2010 marks the 12th year of fast-paced noveling known as National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo has a long and, ahem, storied history of producing everything from terrible purple prose to polished, published novels. As of last year, over 30 NaNoWriMo authors had taken their November novels from chaos to published books. We here at The Editorial Department believe in the talent of NaNo authors, and the potential of NaNo novels, and would like to help you make your rough novel-in-a-month into a polished, potentially publishable gem.

Throughout the month of November, we'll share our editors' best tips and tricks, helpful links from around the web, and inspiration and encouragement from the seasoned NaNoWriMo authors among our staff and clients. Kristi Jenkins (midwinter on the NaNo boards), an 8-year NaNo veteran and 6-year Municipal Liaison, is here to answer your NaNoWriMo questions and to show you how The Editorial Department's services can transform your novel. Follow her on twitter, or on our Facebook page, and share your NaNo experiences (or brag about your soaring word count - because even veterans need a kick of inspiration).

When November winds down, we'll switch our focus to completing drafts and taking your manuscript to the next level. Whether you chose to self-publish or seek traditional agenting and publication, we're here for you. Here's to hyper-caffeination and frenetic noveling!

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Want professional feedback on your manuscript and a way to help NaNoWriMo at the same time? We have a special deal for NaNoWriMo authors! From now until December 31st, 2010, purchase our $35 Manuscript Critique and we will donate $5 to NaNoWriMo. (Just be sure to let us know you're a NaNoWriMo participant!)

learn more | submit your ten pages | find your editor

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Tips, inspiration, and other helpful resources:

A NaNoWriMo Survival Guide

A Novel Pre-Writing Workshop: Asking the Right Questions - Holly Lisle's incredibly useful tool for fast plotting and nailing your story's conflicts

Outlining 101 - a NaNoWriMo-themed guide from Kelly Armstrong

Renni Browne on Characters and making them real

October Between the Lines e-zine: The NaNoWriMo Issue

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Writing and grammar books we love:

Chris Baty's excellent No Plot, No Problem: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days, the ultimate guide to writing a NaNo novel.

Self Editing for Fiction Writers, co-authored by Editorial Department founder, Renni Browne

On Writing, Stephen King's memoir of a writing life, and an all-around great book on craft and process.

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: A Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager and the Doomed. An unconventional grammar book that instructs and entertains.