Day 22 at 11.59pm I just squeaked by the finish line with 50,012 words.

The 50K word was an imaginative one: at.

Not a bad time, but the best finish time I have had was 21 days and that was last year. Back then I even continued to the end of the month for a total of 65,432 words. This year, while I like the idea that I originally had, I don't like the way that it has turned out. So if I were to continue with this story idea, I think that I would start from scratch. The only extra that I added was 493 words on the Tuesday to take me up to a magic 50,505 (mainly because I like number patterns - and to prevent any validator issues).

It seems that there has been a pattern emerging after 4 years:

• On odd numbered years where I started with absolutely no ideas, my story and plot seem to be interesting and go places.

• On the even numbered years, I seem to have an idea but it devolves into a horror of a story that goes nowhere.

At this moment I'm unsure if I will partake next year, and I've never thought that before. My reasoning is simple. I know that I can write 50,000 words. That isn't a problem. My challenge is to have a story that goes somewhere and advances. If I can come up with a plot and plan it out in advance, then I am sure that I will be back next year, because that is the only thing that I haven't tried under NaNo conditions yet.

Well done everyone who has passed the finish line already, and keep going everyone else. Hell, if I can manage it, you can too!

Remember kids, don't forget to validate your script! You might even get some extra words, I know I did. 16 words to be exact for just copying and pasting into a text area. Nice.

And what did I get for all that hard work and stress? This:

Congratulations, Wrimos.

I know what you are thinking: "But Matt, even though I love you and would like nothing more than for you to write me a epic story, full of thrills, spills, and a narcoleptic narwhal, isn't National Novel Writing Month an American event?"

The answer to that is Yes. It is an American event, but like American Football, Sausages on a stick wrapped in pancakes, or even heart disease it is making its way to the shores of the UK. Okay, maybe not the sausage and pancake stick, but you get my point.

Okay, there was no point, except to say that NaNoWriMo now has an international flavour, just like licking one of those plastic seats at an airport.

So what is NaNoWriMo?

Well, the people behind National Novel Writing Month are a little cryptic in what they do but I think it has something do do with milking cows, and milking them really fast. But while they sit in an office in California and drain the udders of unsuspecting livestock, everyone else who has signed up around the world bashes out a 50,000 word novel during November. This equates to writing a mere 1,667 words each day to get your 50,000 word total by the end of the month.

So when does this happen?

In November. Sometimes I think that you don't pay attention to me. Wait, don't go. I'm so lonely. To be more specific, It takes place from November 1st to November 30th (local time) of this year and every year for the past 11 years. I've been doing it since 2007 and this will be my first year with the Liverpool local chapter.

So where does this happen?

All. Over. The. World. Each participant can join a local region. As I wrote above, this will be my first year associated with the Liverpool region. Each region is run by one or many volunteers. There are also the online forums to enable people to interact with other participants. I've met many great people in the forums and in person.

So what do I win?

A certificate.

No seriously, what do I win?

Seriously. A certificate. But not just a certificate, but an online certificate that you have to print out yourself if you want to attach it to your wall or any other type of load bearing structure and gaze at it adoringly. You also get to win whatever you manage to write in that month. The real prize is creativity. You may have a complete novel by the end of the month, or you may have the foundations to build that great novel. Or you may have a door stop or something to burn on those long cold December evenings once the event has finished

What do I write on?

You write on paper. You write on a computer. You write on the face of a chubby child (or a chubby adult, if your handwriting isn't small and neat). You write on whatever medium (or large) takes your fancy. However, in order to get your certificate, your word count must be validated electronically by a word count widget on the NaNoWriMo site (available between the 25th and 30th of November).

So I could cheat without writing anything?

I suppose. But that isn't very creative.

Is NaNoWriMo free?

NaNoWriMo costs a lot to run and maintain, though signing up doesn't cost anything, the event is run through donations.

Can I continue something that I've already started?

No. The object of National Novel Writing Month is to begin a story from scratch on November 1st, though you may do all the planning you wish to before this date, the actual novel should only be started on November 1st. Though if you have only just heard about the event through this blog post, you have just over a day (depending upon your timezone) to plan your novel. But don't worry, I haven't got an idea for mine yet, either.

Does this mean that your story: "This Joke Isn't Funny Any More" has been abandoned

No. While I will be writing something new for NaNoWriMo in November, the story will continue to be published on this website. You can find the chapter index here. The next chapter will be published on Friday 13th November, 2009. I hope

Okay, you convinced me. Where do I sign up?

You can sign up at www.NaNoWriMo.org. Then just join us on the forum or at a local meet in your area. Have fun. I know I will. Get your pen ready. See you at the starting line at 12.01am on November 1st!

Cheers,
Matt.

If you enjoyed reading this post, please consider donating to the good folks that run NaNoWriMo, the Office Of Letters and Light.

Only December has the answer...