Time To Get Your Write On: NaNoWriMo 2012

At the risk of sounding more eccentric than I already am, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Yes, as of this posting, it is three-and-a-half weeks until the commencement of one of my most favourite points on the calendar. It is a time where myself, and thousands of others around the globe, embark on a journey that will take them to the inner sanctums of their own creative psyches in a bid to do something that most people would think is ludicrous. It is almost time for the 2012 edition of NaNoWriMo.

What the heck is NaNoWriMo?

Allow me to break it down for you. NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It is a literary journey where people around the world, with the gumption to do so, set out to do what seems impossible. Their task at hand is to write a novel. Not just any novel; a novel that is a work of fiction that contains at least 50,000 words. However, there is a catch to the task. Those 50,000+ words must be written within a specific time frame: from one second after the stroke of midnight the writer's local time on November 1st until one tick of the clock before the end of November 30th.

50,000 words in 30 days? Are you insane?

Naturally, it would be easy to draw that conclusion; however, like I said before, there are others from around the globe who are embarking on this challenge, as well. Some of which are in your own neck of the woods. So, in essence, you're not really alone in the endeavour. What's more, it enables one to establish a new social circle where you can gather at different events to work on your respective novels-to-be. They can be at a local library, an area coffee shop, or even someplace off-the-wall -- like in my current hometown of Toronto, Canada; where they arrange for a group of people to write while riding on the subway. What's more, in some regions, they will even organize a special weekend where you all gather in a disclosed location, and type or scribble away all through the night. It's like a sleepover, but you're all working towards your respective 50,000 word goals. In short, you could create a novel, and have some awesome fun in the process.

This sounds interesting. Where can I find out more information about this?

It sounds like I've piqued your curiosity. If you'd like to probe even further, you can surf on over to the NaNoWriMo website at http://www.nanowrimo.org , and what's more, sign-up is absolutely FREE! However, it is a non-profit organization, so while it's not mandatory, if you're able to scrape up a couple of dollars and donate it to them directly, or through your region at one of the write-in or social events, they would greatly appreciate it. Doing so will help them continue to carry on such a wonderful event year in and year out.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to go over right now and register.

That's great. If you do, I hope you are successful in reaching the 50,000 word goal. Trust me, it is possible. *pets his copy of Scarlet Siege as proof.*