NaNoWriMo Success Stories
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an event held each November to encourage writers to put pen to paper. The idea is to write 1,667 words each of the 30 days of the month, which will produce a 50,000-word first draft. There’s an active community of published and unpublished writers cheering each other on through the month. There are graphs of progress and badges for milestones. It’s fun! I’ve done NaNo a few times now, though I don’t always strictly follow the word count rules, using the daily exercise to revise instead of producing a new work. This year I’m working on revisions to a middle-grade book that takes place in a magical world hidden behind a library.
Though some of the work produced during NaNoWriMo will end up in the proverbial desk drawer, a number of writers have gone on to publishing success with their NaNo books. Below are a few I’ve enjoyed.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011)
Le Cirque des Rêves, a circus full of real magic, only appears at night. Two of its performers are Celia and Marco. They are caught in a battle of magic between their two mentors, destined to duel to the death. When they fall in love, the battle gets even more complicated.
Lock In by John Scalzi (2014)
Just recommended to me by the kid, this sci-fi book is set in a near-future where a flu-like pandemic haunts the present. Many died from the disease; of those who survived, some never fully recovered, becoming paralyzed and “locked in” to their bodies. As a result of some high profile cases of lock in, huge amounts of money were devoted to accessibility, and now those locked in can use androids or human mediums to travel the world. But when the money for such developments ends, the murders start. An excellent mystery in a largely familiar world.
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens (2014)
Set at a 1930s boarding school, this series is about a detective agency formed by friends Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. For their first case, they find the body of their science teacher, which subsequently disappears. Has there been a murder or not? This first in a series is excellent fun as the partners utilize their strengths to solve mysteries.
American Panda by Gloria Chao (2018)
Set at MIT, this charming novel depicts Mei’s journey to understand her immigrant family and be understood by them. Her parents expect her to turn her academic achievement into a career in medicine. But squeamish Mei would rather express herself through dance. I loved the tales of MIT’s traditions as well as Chao’s wonderful descriptions of food and dance.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019)
Emoni, a high-school senior, lives with her grandmother and her daughter, Babygirl. She works hard to juggle classes, parenting, and a part-time job. Her passion is cooking, and she dreams of being a professional chef. When school offers a cooking class and a chance to travel to Spain, she jumps at the opportunity, even knowing she’ll never be able to afford the trip. Beautifully written, but be warned, the descriptions of the food Emoni makes are so good that you will want to have snacks at the ready.