November is finally here, and the season of NaNo has begun. NaNo or NaNoWriMo is an abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month—an annual event that begins November 1 and ends November 30. It is a writing challenge in which writers attempt to complete a novel in 30 days. That, of course, is an oversimplification of what NaNo is. It is so much more. Anyone interested in learning about NaNo should visit the NaNoWriMo site.
Most participants in NaNo aim to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That is because that is the default goal of NaNo. However, this challenge is not set in stone, and writers can change it to be what they need it to be. For example, a writer may have completed a novel, and his/her challenge is to edit it in 30 days. Other writers may not be writing a novel but wish to complete several writing projects. For example, a weekly blogger may challenge himself/herself to write a blog daily. Thus, writers interested in participating in NaNo shouldn’t limit themselves to a 50,000-word goal. NaNo goals are intended to be personalized and to encourage creativity. Therefore, writers should set goals that meet their needs.
The first step in doing this is to identify goals. Does the writer have a singular goal or multiple goals? What does the writer want to achieve?
The second would be to determine if the goals are realistic. For example, if a weekly blogger wishes to increase his/her output to daily, he/she needs to consider if he/she has the time to make this possible. If he/she only has an hour to write per week and is a slow typist, then, this goal may not be one the writer can reasonably achieve without finding a way to add increase his/her amount of time for writing. Another example (and this may step on some people’s toes), is if a writer wishes to write his/her story in a language he/she is not proficient in, thirty days may not be enough time to achieve this if the writer is constantly having to look up words and phrases. Are either of these situations impossible? No. However, both would require a solid plan to make them durable.
The third would be to identify how the goals will be measured. Word-count goals are simple. Just count the words. However, other goals may be more complicated to measure. For example, a person who has an editing goal may need to wish to measure progress by having a designated number of chapters to complete editing. A weekly blogger who wants to blog daily may measure progress by the number of completed blogs. A writer who is focused on completing projects necessary for publication may measure progress by the number of completed projects. However, if a project is sizeable with a number of steps, the writer may focus on the percentage of completion of the overall project or the number of completed steps. In any case, the writer should have a way to measure progress objectively and concretely.
Likely, if a person is participating in NaNo, by this stage, he/she has already identified the previous. However, if he/she hasn’t, it isn’t too late to do so now. Yet, one may wish to go beyond the writing for set goals. Here are some other goals to consider.
- Have you pushed yourself beyond your usual or attempted something new?
- Have you expanded your creativity?
- Have you improved your writing?
- Have you told the story you wanted to tell?
- Are you satisfied with what you are accomplishing?
- Will the end result be something that you want?
- After NaNo has ended, if you haven’t achieved your goals, is the project something that you will want to continue?
- Will participating in NaNo alter how one feels about writing?
Several years ago, a writer stated that she does not participate in NaNo because she feels that every month for writers should be writing months with goals and not designated to a single month of a year. She is not alone in this sentiment, and there are many writers who do not participate in NaNo. I mention this because there is much chatter about NaNo hitting the internet. Writers should only participate if they want to and not because they feel pressured because so many others are.
With that said, that’s all that I have for today. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.
When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.
Order your copy at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9
Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W
Did you miss the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.
Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.
Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.
Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.
For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.
If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or X (formerly tweet) me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads, Amazon Authors, BookBub, Bluesky, Threads, or TikTok.
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
Author Bio
Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.
Creole Bayou 