Another NaNoWriMo… Will This Year Be Different?

I believe it can be.  I believe it should be.

Last October I wrote 31 posts in 31 days as a sort of NaNoWriMo bootcamp.  Damn near killed me.  But in the end I had what amounted to a valuabale guide to writing a book quickly and effectively.

I had intended to do it again this year.  But not much has changed about how-to-write-a-publishable-novel-in-30-days since then… so here’s a better idea: Read the book.

Shortly after that series I compiled those posts — which I expanded, and to which I added new content — into a book, which you see above.  It’s been selling consistently all year since, but allow me to introduce it to you here, in context to that pit you’re feeling in your stomach as NaNoWriMo approaches.

Fact is, you CAN write a publishable novel in 30 days. 

But it just might take you 31 days (October) to prepare for the process.

Be advised, however… there is a conditional and non-negotiable caveat of that possibility: that you start with a killer idea in mind and begin developing it into a concept, then a premise, then a story plan… and that you do it NOW… so that when November 1 rolls around you’ve jump-started and empowered the whole process.

That’s perfectly legal in NaNoWriMo land, by the way.  I believe it’s the only way to truly “win” NaNoWriMo, beyond the self-flagellating drudgery of simply pounding out 50,000 words that are still in search of a story spine.

The book is writtin in context to NaNoWriMo, too.  In other words, I feel your pain… and exhilaration.  I prefer the latter. 

It’s cool to start a marathon and finish, just to see if you can… but it’s better if you intend to really win the race.  Admit it, that’s your goal, am I right?  To turn pro?  Why not use NaNoWriMo as a runway for that aspiration, and come out the other end with something that really does have a shot.  A legit piece of work.

The book will show you how, step by step.  It’s all about craft and process, the triumph of informed storytelling over a random and rushed cobbling together of ideas.  If you know your story beforehand — and you can — the challenge of writing 1800 words a day is a no-brainer. 

Imagine where you could be come December 1st.  Perhaps a tweak and a proof away from something submittable.

It’s $5.95 on Kindle… or to buy a directly downloadable PDF, click this button:

I may do a few posts in October to help ease the NaNoWriMo jitters.  The the Big Enchilada is in the book… which (full disclosure) you can piece together from my Archives here, minus the value-add of an assembled whole.  Either way, I wish you a great November, and a future for your project thereafter.

Another NaNoWriMo… Will This Year Be Different? is a post from: Larry Brooks at storyfix.com