When I lived in France, November was a special month for me.
November was the literary season with awards and prizes.
November was the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau, a young wine that you don’t keep in your cellar but drink in the weeks that follow.
November was also my birthday month.
When I moved to the United States I adapted and adopted new celebrations and traditions.
I was happy that Thanksgiving happened to be in November.
Many stores now carry also the French Beaujolais Nouveau.
And I could participate to the infamous NaNoWriMo.
I have mixed feelings about this crazy race.
- Seriously, 50 000 words sound a lot.
- Honestly, who writes every day?
- Really, the idea of a new draft is tempting.
- Definitely, pressure isn’t a bad thing for writers.
So, am I doing NaNoWriMo 2014?
I am and I am not.
I started a new YA story.
I won’t have 50 000 words by the end of the month but I have the beginning and the ending and enough elements to know that it’s a manuscript that I will finish.
How do I know that I can turn this bud of a draft into a completed manuscript?
I have been a NaNoWriMo participant in the past. Three times I have clocked my 50 000 words.
One of the drafts became my recently published Middle Grade novel Chronicles From Château Moines.
One of the reasons I know that I won’t get 50 000 words is also because of this recent publication.
Writing is one thing.
Marketing is another.
So while I would like to Write new Stuff, I’m actually working at promoting a NaNoWriMo baby, while plotting the birth of a new one. Because you just never know where 50 000 words will take you.
Good luck brave NaNoWriMo people!
The Write Stuff 
Great post. I’ve never really considered the word count to be the important thing about NaNo. For me it’s really more about playing around with a new idea. (And candy.)
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The candy part is actually true for me. After Halloween I always get too many pieces that I devour as I furiously type words away. I agree with you that the most important part is to get something down. The fact that others are doing it pushes me too. When you start telling a few, some pride feeling makes you want to write.
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*making note to self to buy more candy at Halloween* I never knew this stimulated writing. Now I have the perfect excuse…for next year! 🙂
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Thanks for a great post, Evelyne! So glad you are joining in here at TWS. And it’s great that you are doing NaNoWriMo. I haven’t yet had the time, energy, or wits to participate in it. It always seems that I’m in the middle of more than I can handle when it rolls around. Of course, I know everyone feels that way, but really. My head will explode if I try to do one more thing. I’m pretty sure of it. 😉
And, um…Jen? Candy? Nobody told me about no steenkin’ candy!!! I might have made other decisions. But probably not. Now if it were pumpkin pie…well, I find that pretty near irresistible.
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Thank you for inviting me over, Marcia. Twice in fact, since you hosted me for my novel too. NaNoWriMo is exactly what Jen above said. Not a race to get 50 000 words, although the feeling is great, but more importantly to get the seeds of a new story. See you soon.
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Reblogged this on Evelyne Holingue and commented:
Just a few thoughts about November and my various NaNoWriMo experiences.
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Yes indeed. Writing is one thing … and marketing VERY much another. Once upon a time, publishers did it for their authors. These days, authors do their own marketing. It’s hard. I passed writing, but flunked marketing. I admire you willingness to do battle with the marketing demons.
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I am SO with you, Marilyn! Self-marketing is the bane of my existence right now. I LOVE to write. I hate to market. I’m learning new ways around it all the time, and finding out that a lot of the ideas “out there” are no longer the best way to go. But that will change, too, as it just keeps on shifting. Thanks for stopping by The Write Stuff today, and taking the time to comment. Hope you’ll visit often.
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This is hard for new comers and although a few indie authors manage to get noticed, the majority of us doesn’t. But I read recently that the best way to get noticed is to publish more, and it’s probably true that it helps to build reputation and visibility. So let’s go back to our computers, notebooks and pens!
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I’m astonished that you’ve done NaNoWriMo three times already. Congratulations! I’ve haven’t done it once yet. I suppose I could use some pressure to get at least the basics of my next novel down on paper. Maybe next year.
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It IS astonishing what Evelyne has accomplished, isn’t it? I am always amazed at these NaNoWriMo writers. Glad you stopped by, and thanks for taking the time to comment. Hope you’ll come back often.
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My children had always a strange high school schedule in November. Sometimes it didn’t make sense to go home and come back, so on such days I just went to the library and wrote. That’s how it happened. I only considered Chronicles From Château Moines worth to be revised, edited and published. But I remember how eager I was to return to my story, day after day. I think that it was that part I enjoyed most. The routine, although accidental at first, was really a motor that kept me going. Maybe I should pretend that it’s November every day to get more writing done. Nice to see you, Nicki.
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Great post, Evelyne! Lotsof reasons to hop on the NaNo bandwagon, even if a writer is tweaking the requirements. After all, it’s important for writers to take advantage of all that writing energy out there in November. I wish you the best of luck with your new project. And happy birthday!!
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I like the thought of it being a way to take advantage of the “writing energy” out there in November. That’s a great way to look at it! Welcome to The Write Stuff, btw. Hope you’ll visit often.
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Thank you, Kimberly. This year NaNoWriMo is to me only a way to get some new material to work from. I won’t have much to brag about, but I’m eager to see this new story take shape later this winter. Thanks for your birthday wishes. In just a few more days!
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I’ve never done NaNoWriMo and I loved your take on it Evelyne. I wish you every success with both your recent book publication and your new draft. You inspire me my friend 🙂
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Nice to see you here, Sherri. Thank you for your kind wishes and words. I enjoy the start of a new project very much and while I am working at getting the word out for Chronicles From Château Moines, I find important to remain creative too. So this month was a good way to jumpstart my mind. See you soon.
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Loved this post Evelyne! Great way to bring a writing project together – yes, no doubt that you’ll produce your a great manuscript.
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I hope to, Mary! Actually I think you are a source of inspiration with your challenges. Thank you for stopping by. See you soon.
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