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National Novel Writing Month

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Shelby Fuller Student Contributor, Canterbury Christ Church University
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CCCU Contributor Student Contributor, Canterbury Christ Church University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CCCU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

With all the reading you’ve undoubtedly done throughout Booktober I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d thought about writing your own novel – well, you’re in luck.

November is National Novel Writing Month, or more commonly known as NaNoWriMo, and it all starts in one week.

NaNoWriMo is described as a challenge for “anyone who has ever thought fleetingly about writing a novel.” As well as being partaken by amateurs, the challenge also sees professional authors take part.

The challenge is a competition with your own will-power, determination, and imagination and it’s no easy feat. The budding novelists who participate are attempting to write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel in the thirty-day month.

Although those who sign up to the challenge are competing for and against themselves, they are not alone. NaNoWriMo has set up a writing community where the budding writers can locate participants in their local area and meet virtually and physically in forums and organised write-ins.

Does this sound like a challenge you’d like to accept? If you want to get that novel out of you, sign up here!

Two of our Her Campus CCCU Team have pledged their 50K:

Melissa Holden is our current Editor and a third year in Creative and Professional Writing (who already has seven books to her name), she’s taking part in NaNoWriMo because…

“NaNoWriMo is a great way to get people into a routine of writing around their schedules. As someone who writes every day, it’s nice to have an organisation that encourages the world to write.”

Shelby Fuller is our ex-editor who has now graduated and has her Creative and Professional Writing degree in a frame, she’s taking part in NaNoWriMo because…

“I’d be lying if I said that graduating wasn’t emotionally draining, and it’s also drained my motivation to write. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it, but finding the time and energy can be hard when you work full-time night shifts and are constantly being faced with job rejections. I always do my best when I’m challenged and pushed, and I think NaNoWriMo could be just the motivation I need to get writing again.”

Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo? We’d love to hear about your journey! Post in the comments or send us a message via Facebook, Twitter or email.

 

Shelby is a graduate in Creative and Professional Writing who is still trying to hold onto student life by living in a student house, continuing to write for Her Campus and living on cereal. Shelby is writing about the scariness of graduate life on her blog, every day: gradualrealities.wordpress.com