Keep the writing spirit alive all yearlong

I was crazy, insane, off my rocker — just a little bit more than now — going into 2010, even more so at the end of 2010. I was riding high after my first NaNoWriMo win, and I had discovered there were other NaNoWriMo-esque events. My thoughts upon the discover: I want to participate in them all!

I did not participate in JanNoWriMo, during January, that year; it was just too close to November, and I needed to recover. However, I did explore NaNoEdMo in March and JulNoWriMo in July. I used NaNoEdMo as a chance to work on “Passage” and its sequel and my NaNoWriMo project, “Order.” From there, I participated in JulNoWriMo in July writing “Parting,” the third book in the series. NaNoWriMo came around again, and I wrote “Desecration,” the fourth book in the series.

With NaNoWriMo’s completion in 2010, grander ideas took root: 2011 would be the year I participated in NaNoEdMo, Wriye, SciFiWriMo, JulNoWriMo, either AugNoWriMo or SeptNoWriMo, GothNoWriMo and finally NaNoWriMo. Those plans came to naught as my life took an unexpected turn for the better: I got my job as a staff writer, which meant crazy deadlines, learning a new company and no time to participate in such events. I did participate in NaNoWriMo, jumping genres from fantasy to SciFi and not reaching the 50,000 goal.

Now, it has been a year since I have participated in a WriMo event. I feel surer on my feet at work, and “Passage” is pretty much done, opening the way for me to look at this as the year I can try my hand again, but rather than plow ahead making unrealistic dreams of grandeur, I plan to strategically pick my options. NaNoEdMo will be used to edit and rewrite “Order,” SciFiWriMo to finish my SciFi novel, JulNoWriMo to finish the project it started (“Parting”), SeptNoWriMo or AugNoWriMo to possibly finish “Desecration.” NaNoWriMo would then stand for me to start Book V or a new project.

The WriMos will provide deadlines and incentives I need to tie up loose-ends. I will also participate in NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month; I have yet to determine which month I will choose for this one yet.

For those interested in trying different monthly WriMo events, here is a list:

• JaNoWriMo: (January) Write either 50K or your own word-count
• Choose-Your-Own-Novel Month: (January) Write a piece of interactive fiction (ex. choose your own adventure type of book) and finish it. There is no set word count required.
• FAWM: February Album Writing Month, write 14 original songs in a month.
• NaNoEdMo: (March) Commit to 50 hours novel editing.
• April Fool’s: (April) Set a word-count goal and fulfill it by the end of the month.
• Camp NaNoWriMo: (April or July) A camp-themed version of NaNoWriMo where you write a 50K word work of original fiction.
• JunNoWriMo: (June) Pick a word-count and attempt to reach it by the end of the month.
• JulNoWriMo: (July) Write 50K words by the end of the month.
• AugNoWriMo: (August) Write a novel in one month.
• SeptNoWriMo: (September) Set a word-count and write, edit, or edit and write throughout the month.
• GothNoWriMo: (October) Write a Gothic novel.
• SciFiWriMo: (October) Science Fiction Writing Month, chose a target word-count and reach it in a month, writing Sci-Fi or Fantasy.
• NaNoWriMo: (November) The main event, write a 50K novel during the month of November along with numerous writers around the world.
• NaPlWriMo: (November) National Play-writing Month, write a play in a month.
• The Plot Whisperer: (December) Plot Writing Month, refine the plot arc of a first draft.

Year-long/pick-your-month-and-do-it WriMo events:

• NaBloPoMo: National Blog Posting Month, post everyday for a month.
• 750 Words: Write 750 words a day monthly with each month being the start of a clean sheet.
• Wriye: Set a word-count goal for the year and work towards it between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.

Each month, I will do a feature on each of these writing events and others that I might hear about as they roll around, in addition to relaying my personal experiences as I tackle some of them.

Have plans on tackling any of the above? Let me know!