S2:E5 NaNoWriMo 2020: What in the COVID?

Wondering how NaNoWriMo is going to work in our COVID-laden alternate reality? Considering skipping it altogether? You don't have to! In this episode of the Write Away Podcast, long-time NaNo Philadelphia Municipal Liaison (ML), Elayna Mae Darcy, tells us what to expect this year and shares her tips to make NaNo work for you - maybe even brighten your November - in the Year of Our Lord WTAF. As an author, poet, and 16-year NaNoWriMo veteran, Elayna has lots of magic up her sleeve to help us get some words on the page!

You'll hear:

• Writing Community News - how publishing houses are eliminating and consolidating imprints right now

• NaNoWrimo 2020: What in the COVID? with poet, author, and M.L. Elayna Mae Darcy, Nat & PJ

• Getting crafty - Writing sprints - the backbone of a successful NaNoWriMo

IMPORTANT LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check out the the truly inspirational poetry duology from author and poet Elayna Mae Darcy, including her newly released second collection, "Darkness Undone."

• Sign up for NaNoWriMo and give it a shot - this is the year to bend the rules to your needs.

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EPISODE RECAP

In Writing Community News¸ we talk about another unfortunate pandemic-related impact on publishing - disappearing imprints at various publishers.

Our guest this episode was Elayna Mae Darcy, who talked with us about NaNoWriMo's commitment to a safe, healthy month of writing and how the organization was already poised to bring the community totally virtual without sacrificing togetherness. They shared some important advice about how you can still participate in NaNoWriMo this year - how maybe, you NEED to - even if you are all but certain this is not the year to spit out 50K words in a month. They also affirmed the decision not to participate this year as a gesture of self care and energy conservation.

Elayna stayed with us for our Getting Crafty session, where we talked about the basic unit of success for getting your word count in the books: the writing sprint. They gave us tips for running your own and for participating virtually in a group.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and let us know if there’s anything you want to hear about later this season!

Until then...