Ever done it? Participated in National Novel Writing Month, where through a handy Web site, e-mail reminders and some friendly peer pressure, you too can write a composition the length of the average novel?
I tried once, three years ago, but then I got too busy and went too far off the mini outline I had in mind for the plot. I'm also not convinced that writing a novel in a month – the main purpose of the site to just get you to actually start and finish it – would provide anything remotely publishable. Sell the rights to a screenplay? Yeah, right. But aside from that, this might be my year.
Here's why ...
• I can do this. After all, I write for a living. It ain't Hemingway, but it does put meat on the table.
• I've had a working outline, title and loose cast of characters rattling around in my noggin for years. Not that it makes me special because nearly any newspaper reporter has this same affliction.
• I live to write. Not just because it puts meat on the table.
• I've got no more time than I had three years ago. Fact is, I will have less (see also New Baby, Extra Part-time Job and Continual House Projects of Doom). But hey, why not add something else to the mix?
• Maybe with judicious editing afterward, I will have something the publishing houses of the world (should that be in all caps?) will pine for. Hollywood studios, er Studios, will be tripping over themselves to pay me gazillions for my work. There will be a sitcom based on my life, and we'll shed the shackles of suburbia and buy a leek farm in California. Or not.
• It should be fun.
• I might finally learn how to spell!
Who's with me?
I had no idea there was such a thing. Oh my, I'll have to investigate. maybe some pressure will help me finally start writing and eventually (in 50 years or so) maybe I can revise it enough (down to a haiku, perhaps) to make it worth reading!
I'll investigate and get back to you. Not that I have anything else going on, not like we might be moving across several states, going on a cruise and selling the house in the next couple of months!
Not me, but good luck to you! I have faith that you can do it.
Participated in it last year, I think I did one day's worth then lasted a week after before the excitement wore off and writers block fell on my head and crushed the ideas.
If by "with you", you mean will I also write a novel in a month, well, um, no. Not so much.
But if you decide to do it, I will cheer you on! So in that sense, yeah, I'm with ya!
Also, I'm a hell of a speller, so I'd be willing to proofread!
I heard about this last year (or maybe the year before). The thought about attempting it did cross my mind but never stayed long enough. Maybe 2007 will be my year. In the meantime, I'm "with you" too in Chris' sense.
I'm with you! You can ABSOLUTELY do this. The leek farm awaits! :D My username on the Nanowrimo site is TinyBites if you want to stop in and peek at my status bar. I did it last year and loved/hated it -- and ended up with 50,000 words that weren't totally garbage. Beauty!
I'll participate the year they move it to a month that (a) isn't right before Christmas and (b) doesn't have a major four-day holiday during the very period you realize that you have to write 10,000 words a day if you're going to make the deadline.
NaNoEdMo, though...I'm all over that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaNoEdMo