Here’s a question I’ve gotten from several Wrimos leading up to the start of National Novel Writing Month:
What should I write for NaNoWriMo?
Or, almost as frequently I get this version:
I’m thinking about writing [Project 1] but I also have this idea for [Project 2]. Which one should I do?
And here’s my answer: Write the project that you’re most excited about writing.Â
Obviously, I can’t tell you what to write or which project to work on this year. I’m not in your head or living your life. But I can tell you this: the more passionate you feel about an idea, the easier it will be to write. And the easier your project is to write, the more likely you are to finish it during this 30 day challenge. NaNoWriMo is challenging enough without forcing yourself to slog through something you’re only writing because feel like you should.
This doesn’t mean your idea needs to be silly or fun. You can be eager to tell something dark and twisted or to exercise some awful personal demons through fiction. Or you may be most looking forward to writing something ridiculous filled with clown ninjas and cyborg monkeys. Serious or not, there’s got to be one idea that’s pulling you more than any other and that’s the one you’ll want to write. It’s that excitement for the story that will carry you through the 30 day challenge and all the way to the end.
So, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, what will you be writing for NaNoWriMo this year?
Hillary DePiano is a playwright, fiction and non-fiction writer who loves writing of all kinds except for writing bios like this.
Hi Hillary,
I’m a brandy-new writer and have a mystery novel in my head!Â
There are pictures that would tie in with it… what would you recommend, to start with the pictures and then write, or write and then add the pictures?
Thanks, Carol
I would recommend writing first. The story will change over and over as you write it so you’d end up having to do the pictures over and over again in turn. Get the story finalized and truly finished first, then you can make sure you’re perfecting pictures less times for the final product.