NaNoWriMo ... Take 2

Today is November 2nd. That means it is the second day of NaNoWriMo for 2017. You may be wondering what NaNoWriMo is, I know I did when Arlene first mentioned it to me last year. aNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It is a worldwide effort for writers to write each day during the month of November in hopes of getting the first draft of a new novel written in just one month. NaNoWriMo is the kick in the pants many aspiring writers need to stop thinking about writing and just write! The goal is 50,000 words by the end of the month, and there is an entire website dedicated to helping you meet your goal. The NaNoWriMo website gives all the details.

One of the best things we learned about last year is that NaNoWriMo has a site and program just for children from Kindergarten up through 12th grade. Arlene joined this Young Writers Program last year and had a really fun time learning more about plots, character development, and getting her words into the computer. During the summer the children's site offers summer camps where kids can get extra encouragement for their writing, as well as having access to chat with their friends they developed during NaNoWriMo. 

There are a couple differences between the two programs besides the age groups. The adult program does not allow you to write your novel on their site, but rather encourages you to enter your daily word count, with a verification at the end of the month. For the Young Writer's Program, kids and teens can type their novel right there and have it saved so they can work on it from anywhere with internet access. This makes it great for working from home, at the library, or during a writing class at school. It also eliminates the need for the young writer to have their own computer. Last year we had Arlene begin by writing her novel in a notebook, and then typing it out. As the month went on, she got behind in her typing, so this year she is just typing it not he website from the beginning.

If you would like to read Arlene's tips for other writers, hop on over to the post from Monday.

So what about you? Do you have a novel inside you just waiting to get out? Want to join NaNoWriMo? Besides the online support, many local libraries are having events encouraging writers of all ages. I am thankful for the support our local library has given to encourage writers in our community over the years.

What if you are not wanting to write a novel? What if you want to write a non-fiction book? While that would not fit in the NaNoWriMo mold, you can use what the NaNoWriMo program teaches writers to get started on your non-fiction book or collection of poetry. The idea is simple: write! Write everyday, and write a lot! The goal is around 1700-2000 words per day for adults. Kids and teens set their own goals. The second idea is this: turn off your inner editor and just write the first draft from start to finish. You can go back and adjust characters and plot points in December or later. So, if you're wanting to write non-fiction, just start with chapter one and keep writing! 

What if you cannot think of a book to write, but you would still like to join in the idea of writing every day in November? Then let me offer this suggestion: write a thankfulness journal every day. While it may not be 1000 words, taking time each day to think over what happened that day and what you are thankful for helps you have a better attitude towards your life and those around you. After all, Thanksgiving is coming up later this month, why not start being thankful today?!

I've got several things I'm working on writing this month, and while I may not hit 2000 words each day, or one complete book, I am going to make an effort to write something every day this month. Some of it may even end up here on the blog. :)

In the spirit of thankfulness, I think it is time to start up our Thankful Thursdays posts again, so here is what I am thankful for today...

I am thankful for the ability to learn. When I think back over the years at how much more I understand today about health and nutrition than I did when Emily was a baby I am amazed. I have been so blessed to learn from some great people: Nutritionists, Naturopaths, Chiropractors, GP's and specialists like Cardiologists. The wealth of information available today, and how easily it is accessed, has made a huge difference in how we live our lives, how we eat, and how we treat symptoms. Even in the last month I feel like my understanding of joint health has deepened, and I am thankful that by better understanding how my body works, I have been able to give it the nutrients it needs to heal itself.

I am also thankful for time spent outside, even when the weather is less than stellar. Yesterday Arlene and I were on our way home from sewing group and in the gray, overcast day we saw something rare. We were driving down a winding country road and in the tree up ahead I spotted a bald eagle! Right there by the side of the road! There was not time to stop before we passed the tree it was in, so I slowed down at the next driveway and pulled in. (I am so thankful for nice country people who do not get grumpy when you turn around in the end of their driveways!) As I was waiting to pull back out, a truck went down the road and we saw the eagle take off and fly across the recently harvested field for a patch of woods. While the pictures Arlene took on my phone were not the clearest, they clearly show it was a bald eagle, and they serve as a reminder of the majesty we saw as the eagle took flight.

What will you write this month?! What are you thankful for?

FYI- this post is just over 1000 words long, so you see, it is not that hard to hit 2000 words a day when you write.

If you are looking for some more encouragement, visit the new Weekly Homeschool Linky Party over on the Homeschool Review Crew blog!