NaNoEdMo - NaNoEdMo FAQ

NaNoEdMo Faq

FAQ

What is National Novel Editing Month?
Why March?
Why not just edit it on your own?
How much does it cost?
Who can edit?
What can be edited during National Novel Editing Month?
What constitutes editing?
How much editing must I do?
Why 50 hours?
How is this confirmed?
Why have these designated times for logging hours?
What activities or help is there?
What is a municipal liaison?
Can I be a municipal liaison?
What do I have to do to receive a certificate?
What are the rules?

What is National Novel Editing Month?: National Novel Editing Month is an online community of writers who, having written a novel, get together during March of each year in order to edit it, whether for their own personal satisfaction or perhaps even for publishing.
Why March?: March is chosen primarily because the National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, is in November. NaNoWriMo requires you to write a novel during November. NoNoEdMo gives you 3 months to think about it and then edit in it March. Some feel a longish break away from the novel will help when you come to edit it.
Why not just edit it on your own?: You can of course do that, the editing with a fellow community of writers and a deadline provides encouragement and inclination. You can participate in local events coordinated by your local municipal liaison and have the support of the forums. And at the end you will receive an emailed certificate upon successful completion.
How much does it cost?: This is free. Donations will be gratefully received. The profit from the store section on the website also goes to NaNoEdMo.net.
Who can edit?: Anyone can edit. You don’t have to have previous experience. You need to have written a novel that you want to edit. To participate, you must be a registered member of the NaNoEdMo.net website. We suggest that younger participants pair up with an adult editor
What can be edited during National Novel Editing Month?: Essentially, any work of fiction, whether from NaNoWriMo or not.
What constitutes editing?: This is defined as changing the novel in some way. This can go from simple proofreading such as checking the spelling or grammar and correcting that; through to substantial rewriting of the piece. It does not include writing a new novel, or planning or researching the current novel.
How much editing must I do?: 50 hours during the month of March is the requirement for a certificate of completion.
Why 50 hours?: 50 hours is considered by some to be a minimum to substantially edit a novel of reasonable length.
How is this confirmed?: You have to log your editing hours at least once every 7 days in March until you reach 50 hours. That is once between 1st-7th March inclusive, once between 8th-14th March inclusive, once between 15th- 21st March inclusive, once between 22nd-28th March inclusive and once between 29th-31st March inclusive; making a total of 5 times and totalling 50 hours or more. You can log your hours as much as you like but you must have at least one log in each period until you reach 50 hours. If you haven’t done anything that week then log zero hours.
Why have these designated times for logging hours?: The primary purpose of this is to ensure that you're regularly updating your hours and do not at the end, on 31st of March simply log 50 hours. It is recommended that you edit regularly throughout March, and this is intended to remind you to do that.
What activities or help is there?: There are articles from fellow writers about editing. There are meetings in some areas where you can meet fellow editors and discuss your work. Some of these meeting can include an "edit-in" An "edit-in", which can be online or offline, is where people edit together. There are also edit wars, again online or offline, where individual editors try to compete for the number of pages edited in a certain time or where areas try to compete for the number of hours edited in a certain time. These are run by a municipal liaison.
What is a municipal liaison?: A municipal liaison is a person in your area, who has volunteered to coordinate local get-togethers. Depending on what the individual municipal liaison wants to do, this can include a meet-and-greet before March to meet other editors and to encourage each other, “edit-ins” during March to talk and perhaps do some editing together and a TGIO (Thanks God It’s Over) party after March.
Can I be a municipal liaison?: Yes. See the "How to be a ML" page.
What do I have to do to receive a certificate?: You have to do 50 hours of verified editing. If at the end of March you will receive of a certificate providing is being correctly logged at the designated times and totalling 50 hours or more.
What are the rules?: Please see the Rules page.