By Rue Guilamo, Contributing Writer
National Novel Writing Month (also shortened as NaNoWriMo) is an annual event held every November that challenges participants to write a 50,000-word novel. Dr. Patrick Crerand, a professor of creative writing, had words of encouragement for any students interested in participating.
“Whatever you get done is an accomplishment,” said Crerand. “I encourage everyone to be kind to themselves because whether or not you meet the word requirement, any amount of words are good words.”
He also encouraged students to take the challenge day by day and plan out their writing.
“But even if you were to just, you know, say ‘Every day I’m going to write 200 words,’ or ‘Every day I’m going to write 300 words,’ so you can kind of adjust how much time you have, and you know how you feel about it, whatever you get done during that month is going to be an accomplishment and it will push you,” said Crerand.
He also highlighted that the exercise challenges you to write more than you normally would and write in a smaller space.
“It just begins to push yourself to write more. One of the things I think it can teach you is that it can write a lot in a small amount of space,” said Crerand.
Crerand participated in the annual event once before in 2012 while teaching at Saint Leo University, citing that he wrote everywhere when he came home for the whole month.
NaNoWriMo does not have an official prize and the task of writing 50,000 words may overwhelm many. However, the reward is in the writing.
Crerand shared the same thoughts that it doesn’t matter if the words aren’t perfect. They just need to be put down on the paper.
“I think the reward is essentially that you drafted something, because there really is no failing this,” said Crerand.
Entering the challenge is free but there are guidelines that are to be strictly followed.
- Writing begins at 12:00 a.m. local time on Nov. 1, 2021 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2021.
- Writers entering cannot begin writing before time begins.
- The 50,000-word count is the minimum. There is no maximum word count.
- No material written prior to start date can be used including any draft written prior to Nov. 1.
- There is no required theme, genre, or language.
In order to reach the 50,000-word count, writers should aim to write a minimum of 1,661 words per day. Despite having no official prize, many students, teachers, and parents have participated in the monthly challenge and have even had novels published.
The 50,000-word challenge is one that should be embraced by every kind of writer. It can bring forth growth, fulfillment, and many unforeseeable opportunities.
