For writers who enjoy a challenge, November is National Novel Writing Month is a chance to complete 50,000 words 31 days. NaNoWriMo has been running since 1999 , initially as a chance for new writers to get their novel reviewed for potential publication, but this has since expanded to create a world wide writing community.

The basic target to write 50,000 words in 31 days, a writer should aim for 16,000 words per day. Of course there is the flexibility to write 5,000 one day and 20,000 the next as required.

I have attempted NaNoWriMo three times, and successfully completed it twice, the first time in 2017 and then again in 2020 when in achieved 50,000 words handwritten which

My first attempt in 2017 was completed at a hedged-together standing desk with three house bunnies loitering at my feet. I completed a 50,000 typed manuscript, as well as accompanying working sketch pad and outline map, for a fantasy adventure story.

My second attempt in 2020 was intended to complete the first draft of the second part in a series. However, although 50,000 words (approximately) were completed, this only took me a third of the way through the story! Writing by hand in my bedroom as my new bunny partnership bonded added an extra challenge to an already challenging month. Even discounting the finger cramp, fitting a 1,600 word target per day around a full time job and all the other aspects of adult life (feeding myself and the bunnies and cleaning etc.) is not for the faint hearted. Although being able to step away from the computer after a full day of working on the computer was a bonus.