NaNoWriMo No No…For Now, At Least
It’s November. You know that already, don’t you?
What you might not know is that November is National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo). A bunch of crazy people take this 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel to completion.
Madness, I tell you!
Awesome, sweet, fun madness, though.
Two years ago, I started November with an idea for a novel. I wrote like the wind, with determination. And with more coffee than any human should consume.
My family ate off paper plates. What we ate were PB&Js and Mac n Cheese and lots of other food “products” that include ampersands and misspelled wordz. My good, tolerant, understanding family.
At the end of the month I had a novel that would become My Mother’s Chamomile.
This year I’m not participating, unfortunately. I just turned in A Cup of Dust to be sent to my new editor. I have a lot of prep work to do before I’m ready to start work on this next novel (which I’m calling A Spoon of Crumbs for now). Research must be done. Books must be read. A house must be cleaned (my house, in case you wondered). Children must be hugged and a husband must be dated.
Life needs to happen before I dive head-first into this next book.
I am hoping to be ready for a month of furious writing in January.
How about you? Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? How’s it going? Anybody want to join me for a January version of the book writing madness? You don’t have to be a novelist to participate. It could be lots of fun!
Not a writer? Well, that’s fine. How are you? Did you have a nice weekend?
susiefinkbeiner.com 
Tried NaNo once – so I could say I did LOL – didn’t make it, but it was a FABULOUS learning experience for me. Now that I’m writing picture books, it doesn’t make sense, but I AM participating in PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month – goal is 30 ideas in 30 days) for my second year. Great challenge, with lots of support and encouragement and PRIZES.
And I am REALLY heading over to buy “My Mother’s Chamomile.” Honestly.
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PiBoldMo sounds amazing, Joanne! Seriously, it would be fun.
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Doing it with my daughter 🙂 She’s ahead of me LOL. But yeah, it is COMPLETELY fun!
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How cool! I bet she loves having this experience with you!
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Wow I didn’t realize My Mothers Chamomile was a nano novel!! That’s amazing! I’m not participating this year either.. Still trying to figure out how you pro moms handle more children than you have hands! January might be fun though!
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Hope, I’m still trying to figure it out, too! 🙂 I bet you’re doing a great job as a mom. You’re so wonderful.
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You know, they actually have CampNaNo for April and July, if you would be willing to postpone your novel writing for a bit. It allows you to set your own word goal and be in a “Cabin” or group with other people, all working toward the same goal, all encouraging each other. I did it last year both times and wrote over 100,000 words between the two.
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Yes! I’ve heard of that! Unfortunately, I can’t delay my writing these days. In fact, even delaying it until January makes me a bit nervous, to tell you the truth!
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Yep, although I’m a bit slow in the writing part and just using NaNoWriMo as an impetus to get the thing done. Spent the better part of the morning working with a friend of mine who is great at mapping out plots and such, getting tips from her. The writing begins in earnest later today. Exciting times. YOU, my friend, need to chill and enjoy life as you bask in the afterglow of getting A Cup of Dust turned in. 🙂
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I am no good at basking. Maybe it’s a discipline I need to work on.
Keep going, Kristine! I’m proud of all the good stuff you’re doing with your writing.
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Hey, Susie. I think it’s great that you’re wise enough to know that now is not the time for NaNo. Good luck in January!
I am participating again this year. I’m on track so far, and I plan to write a little each day. I may not have a novel after this month, but I will have some more practice in writing fiction so that I can complete one of the many novels I have started. Maybe I’ll join you in January and finish one of them! ~Robyn
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That would ne great, Robyn! Keep up the great work!
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Take a breath and enjoy the Thanksgiving & Christmas season with your family. January will come soon enough. Can’t wait to read A Cup of Dust.
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Yeah! That’s what I was thinking. And during the days I can do research…which I LOVE, by the way.
Thanks, Shelana! I can’t wait for A Cup of Dust to be in the hands of my good friends, like you.
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Hi Susie,
You inspired me that November two years ago, and I began writing a lot more often and seriously. I wrote one hour per day, and wrote a manuscript. I’ve continued to work on my blog. I’m doing two hours a day this year, am setting a timer, and hope to continue working my way up. I fight distractions.
Thank you!
Myrna
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Way to go, Myrna! I know you can do it!!!!
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January seems like a much better month to try to write a novel anyway. There is even one more day!
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It does! It goes along with resolutions. Also, here in Michigan, January is too cold to be outside anyway. 🙂
That extra day? That’s my birthday! I’m hoping to be done by then.
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One year I’ll do NaNoWriMo, I promise. (But not this year.)
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You’re busy with NoShaveNovember. One thing at a time. 🙂
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You inspire me, Susie! I’m nearly 6,000 words into NaNo and loving the discipline of just going with the flow (can I call that a discipline?). I don’t expect my “agrarian literary novel” to be finished by the end of November so I just may take you up on the invitation! Not much to do in Indiana during January, either.
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Way to go, Ingrid! This is exciting! And I would love to have you join the fun in January. I’m really looking forward to it!
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