The mission:
To write one novel between the first and the last of each month, each novel will be at least 50,000 words al la NaNoWriMo ideals, for a total of at least 600,000 words. Each story will be original and distinct from the others – I won’t torture myself with writing the same thing over and over again, nor will I allow myself to recycle ideas from previous stories. This is as new of material as I can get.
Bonus: If I can, I’d like to make this a baker’s dozen, so I’ll allow myself to work on an old project in the days between novels, should I manage to finish early any given month, which will become lucky 13 novels at the end – if I can find the time.
But… why?
There are a thousand and one reasons. But it really comes down to one thing: I know a lot of creative, brilliant and wonderful people who are waiting for their “real life” to suddenly become convenient, to move in with them or to rescue them. They work jobs they like ok, or love but aren’t passionate about, or even jobs they hate and know are killing their very soul inside of them. They think they’d have to quit their jobs and take up the big projects full time, or to wait until they can be paid for them or [insert common excuse here].
I’ve been among their ranks for a while now, waiting and wanting for life to become good enough for me to be able to blissfully write stories that sell, stories that matter and people will love and stop me on the street and I’ll just write all the time with no problems, my muse curled like a purring cat in my lap keeping me warm and happy.
But I’m frankly sick of waiting for the muse and the time. I’ve decided after some decent amount of living and researching that real life doesn’t come and perch on your windowsill waiting to be tamed. You’ve got to go out and drag that bastard back by the hair and make it happen for yourself. I want a writing career? I better go make one for myself and stop whining. I’d like to invite anyone brave enough to join me.
This is a blog about my creative and noncreative process of finding and creating my dream. I’m keeping my job,my boyfriend, my responsibilities around the house and in my life. I’m still going to see my friends. And I’m going to write 12 novels in a year. I don’t plan on sharing the novels in their rough drafts, though if there is enough interest, I may be coaxed to share some of it for a donation to either the growing contributions here at the site, or directly to the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program. This last bit still needs working out, so bear with me while I get things going.
So… there’s this other guy who is doing this too…
Why yes there is. I found out about it after I registered my domain name and was brave enough to google and see if anyone else is as insane ambitious as I am – and there is! His name is Matt Forbeck and he’s a very accomplished writer. He will, no doubt, have much less trouble and is brave enough to let people read what he’s written. He’s already gotten much more press than I can hope to have here (yes I’m jealous), and I’m looking forward to seeing if I can get any attention from the guy in our parallel endevors. Please check him out!
The official blog of Michelle Tuckett, word ninja. 
What an awesome project and huge undertaking! Wishing you the very best and I look forward to following your progress.
Thank you so much! I cannot tell you how much the support and encouragement means to me!
This sounds like torture. But in a good way. And here I thought I was making it hard on myself to write 150 words per day! 😀 Happy writings!
Thanks for stopping by!
Haha so far not torture, but ask me around June… lol. Wring every day or even most days is challenge aplenty. I’m just here to do extreme performance art and keep everyone else motivated…
This is a massive project (possibly mad – I say this because I’m tempted by the idea and that fact might indicate madness). But it is a wonderful thing to do. You’re absolutely right. Best wishes.
Thank you so much! It is rather mad, and massive, and very growth-inducing, but so far it’s an amazing ride. If you are tempted, I do deem you mad; but it is a wonderful kind of madness. Feel free to live vicariously through me, and if you care to join… well, I offer all my support.
For now, I’ll live vicariously.
But I’m still very tempted … in a month, who knows?
Oh I would love it if you want to try! It’s been most enlightening so far. We could start a little club of mad writers!
I think I’m going to join the madness in April.
I’ve nominated you for a 7×7 Link Award. Participate if you wish, but there is no obligation to.
Best wishes,
Kim
Thank you so much, Kim! I’m a tad short on time so it might take me a few weeks to getting around to it, but I’m seriously touched. 🙂
Wow, what a fantastic goal! I consider my goal of three in a year to be training for such a challenge! Good luck – I look forward to following your progress =D
Hello and thank you!
Three in a year is plenty for sure! And also good training. I finished my seventh NaNo last year when I decided to give this a try. Any goal that seems insane is a good thing I think – weather it’s one of twenty novels in a year. I look forward to seeing your progress as well!
everything I waetnd to say and more. Writing for a lot of us published or unpublished is a passion. It is something we must do to stay sane. I don’t know if Im any good or not. I know my current story seems to be a rambling mess despite having a wonderful plot developed. Its dragging from the beginning. Ive made notes of changes that need to be made. I will keep making notes. I will rewrite over and over until the story is to my liking and the people I trust are in awe of it. The publishing world can rest assured that I won’t submit a bad story. LOL Oh and I read too. Lots and lots
Wonderful idea! Best of luck. I admire your dedication.
Thank you! 🙂
Good luck with the writing! I’m rooting for you…
Armand Rosamilia
Thank you very much. I’m probably going to need the cheering on…
I love this idea!! I’m seriously considering taking it on myself. It’s a great growth-promoting goal…and I could definitely use one of those!
Best wishes!
Hello! Oh how fun! I’d love it if you wanted to join in the fun. And it is fun after the pain stops. Heh.
If you decide to do it, let me know! And if not, there’s always NaNoWriMo in November…
I love NaNoWriMo, and do it every November, but this is the first time I’ve heard of shooting for a novel a month EVERY month. Best of luck. I think it’s great. Keep us posted (so to speak). BTW, thanks for stopping by Writing Between the Lines. I’ll be following your blog to root for you. Naomi
P.S. If you like writing blogs, you might check out Adventures for the Faint of Heart.
Wow this is great and very ambitious. I did NaNoWriMo and my blog is about revising that effort, which I’m glad you stopped by to check out and I will have some content on by Monday, but now that I see this I kind of want to try something like that o_o.
Well good luck, and I’m definitely interested to see A.) How it comes along and B.) If you manage to sneak a 13th novel in there. That would definitely be awesome.
“I better go make one for myself and stop whining.”
This is EXACTLY how I feel.
An incredible challenge! While I don’t feel ready to join you, I am definitely inspired to up my production level. Best of luck to you!
Very inspiring! I am snowed, literally snowed, because, like you I have a full time job which extends well over the mandated 8.5 hrs (sometimes as long as 15hrs), responsibilities around the house, people to take care off, bill to pay etc.etc. In the middle of all this, I am trying to write an epic novel which goes on and on….so here’s the deal…I cannot do 12 novels, (I am determined to complete and get the epic published by this year), but I will do short novellas….12. Starting almost two months, late I will have to make up for the backlog! But I will cover that up…if nothing else, it will make me a better and more disciplined writer! 🙂
I tend not to comment, but after browsing a bunch of comments on About 12 Novels. I do have 2 questions for you if it’s okay. Is it just me or do some of these responses appear like they are written by brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are writing at other online sites, I would like to follow you. Could you post a list of the complete urls of your shared pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
This is a shout out of thanks for inspiring me to write and write more everday…..you are part of my sunshine brigade http://madcaphat.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/bring-on-the-sunshine/
Hi! I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! To find out more, click the following link. http://thegiftofcreation.wordpress.com/
I tagged you in a game of Blog Tag!
Here’s the link for my post with the details:
http://another12novelsin12months.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/tag-now-im-it/
Have fun!
you are my hero.
Always an inspiration…..I have nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award (http://madcaphat.wordpress.com/)
Great blog, and a fantastic endeavor. I’ve had a few wordy, manuscript-filled years; it’s just a matter of doing it. You are absolutely right about making it happen, but I also believe there is a time and place for everything. How many people allow excuses to overrun their dreams? NaNo was the spark to fulfilling mine, can’t wait for November!!
Thanks for stopping by my indie pubbing blog; NaNo gets all the credit for bringing me into fictional focus. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words!
NaNo saved my writing dreams as well, and I think I can blame just about all of this madness on that first November all those years back. Breaking through the fear of writing was a revelation!
I’ve just read your post on NaNoWriMo and it led me here. Such an amazing & daunting challenge, but so worth it. Like you I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands – I’d been waiting for life to slot into place so I could make time for my writing & allow inspiration to be challenged through me and onto a page. As that hasn’t happened yet, I’m finally doing it myself & on my terms – or at least NaNoWriMo’s terms! I’m taking part for the first time this year.
Lots of luck with your novels!
Thanks like your About 12 Novels
This post is the bomb. You have a new fan! I can’t wait for the next update, saved!
Hey there it was a pleasure visting your blog.
This is a brilliant idea and an incredible project. Thanks for all the advice on this blog. (I just wish I’d found you sooner :)) Best of luck to you on all your writing endeavors!
– Autore