The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The November 1 question: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

4 Reasons Why I Participate in NaNoWriMo

I’ve been a participant in November’s National Novel Writing Month since 2013, although not in 2014. All total, I have participated for nine years, ten if we add next month’s event.

During eight of those years, I worked on writing and then later editing my Laurel Ridge romance series of seven stories. It was during 2016’s NaNoWriMo, after the spring publication of the first story, that I discovered I had a timeline nightmare with the other six stories. I spent the rest of 2016 and a good part of 2017 mapping out the remaining six stories.

Once I had the timeline properly mapped out, I spent 2017-2022 writing first drafts and then editing them, publishing #2, #3, and #4 in 2022, and #5, #6, and #7 earlier this year. All were first published as eBooks, and just last month, I published the bundled eBook version and print book.

During that five-year period, I published six additional books consisting of a cookbook, two screenplays, a nonfiction how-to book, and reprinted two romances. I was editing the novellas in between these other books.

Besides the November event, I attended Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July 2022.

• I participate every year and am adding other monthly camps because:
• It creates accountability.
• I write faster with a goal and deadlines.
• I get to buddy up with other writers.
• I like to look back over past years’ goals that are now published.

Since 2013, this will be the first time I won’t be working on a romance. This time I’m working on a how-to plotting book/workbook for writers. For now, the title is a secret; I don’t want to give too much away. Not yet.

My goal is to finish the book this year, hopefully publishing it this year. Even though it’s not a big book, I’m hoping it’ll make a big impact and be helpful to writers who struggle with sagging middles and who’d like to write faster.

By the time you read this, November’s NaNoWriMo will have started. I can’t wait.

Are you joining us this year? Want to become a buddy with me? I’m listed by my name.

*****