The Writer - 11.2019

14 | The Writer • November 2019

19991999

2000

2001

2002

Chris Baty decided he

wanted to write a

novel and estimated

that the most slender

novels on his book-

shelf – think The Great

Gatsby – are approximately 50,

words. He challenged 20 friends to

write a novel with him that July, and

they gathered together in coffee-

shops each night to write together.

“After the noveling ended on August 1,

my sense of what was possible for

myself, and those around me, was for-

ever changed. If my friends and I could

write passable novels in a month, I

knew anyone could do it.” —Chris Baty

NaNoWriMo’s original 21 participants swelled to

140 participants who learn this simple groundbreak-

ing formula: a goal + a deadline = a creative mid-

wife. They also decided to write in November, not

July, causing thousands of people to ask over the

years, “Why November?” (And there’s no one real

answer. But if you can write a novel in November,

you can write a novel in any month of the year.)

“A deadline is, simply put, optimism in its most

kick-ass form. It’s a potent force that, when

wielded with respect, will level any obstacle in its

path. This is especially true when it comes to cre-

ative pursuits.” —Chris Baty

In year three, participation exceeded the

expected 150 participants: After creat-

ing a rudimentary website, 5,000 peo-

ple volunteered to participate – and a

novel-writing phenomenon was born

“In its third year, NaNoWriMo had

become a new kind of writing group,

one where it was OK to laugh at your-

self and, more importantly, laugh at your

shortcomings as a writer. With every-

one aiming for completion rather than

perfection, energy levels soared to new

heights.” —Chris Baty

NaNoWriMo created the position of

“Municipal Liaison,” the title for the vol-

unteer NaNoWriMo chapter-heads in

towns across the nation – and beyond.

Municipal Liaisons, with their dedica-

tion, their smarts, and their tough-love

tactics, help thousands of participants

by hosting in-person writing gatherings

in their communities.

Today, nearly 1,000 municipal liai-

sons organize writing events in loca-

tions around the world.

“What’s nice about NaNoWriMo

is that you are traveling with a

posse of thousands, all of you

making your way over the

mountains, through the valleys,

across the creeks. You are

fighting off the beasties.”

—Maureen Johnson

NaNoWriMo logo: Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.