Are You Ready For NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is simple. Starting at 12a.m. on November 1 and ending at midnight on November 30, anyone and everyone is invited to write 50,000 words of a new novel. That averages out to around 1,667 words per day. NaNoWriMo has become internationally famous, but the concept is humble. This is a personal challenge anyone can take on. There aren’t awards or prizes other than the self-satisfaction you will feel on December 1 when you have the first draft of a new novel ready to go into revision. Sound interesting? Like a writing challenge? Are you just hearing about this and would like to try it but don’t have a clue where to start? Well, here you go! Below are 5 ideas for each of the 5 basic parts of a story. I invite you to use any and all ideas that tickle your fancy.
1. Characters
· The boy in the baseball cap holding up a bicycle much too small for him
· the weathered old lady with the salt and pepper hair and the faded shoes
· an angry purple duck
· the dusty blue teapot forgotten on the top shelf
· the newborn baby who just opened her eyes for the first time
2. Setting
· In the blue sky forever
· The smallest cage in the lowest dungeon of the tallest castle
· Midway up in the #5 rocking ferris wheel car
· Under the softest green blankets in the most comfortable room
· In the lightning flash on a dark and stormy night
3. Plot
· She opened her eyes into nowhere.
· If the butler didn’t do it, who did?
· They were in it for the rubber chicken.
· He had to know so he turned the page.
· The animals decided to make her happy.
4. Conflict
· The agoraphobic willed himself to leave the house.
· The teacher looked away so the student threw the pencil.
· The child managed to alert every hungry wolf in the deep forest.
· The stuffed squid readied himself for the intervention he knew was waiting.
· The locals knew the dead girl’s voice could be heard on the breeze of a stormy night.
5. Resolution
· Sighing happily, he floated away.
· They didn’t know where the path would take them, but they were ready.
· Clouds cleared.
· Happiness was an illusion she would enjoy for a while longer.
· You should see the other guy.
NaNoWriMo may seem like an overwhelming concept, but the idea is very simple. Just write. Write every day. Repeat “it is only a month” to yourself over and over again. You have an end goal. Try it. I dare you.
