As October draws to an end, the beginning of an important event approaches—the beginning of November or National Novel Writing Month(A.K.A. NaNoWriMo). This event is an annual challenge where people attempt to write 50,000 words of their novel’s first draft. It’s certainly a task, but it produces outstanding results. For example, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan, and Cinder by Marissa Meyer were all written during NaNoWriMo. All of the novels mentioned are award-winning and New York Times bestsellers, which display the success that can come from NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo is effective for many reasons, mainly due to the speed you have to write in. To complete the 50,000-word goal, one must write 1,677 words a day. So, writing while ignoring technical issues is incentivized. Shutting off your internal editor is a crucial skill writers need to improve, and NaNoWriMo helps build its foundation. If one focuses too heavily on whether a comma is in the appropriate place or if a verb is suitable, one will never finish writing the story and instead remain dissecting the first chapter. Ignoring errors and correcting them later allows a writer’s train of thought to proceed without interruption and makes writing quicker. 

As a whole, National Novel Writing Month strives to create an environment where creatives of all different backgrounds can come together and voice their thoughts and perspectives. I find it to be most welcoming for new writers looking for guidance. When entering the novel writing sphere, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. However, by making an account on NaNoWriMo, you can track how many words you should write daily to achieve your goals. You can also talk to other writers on forums and participate in virtual and in-person events. Overall, NaNoWriMo can help introduce and involve you in the writing community. 

NaNoWriMo is a fantastic event and platform any aspiring writer should consider. It not only encourages actually writing but also allows writers to connect with other writers. The challenge may seem daunting, but it’s time to step outside your comfort zone and tell your story.

So, if this interests you, I’d recommend you begin plotting your novel and give National Novel Writing Month your best shot!