It's almost time for NaNoWriMo [50,000 words in 30 days]
50,000 words? In 30 days?
Some would call this an impossible, insurmountable task. But those of us who write blogs know that it is possible. Some of us are writing 50,000 words on a regular basis (maybe not in
30 days, but over the course of a couple of months anyway).
I do not want to be drawn away from writing my blog posts, but at the same time, I feel compelled to write fiction. It's been in my soul to be a storyteller since as early as I can remember.
This desire to tell stories through the written word was driven home when in 4th grade I received a round of applause from my classmates for a little story I had written. I think the teacher had something to do with that, but nevertheless, applause I received and the desire to write stories was forever cemented into my heart.
I have written countless words of fiction since then. During college, it kind of tapered off, but I was still writing a lot and wrote two books while attending college. (No, they have never been published and I do not know where the manuscripts are anymore.)
Being heavily influenced by the earlier writings of Stephen King, you can just about imagine what my stories were about, though! (For those who do not know, Stephen King writes horror novels.)
Most of my stories were end-of-the-world, apocalyptic style stories.
My brain still thinks that way. Although I am a bit more optimistic about the future now than I was back when I was a teen and young adult.
My attempt this NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a work of fiction called, "The Sleep."
It's a story about deceit and trickery, life and love (with just a bit of end-of-the-world, apocalyptic story line running through its veins!
I hope this post is not construed as being self-promoting, because there is a point and it does tie-in to our learning here at Wealthy Affiliate so bear with me!
How does this relate to WA?
Quite simply. If you have something to write, write it. You wouldn't be reading this post on WA if you didn't have something to write. As a group of people who write blogs and intend to do so to make extra money or a full-time income, you will be writing—a lot!
If someone can write 50,000 words of fiction in 30 days, surely we should be able to write 50,000 words of non-fiction in 30 days on our blogs. That breaks down to 1667 words a day for 30 days. Many of our blog posts are over 1000 words, so either make the one post longer if that makes sense for the post. Don't just add words to make it longer. That's a sure-fire way to lose readers.
If it doesn't make sense to write a longer post, write two posts. If you have more than one website you write for, write a post for each. (Unless for some reason you have like 50 blogs. Then just focus on a couple of them...Otherwise you would be writing 50,000 words a day and that's just a bit...much.
There are many ways you can write 50,000 words in a month. But writing one post per day on your websites is the easiest way to accomplish it.
Is it a massive undertaking? Yes.
Can it be done? Yes.
Should it be done? Maybe.
One drawback I could see is that if you wrote a post every day, you would need to keep up that momentum because you would begin to have readers who would expect it.
Oh, my, look at the time! I better get to my day job so I don't get fired!
Hmmm.... maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea! Then I sure would have plenty of time to write 1667 words a day!
Have a great day, everyone! Let me know if you are going to tackle this monumental task with me!
Karin
Recent Comments
21
It may seem monumental Karin but it is not impossible if you commit. I believe I'll take your challenge up, it is a great time of the year around me when the ability to work outside is limited and Thanksgiving is within that 30 day period.
Let's go, will check back with you then.
Blessings
Ray
I did this twice a few years back and loved it! Not doing it this year because I have other priorities.
Karin, you can do this. Set your priorities and do as much as you can every day. One step at a time!
Joe
I love to make up stories to fit around a real happening, or a happening that could be real. I don't know if that makes sense. It just seems that time always pops by and says," you don't have enough of me just now". But you're right, a few rearrangements and we would have the time.
Worth shooting for.
Hi Karen. Congrats on getting your novel done in 30 days. Do you have a publisher for it? I've always loved to write as well. I just have so much else going on in my life right now that I'm not doing what I really want to be doing...but this, too, shall pass, and I'll be back to what I love. Have a wonderful week. Carol
I was thinking about this earlier, having seen others write every day. However I'd find 1500 words a day challenging. I'm not that fast and take time on research, finding images, formatting and adding links. However, I'm wondering if 600 words a day is better than two 1500 posts a week.
Great post! I would certainly like to try to do that.....If you want a writing mate, you've got one!I really need to up my game with writing content!
I too wrote two unpublished, fictional children's books that I do not know what happened to them :)
Heres to writing content!
Claudia
I love fiction novels! I love to read about dragons and mythical creatures. People getting bitten and turning into a majestic animal that rules countries! Those are so cliche and you can almost always predict the ending but its what the middle of the story says and what keeps me interested! When I was on deployment I bought 15 fiction books on my phone so I could read at night before bed. I only finished 9 of them :D but they were great reads nonetheless. So if you do decide to write fiction novels again I would love to read them! Good luck!!
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I've done it a couple of times in my novels--not saying they're totally awesome or anything--except to me of course--only that it CAN be done. You just have to put your mind to it and set aside a time every single day to write!!
Jeff