Can you write a novel in 1 month?

NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world.

On the ninth day of this challenge, we speak to Dubai-based writers, who have committed to writing a 50,000-word novel in just a month, to find out how they are faring

Overflowing supply of caffeine, or tea, if you please. A laptop, fully charged, or an empty notebook, if you are old school: a charger in sight and a bunch of pens/pencils for the chosen mediums, respectively. Mobile on silent, and while you are at it ask a trustworthy person to hide the TV remote, as well. (PS: Do tell him/her not to share the hiding place with you until, of course, you are on the ventilator and only screen time can save you.) A playlist packed with songs that soothe your senses. Once you've got all this, you are just one step away from entering the deadliest writing zone ever, the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Oh, the last step. Lock yourself in a room, or if you love yourself a little more, find a corner in a quiet local café.

Pardon our melodramatic tone, but this is how being a NaNoWriMo participant feels like, says Dubai-based writers who have signed up for the challenge this year. For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.
On November 1, participants across the globe began working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11.59pm, November 30. And since it does not require one to be physically present, the challenge translates into a big, virtual writing room! Though, if you can find a fellow participant in your zone it is likely to benefit you. The only hitch being, it isn't as fun, for it does involve nervous breakdowns, self-doubt and sleepless nights! Of course, it tires you out but then you get word rich. We get talking.
Discipline is the key
Sangeetha Bhaskaran, a NaNoWriMo debutante, aspires to pen down a modern, Indianised version of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. "I couldn't understand the characters of the novel and this is my attempt to decipher how love can be a destructive force," says the finance graduate, who runs a parenting blog, No Time To Moisturize. "As a writer, you need to be disciplined, which is something that blogging doesn't help with. I am used to writing individual short copies on varied topics like parenting, politics and films. However, writing a novel is a completely different ball game."
An early riser, Saira Ranj, another debutante does her writing during what she refers to as the insane hour, 5-6am. "The chances of getting disturbed at that hour is minimal, however, the day I go to bed late and hence begin late the next morning, my writing suffers." Saira is an early years practitioner with over 17 years of corporate experience in the UAE. Plus, she is a writer-artist, and her aim this November is to write down a series of short stories based on the adventures and ironies of being a cosmopolitan girl in a very clannish world.
Earned the 15,000-word badge, yet?
As many as 1,667 words a day. The good or bad thing about the challenge, depending on your progress, is that each time you upload your words on the official word-count check, it tells you how far you are from the target, rather than how close! "Until yesterday, I was stuck and depressed. At 12,000 words and 2,000 words short of my to-date goal, my panic mode was on, however, I feel I will pull through!" says Sangeetha.
Saira is standing 'weak' at 8,300 words. "I am lagging behind and it's making me nervous! Next year, I am going to schedule it into my calendar as a must-do activity for the day." She is optimistic she will cope up though! Another writer, who goes by the pseudonym Skipper Zee, who undertook the challenge in 2014, says: "It's not a great way to write all the time but then I believe bad words are easier to edit than no words at all!" Skipper runs a meet-up group for writers in the UAE, The Dubai Writers' Group. "Whenever you feel demotivated just repeat these words to yourself!" she insists.
Build your support system
A sick child, guilt of missing the gym, careless attitude towards household chores, and most importantly, stepping back from socialising can take a toll on you. "You need to inform the people around you that you are in the game and hence they should not expect you to answer e-mails, attend phone calls or comment on their Facebook pictures," says Saira.
So how do you build a support system? About eight months ago, Sangeetha got into the mode by penning down 500 words a day. "It gave me hope that I could write a novel." However, just a week in and she realised that perhaps she should have done a little more plot thinking! "I started with just characters in my head and what I have now is too many disjointed pieces!" Fiona Cochrane, who teamed up with a UAE-based NaNoWriMo buddy in 2014 is now a published author on Amazon! These buddies are the ones you pour your heart out each time you feel like giving up. They share your fears of writers' block and more, and keep you in the game. "NaNo is what made me finish my novel, Sikelele Mama, and having a buddy, irrespective of which part of the world, helps you stay focused and motivated. It is a great feeling to know that you are not alone. Just go on their social media sites and you will find yourself a buddy to keep you going." Fiona's advice: "Write down the dialogue, write down the descriptions, it all adds to the word count. Remember, you will have to go back and re-write and edit, so don't try to get it all perfect the first time. Born in Scotland and now living in Devon, Fiona has worked as a veterinary nurse, a secretary, a photographer, etc. and it was only after gaining her MA (Distinction) in Professional Writing that she decided to pursue writing as a real job. This year round, she is working on a non-fictional series.
Goodbye editor
This is probably the time when you'll hate the 'editor' in you. The urge to go back and improve what you scribbled will be at the peak! "I think it's really good for forcing yourself to put the inner editor in the closet," says Skipper. "Just keep writing, doesn't matter if it is crap, just get something down, it will flow again soon. If nothing else, just start a new novel in the middle of it - who knows, it could all lead to one great piece of work," says Fiona.
As a journalist, I function best with a deadline in sight, or at least that's what I thought until I brought upon myself NaNoWriMo in 2014 and in 2015, and this year, again. It wasn't the best month of the year but I survived and emerged as a winner. So for now, if you could excuse me: the clock is ticking and I'm yet to update my word count of the day. If only, I could cheat and add in the word count of this piece onto the counter! And yes, wordsmiths, it isn't too late, you can still sign up.
What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo is a fun approach to creative writing.
It is a month-long event where participants across the globe have to write a 50,000-word novel.
It ends at 11.59pm, November 30.
It does not require the writer to be physically present.
Why 50,000 words?
NaNoWriMo's experiences since 1999 showed that 50,000 words is a challenging but achievable goal, even for people with full-time jobs and children. This is about the length of The Great Gatsby. They don't use the word "novella" because it doesn't seem to impress people the way "novel" does. Remember, if you believe you're writing a novel, they believe you, too.
Where do you write?
You write your novel or project using your own material: on your preferred word-processing program, by hand, by typewriter.... You do not type it directly on the NaNoWriMo or Camp NaNoWriMo sites. You use their word-counter tool to keep track of your performance.
To know more, visit nanowrimo.org.
purva@khaleejtimes.com 

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