Post 32: NaNoWriMo and NaPoWriMo

Next month is NaNoWriMo! Which stands for, National Novel Writing Month.

(April is NaPoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.)

The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to have a novel written by the end of the month. But it isn't just a month. It is a site with lots and an activity with lots of participants. The site provides the lots of support, in forums, as well as in pep talks from real writers and meeting places where you can get together with other participants.

It keeps track of how many words you've written AND there is a recently added feature that helps you find a sponsor. Someone to send money for ramen, candy or whatever else you may need to complete your goal.

The catch is that it isn't just write a novel. It is more specifically asking for participants to write 50,000 words. So, if you have a 49,999 word novel you better add 'The End" if you want credit for finishing. But, it also means as soon as you reach 50,000 words you have technically one. Even if you are only half way through the plot.

Anyway! It is a pretty cool thing. I have tried participating two years in a row- but only used the site in 2011. But have not made it past the 5,000 word mark. It gets hard. The estimate of the site is that you should try and write between 1,600 and 1,700 words a day. Which doesn't seem like much at first, but it starts to get harder. And if you miss a day, suddenly you're needing to write like 4,000 words. If you miss two days, that is over 5,000 words in a day!

It adds up, and if you have classes or tests or a social life it can start to be intimidating.

But it is a lot of fun. And this year, I will be participating again.

This time, I hope to get much further than last year. And the plan, though it may not go as such, is to finish this year.

What has been hard for me as well in the past is one of the main ideas behind it, which is to just knock it out. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my stories so before I move on I want to go back over what I've done. I don't want to leave giant plot holes in the idea I will come back later to fix. I don't want to go back to add more character development or back story once it is done. I want it to be good before I move on.

But this time, I am going to try my best to accept it won't be perfect, and it is better to finish and go back then go back and obsess and end up drowning in work and giving up.

NaPoWriMo is much easier. At least, for me Basically, in April, you set up a blog or website and everyday for thirty days you write a poem and post it. I find poem writing pretty easy, so it shouldn't be so hard.

The hardest thing about both for me will probably be the EVERY DAY. You can't miss a day in April, and NaNoWriMo if you miss a day it can be really stressful.

Anywho, that's all for today. I will include the links for NaNo and NaPo WriMo below.

NaPoWriMo.net

My name NaPoWriMo for next April: SamsNaPoWriMo.blogspot.com
(It is private at the moment, because there won't be anything on it for awhile anyway.)

NaNoWriMo.org

My NaNoWriMo is NaNoWriMo.org/participants/SamanthieR
(I don't think you can actually read it. But I think once I update it, it starts showing a word count.)