A Funny Acronym: Nanowrimo by Shaleen Kapil

It is October. I have a month to prepare. This year, I’m going to start on Day 1; no late catch-ups for me! I am going into to this like I am going into a triathlon. What is it? Nanowrimo.

Nanowrimo, also known as National Novel Writing Month, is a challenge for anyone who dreams of writing a novel to write it in November. Well, at least mostly. The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. 50,000 words is about the length of a Harlequin novel, but about half as long as some of the fantasy or historical fiction books being written. So, it will depend on the genre as to whether it is a full novel or not.

50,000 words. For some writers, they turn this amount out regularly.  For the rest of us, it is a doable amount IF (yes, that is a big giant IF) we still on task and work everyday. That means weekends too. And Thanksgiving.

Last year, I started late, having only learned about it in my first RWA meeting. I didn’t even write romance during Nanowrimo last year. I started writing a children’s chapter book series based on stories I had been telling my children. (No, they aren’t published yet because I am still looking for an illustrator.)

I caught up my lost 5 days quickly. I kept up through the generosity of my family giving me time on weekend mornings and by waking up regularly at 5am.

Then came Thanksgiving week. The kids were off. I was running out of ideas for the book(s). I didn’t make it.

No, I’m not disappointed. It was still a big accomplishment. I now have 4 elementary chapter books, which may one day be ready for print. And I learned how to write 2,000 words a day. Before that, I would promise myself 500 words and hope for 1,000. My first book, None But You, took me about 6 months to write and another 6 to edit.

This year, I am going in with an outline and even a title. And I might take the laptop on the Thanksgiving camping trip.

Will any of you be on Nanowrimo? Friend me there!

Shaleen Kapil balances motherhood with writing and teaching. She is the author of None But You, a sweet romance available in ebook & print formats. 

Find out more at www.shaleenkapil.com or Like her on Facebook.