National Novel Writing Month

Hello, ladies and gents! I'm approximately halfway through Enders. It's too soon to form a full opinion, but as of right now, I'm thinking it's still not going to win me over and land on "Danielle's most favorite and therefore the best books ever list." I still plan on finishing it though. Sometimes the ending of a book can either make it or break it for me. More details on that to come.

I would have gotten more reading done yesterday, but, well, it's that time of year again... Keep reading if you have no idea what I'm talking about. If you do know what I'm talking about, keep reading while nodding your head going, "Ah, yes. It is indeed that time again where all writer hopefuls turn their backs on the world, locking themselves up in a safe place, typing so fast their brains hurt and their fingers bleed, and we only stop for bathroom and food breaks. Thus, all of us closet writers instantly become connected in the mad dash to write 50,000 words."

This is my NaNoWriMo face...
Also you can see the remnants of my online
English classes from this morning!

I'm sure that if you're taking the time to visit and read a blog that's all about books that you'll know
that November is National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo). Basically, the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month, which is about 1,667 words a day. I can just see some people out there shuddering, thinking about how much they struggled just to finish a 500 word assignment for a class!

Trust me, this is no easy feat. I've never actually completed it in the time limit (kudos to those who have). The closest I got was 34,000 words I believe. I usually finish in January...or March...or maybe I still haven't finished some of those yet... Sometimes I just say all that I want to say in less than 50,000 words! Usually, I fall behind and can't catch back up, and I get distracted eating turkey.

I haven't participated in the last few years mostly because I was busy doing other things. My best excuse was in 2013 when I was out of the country doing humanitarian work. I jumped back on the bandwagon in 2014 and then took a hiatus in 2015-2016. I believe my focuses were elsewhere.

I wasn't sure that I was going to participate again this year, thinking that I have a lot of things I'm trying to do right now, which is true. At the same time, I realized that life is always going to be busy, and if I don't want to lose my joy of writing (not to mention the ability) forever then I have to make the time. Will I make it to 50,000 words? Maybe not, but if it helps me to get writing off of the back burner then I say it's worth it.

Now you know that I'm an aspiring author, who has written a couple of novels but hasn't managed to get them from my computer to the rest of the world to read. Someday it will happen!

The great thing about NaNoWriMo is that you can do it independently or you can connect with friends. Sometimes there are even local events you can take part in if you need that extra support. There are forums and tips and all sorts of things. Check out the website!

The other great thing about it is that it helps you to set goals. Even if you can't manage to write that many words a day, just write something! And then, in the end, you have the editing process to look forward too! Yay!!!! (More like nay....)

So, for all my fellow closet writers out there endeavoring to write the next great novel, take heart. I wish you luck. Happy NaNoWriMo!!!!