As we approach November, there will be a split across the country, actually the world, into little groups. Those thrilled about Halloween, those warming up for Bonfire night, those giddy about Christmas, or those dreading the dark winter months. Then there are a little group of us gearing up for National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo to those in-the-know.
If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, it is basically a global challenge to write a novel in a month.
You read that correctly; 50,000 words, in one month.
For the weeks (and sometimes more) leading up to November, there will be the rustle of notebooks, the furious tapping of brain storming ideas, the stockpiling of coffee and sugar and the nervous scratching of days off the calendar as we draw closer.
As I write this, I could be prepping my next scene. Now I’m writing this, wondering why I’m not prepping my next scene!
As a group of crafters ourselves, we at CraftCourses know how good creating is for the soul. When you use your hands, try something new, learn a skill, or just dare to dream, our brains and our bodies thank us for it. The same goes for writing.
Why write?
You don’t need to look far to read the positive impacts that writing has on your mental health and capacity. This doesn’t have to be a novel of course, writing is writing; whether it’s funny one-liners, thought provoking haiku, emotional journals, factual blogs, scientific reports, or good old Harry Potter, the act of exercising your brain and putting thoughts into words, is powerful.
Ever considered what writing can help you with?
Communication
The art of describing feelings, sharing emotions and explaining experiences is a lifelong practice. Whether this is explaining why you don’t feel like going out, defining your feelings of loss, or capturing how much you love someone, this is a skill that will help not only your own communication, but those that may read your work in the future.
Brainpower
Research, reading and deciphering what you want to write, encourages you to think, widen your horizons, relate to and break down complex ideas. Now if that isn’t an amazing skill to learn, what is?
Headspace
You know when you need to close down all those web pages, clear your cache on your laptop, or swipe up on your phone to close the multiple screens that are there in the background?
Writing allows the flow of thoughts and ideas from your head, to the page (or screen), freeing up some often much-needed space for rest and relaxation!
Do you need inspiration?
Often, we feel like we don’t have a story to tell, or if we do, we don’t quite know how to tell it. So how about a little inspiration from us?
We have over 40 creative writing courses across the country and online that explore mindfulness journals, food writing, fashion blogging, song writing, short stories, journalism, nature writing, screenwriting, novel writing and so much more!
You don’t need to be an expert to start, pick a subject or an idea that interests you, put your phone down for 15minutes and jot down some ideas. Then tomorrow, maybe do it again. Then the next day… who knows where it will go, even JK Rowling had to start somewhere!
So, I think it is time. Pick up that pen, dust off that typewriter, open that laptop, or plug in that PC and come join us!
If you need a little more information on NaNoWriMo, then take a little peak at nanowrimo.org for inspiring talks, preparation methods, calendars, writing tools and lots more to keep you going!
