November hosts the end of Daylight Savings Time, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, but if you're a fiction writer this month hosts an even more important and exciting event. November marks the annual start of National Novel Writing Month, affectionately called NaNoWriMo. I am proud to say that in 2005, I was one of many winners of this 30-day contest. Winning simply requires that you turn in (and have counted) a 50,000-word (175-page) novel by midnight on November 30. The novel doesn't have to be any good. In fact, the contest is all about quantity not quality, the idea being that you should shut your inner critic away in a closet in your mind for 30 days and simply write something -- anything. The goal simply revolves around starting and to finishing a novel.
I bet you are wondering what happened to that novel of mine, right? Well, I pitched it to several agents at the San Francisco Writers Conference in 2005 and had them all interested, but they all turned it down. I even won the fiction pitch contest with my 25-word description of the book, and my prize lunch with two agents later landed me literary representation – but not for my fiction! I was told by to leave my fiction writing behind and focus on what I do best -- non-fiction. (I took the agents' advice.)
Which brings me to the point of this essay: For those of us who don't write fiction (ever or anymore...), what are we supposed to do during the month of November? I say, "WE WRITE NON-FICTION!" I challenge you to join me in starting and finishing a work of non-fiction during the next 30 days. You can write an article, a booklet, a newsletter, or a book. Just write something. Whatever non-fiction writing project you've been putting off, get started now. No one will be looking over your shoulder. This is not a contest, and there's no prize at the end other than the great feeling you will get from knowing you wrote every day and completed your "assignment." No on is counting your words, nor does anyone care how many words you write (not even me). This is simply a challenge to write -- and to not write alone. I'll be writing every day, too, and hopefully some other people will be writing as well.
Plus, I invite everyone who is writing non-fiction during November and wants to share their experience to go to my new nonfiction writing blog (see link below) and post comments. I'll be writing every few days about nonfiction writing in general – why I enjoy it, tips on getting published, how my writing is going, etc.
One of my first blog entries explained how my foray into fiction writing during the 2005 NaNoWriMo event actually renewed my love of nonfiction writing. While I loved the fun of writing fiction, which happened to be my childhood dream, getting away from nonfiction briefly gave me a new perspective on nonfiction and reminded me of what I enjoy about it so much.
I love nonfiction writing, because it allows me to explore subjects that are interesting to me and to then share them with others. As a magazine journalist and as a book author who likes to wrestle with issues in my life or subjects that excite me, I get to spend my days researching those very same issues and subjects, speaking to experts about them, finding answers and solutions to them, and coming up with ideas and theories related to them. Then, I get to craft what I've learned into a story – an article, essay or book -- that offers what I've learned and discovered – and possibly even put to use successfully in my life – into a form that others can read. This then hopefully helps or excites them. I find this both stimulating and rewarding.
Nonfiction writing also proves useful to many people for many reasons. If you need to let people know about who you are and what you do, writing articles and books serves as a great way to promote yourself. Plus, once your articles appear in major magazines or trade journals or your book is selling at the back of the room when you speak or on Amazon.com or in bookstores, you achieve expert status.
So, November is here, and no matter why you want or need to write nonfiction, it's time to start writing. Don't worry about how good your writing is, just write. That's the point of NaNoWriMo – to put your inner critic or inner editor in the closet while you write (or so you can write). Use the same principle for writing nonfiction in November. Don't worry about the quality of what you are writing now; simply write and strive to meet the goal of finishing what you start. Editing happens later – after you've finished writing. In memory of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (and some really great fiction writing), imagine yourself as Scarlett O'Hara and think about editing later. You can do that in December. November is all about writing.
My email box has been filling up with notices about the annual start of National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). However, in general, I write nonfiction. If you, like me, consider yourself a nonfiction writer, don't sit around for the next 30 days twiddling your thumbs and wishing you had a cool contest to enter this month. Instead, join me in starting and finishing a work of nonfiction during November. That's right, take part in the Write Nonfiction in November (www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/) challenge.
Instead of writing 50,000 words of fiction in 30 days, commit to writing an article, a booklet, a newsletter, or a book in the same amount of time. Whatever non-fiction writing project you've been putting off, get started now. You can even start a blog and blog for 30 days.
No one will be looking over your shoulder. Write Nonfiction in November does not constitute a contest, and I won't be handing out a prize at the end of the month. Your award comes in the form of the great feeling you will get from knowing you completed your "assignment." No one will be counting your words, nor does anyone care how many words you write (not even me). You simply are challenged to write -- and to not write alone. I'll be writing every day, too, and hopefully some other people will be writing as well.
Write Nonfiction in November also constitutes a blog. I invite everyone who is writing non-fiction during November and wants to share their experience to go to www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/ and post comments. (You can also access it from my web site at www.copywrightcommunications.com.) I'll be posting blogs every few days about nonfiction writing in general - why I enjoy it, tips on getting published, how my writing is going, etc.
While last year I blogged alone, this year my Write Nonfiction in November blog will offer readers and writers something new and exciting: guest blogs from experts from many areas of writing and publishing. So far the following experts will be blogging with me: agent and consultant Philippa Burgess of Creative Convergence; Mitch Davis (Yearbook of Experts/www.expertclick.com); author Ron Arons (The Jews of Sing Sing); agent and author Mike Larsen (How to Write a Book Proposal and How to Get a Literary Agent); agent and author Katharine Sands (Making the Perfect Pitch); Internet and website guru Linda Lee (Smart Women, Stupid Computers); Randy Peyser (Author One Stop); Annie Jennings (Annie Jennings PR); and executive magazine editor and publisher Seth Mendelson (McFadden Publications.
I'm still working on getting a few more people to agree to post a blog. I'd like to have at least 15 out of the 30 blogs written by someone other than me this year, so readers can benefit from someone else's experience and expertise other than mine. Hopefully, that will make Write Nonfiction in November a resource for nonfiction writers not only in November but all year long.
Nonfiction writing offers many benefits and challenges. I love nonfiction writing, because it allows me to explore subjects that are interesting to me and to then share them with others. As a magazine journalist and book author who likes to wrestle with issues in my life or subjects that excite me, I get to spend my days researching those very same issues and subjects, speaking to experts about them, finding answers and solutions to them, and coming up with ideas and theories related to them. Then, I get to craft what I've learned into a story - an article, essay or book - that offers what I've learned and discovered - and possibly even put to use successfully in my life - into a form that others can read. This then hopefully helps or excites them.
However, the world of nonfiction publishing has changed dramatically over the last few years. It's getting harder and harder to get a nonfiction book published if you don't have what they call a "platform." Magazines and newspapers are discontinuing publication left and right. Self-publishing choices are becoming slimmer rather than broader. Book promotion and sales has become the job of the author not the publisher. For all these reasons, nonfiction writers need to stay educated about the new tools of their trade, such as the Internet and all it has to offer. The nonfiction writer has to wear many hats and has to wear them well to become successful.
So, November is here, and it's time to start writing nonfiction. Are you ready for the challenge? Even if you aren't, as the Nike advertisement says, "Just do it." And visit www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/ to find out what you need to become successful along the way.
Nina Amir has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Guided Meditation and Dating and Romance. Nina Amir, ajournalist/author, writing coach, non-fiction editor, and speaker has written several booklets, hundreds of articles and three anthology essays. She currently is writing several books while promoting them and herself with her writing. Visit he. Nina Amir's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.