Every year, thousands of people participate in what is colloquially called NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. This popular event happens throughout November, and the goal is to write at least 50,000 words, or a novel, in a month. Generally, there are no rules. There is only one clear goal: write, and keep writing.
While that’s all well and good—considering that actually writing things down is the most important part of the whole writing process—there is, in fact, a lesser known side to writing. Here’s to the unsung hero of literary bliss: editing.
We’ve all been there. We know what it’s like at half past two in the morning, deliriously typing prose. And then you read it in the morning, and it’s like Texts from Last Night, but worse. You clearly can’t show this to anyone just yet. This is where editing, the writer’s best friend, comes in. And that’s the whole idea behind NaNoEdMo; writers, after giving their new novel some reading space, can dedicate a whole month to revising and layering in edits.
Of course, people aren’t truly expected to write an entire novel in a month. Nor are they expected to be able to polish it off in a month either. The intent is just to get people to write, to sit down and not be afraid of what they can create. And once they’ve created, they can also be empowered with the ability to destroy, to decompose and rebuild. So this time around for NaNoEdMo, don’t be afraid to grab your red, blue, or purple pens (and perhaps a friend who gives good advice) and have at it. I for one will be there right along there with you.
Get your pens ready. NaNoEdMo begins March 1st.