NaNoWriMo is over for 2010… but hopefully many of the stories will continue on to publication.
I made it to 50,000 words by the end of November. While it did add writing 50,000 words to my workload, I have come out of November with a finished first draft manuscript and it has been well worth the time and effort.
Here is a link to what one author, Rin Simpson, learned from this year’s NaNoWriMo: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/yourebooked/2010/12/what-nanowrimo-taught-me-by-rin-simpson.
Congratulations to everyone else who got to 50,000 words written during November.
For those who want to take their manuscript further, now comes the task of editing and rewriting your manuscript into a finished story that you are happy with. Some people write their story completely how they want it in the first draft while others do multiple rewrites on a rough first draft. Whatever method you use, good luck with your story.
I will go over my story during the coming weeks to ensure I’m happy with it and do any editing and rewriting to prepare it for publication as an ebook. 50% of proceeds from sales of the ebook will go to worldreader.org for their literacy/education work in developing countries.
For anyone looking to submit their NaNoWriMo manuscript to a publisher, these recent Australian publisher/editor interviews may provide you with some useful tips:
Meredith Curnow (Vintage, Knopf)
Anna Valdinger (Harper Collins)
Zoe Walton (Random House Children)
The following books also have great advice on (re)writing and editing a novel manuscript:
Australian fantasy novelist Sara Douglass also has some useful writing business advice on her website.
The Australian Literature Review recommends worldreader.org and Room to Read as worthy choices for those interested in contributing to a literary or literacy based charity.
The Australian Literature Review
www.auslit.net
Congratulations Steve – that’s a mammoth effort! Well done!