Here’s a novel idea for 30 days

?You spend a lot of your life having people tell you to follow your passion. It?s nice advice?if you happen to have one that is very clear and obvious. But what happens if you don?t have an easily identifiable passion?. Passion is rare?passion is hot, it burns. Every day, you can?t access that. Follow your curiosity. It might lead you to your passion or it might not. You might get nothing out of it at all except a beautiful, long life where all you did was follow your gorgeous curiosity. And that should be enough too.? ?ELIZABETH GILBERT

In 2010 I had the chance to listen to and meet Sara Gruen, one of my favorite authors. I went through the meet-and-greet line pretty quickly, satisfied with her signature in my copy of her book. It only took me two weeks to think about what I should have asked her.

She wrote ?Water For Elephants,? which wasn?t her first novel, but it was her breakthrough novel. There?s a lot I love about this story, but one of the biggest things?and the one thing that made sense to ask her about?is that it started as a Nanowrimo novel.

This is the time of year I like to plug Nanowrimo. Short for National Novel Writing Month, this writing feast happens every year from midnight Nov. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30.

The goal is to write a novel in its 50,000-word entirety during that 30-day timeline. That breaks down to 1,667 words each day, every day. A tall order, but still a manageable task for the inspired (just incorporate more double-shot espressos and less snooze buttons).

It won?t appeal to everybody, but I hope it does to somebody. It?s only 30 days and the infamous ?they? say 30 days is the perfect length of time to try something new.

?The idea (of devoting 30 days to a new task) is actually pretty simple,? said Matt Cutts, software engineer, speaker and Nano novelist, during a mini TED talk. (http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days)

?Think about something you?ve always wanted to add to your life and try it for the next 30 days. It turns out, 30 days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit?like watching the news?from your life?. I also figured out that if you really want something badly enough, you can do anything for 30 days.?

Somebody once said, or more likely wrote, that everyone has a story inside of him or her. Who hasn?t read a book and thought, ?I could write a better story.? Maybe you can. Maybe not. Maybe that?s beside the point because sometimes adults need reminded to take advantage of the same artistic freedoms that kids do. It?s the doing that matters.

In this spirit, you need just two things for Nano. A deadline, provided for you, and an idea, which is your problem. The website (www.nanowrimo.com) lays it all out. It?s a lot of fun, challenging and yes, one more thing to add to your schedule. But we?re all busy, busy anyway, right? If you decide to tackle it, I?d love to hear about it. Email me at shelley@hillsborofreepress.com.

This year, I have a writing partner, which I am incredibly excited about and who I know will motivate me even more. It?s harder to be a slacker with my accountability on the line.

Still not convinced? That?s great?it?s perfect for the non-committal type. On the average, only 17 percent make it to 50,000 words. That isn?t meant to be discouraging, just to show that along with no fees or penalties, there?s also no pressure.

It?s nothing more than a chance to manhandle a deadline and maybe even follow your curiosity.

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