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HUGE APOLOGIES! THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN FOR OCTOBER 30TH, BUT APPARENTLY THE DRAFT SCHEDULING FUNCTION GLITCHED, RESULTING IN THIS ARTICLE NOT UPLOADING. I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS UNEXPECTED OVERSIGHT!
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Chances are pretty good that if you approached someone on the street and asked them their opinion on NaNoWriMo, they would give you quite the strange look. This is because most people actually have no idea what NaNoWriMo is. While this is understandable, it’s also a big shame. NaNoWriMo is awesome!
The acronym stands for National Novel Writing Month, an annual event that began in 1999, and promotes creative writing around the world. Though there are many moving parts to the organization, the central focus is on the month-long writing challenge that takes place in November. Do you have what it takes to start from a blank page and write a 50,000 word novel in just the thirty days of November? NaNoWriMo believes that you can!
I, alongside the organizers in charge of NaNoWriMo, believe that anyone can be a writer when they put their mind to it. That’s the crux of the challenge, actually. One of the key tenets of the organization is that all that matters is to put the words on the page, pushing yourself forward to the finish line. Editing, proofreading, and revisions come second to just getting 50,000 words under your belt. It’s a remarkably refreshing attitude to have while writing, since you can just write to your hearts content without caring about the mess you leave behind. Then, once you hit the goal and realize you really do have the power of writing within you, touching up with edits is a breeze!
I’ve always wanted to partake in NaNoWriMo, but there was always some sort of excuse that got in the way (both valid and tenuous). However, I really put my foot down this year, and have decided that I am going to undertake the challenge. I’ve done quite a bit of writing this year, including some crunch-time deadline-pushing writing, so I really feel prepared to handle the task. If I can write 85,000 words in a little over a month, surely I can write 50,000 in a little under!
NaNoWriMo allows you to prep however much information you want prior to the first day of November, as long as you begin writing from a blank page come morning’s first light. To that end, I’ve compiled two rather lengthy outline documents breaking down all of the key characters, settings, and plot elements of my story. It’s actually my usual M.O. when it comes to writing: to prepare an outline specific enough to keep me focused, but loose enough to allow me to improvise as the story evolves.
My novel is called “Forest of Loss”. Below, I’ve included the inside the jacket synopsis. Take a look!
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A sixteen-year-old girl, Aubrey Wickers, is found mutilated and rotting in a bush. This is the fourth mysterious death in the span of a single year for the small, backwoods town of Barbet Landing. Each of the deaths involve the person in question vanishing without a trace, then turning up dead several days later, deep in the forest surrounding the town. No witnesses. No evidence. Nothing.
Detective Trey Howard suspects a serial killer at work…and he really, REALLY hates serial killers. Ever since an incident ten years prior, when he was stationed in New York City, he’s detested the act of murder, and those who flippantly comit it, with a fiery passion.
Police Chief Carmen Mendez is equally as appalled by the horrific string of deaths, especially as they happened under her watch. Partnering with Trey, the two strive to hunt for the clues needed to find out just what the hell is going on in Barbet Landing. However, the balance between a professional and personal relationship is a tricky one indeed.
At the same time, high school athlete Persephone “Persy” Parker is just starting to recover from Aubrey’s death. Aubrey was one of her best friends, forming a quad-squad with Freddy Cooper, Quinn Mori, and Persy herself. Now, the three friends begin their own investigation in the hopes of piecing together the final moments of Aubrey’s life and figuring out just what killed her, and if the same malevolent force is responsible for the other deaths in town.
In a small, backwoods town encircled by dense, dark forest, everyone’s got a secret. Some secrets, though, are much more deadly than others…
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For those of you intrigued by NaNoWriMo, there are still two days left to prepare and begin writing! I think it’s a super fun and worthwhile endeavor, and encourage everyone to give it a shot!
Now, on a slightly more pertinent note, NaNoWriMo will have an effect on the upload schedule of this blog. As in, I will not be uploading any articles for the month of November, UNLESS I finish my novel early enough to justify it. I have been known to write quite a lot quite quickly. Regardless, I would not count on it. Realistically, I will not be uploading any articles until the NaNoWriMo challenge is over. Thankfully, I will be able to share both my progress and thoughts on the challenge, and my finished novel (assuming I win the challenge) once November is over.
Thank you for your patience!
The Contrarian Corner 