NaNoWriMo 2022

Let’s All NaNoWriMo… or Not

by Bethany “NaNoWriMo” Maines

NaNoWriMo Wha?

I don’t really believe in NaNoWriMo AKA National Novel Writing Month.  Partially just because I object strenuously to the clunky abbreviation.  But also because the goal of writing fifty thousand words in a month reduces novel writing to a very basic component—words. Writing fifty-thousand words is an accomplishment of a sort, but having the right fifty-thousand requires a bit more of a skill.  However, the NaNoWriMo community supplies great camaraderie and inspiration to a multitude of writers, and if an artificial deadline and contest get some people to put fingers to keyboard then I raise my glass in cheers.  And usually that’s it.

Soooo why am I doing this?

This year the fates have conspired to arrange my projects to have a novel that needs to be written this month.  I would really like to put out the next trilogy in my Supernatural paranormal romance world next summer.  The Rejects Pack is a fun, Indiana Jones / The Mummy inspired series featuring more wolves, warlocks, romance, and an ancient Egyptian artifact or two.  Also maybe a mummy that comes back from the dead.  (Shhh.  Don’t tell anyone.)  And with Book 1 out to my beta readers already, you would think I wouldn’t feel the need to rush book 2 and 3.  Butttt…. I keep eyeballing the amount of plot I’m intending to shove into book 3 and I’m just a little bit worried that my trilogy is going to become a tetralogy.

Tetralogy means a four book series. In case you don’t want to have to google it like I did.

And then…

And then there’s the fact the holidays are almost here (YAY!!!) and I have a new novella coming out this month!  I’m busy is what I’m saying.  So I’m trying to hedge my bets and leave myself time for a book 4 by cramming book 2 into November.  And of course it will be fun to watch the NaNoWriMo communities progress.  You can keep up with my progress and learn about Killian and Moira and their hunt for the long lost Library of Alexandria on Facebook and Instagram.

But Speaking of Christmas

If you’ve got a hankering for a Christmas mystery rom-com check out Winter Wonderland!

ORDER (all retailers):  books2read.com/Winter-Wonderland

WINTER WONDERLAND: When Marcus Winters, a photographer with a bah humbug take on the holidays, meets Larissa Frost, a set designer who loves all things Christmas, sparks are destined to fly. But when a famous diamond goes missing from the shoot they’re working on Larissa finds that Marcus may be the only one who can keep her from being framed for a crime she didn’t commit.

 

**

Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of action-adventure and fantasy tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. She can usually be found chasing after her daughter, or glued to the computer working on her next novel (or screenplay).  You can also catch up with her on TwitterFacebookInstagram, and BookBub.

 

7 replies
  1. Gay Yellen
    Gay Yellen says:

    As more of a stroller than a sprinter, I’ve never participated in NaNoRiMo, but I’ll be waiting to hear how your experience goes, Bethany. Good luck!

  2. Saralyn
    Saralyn says:

    I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo (agree about the moniker) several years. I found it beneficial in motivating myself to write more consistently, although I never amassed 50k words. Covid lockdown was a more effective NaNoWriMo for me. On another topic, having read Winter Wonderland, I must give a testimonial. Readers, you will have fun with Bethany’s book!

  3. Donnell Ann Bell
    Donnell Ann Bell says:

    Bethany, I usually do NaNoWriMo by myself. 🙂 November is the worst possible month for me. I know people who write the guts of their novels and then polish it afterward. It serves its purpose. I have to lose this perfectionist quality to write perfectly from the very start. It’s a curse. But it’s my process.

    Keep us posted on how you do!

    Donnell

  4. Kathryn Lane
    Kathryn Lane says:

    I’m in awe of anyone writing 50,000 words a month, whether intended for a contest or not. If I ever try it, it will be to challenge myself rather than to submit a confusing, illogical, and non-sensical manuscript that I’d rushed through. My writing is turtle-paced, perhaps the reason I love terrapins. Maybe I should ramp up for faster racing.

  5. Lynn McPherson
    Lynn McPherson says:

    Good luck, Bethany. I’ve haven’t done it before, but I’m always tempted to try it. And I second Saralyn’s comments about Winter Wonderland–it’s a great read and I highly recommend readers pick it up!

Comments are closed.