NaNoWriMo 2011

A few years ago, I read through Chris Baty's book, No Plot? No Problem! and dove into the adventure of writing my own novel. If the name doesn't ring a bell, Chris Baty is the founder of National Novel Writing Month, referred to as NaNoWriMo. Though NaNoWriMo offically takes place in November, I decided I didn't want to wait, and threw my hat into the ring in July. That month, I reached my wordcount goal of 50,000 and surpassed it, ending at just over 58,000 words.

This year, I received an email from The Book Whisperer, and my fire was ignited once again...only this time, with a twist. The above link is in regard to the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program (YWP), in which kids from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade take part, albeit in a modified manner, in NaNoWriMo.

I started teaching the YWP lessons to my 5th graders last week, and I'm sprinting all-out to get them prepared to start writing on November 1st. This blog will be my effort to document the adventure.

For YWP, specifically 5th grade, students choose a wordcount goal of anything from 800 words to 2,000. I really thought my one ELL student would choose the 800-word goal, but he surprised me with a higher number. What's cool is I think he can do it. I have some kids who set themselves a goal of 3,000 words or more, and I think they can do it. Then there's Kelvin (not his real name). He gave himself a goal of 15,000 words! I think that's stretching the boundaries of reality, but I'm not going to tell him that. Say he only makes it halfway: 7,500 words. That's still an incredible feat.

And yes, I'm participating, too. At first I set my goal at 25,000 words, because November is a hard month to start such an undertaking. Then I changed my mind. If I can't do the full NaNoWriMo requirement, what am I teaching my kids? No way...I'm swinging for the fence. I either strike out or knock it into the bleachers. Either way, I'm giving it my all, because I expect no less from my kids.

Bring on November 1st!