50,000 Words, 30 Days
By Lauren, age 16, California
Every November, I get excited. In the past, it was simply because my birthday falls in that month. Now, I get out my journals and pens in preparation for the biggest writing marathon of the year - NaNoWriMo.NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Participants are challenged to write 50,000 words in 30 days, and millions of writers nationwide attempt this feat, churning out billions of words each year.
My first year participating in NaNoWriMo was back in 2009. During the month, I exchanged encouragement with a girl from a private school in Hawaii, a college sophomore in Canada, and a gymnast in New Jersey. I set my goal at 80,000 words that year, but I knew I'd be more than happy just to break 50,000. And I did.
From pep talks to their diverse forums, the NaNoWriMo site is the driving force that pushes writers to their literary limit. If you're looking for something new to do, whether you're a poet, screenwriter, songwriter, or soon-to-be novelist, I encourage you to try it for just the first week. Set a goal: "I'm going to write something that isn't related to school," and work on it little by little. Being busy is no excuse - thousands of AP-ers and extracurricular-burdened students live to tell the tale. Just remember the golden rule - don't edit anything!
While it isn't required, you can join the official site for pep talks from famous authors (Lemony Snicket is one of them!), stickers, awards, and regional events. If you decide to take it offline and be your own taskmaster, go for it! While you'll probably be the only one in your school participating, just remember that someone on the other side of the world is on the same journey. So keep writing!
For More Information:
http://www.nanowrimo.orghttp://ywp.nanowrimo.org