NaNoWriMo Takes the Block Out of Writers

It's that time of year again. Halloween has passed, and there's not much time left before we'll all be watching football and stuffing ourselves with turkey. But there's a time in between of which many who read this blog are aware. A time for something that can only be called 'literary abandon'.


Today is the fourth day of November, or as most writers know it, National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo, as it's abbreviated, is a marathon in the world of fiction writing. From November 1st through the 30th, writers from all across America and the world write 50,000 word novels. That's over 1500 words per day!

If you aren't a participant already, we here at Paradise Tossed urge you to take part. Often the biggest obstacle to completed works is a person's own penchant to put things off. NaNoWriMo takes procrastination off the table by setting a strict deadline, and bolstering that deadline with a vibrant, supportive community. The NaNoWriMo website is a rich source for writing a novel in any month, but particularly as part of this program. It's a full-featured social network with a wealth of tips and tools to get your novel going.

As writers, we tend to think of ourselves as solitary creatures, silently toiling away at our art by candlelight. This doesn't have to be the case. Writing can be as social an act as any other, and a strong community can produce a multitude of fantastic works. The community is on the site now: writing actively and enthusiastically. If you haven't started already, it's not too late. You can sign up at any time; just be prepared for a roller coaster ride.

In the meantime, I'm going to continue drafting my own novel. Time is slipping away faster than you might think!