Will I Participate in NaNoWriMo in 2023?

For the past two years, I’ve taken to writing a portion of a full-length novel in November as part of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. Any excuse to write more is good enough for me, especially with some level of organisation, so of course I’m happy to get involved whenever I’m able to. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment after writing so much whether I succeed at reaching the goal or not is great.

With October flying by and November looming, the thought has been nagging at me for a while. Will I be taking part this year?

What is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is technically a non-profit organisation that provides everything necessary to motivate writers, including offering information, tools, structure, and community. They offer programs for young writers as well as older ones, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to get involved in the world of writing, and they do this all year round.

Every year in November, they host a month-long event during which writers around the world attempt to write 50,000 words in a month. They also host other programmes throughout the year, but the most popular one occurs in November, and their website is a great place to go whether you’re new to the challenge or not. It offers access to tips, in-person events in your area, and also to forums where you can connect with other writers exploring the same genres as you, or with similar interests as you, whether on their first or tenth attempt at the challenge.

Am I participating this year?

The short answer is no, I won’t be participating this year, despite finding a lot of enjoyment in it during the previous years I have.

The long answer is that I won’t be participating in any official capacity, as I know there’s a slim chance of me making it to 50,000 words when I’ve barely been writing 1,000 words a week lately as I try to work out my current story. However, in the spirit of writing more, and making time for writing, I’ll probably make some loose targets for myself for the next few months in the hopes that I can make some real progress with what I’m currently writing.

I’m also in a phase where I’m considering what I might do with all the things I’ve written in the past, which has played a part in how slowly I’ve been writing new things. While I’m excited to move forward, I’m also dwelling on the older things. I have no problem with sitting on my writing and not doing anything with it, but I’m starting to think that maybe the way I feel about it should be a problem. Why not find a way that I feel comfortable with to share my writing? It’s hardly any different to sharing my thoughts on my blog, so I don’t know why I’ve struggled with it so much.

While working out what to do with my writing requires more thought, I’m already sure I won’t be trying to race to 50,000 words this November. However, if you’re thinking of taking the plunge, I would highly recommend it, as it’s a great way to set your inner critic aside and just write. It can be a very valuable lesson in getting your story out and worrying about the editing later, which a lot of writers can struggle with. NaNoWriMo isn’t really about writing something ‘good’, just about writing freely, or writing at all, so if that sounds like the inspiration you need, then you should absolutely sign up on their website now!

How do you feel about writing challenges?