November is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo spans the whole month of November and encourages participants to complete an entire novel in 30 days, approximately 50,000 words. If you are interested in participating in the Young Writer’s NaNoWriMo, visit their site for more details.
Even if you don’t feel like 2014 is your year to write a novel in 30 days, there are things you can do to improve your writing and get yourself ready for next year.
Writing tips
As a librarian, I’ve been lucky enough to meet lots of different authors at conferences, bookstores, and library programs. Here are just a few of the words of wisdom and advice they have passed along.
1. Write what you know.
2. Set writing goals. Write every day, whether you are writing a blog post, journal entry, poetry, a novel, or just a witty tweet.
3. Create or join a writer’s group. Support your writer friends. Read and critique each other’s work.
4. Be inspired by the world around you. (See a Heart, Share a Heart)
5. Read, read read! Read widely and also read the type of novels you want to write. Learn from those who have already made it into publishing. Decide what you like about their style and what you don’t.
Check out one of these books about writing:
On Writing: a memoir of the craft by Stephen King
Writing Wild: forming a creative partnership with nature by Tina Welling (a Wyoming author!)
Not Quite What I Was Planning : six-word memoirs by writers famous and obscure and I can’t keep my own secrets : six-word memoirs by teens famous + obscure edited by Smith Magazine (Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith).
Happy reading and writing!