Although November is commonly known as Movember, is also a time for writers.
November marks the annual National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo – pronounced nano-wry-mo).
NaNoWriMo started in 1999 in the San Francisco Bay area in the United States, with only 21 members. Later it exploded into more than just a national novelling binge, and now it’s recognised by aspiring authors world-wide.
What to do during NaNoWriMo?
Write a novel, of course! Or, as many daring procrastinating writers do – write anything but a novel.
On the NaNoWriMo website, aspiring authors can sign up and create a profile where they announce their novel. You have from 1 November to 30 November to complete the novel in order to win but many do it for the fun.
How to win?
NaNoWriMo can be won by writing 50 000 words of your novel in 30 days.
Why participate?
When writing a NaNoWriMo novel, aspiring writers have access via their profiles to writing programmes, forums, communities and great writing advice, all of which is free of charge.
The organisation does, however, run on donations and every year they call on participants to donate. This year so far, NaNoWriMo have raised their goal of $110 000.
The money gathered is pumped into development programmes for young writers.
NaNoWriMo in South Africa?
South Africans participate in NaNoWriMo, too! In Johannesburg alone, nearly 1,5 million words have been written so far.
Follow South African Wrimos on:
• Twitter: @ZAWrimos
• Facebook: South Africa Wrimos
• Blog: ZA Writers and Wrimos (zawrimos.blogspot.co.za)
NaNoWriMo is currently in its second week and time is running out, so dust off that keyboard and fill up on coffee, because it’s going to be a wild writing adventure.
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