Hi, everyone! I am sure many people don’t know, what is national novel writing month. Why am I even want to talk about it? What is this anything to do with stress relief?
Of course, you are curious right now. But don’t worry you will get your answer, dear reader. So let’s begin!
WHAT IS NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH?
Before ten years I also didn’t know about this amazing project that changes my life in interesting ways and brightens my years. I enjoy November more than I did before and this is one of the greatest adventures that I ever started.
National Novel Writing Month is also called NaNoWriMo. This is an annual creative writing project that is Internet-based and takes place during the month of November. Participants try to write a 50 000 word manuscript.
This project encourages writers to finish the first draft of their novel. Quality isn’t so important as is the length of a work. Why? Because people always can edit later their work and change anything they want.
It’s great that you can meet with local NaNoWriMo participants, talk about writing and do this challenge together. This helps with motivation inspiration and encouragement.
If you want to participate, you need to register on the project’s website, where you can post information about your novels. How can you validate your word counts? Usually, writers submit a copy of their novel for automatic counting.
Some people think that NaNoWriMo participants are crazy. If this is madness, then the world would be a better place if everyone become crazy like that.
I think that these people, including me, are dreamers and they engage their creative side in this manner. We all now that creative activities help to reduce stress, relax, and this is why we are here. Right? Of course, there are other ways to do it because we are creating something in our lives all the time even if we don’t acknowledge that.
WRITING FOR STRESS RELIEF
There are studies that prove that writing can be good for stress relief. But they usually talk about journaling and not writing stories or novels. But why not? Everything that helps is great and useful. Right?
Do you want to know a little bit more about studies?
Studies show that writing about your emotions can help you to reduce stress, anxiety and erase trauma.
There was a research about the benefits of expressive writing. It shows that writing about stressful or traumatic life experiences helps to deal with these emotions, thoughts, and feelings, and by doing that, people feel better and more healthy.
Other studies found out that expressive writing reduced stigma-related stress in gay men and is beneficial to chronically stressed caregivers of older adults.
How do I feel about it? Does it help me?
When I write a story, I create a new and exciting world, and I forgot about my worries or stress. Sometimes it seems to me this is like reading a book when I explore a new world that I didn’t know before. Or like painting because it also means to create a new world from my imagination.
Writing a novel for me is relaxing, and we know that if we want to reduce stress, we need to do what we enjoy and what makes us relax. Writing for me is both.
So for me, this month of writing is amazing. But don’t ask why I don’t usually write in other months because I don’t know the answer.
Of course, I understand that for someone novel writing seems impossible or even stressing. For me, it’s great to be, let my imagination go wild and relax from everyday stress.
How about you? Do you want to try this unique way?
Conclusion
What is national novel writing month? For me, novel writing is an adventure that is relaxing and amazing. It is a journey inside my imagination that helps me to understand things in my life.
If you want to do something new for just only one month, do it and see for yourself. Sometimes new hobbies and things help with stress relief.
Do you want to try to participate in this project? Let me know below!
What do you think of this article? Did you like it?
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Until next time!
Linda Mo
Founder of How To Reduce Stress Naturally
I use to write when I was younger. I loved to write stories for class. When you write a novel, just like when you write a song or a poem, you are expressing yourself through that story using your imagination. If may sometimes me fiction but it is still an escape like all hobbies and is a great way to get your mind off of things that may be stressing you. NaNoWriMo sounds awesome, I don’t think I could write 50,000 pages but I wish all the participants this year good luck. Thanks for the article!
Hi, Melissa!
Hobbies can be an escape. For me, it’s writing or painting. It is fun that helps me to let go of stress, worries, and even negative thoughts.
I am sure that it’s true for all of us. It is essential to be in joy, in that way, you are less stressed and happier.
NaNoWriMo is great, and that is, why I participate for 10 years. You don’t need to write 50, 000 pages, just 50 000 words.:)
Thanks! Thank you for your comment!