Angela Scott
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What's so wrong with NaNoWriMo? I don't understand all the hate.

10/31/2011

22 Comments

 
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So why in the world would I participate in NaNoWriMo (short for National Novel Writing Month in which writers take on the lofty goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days) when I’m smack dab in the middle of working with my editor on Wanted: Dead or Undead? I have a publisher. I have several books, already written, that I plan to release next year through them, so why NaNoWriMo?

Because I need to write.

I need to. What's so wrong about that?

I’ve been editing and rewriting for the most part of this last year, which can be somewhat fun in its own right, but it’s not the same as writing. It’s not. Editing is editing. Writing is writing.

Big difference.

I want to write. I want to write like crazy. CRAZY!


Will it be crap when the month of November is over? Oh, YEAH, it will be. There is no way I can write a perfect manuscript in a month. I know there are some who can type out a masterpiece within a few weeks worth of time. It has been done—there are classics and bestsellers that have proved it is possible.

Unfortunately, I’m not one of those talented few.

But so what? I have the whole rest of the year to fix and tweak and rewrite—if I find the manuscript worth salvaging. That’s what the months of December through October are for. Besides, writing a manuscript in one month that is pure genius and without flaw isn’t the point of NaNoWriMo.

On the flip side, writing 50,000 words of crap isn’t the point either. There are some who are so caught up in reaching 50K that they will cheat to do so by typing random words or describing the sky for ten full pages, etc . . . In both cases, the point of NaNoWriMo has been missed. It’s really NOT about the 50K at all.

The real point of NaNoWriMo is to tap into your creative side and write—just write.

THAT is the point.

Oh, many will rally against NaNoWriMo, saying it’s a waste of time, a quality vs. quantity kind of thing. A lowering of standard. Some will say that books will be written in a month and then the market will be flooded in December with crappy, unedited 50,000 word novels.

Again, so what? The market has a way of weeding those out with bad reviews, rejections from editors and agents, and whatnot. In essence, it would be a very small percentage of NaNoWriMo’s who actually publish their book as is anyway. For the most part, many of these manuscripts will never see the light of day as they are filed away by their creators who will deem them unreadable. Most NaNoWriMo’s write for the challenge and for the camaraderie and not necessarily for quick publication.

And again, I ask, what’s wrong with that?

I mean, the first year I did NaNoWriMo, back in 2003, I was a mother of a 6 year old, a 2 year old, and a 3 month old baby. I had always loved to write, but NEVER had the time. I was busy playing Playdough and watching Barney and Teletubbies. I wanted to do something for ME. I wanted to recapture my love for writing. So I signed up, unsure I could even do it, and with a toddler playing at my feet and a baby in my arms, I typed. I wrote a story for the first time in YEARS.

It wasn’t very good.  Total crap, actually. I have never done anything with it and no one has ever read it, but BOY did I feel as though I had accomplished something big. That feeling was tremendous. A local reporter wrote a story about NaNoWriMo and published a few names of people in the area who chose to do it and so my name ended up in the paper. My dad (yes, my dad) even laminated the article. I still have it. I'm that proud.

But six years went by before I chose to try it a second time. I’m unsure why, exactly. I assume it was a matter of life getting in the way—kids, family, etc . . .

In 2009 I decided to try it again. I wanted to recapture that feeling I had six years before. This time, though, I had a real purpose in mind—I wanted to write a story that had a beginning, middle, and an end. None of my stories ever had an ending. Not one. And so I made it a goal that by the end of November, I would have an ending. Is a 50K book considered a novel—no. It’s not, but I didn’t care. I wanted to prove to myself that I could actually finish a story.

And I did.

I’m proud of that book. Is it very good? Not really. Only a couple of people have read it. And until I get the opportunity to revise it and add more to it (I have learned so much and my writing has come a long way since then) no one will. It’s a great story, it just needs a lot of work.

Then last year, I decided to do it for a third time. Again, I had a goal in mind. I usually write in first person and my MC is always female. I decided this time around I would write in third person and I would have at least one of my MC’s be male. I wanted to see if I could write like a dude. Also I had written Desert Rice and its sequel Desert Flower and both of those books tapped me out emotionally--tough subject matter. I wanted to write something fun and what's more fun than a western romance, zombie style? I wanted to have fun.

And I did.

This time though, the novel didn’t have an ending. I hit my 50K but knew another 20-30 was needed to wrap it up. So I spent the next eight to nine months adding more.

Then I edited, and edited, and edited—A LOT.

Then I submitted it to agents and publishers.

And now, that book which started out as a NaNoWriMo writing exercise will be published early next year—WANTED: Dead or Undead, the first book in the Zombie West Series, through Evolved Publishing. I'm working with one of their editors right now.

So again, I ask, what is so wrong about NaNoWriMo? Look what it did for me.


Anything that gets people motivated to write can't be all that bad. And for those who hate on NaNoWriMo, I just don't get it. Sorry. All of the arguments against it don't make that much sense to me.

I look forward to this year of NaNoWriMo. I will be writing out the draft form for the second book in the Zombie West Series. That is my plan. So tomorrow morning I will be back to writing about zombies and it excites me. Then I will spend the next year revising and editing.


You can't edit or revise if you have nothing written.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? If you are, pop over to the NaNo site and add me as a buddy—we can encourage each other  and have a great time doing it.

User name: Calynnblue (not sure why I picked that name back in 2003).


22 Comments
Jennifer Groepl link
10/31/2011 04:02:15 am

I've decided not to participate, but I wish you the best of luck. I never understand the animosity on any side of it. Each person should be able to decide to participate or not as they decide, right? Why would it be "bad" either way? Have fun! :)

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Dottie Taylor link
10/31/2011 05:16:03 am

Added you as a buddy on NaNoWriMo! (I'm Dottie Taylor there, lol, I know original.)

Have a great time!

Dottie :)

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Brooke R. Busse link
10/31/2011 05:16:20 am

I think I must have missed something, I didn't know you had a publisher. I feel like a bad blogging buddy. TT_TT

I love this post this and this will be my third year doing NaNo. I'm going to go add you.

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Alyssa NearNormalcy link
10/31/2011 05:31:31 am

Great post. I love Nano, and no I don't think I can finish a perfect novel in 30 days! That seems to be the main argument, that we're all self-deluded wannabes. It's about writing! It's about putting down a rough draft in a short amount of time so you can spend the next year finishing and editing. Thanks!

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Dana link
10/31/2011 05:38:41 am

I'll be trying it for the first time! But first, I need to set up my account (after I get the four kids off the ceiling from their Halloween sugar high and into bed!).
I'll look for you there.
Best of luck and fun!

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Venus link
10/31/2011 06:20:16 am

This isn't my year to try NaNoWriMo, but I think it's a great concept for those of us who are just starting out, and I'm hoping to do it next year. Thanks for the encouraging post!! Also, congrats on getting a publisher! :-)

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Julie link
10/31/2011 07:05:08 am

I'm participating too! I'm under the username nurhogirl.

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Jenny DeBonte link
10/31/2011 07:19:42 am

Added you as a writing buddy. So glad to hear of your success! username: ladysaria

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Suzanne link
10/31/2011 07:23:37 am

Going to try to do this too! I'm username Xanne.

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Rachel
10/31/2011 08:19:16 am

This is my first year participating in NaNoWriMo! I'm so excited! I've wanted to be a writer for ages but all I do is write down ideas and save them for later. I've chosen to do NaNo because it will motivate me to finally, actually, WRITE! Your success story is inspiring to me, and I wish you the best of luck this year! =)

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The M Half link
10/31/2011 08:28:52 am

I'm so tempted. You've thrown out half of my arguments, though, so now I just might *have* to do it. ;-) Best of luck to you!

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Kathleen S.Allen link
10/31/2011 09:35:18 am

This is my second year and the novell I did last year will be published in April, 2012 by Muse It Up Publishing. It's called LORE OF FEI. Faeries vs humans, who will win? This year I am doing a vampire novel set in the 19th C. I love doing NaNo!

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1pinkmonkey
10/31/2011 11:25:23 am

Most of the anti-NaNo I've heard about are from a few types of people:
1: Non-writers
2: Perfectionists
3: Editors who get a pile of unedited NaNo novels every December.
4: Agents see above reason.
5: Trolls.

The editors and agents have a legitimate gripe I think. Their issue is people who don't bother to edit before submitting.

This is all my opinion of course and I've been wrong before and will be again. :)

“The first draft of anything is crap.”
― Ernest Hemingway
(http://twurl.nl/ipczz7)

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QuinnCreative link
10/31/2011 12:04:15 pm

"Books aren't written, they are re-written," --my editor.
There will always be grumblers. Let them grumble, you are busy writing.

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Anna Laurenson
10/31/2011 12:06:16 pm

woo-hoo...this is my First NaNo attempt and I've added you as my FIRST writing Bud. (I'm on there as WordWish.)

Procrastination is my biggest problem, so I'm hoping that 30 days of solid writing will set some good habits in place.

Now ready, steady...go !!

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Dee Bibb link
10/31/2011 03:32:31 pm

I've added you as a writing buddy.

Good luck....I am with you....I just HAVE to write to stay sane....

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Elisa Michelle link
10/31/2011 04:19:26 pm

<i>Anything that gets people motivated to write can't be all that bad.</i>

I think NaNo is a great thing. I just finished a novella, and the darn story took me a year because I was learning so much about plot and structure -- how to keep reader interest and so on. Well, NaNo is officially here andI'm going to use it to write out the novella'ssrwuel. Why not? It keeps me motivated, the support from other writers is amazing, and it's an overall positive experience.

Nothing bad in that at all.

Of course the people who think every word they write is a gift from God will always skip steps and release poor quality work, but like you said, they are such a small percentage of the overall NaNo whole.

Anyway, good luck with NaNo! If it's okay with you I'd like to add you as a writing buddy.

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ScottTheWriter link
10/31/2011 11:18:52 pm

I signed up, too. I completely agree with you, Angela - the point is to write. I think the point of NaNoMo is to get past all the procrastination and get that book down on paper (or screen) already! Whether novelists are good or bad at writing, one thing we're all good at is finding excuses.

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Naty matos link
11/5/2011 02:25:27 am

I totally understand your point and not only agree, I'm a product of Nano. I was a writer since I was in my teens with big failure fears. In 2009 and ventured to write nano because who cares, nobody was going to read it. No, I wasn't copying and pasting words from wikipedia or typing the word blue 50k times. I was writing a novel and I was going to do that first draft even if it killed me.

Nano got me connected to a community of people that really liked to write and it gave me the confidence to go forward. I just published my first NF book three weeks ago and that 2009 nano that has gone through hundreds of revisions is in editor's hands to be published in the Summer 2012 "The Road Home". So I agree with who said that Nano haters are: non writers, perfectionist, agents who get unedited nano novels in Dec, etc.

And yes, for my third year I'm doing Nano, it's the one thing I look forward as a writer all year round. Good luck

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Gregory Walters link
11/5/2011 02:58:41 am

Congratulations on your writing success! I think the key is that you are not treating NaNoWriMo as an isolated endeavor. As a writing journey, there is no end when December 1 rolls around.

I participated in NaNoWriMo two years ago and continued for months after that, finally completing a 110,000-word draft. I put the manuscript aside for more than a year before doing extensive revisions. The work has been whittled down and is finally ready for submitting.

To all NaNoWriMo participants, enjoy being part of something bigger for the month of November and then continue on. Best of luck!

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Blaise
11/6/2011 11:08:32 am

I personally can't do nanowrimo. It's always at the time of year when I have exams, and i'm a slow, precise writer. It takes me a year to write a book, and I feel no need to push myself harder than that. I write, it's nice, it's calming, it's fun.
I'm happy with NaNoWriMo existing, and I know a lot of people who really enjoy the experience and like pushing themselves to write write write for thirty days to see how quickly they can fix problems in their stories and how to just push through any blocks that come up. It donates a lot of money raised by its own writing community to better fund libraries and I think that's awesome.
But. And this is a big but. Because of those people who complete nano and then send off manuscripts which have been lightly revised or not revised at all I have personally noticed a locking out of unsolicited manuscripts by moderate to large publishers. Because of that it's becoming harder and harder for people to break into the writing business. This sucks, but it makes perfect sense for editors and publishers who are sick of being swamped by bad novels and feel obligated to get through everything that lands on their desk so as not to throw out a gem along with the unsellable mass.
This creates a catch-22 like situation where you can't submit unsolicited but the types of agents who will manage an unpublished author are likely to take advantage of them, so people keep getting stuck in this grey-zone trying to push through.
It also feeds into an industry which takes advantage of writers (conferences, lectures on how to write, writing under contract for minimal compensation and ending up without royalties and another person's name on the book). It leaves people in a buzz of achievement (which they whole heartedly deserve, it's a difficult task and something to be proud of) which can leave them more open to being taken advantage of.
It has created a difficult environment for those writers who come out of it to display their work, along side those who may have spent years writing their first piece and are now forced to find a new way into an industry which was previously much more accepting of unsolicited work.

None of this means i'm against it. I think its great when people use it as a first step tool like you say you're going to. If people have an real understanding of how much work needs to go into refining a first draft and don't do anything outrageous (like sending it off without revision) when they're still too close to the project then it's a wonderful tool and comes along with a great community. This is a super long comment, but I guess what i'm getting to is that the people who dislike nano aren't necessarily just 'trolling' or being negative without reason just like the people who love nano aren't just ADHD beginners who have no concept of what it takes to be a 'real' writer.
Each side has valuable points.

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Ese
2/2/2012 03:28:51 pm

I have to say at first I was delighted with NanoWriMo. It seemed like a dream come true and I was all set for Nano2012. Now however I have realized....Nano produces a lot of snobs. Not all, obviously but a lot of "long termed" people if you will or "older" members seem to have a superiority complex going on that I dislike. You have debates where people can be snarky and condescending and purposely push other peoples buttons. I love to write read and discuss....but I can find a far better place to do it where the people are not nearly as obnoxious. After all at the end of the month, others won just like you did.

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