FAQs - NaNoEdMo

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 Red Pen Luminary?
Can I be a Red Pen Luminary?
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, gather together every March for moral support in order to edit their work, whether for their own personal satisfaction or perhaps even for publishing.
Why March?: March is chosen primarily because National Novel Writing Month, which requires you to write a novel, is in November. Setting NoNoEdMo in March gives you a three month break from that novel so you have fresh eyes when you go back to edit it.
Why not just edit it on your own?: Of course you can always edit your novel on your own, but editing with a large community of writers and a deadline provides encouragement and inclination. You can participate in local events coordinated by your local Red Pen Luminaries and have the support of the forums. And in the end you will receive a certificate upon successful completion. After all that, why would you want to bother editing on your own?
How much does it cost?: You may jump up from your comfy office chair and rejoice for this event is free! However, donations will be gratefully received and the profit from our store on the website also goes to NaNoEdMo.net, more specifically to our web hosting fees at the moment.
Who can edit?: If you�ve seen the cute Pixar movie Ratatouille, perhaps you remember the chef�s famous line: �Anyone can cook�. The same applies here. Anyone can edit. You don�t have to have previous experience. All you need is a previously written novel that you want to edit. In order to participate, you must be a registered member of the NaNoEdMo.net website.
What can be edited during National Novel Editing Month?: Essentially, any work of fiction, whether from NaNoWriMo or not. You only need to make sure you can get fifty hours worth of editing out of it before you begin editing.
What constitutes editing?: This is defined as changing the novel in some way. This can go from simple proofreading such as correcting spelling or grammar 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?: Fifty hours during the month of March is the requirement for a certificate of completion.
Why 50 hours?: Fifty 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 fifty 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 totaling fifty 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 fifty 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 fifty 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 will be articles from fellow writers related to editing which will be posted on the site. If your region has a Red Pen Luminary they will hold edit gatherings where you can edit and discuss your work in person, or perhaps in a designated chat room. There is also our podcast which is linked to on the home page. This nifty radio-like device delivers audio commentary and advice from published authors, as well as your fellow Edmos.
What is a Red Pen Luminary?: A Red Pen Luminary (RPL) is a person in your area, who has volunteered to coordinate local events. Depending on what the individual RPL wants to do, this can include a meet-and-greet before March to meet other editors, edit gatherings 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 Red Pen Luminary?: Yes. See the "How to be an RPL" page.
What do I have to do to receive a certificate?: You have to do fifty hours of verified editing. If at the end of March you have correctly logged fifty hours or more, you will receive a dazzlingly sweet certificate via email.
What are the rules?: Please see the Rules page.