Want to Write a Novel in a Month?

Many of us have posted to this blog or emailed to each other our frustrations and struggles as writers with the process and discipline of writing.

So I have what I think will be a fun challenge.

As you may know, November is National Novel Writing Month, often referred to by its lovely acronym, NoNoWriMo. The whole premise, according to the website, is:

"...a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30."

The emphasis is on completing a draft of 50,000 words and the expectation is that the draft produced will be far from perfect.

I'm looking forward to participating. I always do better with a goal and finite deadline, and love a fun challenge. I'd like to know if anyone else is interested. My hopes is that we can take a group approach and use this blog to post our progress during the month of November. At the end we can count up the total number of words we wrote, and post excerpts from our works on the blog in December. I'd even be up for a reading/critique night with any "locals" before the holidays kick in.

If you're interested, let me know.
Anne

Then and Now - Writing the Good Write

by Ron Samul
I have to get my thesis project out by next week and for the first time, I am actively going through it, rereading, proofreading, and doing some minor clean-up and revisions. I haven't really looked at my novel since February because of new writing and other life commitments. I've read in books that it is wise to put your books away for a few months and come back to them. I must say - that getting some space from this novel has done two things.

One, it has giving me a fresh look at it. For new writers, to ask them to write a novel and forget it for three months is tough. But, now I see the typos, the weakness, and the strengths. There remains some wonderful scenes and ideas that I really love in this book.

Two, it has allowed me to write some new work, learn, read, and move my creative mind forward. I think it is safe to say that Hinterland is a difficult novel. It was difficult to write, difficult to edit, and difficult to market. It isn't a traditional genre - and I still struggle with the marketing content. It isn't easy to say: This book is about .... and there it is.

Writing my thesis / Hinterland as a creative work has been a serious challenge. I learned how to write even when it was the last thing I wanted to do. I learned to accept advice, accept reality, and change creatively. I also learned the essence of being professional.

When I wrote my first major novel (which I now consider a practice novel) I struggled with it for more than two years. When I let it go, I sat down to write a second novel and everything I learned from my first novel fell into place. The story was concise, the characters were decent, and it wasn't 550 pages, but 289. By the way, I still really like that second novel and hope to move it forward some day. Now, I feel like Hinterland was another difficult and complex novel that taught me so much about writing and learning. Hinterland may not be on the best seller list but it was critical to my growth as a writer. And I appreciated the work of my mentors in helping me with this complex task. Now, I am gushing with new work. (Which is unusual.) I have a novel that is half done (the Jack stories) and started a new novel. I never thought I would have so much to consider. But writing produces more writing.

All my work moves me forward. Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes hard. It might be on a personal level, it might be on a professional level - or both. Nothing is wasted. I've learned so much as writer with my own mistakes, my own disappointments. But the one thing better than a publishing deal, or recognition for my accomplishments, is how I've grown as a writer - from novel to novel. And it doesn't come all at once. It comes in like the tide, moving in clean water from the ocean of our creativity. I know that tide will pull out in my life, but you have to believe it will always come back. - 8/16/08

An Opportunity to Give Back Through Writing

For anyone looking for opportunities to "give back" using their writing skills in a volunteer capacity, Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut has an opportunity called Vital Patient Stories (VPS). I cannot remember who first told me about this program (was it one of our MFA alumn or current students?) but according to the website:

"If you are a good listener, have a flair with the pen, and compassion in your heart, this is the volunteer opportunity for you! You will be taught interviewing and writing skills to compose creative non-fiction accounts of patients' life stories. In addition to good listening skills, empathy, and compassion, volunteers must maintain patient confidentiality."

I have not participated in VPS but have it on my list of future endeavors. If anyone is interested, contact information is listed on the website
I'm not sure if VPS is a national program, but I would bet other hospitals or healthcare facilities have similar programs.

Anne