If you’re a writer – any kind of writer, of any genre, skill level, or current fame – and you haven’t participated in National Novel Writing Month yet, you are missing out.
Considering I am celebrating my 10th book release with Interpretive Hearts through Dreamspun Desires, and more fanfiction written than I think I could ever catalog or properly document for insane word count, it may come as a surprise that I only first participated in NaNoWriMo in 2015, meaning right now – because you can bet I’ve participated every year since and am again – I am in the midst of my 5th NaNo.
Admittedly, I didn’t finish last year. It was a big project I was working on, and I let myself take a bit of a break, but I still can count 5 of my already published books as completed in part thanks to this annual November event.
For those unfamiliar with NaNo, on November 1 every year, participants begin working toward the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. 50k words is not as daunting as it may appear at first glance. This equals about 1,600 words a day and helps instill that age-old idiom of ‘write every day’.
I know it’s almost cliché at this point, but it seriously works. Even if just a sentence, forcing yourself (sometimes with effort) to write will almost always lead to a second sentence, a paragraph, a page, even more, and can surprise you with how easily a little nudge of routine goes a long way.
NaNo forces this discipline, as the only way to hit 50k words in a month is to write every day (or very near to it). Usually, I try to get above the average word count to as close to 2,000 as a can, so that on the days it’s just impossible to write, I don’t fall behind.
Outside of NaNo, I am not as dedicated, but I still write something every day, even if just a tiny bit, and it has made all the difference with averaging two novels a year for quite some time (and way more fanfiction, blogs, and online rants than I’d like to admit).
Here’s the working synopsis for the project I am working on this year:
Isaac Ford has been reconnecting with Dalton, the son he never knew existed, ever since Christmas—when he had a one-night stand with the detective who put him in prison.
The fire between him and detective-turned-security consultant, Andrew Wen, had been unmistakable but building a relationship with Dalton took precedence over fostering a fling.
Months later, Isaac has started a security consultancy of his own, looking for a fresh start. His past catches up to him, however, when he and Dalton run into Andrew, who happened to be friends with Dalton in college, and who isn’t happy Isaac is encroaching on his business.
What’s worse is when Dalton gets it into his head to play matchmaker.
Are you participating in NaNo right now? Tell me about it! Any advice to share as we near the final week? Let me know! And by December 1st, here’s hoping I have the beginnings of my next novel.
Check out Interpretive Hearts today!
In the competitive world of dance, Teddy was a flawless performer and hardass choreographer who students feared and admired in equal measure. But hip surgery ended the glamour and drama, and now Teddy is recovering at his beach house, lost and listless.
Until he meets Finn, his neighbor, who is too perfect, gorgeous, and kind to exist—but very ill timed. In a seaside town as small as theirs, they can’t avoid each other, especially since Finn is also Teddy’s new physical therapist. But Teddy isn’t the man he used to be, and though Finn flirts shamelessly with him, Teddy can’t believe a has-been dancer is worthy of someone so young and full of life.
Finn’s sunny smile is also hiding heartache. Pursuing Teddy challenges both his professionalism and his self-preservation, but if he can convince Teddy to trust him, maybe they both can heal.
where dreams come true... 