While I have written short stories since I was a child, I owe my ability to “go the distance” to National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. It is a writing event that challenges people to spend the month of November “writing 50,000 words in 30 days.” These intensive writing challenges have become a household tradition. It’s so cathartic, so enjoyable, I often whine during the non-NaNoWri-months (the main writing event is in November, and they also hold “camp” sessions in April and July).
We also use NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program as a part of our homeschool curriculum. It provides a dynamic learning experience for children, complete with online visiting areas and writing workbooks, and allows for a much lower age-appropriate word count goal. Beginning in the 5th grade, my son transformed from a woefully-resistant writer into a novel-creating student who proudly shows off his certificate of accomplishment.
These are the personal gifts we’ve NaNoWriMo has given to my family. As for the world community, the benefits are even more numerous. Simply put, with the help of NaNoWriMo, the world sheds its boundaries and is infused with more creativity, more books, and more authors.
NaNoWriMo Writing Events & Progams:
It’s easy to support NaNoWriMo:
- Become a NaNoWriMo Patron for $10 per month
- Contribute monetarily when and how you are able
- Browse these alternative support options
- Share share share! Share the links. Share your experiences. Share your passion.