NaNoWriMo

Because there are a few days left in November, and because I’m hard up for blog entries, I thought this was appropriate.

Has anyone heard of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month? I hadn’t until I picked up a (really, ridiculously boring) magazine called UTNE Reader. During NaNoWriMo, which happens during November, about 75,000 wanna-be writers attempt to type 50,000 words in 30 days. Chris Baty, the creator of NaNoWriMo, envisions the marathon type session as a way for writers to overcome writers block and the fear of making mistakes. The writers who make it to 50,000 words will have their work published on the NaNoWriMo.org website. Apparently some of the past participants have even seen their work published.

Baty plans to launch similar events in the future with the same monthlong model, and donates most of the proceeds from the even to charities. This year, 50% is going to help build libraries for children in Southeast Asia. NaNoWriMo has even started a young writer’s program so that classrooms can participate in the writing frenzy.

I think it’s pretty cool, although I don’t really have enough time, or much desire, to participate. It reminds me of a grueling extended form of the 24 hour comics we looked at way-back-when.