Get Off Your Butt and Write This Month

We writers know we’re the worst procrastinators. Sometimes having a deadline (even an artificial one) gives the necessary kick in the pants we need.

Luckily, November is a great month to renew your motivation and sweep out the summer cobwebs. Today marks the start of two great writing events, each tailored to a different group of writers.

Want to write a 50,000-word novel by the end of the November? Then National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is for you. Be sure to register so you can log your word count and track your progress. The site also has a forum, videos and more. But don’t spend too long on the site. You need to get writing!

For younger writers or educators who want to participate, there’s a special section for the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program.

Since the idea of writing an entire novel gives me a panic attack, I’m taking part in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), over at Tara Lazar’s blog. The goal of one picture book idea a day is very attainable, so I encourage anyone interested in writing for children to participate.

And while it’s not happening this month, keep your eye out for National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee) in May.

The key to success with any of these events is to remember that you’re not concerned with quality while participating. It’s all about getting words and ideas down and forcing yourself to let go of rules and self-editing. Just have fun and see what happens!

Photo by gilles chiroleu