NaNoWriMo Books to Help You Get Ready to Write this November

Posted by Cybil on October 27, 2021
 
It's almost November, which can mean only one thing in the writing community: It's time to get ready for National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). Grant Faulkner, executive director of the nonprofit organization behind the creative endeavor, is recommending the following books and resources to get you ready to move from reader to novelist.

You don’t have to get a degree to write a novel. You don’t even have to take a class. One’s chutzpah, moxie, joy, imagination, dreams, and determination are quite enough, in fact.
 
Still … one of my favorite ways to get ready to write a novel is to read books about writing. I’m actually a bit of a craft book junkie. I read writing books to pick up a tip or two, but I also read them just to get in the mood to write. It’s nice to reflect on writing from different angles. It’s nice to ponder the act of writing. It’s nice to have the voice of another writer in my head.
 
So when the good folks at Goodreads asked me for some NaNoWriMo reading suggestions, I wanted to provide some favorite writing guides along with novels penned (and sometimes hammered out) during NaNoWriMo itself. Because we write novels because we love reading, right?
 
Read, write, and repeat!


Guides to Writing During NaNoWriMo



Other Great Writing Books

Fortunately, we’re living in a world full of all types of writing books, so here are some other favorites to help you prepare to write your NaNoWriMo novel.

Inspiration to Reach the Finish Line...

Novels Drafted During NaNoWriMo

Here’s a select list of novels that were created by 30 days of writing with abandon.

Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

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message 1: by Reia (new)

Reia Ok sounds good but, should we upload it somewhere?.


message 2: by Tânia (new)

Tânia Sequinho You don’t need if you don’t want to. You can find all the information on NaNoWriMo on their site. :)


message 3: by Reia (new)

Reia Ok, Thank you.


message 4: by PinkPanthress (new)

PinkPanthress This is a very fitting article, just in time!
I've been thinking all year if I should join this Year's NaNoWriMo. My fingers itch so badly!


message 5: by Charles (new)

Charles * If someone is so qualified to give writing advice why have I never heard of them before seeing their writing advice book.

* If you want to write a book then write it every day of the year not just in November. Good books have layers and layers take time.

That is the sum of my writing advice. YW. Give me money now rather than forcing me to write a book full of filler that will never come in handy.


message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

Jeez Charles, relax, let people have fun. Nobody said you are obligated to write in November, and nobody said you must write and finish your book in 30 days. The idea is to come together and motivate ourselves to finish off our first draft during the month of November. Nobody's stopping you from writing in July, it's just that we all agreed to meet on Novembers.

As for your diss on these advice authors, there is a huge difference between studying writing techniques and scenaristic tropes, and actually putting them to practice. You can understand the craft without practicing it yourself. No need to get salty.


message 7: by Autumn (new)

Autumn Hollenbach I love that book 💖💞💜👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋! ☺love love 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘 lol I like that book to😎😎😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😭😭😎😎😍😍😘😘☺☺😊😊💚💚💛💛💜💜💓💓👎👎👍👍💟💟💞💞💔💔💋💋👅👅👄👄✌✌💗💗💘💘💝💝💙💙


message 8: by Alison Rose (new)

Alison Rose Charles wrote: "* If someone is so qualified to give writing advice why have I never heard of them before seeing their writing advice book.

* If you want to write a book then write it every day of the year not ju..."


Rather narcissistic to assume that if you haven't heard of someone, then they're not worth listening to.


message 9: by Charles (new)

Charles Nova wrote: "Jeez Charles, relax, let people have fun."

there's this thing, called a sense of humour, you should try an find a book that will help you develop one. discworld's good

"there is a huge difference between studying writing techniques and scenaristic tropes, and actually putting them to practice."

So people should read books that tell them how to write so that they can learn to write books that tell people how to write? Unless people read writing books because they want to learn how to put writing techniques and scenaristic tropes into practise? How to write? Right? Surely the ultimate test of your abilities as someone who understands writing and wants to show other people how to do it is to write a book, and if the how to book that you're trying to sell is partially about writing a good book that will sell, then your book that you write (not the one that tells people how to write, the book that you write in order to prove to people that you can write in order to sell the book that tells people how to write) should be published and should sell well.

Because if the books just tell you how to write books that tell you how to write, then maybe they don't belong on a post about novels.

(Is there a book that has a section about how to tell whether or not the writer is taking the piss? Maybe they do have some worth after all...)

man i cmu


message 10: by Logan (new)

Logan Charles, buddy, you are clearly the only person in this thread that needs to develop a sense of humor. Relax, you’re going to burst a blood vessel stressing over nothing like this. Is life treating you okay, man? You seem like you need to vent, I’ve heard journaling helps. ✌️💕


message 11: by Ruth (new)

Ruth Donigian Read, Write, Repeat. Good advice! Does anyone else want a t-shirt that says that?


message 12: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine Nova wrote: "Jeez Charles, relax, let people have fun. Nobody said you are obligated to write in November, and nobody said you must write and finish your book in 30 days. The idea is to come together and motiva..."

Well said.


Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews) Save the Cat! is really helpful, especially if you feel like something in your novel isn't "working."

Also! Steering the Craft is on sale in US/CAN right now!


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