Have you guys heard of NaNoWriMo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it is an online challenge to write daily with the goal of 50,000 words by the end of the month. I learned about NaNoWriMo when I first started researching homeschooling because there is a junior version that is quite popular. I tucked the idea away in the back of my mind because Leo loves to write books.
Well, I had essentially forgotten about NaNoWriMo until a couple days ago when folks started mentioning it online. I mentioned it to Leo who then reminded me that we had actually planned to write about a picture he drew about a month or so ago. We searched around and managed to dig it up. I present to you, Night of the Blue Moon, which I think you will agree totally needs a story:
 Night of the Blue Moon. |
Once we located the drawing, Leo was on board with participating in the junior version of NaNoWriMo. The junior version is essentially a pledge to write daily. You can set a word count goal if you wish, but it is not required. I think I’ve mentioned before that Leo went through an anti-writing phase for a bit this summer. The last thing I want is for that phase to return. He has always been a kid who enjoys writing. He leaves books and notes and stories everywhere. I do not want him to see writing as something that is tedious, so I will not be setting a word count goal for him. He and I talked and he’s excited to write “a little bit every day” until the month is over. He is excited to see where the story takes him, and to add illustrations along the way.
 Sweet little writer. |
That picture totally needs a story! I’m at 417 words today. Onward.
Awesome work, Bob! Keep me posted. I may join in the fun next year 🙂
Neat! Thanks for sharing. Can you please share the type of notebook he is using? It looks like it will peek interest in my non writer kiddo 🙂
Hi Deepa!
It’s called “My Fundations Journal” from Wilson Language Basics. You know how kids come home with tons of stuff on the last day of school? Well, this journal was in his bag and was blank so I just saved it to reuse. I know you can get those old school composition notebooks with lines like this and a space for drawings. That might be easier to find.
Great suggestion on the composition book. Just found ” primary journal” from Mead. P.S- Yeah! N wrote a few lines this am.
That’s the one!! Glad you found it 🙂 I also got a book called “Draw Write Now” that has a similar-type journal. The booklet teaches you to draw animals and tells you a little bit about them and then you copy the writing and essentially make your own book. If N likes to draw, too, this might be something to explore!