Saying Goodbye to 2012, Looking Ahead to Writing in 2013

We here at NaNoWriMo HQ are heading into our winter nap today. Before we close out 2012, though, we wanted to reflect with you on what’s been an incredible year. This year, more than 340,000 of you joined us in writing novels in November, and 38,000+ people around the world reached their goal of writing 50K words. To those of you who decided to tackle National Novel Writing Month at all: we salute you.

2012 was the year that you decided you were going to try to write down the story that’s been inside of you for so long, and whether you got that first draft down this November or not, we know you’ll be typing in “The End” that much sooner because you’ve started.

As much as we push that goal of crossing the 50K finish line, we think that sparking that fire of creative ambition, and watching budding writers take that first step is just as important and vital a mission. That’s why, starting in January, we’ll be launching the “Now What” months. After all, you have a first draft, or the beginnings of one, in hand.

Throughout January and February, we’ll be sending out pep talks from authors, and tips, tricks, and how-tos from writers, editors and agents about the revision process, and about publishing, both traditional and self-publishing. It’s part of NaNo HQ’s new year’s resolution to help people achieve their creative goals in even more ways, and to continue to spread the joy of not only writing your stories, but sharing them.

Now that we’ve ticked off “Participate in NaNoWriMo 2012” on our list of previous resolutions, our staff wanted to share some of the goals we’ve already got envisioned for next year:

GRANT

My goals are easy: Revise novel. Find agent. Self-publish a collection of 100-word stories. Figure out how to train the dog I promised to get my kids. Revise novel again. Replace the household objects the dog chewed up. Meditate while training dog.

CHRIS

Make more things. Put them out there. Don’t worry so much.

SARAH

Triumph over inertia more often.

TIM

Live a life of integrity. Once I fail to do so, promise not to commit seppuku, and instead, try again to be full of integrity, in the vein of heroes such as Coach Taylor, Samurai Jack, Tami Taylor, poor, dumb Eddard Stark, that one cashier who’s ridiculously nice to all the drunk college students all the time at the 7-11 down the street, whatever is the person that is the exact opposite of Walt White.

Maybe watch less TV.

HEATHER

Finish a novel for publication. Buy a house and move! Become President.

EMILY

Learn to play my Irish Harp with both hands at the same time going in opposite directions. Rewrite my 2007 novel, The Sleeping Beauty Vine, and (gasp) show it to someone.

ROB

Finish and revise one of my novels before November. Help launch a new writing-themed website, Today’s Author, which is set to go live at the end of December. Find a way to drink more coffee.

ARI

Finish my graduate applications. Learn the basics to Ruby. Write 3000 words a week (we’ll see how long I can keep this up). Get an apartment with OLL buddies, Shelby and Hilary!

SHELBY

Look at the bigger picture, not the little details (this actually needs to start…weeks ago). Submit a proposal to the 2013 International Virginia Woolf Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia!

ANDREA

Contemplate sky diving. Commit to sky diving. Back out of sky diving. Dream about falling. Contemplate sky diving.

Revise draft one and complete draft two of my novel. Profusely thank my beta readers for their amazing critiques.

Rock Camp NaNoWrio in April or July!

How did 2012 measure up for you? Are you already thinking of your goals for the new year? Will you be editing your novels with us in January and February?

— Tim

Photo by Flickr user ellekirshner.