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November 1st. I heard it said on television that this is the eleven month of 2015. Yikes! It's time to start the National Novel Writing Month Contest better known as nanowrimo. There's no contest entry fee and no one judging which story is winner so there isn't awards.

I've entered this contest for six years. The first year I had no idea how I had to stick with it to write enough words by the end of the month so I didn't succeed. I did go ahead and publish the book later on. The last five years I met the goal of over 50,000 words before the end of November, because now I know what to do.

It's the only writing contest I've ever entered that I am competing against myself. Oh, there are thousands of other writers entered in the contest, but they are doing the same thing I am, trying to get enough words written by the end of the month or trying to write more words this year than they did the previous years.

It takes determination and discipline to sit for hours at the computer working on a story that will be my next book. Early on it was hard not go back and correct mistakes as I wrote, but by learning that I can do the editing in December, it has given me the freedom to keep the story going. At this point, no one cares how poorly the book is written so the author shouldn't. There is plenty of time later to fix what needs fixed. It is a skill that has served me well since I started this contest years ago. I write all my books the same way now. Once the story is out of my head and on the screen then is the time to edit until the story is the best it can be.

I've saved the badge of honor each year and copied it in the front of the book. This helps readers see where and how the book started. When I post to my blog or on a social media in December I can use the badge to show what I did the month of November.

Getting ready for the contest takes some planning ahead of time. Signing in is easy since I'm already a member. My bio and information is already on site. There is a list of my other books covers I made for the other books I wrote in the last five years. I have been planning in my head for some time what the book will be about. No writers block here. Just sit down and type.

Ahead of time, I have to write a synopsis that would be used on the back of the book and download it. Here is this year's synopsis.
“Life ain't fair. You have to be stronger than it it is to take what you can get.” That was just one of the life lessons that Lizzy Cobb was fond of repeating to her children when life wasn't going to suit her. She had many more sayings, but to her children, when they became adults, those sayings came to sound more like excuses to do whatever Lizzy wanted. When Lizzy's husband, Logan, died, she said, “The Lord taketh and so will I.” Her family was soon to find out what she meant by that, and Lizzy stood good on her word for the rest of her life. As the years went by, her children grew up and went their separate ways. Those that lived near Lizzy heard the talk behind her back from women in town. They called her The Cavorter.

There is a spot for a book cover. It doesn't have to be perfect but just something to give the idea. I publish on Create Space Publishing and when I turn in my idea for the cover the cover maker can center the title, subtitle and my name.

So for all those entered in nonawrimo have a successful journey through this month to the last of November, and for those that have thought about entering, it's not too late. This's just a fun contest to give you the discipline to write and learn to enjoy the process. The contest has just started. Why not entered and go for it.

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