process and help get you out of a writing rut. You could run through a few writing challenges or short prompts to get you started for the day, even if they’re silly and have nothing to do with your larger piece. The beauty of NaNoWriMo is that the challenge is self-imposed. There’s no one hanging over your shoulder telling you how or what to write! So have fun with it! You might just uncover something about your characters or your world you would never have expected.

We have lots of programs here at the library to help your creativity flow! Here are just a few highlights coming up this month:

  • Check out the Flash Fiction contest @ PD Brown! The In A Flash: Six Word Memoir Contest is hosted all month long in honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). We’re hosting a flash fiction writing contest for tweens and teens. Submit your memoir entry for a chance to win a writer’s prize bundle and be featured on our social media pages. But, there’s a twist… Your memoir must be exactly six words, no less and no more!

  • Or sign up for our monthly Teen Creative Writing Workshop @ LaPlata! Get together with fellow authors in a space that is open to express your creativity and refine your written voice. We’ll discuss what makes good writing *good* and share real-time, constructive feedback on your poetry, prose, or creative non-fiction! 

  • Do you love writing about characters from your favorite show, book, game, or movie? Then check out the Fanfiction Writing Workshops on November 6th, 13th, and 20th! These are virtual, so you can join in from the comfort of your own favorite writing spot. Each workshop covers a different element of writing, from worldbuilding to formatting and dialogue! There will be a large focus on how to attract an audience through formatting, grammar, punctuation, vivid and concise descriptions, dialogue, worldbuilding, and carefully constructed alternate universes. We will also discuss how to make ethical works of fanfiction. The goal of this workshop is to help people be more confident in their writing and ability to draw readers in.

We also have lots of awesome nonfiction books about writing that can help you hone your craft and get in the writing mood! Check some of these titles out below!

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott recounts her personal experiences to reveal her writing techniques and how she overcomes obstacles that interfere with the writing flow. She offers concrete suggestions about character, plot, setting, and other topics of interest to writers. She also offers advice about how to navigate through the dark underbelly feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and jealousy that are inevitable parts of any writer’s experience.

Writing In Color: Fourteen Writers On The Lessons We’ve Learned

“So, you’re thinking of writing a book. Or, maybe you’ve written one, and are wondering what to do with it. What does it take to publish a novel, or even a short story? If you’re a writer of color, these questions might multiply; after all, there’s a lot of writing advice out there, and it can be hard to know how much of it really applies to your own experiences. If any of this sounds like you, you’re in the right place: this collection of essays, written exclusively by authors of color, is here to encourage and empower writers of all ages and backgrounds to find their voice as they put pen to page. Perhaps you’re just getting started. Here you’ll find a whole toolkit of advice from bestselling and award-winning authors for focusing on an idea, landing on a point of view, and learning which rules were meant to be broken. Or perhaps you have questions about everything beyond the first draft: what is it really like being a published author? These writers demystify the process, sharing personal stories as they forged their own path to publication, and specifically from their perspectives as author of color. Every writer has a different journey. Maybe yours has already started. Or maybe it begins right here. Contributors include: Julie C. Dao, Chloe Gong, Joan He, Kosoko Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Darcie Little Badger, Yamile Saied Mendez, Axie Oh, Laura Pohl, Cindy Pon, Karuna Riazi, Gail D. Villanueva, Julian Winters, and Kat Zhang.”

-Provided by Publisher

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

This volume “really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists”, written by American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy, Stephen King (b. 1947). The first third of the book contains King’s memoir, which includes heartfelt tidbits about his brother, mother and his long battles with alcohol and drug addiction. The second part of the book, “On Writing,” is where aspiring novelists might find inspiration. King describes the symbolism in many of his novels and offers writers common sense advice. He presents his taboos of writing: adverbs (especially those in dialog) and the passive voice. He describes his writer’s toolbox, including examples of both good and bad writing, sometimes taken from his own work, sometimes taken from other writers. He also describes his approach to research. King concludes by including a list of nearly a hundred novels that he considers the best that he’s read in the last three or four years.

Daemon Voices: On Stories and Storytelling by Phillip Pullman

The author of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy shares insights into the art of writing while exploring how education, religion, and science, as well as his favorite classics, helped shaped his literary life.

Teen Writer’s Guide by Jenifer Jenkins

“Imagine you had a road map for writing the book you’ve always dreamed of writing–a step-by-step guide from testing your story ideas, to visualizing your characters’ types and voices, to building a world that comes to life, to navigating the publishing industry, and going the distance to reach your writing goals. Perfect for teen writers, English and Creative Writing teachers, and anyone who has an interest in breaking down the craft of writing in fun and manageable ways, this book is sure to take you to your final destination–and help you enjoy the journey along the way!”

-Provided by Publisher

How to tell a story : the essential guide to memorable storytelling from The moth

“Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life-including astronauts, rock stars, Nobel Prize-winners, high school students, dental hygienists, and a retired pickpocket-to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted millions of listeners on the Moth’s Peabody Award-winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth also inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year. Now, with How to Tell a Story, you will learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers such as Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Gopnik, Amanda Gorman, Padma Lakshmi, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Molly Ringwald, Krista Tippett, John Turturro, and more. Whether your goal is to make it to The Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, wow clients at a business dinner, give a moving eulogy, ace a job interview, be a hit at parties, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of their time-honed process and using examples from notable and beloved storytellers, the Moth directors will help you: Mine your memories for your best stories; Explore structures that will boost the impact of your story; Tailor your stories for any occasion. Beyond public speaking, The Moth team will help you present your most authentic self to the world-and tell stories that will forge lasting connections with coworkers, clients, friends, and family.”

-Provided by Publisher

You can also visit the official NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program to access resources and track your progress. You can work on your draft right there on the site to keep your work organized and your goals up-to-date! They provide a breakdown of your daily goals, writing “dares” to keep the ideas flowing, and a place to store notes and ideas alongside your chapter drafts. They even have awesome workbooks available that can help you develop your characters, master your setting, and get you excited to start writing!

Sound like fun? At the end of November, whether you hit your goal or not, celebrate your hard work! Completing a novel draft is a huge accomplishment. NaNoWriMo is an exciting challenge that offers a chance to explore your creativity and become part of a vibrant writing community. So, gather your ideas, grab your favorite writing tools, and let’s make this November a month of storytelling! Are you up for the challenge?