Once again, it’s November, a month known to thousands around the world as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Last year, there were 325,142 participants, including me. Crazy writers all over the world work to write a
50,000 word novel in 30 days. Roughly 20% of those who begin end up achieving that goal.

The Sea Beckoned was born during NaNoWriMo. By the end of November, I had written 50,361 words of a novel with a day to spare. They weren’t all great writing, but it was a start. After my initial edit, I was down to 42,000 words. During NaNoWriMo, it’s all about quantity, not quality. After November, editing starts.

I wrote at home, in coffee shops, on vacation, in airports and airplanes, on Thanksgiving Day and even in another country. At the end of the first day, I had written 2,252 words. It takes an average of 1,667 words per day to get to 50,000, but I knew I would have days when writing would be difficult so I tried for 2,000 words each day.

Writers who finish 50,000 by 11:59 on November 30 are considered “winners”. You can see my nifty Winner badge in the right sidebar of this page.

This year, I chose not to participate. I really loved the adrenaline rush of my work last year, but I know right now I need to concentrate on the book at hand rather than start something anew.

I wish the best of luck to all the NaNoWriMo writers this year. Everyone who signs up is a winner in my eyes. Whatever they have written by the end of the month, it is more than they had November 1. Good luck to all!

Thanks for following the journey! I welcome feedback and suggestions.

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