NaNoWriMo – Get Your Fingertips Ready!
October 29, 2007
Last year, I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time. Alas, a constant editor, I did not meet my goal and didn’t come close to reaching the finish line. For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is also known as National Novel Writing Month, and it starts November 1st. NaNoWriMo is exactly what it sounds like: you write a novel in one month’s time. The goal is 50,000 words, or approximately 175 pages.
NaNoWriMo is the perfect tool to get students writing, and their Young Writers Program is a great way for students and instructors to interact and spur one another on to meet the finish line. In my case, I couldn’t get quite past 15,000. Not that it should be a deterrent for you or your students.
One of the best things about NaNoWriMo is the fact that the only thing at stake is your own self satisfaction. There are no prizes for best or longest novel, nor are there any opportunities for publishing your work. What it does is allow you to set your own goals and try to keep up with your peers. Additionally, the NaNoWriMo YWP has tons of resources for teachers and students alike, including writing related lesson plans, handouts and curriculum ideas, amongst others. Go to the website and get registered ASAP, though. Thursday will be here sooner than you think. –JEREMY S. GRIFFIN
