Novels, Blogs, and Poetry - Oh My!
October 14, 2008 · Written by Melissa Donovan
There’s a lot going on out here in Internetland my fellow writers. Apparently, fall is destined to be a busy season for us. Whether you’re a novelist, a blogger, a poet, or all of the above, there’s an exciting event for you taking place online (a.k.a. in the comfort of your own home) in the coming weeks.
Blog Action Day
We begin with Blog Action Day because it’s first up on the calendar.
On October 15th bloggers everywhere will publish posts that discuss poverty in some way. By all posting on the same day we aim to change the conversation that day, to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause.
All you have to do to participate is head over to blogactionday.org, sign up, and then on October 15, write a post about poverty. Last year, over 20,000 bloggers participated in a worldwide conversation about the environment. Watch this video to get fired up and please take part in this monumental event.
National Novel Writing Month
If NaNoWriMo sounds familiar, that’s because you’ve heard me mention it before. Now, it’s just around the corner and NaNoHeads all over the world are stocking up on goodies, scrambling to outline their plots, sketch their characters, and figure out how they’re going to achieve the impossible: write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days.
Last year, over 100,000 writers gave it a shot and over 15,000 succeeded. You won’t know if you too could cross the 50k finish line unless you try.
The assignment: Write a 50,000 word novel (from scratch - outlines allowed) in 30 days
The starting line: November 1, 2008
The finish line: November 30, 2008
Find out more about how it works and check out the multitude of goodies and micro-events over at the NaNoWriMo website. Oh, and if you’re going to attempt this feat, please be my writing buddy.
Bookhabit Poetry Contest
Bookhabit is a relatively new site for me, but they are running a poetry competition from now through November 2, and it looks pretty good: free to enter and a $1000 grand prize. Best of all, you can submit written work or a video of a performance piece, which adds a nice twist.
Participate and Prosper
All of these events are fantastic for writers. You can give back by joining the conversation about poverty, win $1000 in a poetry competition, and finally get that novel written.
Who’s in? Which of these will you participate in, if any?
P.S. Baby, P.S.
In case any of you missed the memo, I am finally, at long last, a bona fide aunt to a beautiful baby girl born last Wednesday night at 11:15 p.m. Thanks for all your warm wishes, which I have passed on to my sister, who is already proving to be an excellent, intuitive, and loving mom.
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Hi Melissa. I missed the memo; congratulations on becoming an aunt. And all the best to your sister.
Congratulations on your new Aunt status.
Been meaning up sign up for Blog Action day. Now that’s done.
Been pondering NaNoWriMo. I logged into my account today and took a look around. I felt a swelling sense of pride in knowing that I at least wrote 1/10 of it last year (and also a pang of regret). Still on the fence.
I’ll be your writing buddy this year (I still have to register, though!)
Congrats on your niece, by the way - that is so cool for you!
-Brett
Knew about the first two and am participating in both. I didn’t know about the last one, so thanks. And congratulations on being an aunt!
Congrats on your aunt-hood!
I knew about NaNoWriMo, and it seems like something about Blog Action Day filtered through my work-addled brains lately. Lots of fall writing activity! Yay!
Oh, congratulations! I have to I wonder if your sister is intuitive in dealing with spoiling aunties?
@Davina, Thank you! This is definitely an exciting time for my family.
@Matthew, Thanks! I signed up last year too and I don’t even think I made 1/10. I knew that it would be impossible since it was right after I’d started my business but I figured it would give me a taste of what to expect. Hey, it’s worth a try!
@Brett, Yay! Let me know when you’ve signed up, and thanks
@Writer Dad, I’m participating in the first two as well. Not sure about the poetry competition yet. We’ll see. Thanks!
@Kat, Thank you! Yep, lots of fall action for us, and I’m excited because it’s all good stuff. I’ve always thought fall was the season for creative folks. Well, for me, anyway.
@Deb (gscottage), Thanks you so much! We’ll see how my sister deals with a spoiling auntie. Right now I’m trying to decide what to have my niece call me, since Melissa is almost impossible for a small child to pronounce. I’m thinking Auntie M or maybe Auntie Missa. Only time will tell!
So, about the NaNoWriMo, how much time a day does that require? I’ve never done it before, but think it sounds fun. However, my conviction is going to have to run deeper if I’m really going to do it. I’m curious on the time commitment because I may or may not be employed, and if I am, that would definitely cut down on the amount of time I had to write.
@Melissa,
There we go - just confirmed everything again (I wasn’t sure if it would keep the account info from last year) - I am brettlegree (surprise!) and I went ahead and added you as a writing buddy. This should be fun!
Enjoy your auntness. It’s fun. Especially the baby holding part. I was enjoying the cuddles of my new neice (3 months old) a couple days ago. Those are small slices of life you cherish forever, and then retell that wee babe when they are at an age they can appreciate it. 10 might be a bit young, which is my other neice’s age tomorrow.
I’m signed up for some Blog Action. I even already typed it out and scheduled for it to post tomorrow morning (while I’m at work a whole floor away).
I’ll have to look into the poetry contest. I used to publish things on poetry.com many many moons ago, but I gave up on that one. They had too many restrictions and prices were too high if I wanted to buy anything. But that was years ago, maybe they changed.
Okay, for those freaking about the 50K benchmark of NaNo think of it from the learn-to-swim method. When you were 4 did your swimming instructor expect you to climb to the top of the high dive and jump off the first day? No.
So create yourself a puddle-jumper class for this year. Pick a number; let’s say you commit to typing up 2 pages (about 500 words) everyday in November. That would give you 15K or about 30%. Really, that is quite respectable and probably will give you enough material to do something with toward a future project.
Okay, I’ve got to knock off the lallygagging and get my copy in on time tonight.
Cheers.
Oh I forgot; I vote for Auntie M in a nod to “The Wizard of Oz.”
@Oktober Five, I think the amount of time is probably a little different for each person. You might be able to write five pages an hour whereas someone else only gets through two or three. In any case, Deb is right — if you at least give it a try, you’ll get some serious writing done and get going on a significantly sized project. Good luck!
@Brett, I’ll make sure to log in and add you today
Yep, it’s definitely going to be fun!
@t.sterling, I do love holding my niece already, she’s such a little miracle! I’m really happy to see so many people participating in Blog Action Day. Makes me proud of our blogging community
@Deb, I like Auntie M too, heheh. You make a wonderful point that first time Wrimos need not worry too much about hitting the 50k mark. Sign up, give it a go, and get a feeling for it. If you don’t reach your goal, there’s always next year and by dipping your toes in the water this time, you’ll know exactly what to expect.