Is there a NaNo-type thing for Non-fiction/memoir?

There's been discussion about one, but as far as I know, nothing yet set in stone. This year, they trialled Script Frenzy!, which was for screenplay writing, and I think in April? So who knows - people have asked for one, so it's a question of money, time and resources, I should imagine.

BFS goals - http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1075131

It's in the works. They had hoped to have it lunched in 2008, but the main obstacle to that is having enough money to do so. It IS in their heads, and will most likely be the next Office of Letters and Light project. We've only just broken even this year, though, so to get together a whole NEW challenge, the best way to promote that is to donate!

Heather
Forums Moderator

From what I can tell, non-fiction isn't what NaNo is about. I was told flat out that non-fiction isn't allowed for NaNo. I've seen several doing that genre anyway though.

In The American Heritage Dictionary the word 'novel' is:

"A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters."

With that in mind, I'll be surprised if NaNoWriMo ever offers a non-fiction genre, unless they change the definition of what a 'novel' is. You might do a search on the web and see if there's something for non-fiction offered though. Or maybe get with others doing non-fiction and start a challenge like NaNo for non-fiction genres.

I'm not saying you can't write it during NaNoWriMo, however. You might have to resign yourself to being in 'Other Genres' and create a sub-genre for Non-Fiction in order to meet others of like mind.

Good luck on your writing, and congratulations on your win! Way to go!!

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

Strictly speaking, this is correct. According to NaNo's rules, a novel is defined as "a lengthy work of fiction". Which precludes non-fiction. That doesn't mean people can't write it during NaNo and use the forums, but when asked, we'll tell you that it's against the rules and you probably shouldn't validate, since it's not technically a NaNo novel.

Well, the Office of Letters and Light is more than just NaNoWriMo. They've discussed the idea, although from what I now understand, it probably won't be the NEXT project they work on. They would like to cover all the bases at some point. Maybe one day. :) They won't create a separate genre forum for non-fiction, though, since it's technically against the rules. :)

Heather
Forums Moderator

I did quite an extensive search on the net - interestingly when I came up with my 'own' "title" thingy for what I'm looking for (I think it was NaMeWriMo - National MEMOIR Writing Month) the search engine came up with 3 entries - all of which were posts by people wondering the exact same thing I was!! LOL!!

Not saying that there would actually ever be something specifically called NaMeWriMo, but I thought about that kind of topic specifically because I knew that the "No" part of NaNo referred to Novel - which by definition eliminates memoir writing.

Alas, there is no such brain child as of yet that I was able to find on the net. Part of me doesn't get why, since there HAS to be more people that write non-fiction that would get a lot out of a challenge like this one.... but then I suppose if it's to happen somebody has to actually DO it instead of posting on threads like this wondering when someone ELSE will do it...LOL!

If I could get tech-savy enough, I would honestly try to start something. Clearly it wouldn't involve validators, counters and the like - but even just a basic forum......

.... hmmm..... food for thought.

I'm doing Script Frenzy next year. I couldn't this year b/c it was in June and silly me, I decided to get married in June and didn't want to tell my husband I couldn't go to the reception b/c I had to make my word count goal.

Nicole Palmby
nicolepalmby@gmail.com

---
Nicole Palmby
npalmbyauthor@gmail.com
http://magneticpoet.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/npalmbyauthor

ScriptFrenzy 2008: Do You Remember?

If you decide to try something like that, I could help you set up a forum. At least it'd be a starting point for you. You can find my email address on my web site. Just let me know if you're interested. Oh, and be sure you identify yourself as a WriMo, so I don't think it's spam and delete without opening it.

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

ROFLOL I can just see his face if you'd told him that!

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

Amy
http://www.amypreed.com
2006 NaNo - A Werewolf at War Failed
2007 NaNo - Fallen Angels Won!
"If you study to remember, you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember." Unknown

As a member of Facebook, I've been thinking of ways to stay in touch there during the rest of the year... or does anyone here stay in touch on the NaNoWriMo site??? Either way, just having common goals would be great for non-fiction writers of memoirs, whether it is a certain number of words per week, month, or...

*Interested*

With the "Other Genre" word count of 104,288,527, I would assume a lot of it was non-fiction. Just fictionalize your memoir a bit.
My NaNoWriMo this year was more along the lines of James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces," fictionalized memoir for two reasons. 1) A story has to have a plot, some logical structure, and believable characters or no one will want to read it. And 2) No one would believe my actual story, it's too complicated, has too many characters, and it would tick-off too many establishment people.
If a forum is created in future NaNoWriMo, I’d advise it be called “Fictional Memoir.” That way writers could put in as much “truth” as they want... or leave out the inconvenient ones. As long as they flag it as “based upon ____,” and change appropriate names, it becomes fiction and not a violation of the novel form. Sort of an oxymoron, contemporary historical fiction.

Clint

You'll find that quite a lot of people hand around this site year round. There's going to be tons of fun stuff available in the DEcember and Beyond forums, and I think the Big Scary Fun challenges should be back again. :)

And there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with starting a memoirist's club right here on the site!

Heather
Forums Moderator

I take your initial question to ask about whether there is a memoir challenge/site equivalent to NaNoFiMo, NaNoPubYe, NaNoEdMo, etc. There is not, that I know of (and as you found in your searches). I would love one though! I wouldn't want to leave the Nano forums ("we're here; get used to it") of course, but having a supplementary forum/challenge/site with a more specific focus that would operate year-round would be SPLENDID. I would be willing to help brainstorm ideas for what that could look like, since I see someone here has offered the technical know-how to set up a forum. PM me if you're interested!

2006: "Life: A Survival Guide" (100k)
2007: "By Her Own Hand"

Co-ML for Fredericton, N.B. Check out our calendar of events!

At NaNoWriYe this year we're allowing creative nonfiction which can include memoirs (because who can remember every little detail?). It's a year long word count challenge and pretty much anything is allowed to count.

If you're interested check us out.

http://pro-board.com/index.php?proboard=nanowriye2008&act=home

Hope to see you there.

Robyn

Want a year long NaNo? Try NaNoWriYe.
http://pro-board.com/index.php?proboard=nanowriye2008&act=home

Hi WitchyRobyn,

I'll check that out. Thanks. ^.^

2006: "Life: A Survival Guide" (100k)
2007: "By Her Own Hand"

Co-ML for Fredericton, N.B. Check out our calendar of events!

Thanks, WitchyRobyn!

I signed up, and will spend some time exploring the Nanowriye idea. Could be very helpful in the keeping-me-productive department.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

"Never give up! Never surrender!" - Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Galaxy Quest

"Never give up! Never surrender!" - Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Galaxy Quest

Thanks! I actually found the site a few days ago and signed up already - being bored of my 'current' profile name, you will now know me as "PurpleFish".

At least - THERE anyway. :)

Hey
I am writing a memoir as well
Do you guys know of any memior contests i could enter? thanks!

"With the price of meat , what it is, when you get it, if you get it"
-Mrs. Lovett from "Sweeney Todd"