NANOWRIMO RETURNS

In July of 1999 in the San Francisco Bay area, freelance writer Chris Baty started what would come to be known as NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The idea was born mostly of a need for support, encouragement and accountability all in the name of motivation for writing a 50,000 word novel within the month of November. 21 people took part in the first year, but it caught on in the Bay Area and soon started to spread. By 2000, Baty had added a website and a Yahoo Group forum for writers to gather and blow off steam, share tips, help with writer’s block and offer feedback. The NaNoWriMo website now has a built-in writing app for getting your daily word count, or you can paste from your favorite writing software. It also boasts a rather massive and enthusiastic communityready to help get you to your writing goals.

To date, almost half a million people have participated in the “contest” - that word is used loosely because beyond some swell virtual badges and a very satisfying “you did it!” screen, and - of course - your completed novel, there are no prizes at the end. And you are on your own honor with your daily word count so NaNoWriMo is really just another tool to help you stay on target, focused, and getting your damn daily word counts!

The Comet reached out to a few local writers (Loren Meloy, Frances Pauli and Larry Queen) that have done NaNoWriMo to get some tips, tricks, insights, and to see how the event helps keep them on their writing game.

How many years have you done NaNoWriMo?

LOREN MELOY: At least five years, some more successful than others.

FRANCES PAULI: I’ve done NaNoWriMo since 2007, and I’ve only missed one year in that time.

LARRY QUEEN: I participated in NaNoWriMo in 2015 - 50k words and again in 2020 over 80k words and am still editing as I find free time working 40 plus hours a week.

What kind of novel(s) did you work on?

LOREN MELOY: Mostly satirical sci-fi, in the vein of Douglas Adams.

FRANCES PAULI: I have written science fiction, fantasy, and romance as well as Furry novels with animal characters.

LARRY QUEEN: 2015 was my first official toe dipping into actually trying to write. That book is called “MADE.” It is an adventure horror book. The second has a working title of MechanicalEssence. It’s a pseudo Lit RPG (Role Playing Game) style book.

Did you use NaNoWriMo to kickstart a larger project or a start to finish novela?

LOREN MELOY: I used it mostly to see if I could write at all. Turns out I can, albeit inconsistently!

FRANCES PAULI: Most years I use NaNo to start (and finish) a new project. When my deadlines and writing schedule don’t align with November 1st, however, I have used the event to finish up a book that was already in progress.

LARRY QUEEN: Both were to start a new novel that could spring into at least a three book series.

What did you find most helpful about participating?

LOREN MELOY: For a year or two, we had a group that got together and that community was great. The structure of it, all the encouragement, prompts, and prizes. It’s all wonderful!

FRANCES PAULI: The accountability and group pressure is incredibly helpful in motivating both increased word count and the drive to finish a book.

LARRY QUEEN: I was surprised that the structure of the challenge itself spurred me on a lot more than I thought it would. And there are nuggets of wisdom in many YouTube videos and podcasts about the subject. There are too many to list.

Did you find it tough to stick to your daily word count?

LOREN MELOY: Extremely. 1500-2000 words are more than you think, especially if you want them to make any sense. This is why being a “planner” (instead of a “pantster,” flying by the seat of your pants) is best. Having an outline makes it easier to just be in a flow state and get the words out. I think my first year was the best. I had a steely determination to beat the counter.

FRANCES PAULI: Not anymore. I write daily all year round, and though the output during NaNoWriMo can be intense, it is not that much more than what I usually write per day. The real challenge for me is to make the time to write every day and to stick to the schedule without interruptions.

LARRY QUEEN: I was concerned at first that that would be an issue, however on the weekends or on days that I had time off I got extra words in and I finished 50k words with a week and a half to spare in 2015. I kind of bathed in my success and as I was using the NaNoWriMo site to track my numbers it said I completed it and that I should sit on it for three months before coming back to it to edit. Keeping in mind I have to edit as I go - I did not get favorable grades in school, and utilizing punctuation correctly was a virtual impossibility. But with word processors now, that’s way less of an issue than it was in the past.

Were you always part of a group doing NaNoWriMo, or lone-wolfing it?

LOREN MELOY: I’ve been in groups and a lone-wolf. Both have their perks.

FRANCES PAULI: I have done both. The first year I participated with a friend, then I became a Municipal Liaison (regional coordinator) for the event and worked with groups of local writers for many years. Lately, I’ve gone back to participating in a more solitary fashion, primarily after 2020 when in-person write-ins became problematic.

LARRY QUEEN: My first time out I definitely lone-wolfed it, I needed to focus on my story and what I was doing. I still learned a lot from the process which helped my future attempts as well.

Have you utilize the NaNoWriMo community online at all?

LOREN MELOY: Moreso in recent years.

Frances Pauli: I have used the regional forums and structure during NaNoWriMo to help form a writing community. Not only has this been beneficial during the event, but I have discovered year-round writer’s groups that have spawned as a result of NaNoWriMo activities.

LARRY QUEEN: Very little. I updated my word count on the website and used someone’s suggestion for a topic to add into a chapter, which turned out interesting, but that was mostly it.

Do you have a dedicated space for writing?

LOREN MELOY: This is important. The first year, I had a desk in a corner and people knew to leave me be. That has not been true in recent years, and I either get cranky or accept the lower word count.

Frances Pauli: I do. I write in my home every day. During the event, I often wrote outside the home, however, at write-ins and other meetups.

LARRY QUEEN: At my computer desk, as I have ADHD and ADD I have a tendency to lose focus and need to get up and walk around when I get too excited when I am writing, so when a scene works out as I’m writing it I actually have to stop, get up and walk around to calm my brain down. And either silence is good or use some white noise to help focus. Once you get in the zone and the words are flying it becomes more difficult for things to distract me.

What do you have planned for your upcoming project?

LOREN MELOY: I don’t. This will be my first year as a “pantster” and I realize now that I’m contradicting my earlier response.

LARRY QUEEN: Finally finished my outline of where I wanted to go with my second book which still needs 10 chapters. But I have written out about 6 other book ideas that I want to get to, so I might choose one of those just to enjoy the 30 day challenge.

Any tips (or warnings) for anyone looking to try their hands at NaNoWriMo for the first time?

LOREN MELOY: Just do it. I know that’s very corporate Nike, but just do it. What’s the worst that can happen? Do you fail to meet the word count and feel an enormous sense of guilt over not committing to your own self-improvement? That’s not so bad.

Frances Pauli: Yes. In all the years I’ve done it, the participants who attend writeins and get involved with the other local writers are far and away more likely to be the ones that actually finish their 50K goal in the month. Get out and mingle, meet your local writing community, and if you’re lucky, hang onto them well after November is over. Best of luck!

LARRY QUEEN: 1. Anyone can do this. The whole point is to keep writing which is why everyone will tell you to edit later and keep writing.

2. Possibly the most important advice: Your first draft will stink. You will go back over it later and say, that is total garbage. And it probably will be. It’s a natural part of the process. You need to get through the whole first draft and complete it. And then get into editing story elements and structure. Keep writing until the first draft is done.

3. Plot is the action of what’s happening and why. Story is the emotional interaction and journey of your characters. The best mix is 50/50 - characters with no baggage or opinions are just wooden puppets to push the plot. But nothing but someone’s personal feelings can make you feel like someone is talking circles around you with a conversation that is going nowhere.

4. Watch some online videos about preparing for NaNoWriMo, and tropes to avoid, if you plan on writing something someone else will want to read.

5. Preparing for NaNoWriMo - have an idea of what you want to write. A clear outline would have made a world of difference to me for the first time. But hey, it was my first time.

6. Whether you reach 50k words or not I encourage you to keep writing until your first draft is done. The structure of a 30 day challenge is great, but I would do anyone a great disservice if I did not say keep writing until the whole first draft is done. Get your words in for the 30 days, great. But keep going. Before putting it down to reflect and edit later.

7. You can do your own NaNoWriMo anytime you want to challenge yourself.

8. It is extremely helpful to have your idea, have your outline, character sheets, plot points - and as I learned from the NaNoWriMo’s organizers, people are far more likely to finish the NaNoWriMo challenge if they have a book cover design already to go while they are working on the challenge.

9. Get rid of the distractions! C