Everyone knows November is National Novel Writing Month. But November is also filled with other lesser known anniversaries, holidays and celebrations. Here are a few to inspire your creativity and help you meet your NaNoWriMo goals.
First Week: Feed Your Muse!
Writers can’t live on words alone. The first week of November has some important food feasts. There’s something for everyone here: sugar, salt, caffeine and of course chocolate.
November 4: National Candy Day
November 5: National Doughnut Day
November 6: National Nachos Day
November 7: Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
November 8: National Cappuccino Day
Second Week: Make some noise!
You don’t need to be a trained musician to make music. November is International Drum Month. Join a drum circle. Here’s what Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead, says about them:
“Typically, people gather to drum in drum “circles” with others from the surrounding community. The drum circle offers equality because there is no head or tail. It includes people of all ages. The main objective is to share rhythm and get in tune with each other and themselves.”
If you can’t find a drum circle near you, get some friends together and go for it. What a great way to set your muse free. Think of it as a NaNoWriMo with percussion instruments.
Third Week: Feel the Love, Try Something New and Don’t Give Up!
November 16th: By this point, you could be having a few shaky writing moments. Fortunately, it’s the anniversary of the first time that Lucy held a football for Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoon strip. If anyone can teach us a lesson in resilience, it’s Charlie Brown. He kept kicking. Hope you do too.
November 19th is Pencil Day. Try something new by going back to the tried and true. Give your PC a break and pull out the old pencil and paper. Reward yourself with a Pop Tart (since it’s also the anniversary of the day those snacks were created)
Feel the love on World Hello Day. This day was created to demonstrate the importance of personal communication. It’s November 21st and anyone can participate. All you have to do is say ‘hello’ to ten people. Don’t forget to give a shout out to your writer friends. The other NaNoWriMo participants could probably use a bit of encouragement too.
Week Four: Home Stretch!
It’s the last week. You’re almost there! November 24th is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. Give yourself a pat on the back for that special thing that only you can do.
And there are so many famous writers’ birthdays. William Blake’s is on November 28th. Louisa May Alcott and C.S. Lewis have their special day on the 29th and Mark Twain’s is on the 30th.
There’s one last holiday. November 30th is National Play Hooky Day. What a perfect way to reward yourself for completing your NaNoWriMo goals and for getting through an entire month of celebrations.
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Comments
1 C. Lee McKenzie // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:15 pm
There has to be a National Something Day for almost every day of the year! I had no idea. Loved the “Feed Your Muse” list. You could gain ten pounds between Wednesday and Sunday.
2 Margie Gelbwasser // Nov 16, 2009 at 12:43 pm
What a great article! I had no idea there was so many November holidays involving food. Because I so need more reasons to eat chocolate. :-p I think the drum circle is a terrific idea and something I have always wanted to try.
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