I probably shouldn’t do it. I have no business doing it. I have enough other things on my plate, my head hurts and I have a hangnail.
But the registration for NaNoWriMo has begun, and I’m seriously considering trying it.
A year ago I never would have known what you were talking about, had you come up and suggested that I sign up for NaNoWriMo. I probably would have heard “nano-rhino” and had all sorts of questions for you about microscopic African safaris and whether or not mini-lions were dangerous.
So. 50,000 words in a month. Whether or not I succeed, I think the effort will help me break through this block that has kept me from actually starting the current Novel in Progress. Oh, I’ve got notes and scenes and settings galore, but not a single, solitary word on paper screen.
On a side note, it’s a curious coincidence that registration for NaNoWriMo begins during Banned Books Week. Perhaps because 99% of the books completed this November should never be read, and not because of any controversial subjects? Sean Lindsay is probably all over this one.
October 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Well, it might just force the issue. And besides, it’ll make you forget the hangnail.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
You’ve just given me my plot idea: The Hangnail Conspiracy.
October 6th, 2007 at 5:27 am
Nooooo!!
It’s an arbitrary goal, a bullshit target for writer wannabes so they can feel like they’re achieving something while they spew forth useless words in extremis, most of which will be cut if the writer ever progresses to a second draft.
That said, it has potential as a focus tool if you have a clear perspective on your goal, and don’t get sucked into the “I did it! Now I’m a Novelist” crowd.
That said, there’s no reason you couldn’t set similar targets for yourself any day (or month).
I know some great people who do the NaNo challenge. They’re shit writers, but great people.
October 6th, 2007 at 7:01 am
I would tend to agree with Sean on this one. Possibly, though, only because I have trouble stringing more than 50 words together on any given week.
October 6th, 2007 at 8:12 am
Sean: I actually agree with you on this - it makes you feel like you’ve written a book, even though it’s probably 98% crap. No, I’ve just gotta find a way to kick-start my motivation and thought this might be a way to do it. Arbitrary targets don’t seem to be working so far.
October 6th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Pinhole: where you’re concerned, 50 words in a week says volumes more than 50,000 in a month by some other, lesser writer. Quality trumps quantity any day.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
50,000 words in a month! Isn’t that what you used to do in the comments at WU? Anyway, after editing (the second month’s work?), you will have your first chapter in place.
Seriously, though, I am all for doing whatever it takes to kickstart the writing process. I hope the nanorhino thing goes well for you.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:00 am
That’s exactly it, believin. Out of those 50,000 words, I’ll bet a tenth of them are usable. Thanks for the well-wishing, though I haven’t decided if I’m going to do it, yet.