Challenges, Contests, Blogfest…Oh My!

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There is always a vast array of challenges, competitions, contest, blogfest and the like offered throughout blogdom.

One such event is the Haiku Blogfest offered by Stephanie at Hatshepsut: The Writing of a Novel. It began yesterday and continues today. Be sure to check out Stephanie’s haikus, as well as the numerous other blogs that are participating.

In addition, Talli at Talli Roland is taking on Amazon. Talli is on a mission to bring at least 1,000 bloggers together for a Blogsplash. Be sure to check out her site to see what she has planned for December 1st.

Karen at Coming Down the Mountain is hosting a Big BBQ Blog Party. This is a wonderful event in which you get to meeting new people and new people get to see your blog. It's the Labor Day weekend, so it's time to party and enjoy some virtual food (you don't have to worry about calories). Be sure to drop by. 

I mention these things because of another blog I read yesterday (even though I didn’t comment, sorry). Raquel at Raquel Byrnes: Edge of Your Seat Romance wrote a post about NaNoWriMo. Since I’ve been blogging for almost a year, I’ve seen numerous mentions of this event but never really gave it much thought. The reason, I’m not an author or even an aspiring author with a WIP so a challenge for writers isn’t something I would get into much.

But yesterday I decided to read a little more and see exactly what Raquel was talking about. Many of you will know this information already so please bear with me and let me know if I get something wrong.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and it is a challenge held by various sponsors. Participants sign up to write a novel between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30 (of the same year). This novel has to be 175 pages and 50,000 words with no editing allowed. Writers are to write by the “seat of their pants.”

Last year there were 167,150 participants and 32,178 winners in the NaNoWriMo challenge.

First of all let me say, WOW!!! Anyone who can write a novel in a month is amazing. Anyone who even attempts it, has my admiration.

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, I’m not going to try my hand at this. I can’t image writing 175 pages. It’s hard enough for me to come up with a blog post and that is usually only two or three pages according to my Microsoft Works Word Processor program.

When I think those 175 pages have to be filled with 50,000 words, I’m in awe. That’s 285 to 286 words per page. If you wrote the phrase we had to learn in typing (way back when) “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country,” you would have to write that 3,333.3333 times. Now that’s a lot of writing.

As I mentioned earlier, there is always a wonderful challenge, competition, writing contest or blogfest going on.

One other blog to be sure to check on is Women of Mystery. These ladies are always great about announcing contest and challenges for writers.

These are only a few of the many opportunities that await the inspired writer. Wishing each and everyone much success in any of these endeavors you might undertake. I’m even going to join in on the Blogsplash Talli has planned.

That’s my rambling for today. In case I don’t get a chance to drop back in often today, just want to let y’all know - “Y’ALL ARE THE BEST!” Have a safe and wonderful Saturday.

P.S. Be sure to check the comment section for Alex's link to his TV blogfest. Blogger doesn't like me this morning or I would add it here.