Don't Worry, It's Only 50,000 Words

November 10, 2011

It’s that time of year again. I can hear the fingers flying hectically across keyboards and the cacophony of pens scratching on paper. Oh yes, I know it’s NaNoWriMo time.

Now you may be asking, "What a curiously silly name. What does it stand for?" I’ll tell you! It stands for National Novel Writing Month. A pretty fantastic month if you ask me. For this awesomeness, people go crazy for writing during the month of November, as it has been claimed by authors and writers alike—professional, amateur, and for the rest of us somewhere in between—as the month to celebrate writing in all of its epic and lengthy glory. The main thing to remember about this month-long, once-a-year sport is that it’s all about reaching a total of 50,000 words. And not just any words, but words that go to making your first-ever novel, or whichever novel you happen to be working on at that time—doesn’t matter, just write it out. However, that doesn’t mean all of these words have to be in that final draft. No, and again no my friends. This is much simpler than that.

Just write. That’s all you have to do. Any brainstorming, free writing, journaling, or ANY words you put down on paper or in a word document that go towards the creation of your novel count for your 50,000 words. And if you’re having any troubles keeping track, no worries, there’s an app...er website for that!

Just go to NaNoWriMo's website to get a personalized account to help you track your daily word count, a countdown to your monthly 50,000 word goal, and even get immersed in the community that consists of nifty-cool writers such as yourselves for writing support and emotional help through this arduous endeavor.

Should you find yourself in a writer's block, here are some writing web resources to help. If you can't find the right place to write, don't fret because the Parkville Branch still has one more NaNoWriMo Write-In on November 17. You bring your laptop and writing utensils, we'll provide you the space, quiet, and coffee to will those 50,000 words onto the page.

Remember, it’s only 50,000 words, no big deal for wonderful writers like you. And for fun, I challenge you to try writing in a purple and green polka-dotted book or a yellow and orange stripped zebra into your story. Or maybe your story could use a wise, talking Bengal cat with piercing green, blue speckled eyes.

Happy Writing!

~Cody C.
Parkville Branch