If you have any doubt that National Novel Writing Month can work, talk to Erin Morgenstern.
The author of the celebrated The Night Circus began the book one November as her NaNoWriMo (as it’s commonly called) project. Does your future bestseller await you this month?
I’ve not fully participated in NaNoWriMo before, though I have on occasion used that time to work on my memoir. It was nice to know that so many others were writing at the same time, and it gave me a little push to sit in front of the computer when maybe I otherwise would not have. But I have never met the stated goal of writing 50,000 words during the month, mostly because I was never working on anything new and was always in the revising stage.
This month I’m going to do things a little differently, thanks to the fine folks at the Marylhurst English and Digital Humanities program.
They are calling November “Digital Writing Month” (or, #digiwrimo). In short, the idea is that we do all sorts of different writing in a given day. Most of that writing is digital—blog posts, tweets, Facebook updates and comments, emails, text messages, etc. So why not count that writing?
I plan to do a little bit of both each day in November—both digital writing and traditional writing. The point being, I want to write every day. So if it’s a blog post and not the beginning of an essay, it counts. If it’s a carefully worded email to a friend or acquaintance, it counts. I’m going to count my tweets and my Facebook updates and comments. It’s all writing—it all relates.
I would have to aim between 1,600-1,700 words a day to meet the 50,000-word goal at the end of the month. I don’t think that will happen, but I will try. But if I write something every day, I will be happy.
Are you doing NaNoWriMo, in some form or fashion?
If You Have Five Seconds to Spare 
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Sounds like a great idea! Good luck! My first update of my NaNoWriMo will be up shortly. 🙂 Oh, and you can always reach today’s target by replying to this comment! Haha!
I always want to, but November is when my harp events really start ramping up and, with my priorities in order, I just cannot take on a goal of 50,000 words AND practice the harp every day! I’d love to, though.
I like what you said about posting, emails and other “connecting” messages counting as writing. That’s a great and do-able challgenge for this month for those of us with other stuff our lists. To make each and every thing we type – whatever purpose – well written and clever and engaging.
You could post every day in November, you know. I’d read every single one!
Usually November was always crazy for me, too, especially with teaching assignments. There was always grading to do, it seemed. But then I thought, is there ever a good month? Is there ever a month when I’m not completely swamped? So I’m just biting the bullet. And counting this reply!
It’s been kind of fun to see exactly what type of writing I do each day and how much. So much more of my writing these days IS social writing–connecting with others, sharing information, trying to foster a community. It’s kind of neat to see how it’s changed over the years.