NaNoWriMo has begun!

NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month is a one month long event in which you challenge yourself to write 50000 words

So, NaNoWriMo has begun!

I'm participating in this fabulous event. I have "won" two years running, once with a fairytale spoof and once with an action/comedy/drama novel.

Now, for all of you whose first year this is, remember what you write will be CRAP. It's not going to be good. You're trying to write 50000 words in 30 days. Thats 1666 words a day, every day, plus twenty words at some point. And that's the minimum to win. Some have written 400,000 although its my belief that these people are generally unemployed, ignore their spell checker, and never look back even a single word. But that could be my jealousy speaking.

Whatever the case is, it's a great exercise for aspiring writers. It makes you get those words down and finish or nearly finish a story. It's also a great opportunity for networking. You'll meet tons and tons of aspiring writers if you attend write-ins*. And those are the first steps towards publishing.

If you get stuck, refer to my <a href="http://ransomnoteeffect.blogspot.com/2010/10/list-of-prompt-sites.html"> list of writing prompt sites</a> and my <a href="http://ransomnoteeffect.blogspot.com/2010/10/creative-block.html">list of ways to break your creative block. </a>

I'm going to compile a good list of tips and tricks to win at NaNoWriMo! Check back tomorrow.

*A write-in is an event where people get together and write as a group. It's an opportunity to be social and a time where all you do is write. They tend to happen in coffeehouses, bookstores, and cheap restaurants.