It’s almost November and for all you writers out there that means it’s almost time for NaNoWriMo!
NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month where participants endeavor to write 50,000 words during the month of November.
50K?
Yeah, I know. If you’ve read any of my past posts about NaNoWriMo, you know I’m not a fan of word counts.
But, I am a fan of doing whatever it takes to start writing the thing that you really want to write.
So, if you’ve been itching to write a story, novel, poem, play, script, nonfiction book, or memoir, NaNoWriMo is a great time to do it, and here are four great resources to help you on your path.
The first NaNoWriMo resource is from my friend Jas Hothi, author of The Indie Author (featuring yours truly and many other cool indie authors), blogger, podcaster, and writing coach. While Jas has reached the 50,000 word milestone at NaNoWriMo in the past, this year, he won’t be aiming for 50,000 words. Watch his video to find out why and learn about the alternative approach he’ll be taking that just might help you on your writing path.
The next NaNoWriMo resource is my friend AS Renner’s live writing sessions on YouTube. Anja is the author of the thriller City of Lies, my partner-in-crime for Tarot Writing Prompts workshops, and a writing coach. Anja hosts writing livestreams Monday through Thursday at 8 AM CEST (use World Time Buddy to see what time this is in your time zone). Anja’s writing sessions–whether you attend them live or watch the recordings later–are a great way to have an encouraging, motivating writing partner to write with four days a week.
Another NaNoWriMo resource is the online program Writer for Real by my friend Lauren Sapala, author and writing coach. Writer for Real is an online silent writing program for writers who are looking for accountability and group support to get their writing done. You’ll meet three times a week for one hour over Zoom. Lauren will take you through a guided meditation/visualization before each session to get your energy flowing and then you’ll write together in silence. It is silent writing sessions like this that helped Lauren write her first books and it works. Lauren’s goal is to give writers a flexible and safe space to show up for themselves and their writing. This course runs from November 2-30, 2021, so don’t delay, sign up today!
Last but not least, if you start NaNoWriMo and find yourself procrastinating and avoiding writing any which way you can, you might be dealing with some fear. It’s okay. It happens to a lot of writers, including me! Fear is a natural part of the creative process. Instead of fighting it, work with it. Come to my Fear & Writing workshop on Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 2:00-4:00 PM Pacific Time. You’ll discover simple, realistic ways to face your fear, get to know it, and use it to propel your writing, rather than hinder it. Doesn’t that sound good? Even better, I’m teaching this workshop online via Zoom so you can attend from anywhere in the world and it’s hosted by the fine folx at the 2021 Portland Book Festival & Literary Arts. ✨ This is the LAST TIME I’ll be teaching this workshop, so don’t miss it. Sign up today!✨
If you’re doing NaNoWriMo this November, I hope you’ll find these resources helpful to your journey. Just know that you are not alone. You’ll be writing along with hundreds of thousands of other writers, and I’ll be writing with you too (fingers crossed I will finish my next book, Frugal Millionaire). We got this, people. Let’s get writing!
Peg Cheng (she/her) is a writer and educator living in Seattle, Washington.
Photo by Christin Hume