2008 Woodie Awards
Writing a novel is easier than it looks with Web site's offerings
Benjamin Billman
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Opinions
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If I had a nickel for every time someone's told me they wouldn't be able to write a novel, I would have, uh, well, a lot of nickels.
However, it's not really that hard, something that several people in St. Cloud, including myself, found out last year.
This time a year ago, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine, saying he had found this "thing" I should try.
Being the trusting fool I am, I opened the link (www.nanowrimo.org) to the program known as nanowrimo, or National Novel Writing Month. The premise? During the month of November, write a 50,000 word novel on whatever you want; no editors checking it over for quality.
I had done a little writing in my past (those five-page papers in high school seem so long ago and feeble now), so I figured I would give it a shot.
Besides, 50,000 words in 30 days means 1,666.67 words a day. Heck, that's like a five or six page paper; ANYONE can do that...right?
Especially if the writer is, by chance, an English major...or, in the case of one of last year's participants, an English teacher.
You would be surprised.
It's actually quite manageable. I write this now with one novel under my belt, a pseudo-historical fiction/love story/fantasy/whatever novel. It's not the fact I have this book finished that is the great feeling though.
It's the fact that now, when I go to the bookstore and browse the shelves with friends and they say "I could write that," I say, "I already did."
Nearing November once again, I am better prepared now. I have my outline all worked out-several, in fact. I have character profiles started, and I have begun writing small bits off the cuff each day to get myself in the mood.
However, that sort of preparation is hardly necessary for someone wishing to try to write their own literary masterpiece. It is simply as easy as, on Nov. 1, beginning a story.
There is no need to sign up to the site (although its comics are hilarious, and it provides support for beginning writers); there is no need to plot it out beforehand.
However, it's not really that hard, something that several people in St. Cloud, including myself, found out last year.
This time a year ago, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine, saying he had found this "thing" I should try.
Being the trusting fool I am, I opened the link (www.nanowrimo.org) to the program known as nanowrimo, or National Novel Writing Month. The premise? During the month of November, write a 50,000 word novel on whatever you want; no editors checking it over for quality.
I had done a little writing in my past (those five-page papers in high school seem so long ago and feeble now), so I figured I would give it a shot.
Besides, 50,000 words in 30 days means 1,666.67 words a day. Heck, that's like a five or six page paper; ANYONE can do that...right?
Especially if the writer is, by chance, an English major...or, in the case of one of last year's participants, an English teacher.
You would be surprised.
It's actually quite manageable. I write this now with one novel under my belt, a pseudo-historical fiction/love story/fantasy/whatever novel. It's not the fact I have this book finished that is the great feeling though.
It's the fact that now, when I go to the bookstore and browse the shelves with friends and they say "I could write that," I say, "I already did."
Nearing November once again, I am better prepared now. I have my outline all worked out-several, in fact. I have character profiles started, and I have begun writing small bits off the cuff each day to get myself in the mood.
However, that sort of preparation is hardly necessary for someone wishing to try to write their own literary masterpiece. It is simply as easy as, on Nov. 1, beginning a story.
There is no need to sign up to the site (although its comics are hilarious, and it provides support for beginning writers); there is no need to plot it out beforehand.