Have you ever wanted to write a novel? You're not alone. According to a popular statistic frequently circulated through the creative space, about 81% of our population wants to write a book. Many never act on that desire, and out of those who do, only 3% finish their book. Less than 1% will reach publication.
Why am I bringing up such a bleak outlook? It's certainly not to discourage you from penning your memoir or pursuing your creative endeavor. I'm sharing this with you because you should do it. Just by making the attempt to write, you're already defying the odds, and that is half the battle.
This month marks an exciting time for many wordsmiths looking for motivation. If you've never heard of it before, let me introduce you to National Novel Writing Month, what most know as NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing writers with the support, community, tools and resources they need to write and finish their book. November 1 aspiring and veteran writers alike flock to the organization's website to take on the challenge of writing a book in a month (or at least a portion of it). The standard milestone is to write 50,000 words (that's around 200 pages).
NaNoWriMo's website gives you a suggested daily word count, a way to track your writing, and access to an entire community of support to encourage and help you along the way. If you win the challenge, you earn a badge and big discounts on writing related software and more. Not everyone reaches that 50,000 word goal, but for many, every word written is a win.
Is 50K still a little overwhelming? NaNoWriMo has you covered. Every April and July, the organization hosts Camp NaNoWriMo where you can customize and track your goals from brainstorming, writing a word count of your choice, and beyond. Outside of the hosted events, the website tools and communities are available to users throughout the year.
Beyond the numbers, the November event is like taking a leap of faith. You never know what you can achieve if you don't make the attempt. Maybe you're not interested in writing, but you have other big goals. This is a friendly reminder for you, too. Put your dreams on paper. Put dates on your calendar. Find the tools, resources, and community that can help you turn that dream into tangible reality. 2023 is coming to a close, but one small step, one small deliberate change in your everyday routine may be all it takes for this to be day one of a new season and direction in your life.
If you want to write a book, join NaNoWriMo at https://nanowrimo.org/.
Have you ever wanted to write a comic book? Keep it Konkret! Join our Patreon for mentoring, master classes, our private Discord channel, and more.
Comment below if you're up for the challenge, and send this post to someone who needs a friendly nudge out of their comfort zone.
About Montrez, Contributor
Montrez is a sci-fi and fantasy author, a freelance editor, and blogger passionate about celebrating and amplifying BIPOC and indie voices in the bookish and blerd community.
Visit her website for more on her books and editing services at https://www.authormontrez.com/links .
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