the craft. accountability.

You’ve likely heard directly or indirectly about NaNoWriMo which is National Novel Writing Month. The concept, most simply, is writers all across the country embark on the endeavor to write a full novel draft within the month of November. The goal is 50,000 words by the end of the month and implementing a daily writing practice to do so.

Off rip, it may sound overwhelming. But the goal is mostly to get out of your head about writing. Most often, we’re doing so much thinking that we don’t actually get to writing words on the page. The other part of it is community. You are joining thousands of other writers who are hoping to do the same thing.

I’ve participated in various years, but my approach is rarely ever starting from zero words and working to 50K. That gives me heart palpitations thinking about it. However, it does typically give me a focus for a project that I’ve already started but haven’t had the opportunity to really honker down on. This year, I have 16k words that I’m hoping to scratch into a first draft by the end of the month.

I can’t state the importance of accountability enough. I had such a great call with a member of our community just this week for our work critique. We were both able to give one another subjective feedback on work but also just to affirm that we were heading in the right direction. Writing is lonely. Often done in a vacuum. We need one another.

I’m adding a NaNoWriMo channel to our private Slack for this month. If you’re attempting to participate this year, feel free to pop in. I’ll be attempting to do daily check-ins. I’m still getting my daily routine together, but I’ll do my best! And I hope that it may be helpful for you.

My best advice is to go in with a plan but don’t overthink it. When you settle your mind, it’s just writing. It’s an attempt to do it every day and to meet a certain word count so that by the end of the challenge, you have something. Honestly, that’s all it is. For me, I’ve outlined the chapters I need to finish and reacquainted myself with the story. My goal is 1200 words per day and I plan to try to knock it out first thing in the morning after walking the dog.

By the end of the month, you won’t have a masterpiece. But you will have the beginning of something. Even if you miss a day it’s important to pick up where you left off. Accountability is not about finger pointing. Who did it and who didn’t. It’s about supporting our internal responsibility. We all work a little harder when we know that others are watching. It shouldn’t make us feel inadequate, it should motivate us.

So much is done in the editing process which I will keep reminding you about. Get the story out and then go back and make it masterful.

Don’t be afraid to show up and be seen in your writing. Feedback is valuable. Accountability is necessary. And this community is here to support you in every way possible.

Writing/Job Opportunities

Jaime Green is always taking pitches for Future Tense. Essays and reporting at the intersection of tech/science/policy/the future. Rates start at $350 for 800-1200 wds. jaime.green@slate.com. Please read their pitching guide first.

Rebellious Magazine is looking for submissions on sexual health and reproductive justice.

Earther is hiring a Staff Writer to cover climate and justice.

Erewhon Books is hiring an Editorial Assistant.

Popular Science is hiring a full-time Staff Writer for their review team.

The New York Times is hiring a Strategy & Operations Deputy, Culture and Lifestyle.

The New Yorker is hiring a Newsletter Producer.

The Asian American Writer’s Workshop is hiring a Senior Editor.

Discover Magazine is hiring a Digital Editorial Editor.