I would like to say this about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo):
I have found a network of supportive, encouraging, and engaging storytellers. They have provided me the necessary momentum for attempting to achieve our shared goal of 50,000 words by November 30th. They have even been a great source of comic relief, at times when a break from the seriousness of writing is needed.
We have used prompts to get us out of road blocks, writing jams and procrastination issues.
Let me share some of what we used:
- Writing in blocks of time for 30, 45 or 60 minute intervals.
- Use a certain word in your story.
- Prompts:
Why did you do it?
I have a little bit of a problem, I like to ________.
They came back every year…
If people have nothing, they’ll do anything for something.
The prompts have helped spur all of us in our stories, even when the prompts didn’t seemingly fit with our story line; we twisted it and were successful.
One of the writers, Kathleen Farrell, shared a key aspect to writing: “The world I create in my mind is vastly superior to what is out there.”
I love where the NaNoWriMo experience has led me and is still leading me. Although the novel writing month comes to an end tonight at midnight, my friends and I will still continue to write, create and work toward our next goal: the completed novel ready for sale.