November is National Novel Writing Month, and it’s a blast! I love the challenge of writing a 50k-word novel in a month, and nanowrimo.org makes the process fun by awarding badges and bringing writing communities together.
Ready to take on National Novel Writing Month? Read on! In this post, I’ll talk about how I prep for NaNoWriMo and provide you with my top two books on writing that I’ve found incredibly useful.
NaNoWriMo Prep
While I love October and spend most of it celebrating Halloween all month long, I also begin my NaNoWriMo prep. I’ve participated every year since 2018 (the same year I wrote my first novel)! During this time, I reread parts of my favorite writing books, stick with my daily writing routine, and read tons of books.
Every year since 2018’s National Novel Writing Month, I’ve dabbled trying to stretch out a few short stories into novels. However, none of them have gripped me like my first novel (which I’m still meticulously editing). For this year, I’m focusing on story ideas I’ve stashed away that I’ve always wanted to try. As usual, I’m going for something supernatural with a handful of tortured monsters (I can’t help myself).
Recommended Writing Books for National Novel Writing Month
Here are my two favorite writing books I highly recommend. These books are perfect for the seasoned writer or newbie. Check them out!
The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing
This book is a treasure trove of the how-tos for every single element of creative writing. The story excerpts and exercises are invaluable. I swear that I’ve learned more in Chapter 5: Why You Need to Show and Tell than I did in all the writing courses, I took as an undergraduate. If you love creative writing and want a resource you can dive into head first, order yours today!
Gotham Writers’ Workshop: Writing Fiction
My #1 go-to for fiction writing. I came across this book over five years ago, and since then, it’s remained in my “reading pile” on my bedside table. I can’t count how many times I’ve read this book; each chapter is precious. If you’re looking for a book that provides short chapters and short writing practices, this book is for you!
I hope you find these writing books as helpful as I have for National Novel Writing Month. And if you’d like to recommend some of your favorites, leave a comment below!
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Connect With Me on Nanowrimo.org
Did you enjoy this post? Please like and share or leave a comment below with feedback! I’d love to hear from you, and I wish you happy writing this National Novel Writing Month! I’m always looking for other writers. If you’ve got a profile on nanowrimo.org, feel free to connect with me today! My profile username is alinahappyhansen.