How to Write a Book in 30 Days, With Author Grant Faulkner
This week, we are learning with author Grant Faulkner how to write the book you were going to write in just 30 days. Grant is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) and the author of Pep ‘s Conversations for Writers: 52 Ideas and Actions to Boost Your Creative Spirit . Hear Grant talking to Jordan and Alice about the unexpected benefits of the NaNoWriMo community, the writing process without editing, and why the writing crisis is a myth.
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Highlights from this week’s series
From an interview with Grant Faulkner
On why everyone should consider participating in NaNoWriMo:
[T] Here’s a great quote from Picasso that every child is born an artist. The problem is how to [remain] an artist when you grow up. And I think for a lot of people, writing or writing gets lower and lower on their to-do list until it stops altogether. This is something like an adult life, and all these practical responsibilities of an adult life are taken upon themselves. So I think one good reason is to regain your creativity, make it a priority for just one month, put it at the top of your to-do list. And … our creativity fuels everything we do. So if you are a creative person and truly embrace your creativity, it will make you a better husband or wife. This makes you a better employee or manager. This makes you a better teacher, student. It does so much for us.
On the benefits of the NaNoWriMo community:
[Y] You really feel like you are writing in peace. You know, you can feel the gusts of wind that other people write. But what I admire is that you are motivated by people you don’t even know. And just because you’re taking the same challenge, you know, I think it’s like a marathon or you’re just catching the tail and momentum of other people. They make you move on. And I think the same is happening with NaNoWriMo and with the community. It’s just that it has different facets … so many writers build this mythology of writing as a separate thing. And, of course, mostly solo. But … I always say that in order to write a novel, you need a village. So I think what you’re writing is that the community is really important, both creatively and if you want to be published. Then this is also very important.
On why it is so important to write every day:
I guess you are not necessarily born with a talent for writing. There are very few rare people. But in fact, practice in the arena also teaches that you come every day on good days and bad days. You don’t wait for inspiration to come. You get inspiration from sitting down to write, and you become a good writer just by spending hours. Plus, the more you do it, the more you believe in yourself.
To hear more about our conversation with Grant (and get even more inspiration for National Novel Writing Month), we recommend taking the time to listen to the entire episode.
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