One thousand, six hundred twelve point nine three two three. 1,612.90323. This, ladies and gentlemen, represents the number of words a writer must generate per day during National November Writing Month. Intimidated?
National November Writing Month, “NaNoWriMo,” takes professional and amateur writers from around the world for the ultimate goal of writing a 50,000+ word novel in one month. Throughout the writing process, the NaNoWriMo website allows writers to post excerpts of their work online to read and critique, while also tracking writing pace. To celebrate the opening of National November Writing Month, let’s look the authors of EHS and their writing careers.
Among the small community of authors is senior Grace Ulak. Having successfully fulfilled the NaNoWriMo requirements last year, Grace plans to make the attempt again this November. Particularly enthused by poetry, Grace also pursues an interest in writing for comics, eventually hoping to further develop her own writing style.
But what, essentially, is at the heart of writing a novel? Aside from developing characters, plot, and generating a well-rounded, intriguing idea? It is not only your self-determination, but other’s guidance and care. Ulak states, “Part of what allows you to be successful is a good support system.”
Unlike Ulak, senior Leslie Mei has not been through the stressful process of NaNoWriMo, although she intends to attempt the challenge this year. Beginning her writing career early in childhood, Mei fabricated short, rhyming poems. Further opening herself to different writing styles, she continued to read heavily. Now focusing primarily on poetry and short stories, Mei recently found herself crafting ditties, or small songs, on the rain and moon. Describing these ditties, Mei ended by stating, “I’m sorry if I’m hard to understand: I’m a writer.”
Ulak and Mei describe their writing experience as inconsistent. Motivation to write comes at irregular intervals, and often that means sitting at the computer for a few hours. “A good book can be life-changing,” Mei claims, “And a successful writing session leaves me feeling like I’ve landed in front of my computer from a different world.”
Joining Ulak and Mei in the NaNoWriMo experience is junior Sophie Bull, who looks forward to participating in her fifth consecutive year. For writing sessions, Bull has, “special writing playlists on iTunes for when I do different types of writing.”
What does it take for you to become a writer yourself? Motivation and inspiration. Bull encourages that, “everyone has a unique voice and yours is no less special.” Everyone has their own original ideas. It is only a matter of beginning. Of course your first work will not be the next “War and Peace.” Nobody’s is. “If you bottle up your ideas because you can’t find the right words,” Mei added, “The world is losing something precious.”
It is not easy writing a novel in a month. Then again it is not easy writing a novel generally. So help celebrate the national writing month by encouraging EHS authors to succeed. Who knows? There could be a future Rowling in our midst.
