NaNoWriMo. Will you be writing?

November is fast approaching and for the second time I’m planning away my NaNoWriMo project for 2012
I’ve always been sceptical at the idea of me rushing to finish a 50,000 word novel in the space of 30 days, especially as I can’t spend whole days at my computer, having to go to uni and plan my dissertation and assignments. The general idea is a good one, as it allows you to take one month out to focus solely on a novel when it may have taken you years to ever have taken the time out to even start it, but can you honestly write a good novel in 30 days?

Of course it entirely depends on the type of novel. Creating a fictional land in a sci-fi or fantasy setting means you can make up your own world and how the characters can behave, but is it as easy to write say a historical based novel in 30 days?

I myself have been writing a novel set in the Victorian era for nearly five years, with two years of this suffering severe writers block. After all, writing a historically accurate novel requires more research than writing, because in my view, if you’re going to write a historical novel, you have to write it properly. Would I have been able to research everything their was to know about the Victorian era and write a well-written 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Definitely not, and I wouldn’t even attempt to.

It’s different for all writers of course, as I know some writers work best on a deadline, not having time to doubt what they have written and constantly delete paragraphs at a time in annoyance of their writing skills. But I personally never feel happy with anything I have had to rush and always think; “what if I had just added in this bit?” Or “I wish I had had time for someone to proofread it for me.” I really admire all those writers out there who manage to write brilliant novels in NaNoWriMo, as I know I myself could never achieve it.

But as I did last year, here I am planning on entering NaNoWriMo again, as I know I will then have to make time to do some writing rather than having to fit it in around my uni work. But having said everything I have, I don’t plan on writing a novel, I know that I’d be severely disappointed with any story I had to write in such a short space of time, therefore I am approaching NaNoWriMo from a different angle this year.

I’ve recently discovered my love for writing short stories when I feel I need to escape from the world for a bit. I love creating a character and telling their story in only 1500 words, who they are, where they are in life, and whether or not they will get there happy ending. It’s comforting to know that there can be a happy ending to a story just because I chose that I would like those characters to have one. Therefore, this year I have decided to write a collection of short stories for NaNoWriMo, which if I write up to 50,000 words of in November, I’ll be able to order in book form and have for my own collection.

So what are your thoughts on writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Will you be joining thousands of other writers in NaNoWriMo this year? What do you plan on writing? Could you manage a novel, or would you stick to short stories? Share your thoughts in a comment.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year and wish to add me as a ‘writing buddy’, my account is: oldvictorianquill

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