One More Day -- are you ready?

NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow as does the Young Writers' version. StringBean is the only one of mine willing to attempt writing a novel in a month (LegoManiac has too much work with learning lines for his play and getting ready for the Crucible with the Young Marines!).

The Catholic Writers Guild is doing a similar challenge to NaNoWriMo -- since NaNoWriMo is specifically geared to novel-writing, CWG has created a challenge of 30K for Christ ... where you need to write at least 30,000 words during November but they can be any genre. This is just what I need to get me writing down my book (a non-fiction work) on paper ... so I've joined THAT challenge and will be writing right along with StringBean.

Here's the prayer (written by CWG Moderator, Karina Fabian) we'll say before we start writing:

God in Heaven, You granted us, in Your Image, the ability to imagine
and create. This month, I endeavor to indulge that creativity. Look with favor
upon my efforts.Dear Holy Spirit, this day, this month, I commend my writing
efforts to your care. I ask for your guidance and your prayers as I seek to
complete the project(s) in my mind and my heart.O my Jesus, son of God, Light of
the world, help me to spread your Light in all that I do. May my words be
pleasing to You. Be close to me in this month as I strive to write 30,000 words
for you.Dear St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. You knew hard work all your
life. Inspire me to keep working toward my goal even when the words won't come
with ease. You faced uncertainty. Teach me, then to place my trust in God as I
forge into the uncertainty of my writing adventure.Dear Mary, our Spiritual
Mother, you were uncertain when the Archangel approached you, yet you gave
yourself to God's Will. Give me grace to recognize and embrace my calling.I
place myself and my muse in your care, full of trust and gratitude. Amen.May the
Holy Spirit fill me and guide my imagination, I ask through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Won't you join us? You have ONE MORE DAY to signup at CWG or NaNoWriMo or the Young Writer's Program.

Young Novelists -- get with it and sign up!

I don't know about you, but getting my kids writing is a tough thing ... especially since they're worried about spelling, grammar, style and making it "perfect" OR they don't care a flip and turn in whatever so they can be done.

Here's a fun, short-term challenge to write a novel in a set amount of time. This is going to be especially beneficial for LegoManiac (who keeps trying to write a novel) and StringBean (who shies away from it, but is actually quite a good story teller!).

Thanks to Debbie over at Livin La Vida Grande , I have signed them up for the NaNoWriMo Young Writer's Program. Starting November 1st and finishing on the 30th, they have to write on a novel ... just write to reach their word goal without worrying about grammar ... or spelling ... or Mom's editing. This is just a fun way to get them writing ... without too much pressure.

Here's a link to How this Works. Adults can sign up too (altho we have a 50K word count in a month, while the kiddoes can set their own word-count goal) -- if you want to join the challenge, you have to go to a different site. For those of us who just want to help our kids, we can sign up as "educators" to get access to the teacher's lounge with tips on motivating the kids, helping with writer's block, etc.

By the way, NaNoWriMo = "National Novel Writing Month" which is November!