Since 2007, I've contemplated writing a novel in Novemeber as part of National Novel Writing Month. Back in 2007, I was all enthused and set to go -- and then at 2 a.m. on Novemeber 1st my apartment building caught fire and although I tried to still write for a couple days, starting over and reorganizing my life pushed that novel beyond the back burner to the abyss behind the stove.
In more recent years, I've still failed to fully embrace the Nano bug -- although I thouroughly respect those who do. But I've come to realize that the whole "novel" part of NanoWriMo is really an optional thing.
A few days ago, in the midst of attending a writing festival at my Alma Mater I wrote an article on Helium called How to make National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) work for you. In that article I focus on spirit of NanoWriMo that goes beyond the 50,000 word novel, but more importantly asks writers to step up our game and challenge ourselves to pursue an aggressive writing goal. Certainly, non-novelists can get in on this goal.
Although I do call myself a novelist, having written No Sensible People, novel writing is not in the cards for me right now. What I am trying to do is make some money through freelancing online. So far, this has not proven easy, but I am not giving up.
Over the past few months, I have determined the best fit and most potential for me personally on the following sites; Gather, Associated Content, Helium, Suite 101, and my blog. I have decided that each of these sites will get an average of 5 posts a week over the course of November-- and possibly beyond. For me, this is an aggressive writing goal. Some posts can be written quickly from the top of my head, while others may take hours of research. But when all is said and done by Sunday November 7 at 11:59 p.m. there should be (at least)25 new posts from me out on the World Wide Web, with the goal repeating on the 14th, 21st, 28th, and beyond.
Can I pull it off? Certainly, but I will have to all but superglue my nose to the grindstone in order to do it. Thanks Nano for the inspiration. This just might be the kick I need.
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 18
I'm still trying it. I think it's proof positive that I'm insane.
I'm working on the freelancing at Gather thing, too, but somehow I think my brain and body can still carry me to write a novel as well. Well, I'm still sitting pretty at a nice ZERO words, so maybe I can't do it this year. This pregnancy is making staying up past 11-12 pm impossible and waking earlier isn't an option either. :(
I'm not out of the game yet, but I can see I'm facing some big obstacles - one being not being allowed caffeine (miscarriage risks increase with it) So, when I'm sleepy there's no fighting back. I just give in and sleep/rest and that's no good for word counts. I knew this would be near impossible, I just didn't see myself struggling so early on.
I decided to do it under ONE condition. No matter how the cards fall I DONT stress and if I start to stress I back off or quit. Stress puts the baby at risk and nothing's worth that. I'm not stressed. In fact I just have no motivation at all, lol. Better than the other, I think, haha.
I am on gather to make friends and talk . Can't keep a chain of thought long enough to write or even read, more than five paragraphs.