What is so special about November that the powers-that-be have designated this as National Knock Yourself Dead Writing Month? And why am I such a glutton for punishment that I’ve signed up for both NaNoWrimo and NaBloPoMo? I’m sure that by the end of the month, I’ll be wishing that I signed up for NaMoSleMo instead.
NaNoWrimo
It was such a fantastic experience last year, that my kids and I are signed up to participate in National Novel Writing Month again. I have one month to write a 50,000 word novel - roughly 2,000 words a day.
The kids have it a little easier in the Young Writer’s Program, they can select their word count goal. Alex is planning on writing 10,000 words, and Kayla is reaching for 20,000. With one successful year under their belt, they’re confident that they can do it again.
We know we can do this, but I’m glad we’re not doing it alone. Apart from the writing buddies and meet-ups organized on the NaNoWrimo forums, lots of Twitter pals are cheering each other on. Also, I’ve found a wonderfully supportive group of writing families on the HomeschoolNaNo Yahoo Group.
NaBloPoMo
Still, it wasn’t enough to ask us to write a novel in one month. No, this is also NaBloPoMo, the month when aspiring bloggers are asked to reach deep, deep into the very marrow of their existence to post a blog article every single day of the month.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to craft these gems of wisdom and erudition every single day?
I don’t have an intern digging up material, or a nanny taking over the Mommy job. Nope, it’s all me. But, enough with the whining. It’s not like anyone is holding a gun to my head saying that I have to do this.
Then, again, those fabulous NaBloPoMo Contest Prizes are a draw; can’t tell which I want more: the fly fishing ties or the sock zombies. Yeah, yeah, I want the zombies, for sure.
Obviously, I’m not doing NaBloPoMo for those prizes, just the one prize - finding out if I’ve got the write stuff.
NaMoSleMo
Maybe next year I’ll sign up for NaMoSleMo, National More Sleep Month, a new venture being proposed by Sugar Jones on Living In Theory.
Wasn’t it just before NaNoWrimo last year that I realized that I needed to get more Sleep For Success? Apparently, I’m not learning how to balance writing and sleeping on my own. I need a national month contest to push me into getting a nightly solid 8.
Want more from On Living By Learning?
Follow me On Twitter or Facebook.
Sign up to receive free articles from On Living By Learning by Email. (Click this link. Fill out the form. Don’t forget to click on your verification Email. Look for this in your mailbox.) You can also click here to receive updates on a RSS Feed Reader.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Homeschool Your Teenager - Sherri 11.03.08 at 1:43 am
Kudos Sandra on your writing goals for November!
They are challenging ones, and I know you’ll reach them. Because of Thanksgiving and all the mom/wife duties attached, can you bank some posts to release automatically?
Writing a 50,000 word novel may not be quite as hard. Ray Bradbury wrote the first draft of “Fahrenheit 451″ (25,000 words) in just 9 days at a cost of $9.80 in dimes. He used the typewriter pool in the basement of the UCLA library. Each typewriter had a dime coin slot and each dime bought you half an hour of typing time. I’m sure you’ll do far better on production much easier using a computer with no jammed pages and touch typing vs old manual typewriters Bradbury used (Remmingtons and Underwoods). It’s hard to believe that novel is 50 years old now and still just as relevant today as it was then, maybe more so in a much freer but more troubled world.
I didn’t sign up, but my goal for this month is to produce 30 articles for publication on Associated Content, and still keep up with my blog writing.
I’m putting the novel writing project on my calender for next November and may try an experiment over Christmas, Mardi Gras, and Spring break holidays to see how far I get on producing 50,000 words.
Best wishes and I know you’ll do great! I know your kids will, too,
Sherri
Anne 11.03.08 at 4:55 am
Good luck to you and your kids. Definitely sign me up for NaMoSleMo.
Moms At Work 11.03.08 at 5:35 am
Congrats on your writing goals. I don’t know how you do it. Daily blogging beats me down!
But I know your guys’ll do great
Moms At Work 11.03.08 at 5:36 am
Congrats on your writing goals. I don’t know how you do it. Daily blogging beats me down!
But I know you guys’ll do great
Julie Roads 11.03.08 at 11:34 am
Hi Sandra! There are so many things I love about this post…I could easily come up with 2,000 words…but I’m going to pick this. I love that you are writing with your kids and getting them involved in the writing community. So cool and I can’t wait until my kids are big enough to join in…
Good luck with everything!
Julie
Anne 11.03.08 at 4:44 pm
Thank you for sharing this. Will consider taking the challenge myself and inviting my kids as well!!
Anne
Sandra Foyt 11.03.08 at 8:00 pm
Sherri, I wish that I could master the art of banking posts. I’ve got a bunch of drafts, but none that are anywhere ready to post. Once they’re done, I send them out. Now, that’s interesting about Ray Bradbury, I shouldn’t complain then with my spiffy laptop at the ready, right? I’ve come a long way from my IBM Selectric days.
Thanks, guys, for all the encouragement! It’s much appreciated.
Linda (minnemom) 11.03.08 at 8:55 pm
I think of all of these, NaMoSleMo is the one that would top my list!
ScaryMom 11.03.08 at 11:55 pm
I can’t even read a novel these days in that amount of time…to even think of writing one! Good luck with all the challenges - but remember, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, as long as you’re having fun..lol!