A Month-long Celebration of Writing – NaNoWriMo Starts Tomorrow!

Do you know about NaNoWriMo?

November is National Novel Writing Month!  Are you an aspiring writer, or the parent of one?  NaNoWriMo, now in its second decade, is truly a celebration of the craft of writing.  Over three hundred thousand people around the world will try, in the month of November, to write a 50,000+ word fiction novel, and those who complete their novel are crowned as winners!

What a great way to support a budding writer’s aspirations!  The site includes resources specifically for young writers, including workbooks offering help in character, plot and dialogue development, encouragement (“pep talks”) from published novelists, web badges for those who attempt and complete their novels, and a community area where writers can share ideas and frustrations.

There’s even a NaNoWriMo chapter in Los Angeles, where you can gather with other writers who will support you as you work through your novel.  The Los Angeles chapter’s website is here.

Given how important writing is in the college admissions process, NaNoWriMo is a great way to get your student excited about writing.  Even if a student doesn’t complete a 50,000 word novel in a month, the effort of trying, with the assistance of a supportive writing community, may be a great experience for him or her.  The more reading and writing they do in high school, the more prepared they will be for college.

Sign up and try it out – celebrate November as National Novel Writing Month!