National Novel Writing Month

Forget about turkey and pumpkin pies, November is all about National Novel Writing Month. If you’ve been dreaming about writing the all American novel since you were old enough to hold a crayon, this is your month to shine.

Also known as Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month is described as “seat of your pants approach to writing”. Here’s how it works: starting anytime in November you can head to Nanowrimo.org and sign up to participate. There are lots of forums and chats happening and you can even find online writing buddies. The goal is to reach 50,000 words (175 pages) by November 30th at midnight. Never written anything longer than a history paper before? Don’t worry, Nanowrimo has a mix of aspiring writers, established authors, and those who are just interested in a good old fashioned challenge. So if you can’t stop thinking about a character named Slick who fights his way through an evil dystopian society, it’s time to sign up and start typing. (I would read that novel by the way.)

This is my second year taking the Nanowrimo plunge and the biggest question I hear is, “How do you keep yourself from slacking off?”  It helps to find writing networks in your city. If you live in or near Chicago check out ChiWriMo (www.chiwrimo.org). This Chicago based website is dedicated to helping writers in the area reach their 50,000 word goals. They offer great motivators like neighborhood Write-In’s from Lincoln Square coffee shops like The Perfect Cup to Community Centers in Oakton. You can order a latte, meet some like- minded authors and hunker down to type out a couple thousand words after work. It’s a great way to reach your daily goals while networking and having fun. ChiWriMo is also a wonderful online community. You can spend time on the Nano forum or procrastinate by making friends on the ChiWriMo chat.  

Another excellent writing resource is StoryStudio Chicago. This unique writing center offers writing classes, discussions, performance, and an inviting writing space for authors of all levels. Located at 4043 N. Ravenswood, StoryStudio Chicago is supporting Nanowrimo authors by hosting three Write-In’s on Monday nights. From 4pm-9pm you can pay $10 for unlimited pizza, coffee, tea, and lots of cheers as you furiously hammer out that next chapter.