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Arts & Entertainment

NaNoWriMo Special: Books for Writers

If you want to write your own novel, start here.

November is National Novel Writing Month-- NaNoWriMo for short. This annual worldwide writing project challenges participants to complete a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. NaNoWriMo began in 1999 and has grown into an enormous well of energy and support for over 200,000 budding novelists, especially through the NaNoWriMo website.

Writing a book may sound like a huge undertaking, but NaNoWriMo can help to break it down into manageable bits-- 1,667 words per day, to be exact. If you've been waiting to write your own novel, here are the two books that most helped me write the book that landed a literary agent and a three-book deal with Simon & Schuster.

On Writing - Stephen King

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Part memoir, part textbook, On Writing forever changed my thoughts about crafting a story. Did you know that even Stephen King thinks his first drafts stink? By the end of this book, you not only know how a misbehaving kid became one of the world's foremost writers; you also know how to look at your writing objectively and keep going when you want to give up. The most important lesson in this book is "Kill your darlings," which means that if you're desperately holding on to something in your story, it might be time to axe it.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

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My agent recommended this book to me and I ran right out and bought it. What I appreciate most is Lamott's honesty regarding how difficult writing can be and how jealous, crazy and disappointed a writer can feel. Filled with reflections, stories and tips, Bird by Bird is funny, down-to-earth and helpful, while simultaneously razor sharp. First drafts, revising, characters and overcoming writer's block are covered and Lamott makes it clear that you should be writing for yourself and the joy of writing instead of only barreling blindly towards publication.

Find that novel in your heart and make it happen. There's plenty of support at the NaNoWriMo website. And you can also follow the #nanowrimo hashtag on Twitter.

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