What year(s) did you participate in NaNoWriMo?
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Tell us if you won or not, and what you learned from the experience
Won two years, just past 35k for two others. Careful planning for the commitment is key.
What specific advice do you have for someone attempting NaNoWriMo ?
Start early. Not writing, of course, but thinking about your characters, structure plot and theme. Use a mind map. Draw pictures. Sleep on it. My successful years I started to plan in June. My unsuccessful years I started in October. Also, make absolutely sure your support system is in place. Your family and friends must be there to help you through the month.
In your opinion who do you think is a good fit to do the challenge and who is is *not* for.
The key to any writing. Discipline. You must be able sit down, alone, and write. 1600 words a day is doable, so long as you actually do it.
Social Media:
http://www.facebook.com/eric.michalsen
https://twitter.com/michalsen
Eric Michalsen says
If you are thinking about getting into NaNoWriMo this year Reddit has a very active nanowrimo group http://www.reddit.com/r/nanowrimo Also, #nanowrimo in g+ and twitter for trending ideas and support.
Remember, what you are writing is a 1st draft. It is NOT supposed to be very good. December is National Edit A Book month so just get those words down and get it done.
Eric says
It seems I’m not the best at following my own advice. I have been working on a plan for this November since this past summer when two weeks ago I told my wife about a horror story of a woman trapped in an old house that I started working on 10 years ago. Her response? “You left her in that home for 10 years?!” Well, no…she is a fictional character…well, that argument didn’t hold any water and now I’m shifting road maps in the middle of race building characters, plot, location, theme…in the span of weeks instead of months.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a bouncy ride.