November is National Novel Writing Month. The challenge: to write 50,000 words in one month. It’s grueling and exhilarating at the same time. I “won” NaNoWriMo back in 2009, which means I was successful in squeezing out the 50,000-word minimum. And, oh, was it painful at times!
I learned a lot about writing. I learned that the middle really is messy. I learned that an outline can only get you so far. I chased rabbit trails on a regular basis, and, most importantly, I learned to never, ever delete scenes. After repeated fisticuffs with my internal editor, I learned how to get in “the zone” and let the words flow. I learned not to keep my pinkie finger on the shift key while paused deep in thought – and I learned how to unlock my keyboard when that happened. More than once.
I learned a lot about my new neighbourhood. There is a definite rhythm of activity within any neighbourhood, I’m sure, and I was able to observe mine for thirty evenings, between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. I learned who worked night shifts, who snuck in after curfew, and who walked their dogs under cover of darkness. I wonder what they thought about the figure in my front window, sitting motionless and lit by the glow of a computer screen.
I learned that Calgary has a vibrant writing community that reaches far beyond the formal writing groups I have joined and visited. I learned how much fun (and distracting) the Calgary chat rooms are, how competitive the write-ins can be, and how antiquated I feel writing longhand with the chatter of keys all around me at a meet-up.
The Calgary NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaisons will join us at the next SCBWI Calgary meeting on Thursday, October 17. They will explain more about the challenge and all the support available for those who dare to try. You are welcome to drop in at 7:00pm in the Community Meeting Room, lower level, Southcentre Mall. If you need a push to get your novel written – or at least started – we can give it to you.
