Yes/No to NaNoWrite?
Right, so we're now officially 4 days into NaNoWriMo, which for those of you who don't know means it's National Novel Writing Month.
What does that mean, you ask? Well, NaNoWrite is a annual month-long event in which wannabee authors are encouraged to push out a 50 000 word (175 page) novel in 30 days. Think of it as something like an early New Year resolution for writer types, because let's face it, most people dump those sternly sworn January resolutions after a month anyway.
For whatever reason, NaNoWrite 2009 seems to a bit more high profile than usual. Last year there were over 120,000 "official" participants. The figures are still unknown for this year, but apparently, given the buzz on Twitter (at least within my Follower/Followee circles), it's a lot more. Technically the initiative should probably be renamed InNoWriMo given the large number of international individuals who take part (it's not just about the States y'all!). Anyway, giving you an example of the increased attention NaNoWrite is getting, PVP cartoonist Scott Kurtz is currently running a storyline centred on the event, starting here.
And one of my favourite bloggers, MJenks at A Crown of Thistles wrote this blog post which pretty much sums up my feelings towards NaNoWrite. You see, until this point in the post I haven't mentioned the most important thing about NaNoWrite: it's quantity over quality approach!
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
Now, alas, this is where NaNoWrite and I part ways. I think it's a fantastic idea to bring a group of people together who then act as a support system, encouraging and motivating their fellow participants through the power of shared enthusiasm. That's great. It's how people get through the Comrades Marathon, it's how people give up smoking and it's how people can get through the challenge of writing a novel - while making friends, online and offline at the same time. Awesome!
However, less awesome is the fact that you're encouraged to scrounge around for some half-baked idea and run with it for 50 000 words. Please excuse the disgusting simile but it's like trying to force out a turd when it's not quite ready to leave your lower intestine. It's not good for you. At best you turn red faced with frustration; at worst you rupture something important, stroke or have a heart attack.
If you're ever written professionally you quickly learn that quality trumps quantity every single time. Whether you approach writing from an artist's perspective, or that of a down-to-earth craftsman intent on getting the job done, you want to be proud of what you've produced. Whether you're an acclaimed sculptor or a simple carpenter you still want that table you've just made to stand firm without wobbling. What you create has to feel worthwhile - even if it's only worthwhile to you.
NaNoWrite works in terms of giving people a kick in the ass to get going, but the challenge should be approached sensibly. Write about something that's been gestating in your mind for a while, and by all means tweak and edit (in moderation) as you go. And, of course, keep going after 30 November. Ignore that silly cutoff date.
For the record, I did attempt to take part in NaNoWrite, 2 years ago... for about 3 days. I treated it as an experiment - a chance to write in a genre I've been very critical of: traditional fantasy. The idea was to take the usual tropes and twist them in unexpected ways. Characters, in particular, are not as they first appear. And the fantasy heroes who normally appear so determined and sure of themselves, are afflicted with the same crisis of confidence that accompanies so many of our quarter life crises today.
If you are interested in what I wrote (and I'm warning you now there's not much of it), you can read it here.
What does that mean, you ask? Well, NaNoWrite is a annual month-long event in which wannabee authors are encouraged to push out a 50 000 word (175 page) novel in 30 days. Think of it as something like an early New Year resolution for writer types, because let's face it, most people dump those sternly sworn January resolutions after a month anyway.
For whatever reason, NaNoWrite 2009 seems to a bit more high profile than usual. Last year there were over 120,000 "official" participants. The figures are still unknown for this year, but apparently, given the buzz on Twitter (at least within my Follower/Followee circles), it's a lot more. Technically the initiative should probably be renamed InNoWriMo given the large number of international individuals who take part (it's not just about the States y'all!). Anyway, giving you an example of the increased attention NaNoWrite is getting, PVP cartoonist Scott Kurtz is currently running a storyline centred on the event, starting here.
And one of my favourite bloggers, MJenks at A Crown of Thistles wrote this blog post which pretty much sums up my feelings towards NaNoWrite. You see, until this point in the post I haven't mentioned the most important thing about NaNoWrite: it's quantity over quality approach!
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
Now, alas, this is where NaNoWrite and I part ways. I think it's a fantastic idea to bring a group of people together who then act as a support system, encouraging and motivating their fellow participants through the power of shared enthusiasm. That's great. It's how people get through the Comrades Marathon, it's how people give up smoking and it's how people can get through the challenge of writing a novel - while making friends, online and offline at the same time. Awesome!
However, less awesome is the fact that you're encouraged to scrounge around for some half-baked idea and run with it for 50 000 words. Please excuse the disgusting simile but it's like trying to force out a turd when it's not quite ready to leave your lower intestine. It's not good for you. At best you turn red faced with frustration; at worst you rupture something important, stroke or have a heart attack.
If you're ever written professionally you quickly learn that quality trumps quantity every single time. Whether you approach writing from an artist's perspective, or that of a down-to-earth craftsman intent on getting the job done, you want to be proud of what you've produced. Whether you're an acclaimed sculptor or a simple carpenter you still want that table you've just made to stand firm without wobbling. What you create has to feel worthwhile - even if it's only worthwhile to you.
NaNoWrite works in terms of giving people a kick in the ass to get going, but the challenge should be approached sensibly. Write about something that's been gestating in your mind for a while, and by all means tweak and edit (in moderation) as you go. And, of course, keep going after 30 November. Ignore that silly cutoff date.
For the record, I did attempt to take part in NaNoWrite, 2 years ago... for about 3 days. I treated it as an experiment - a chance to write in a genre I've been very critical of: traditional fantasy. The idea was to take the usual tropes and twist them in unexpected ways. Characters, in particular, are not as they first appear. And the fantasy heroes who normally appear so determined and sure of themselves, are afflicted with the same crisis of confidence that accompanies so many of our quarter life crises today.
If you are interested in what I wrote (and I'm warning you now there's not much of it), you can read it here.
Comments
Another analogy if I may. You know those first pancakes you always make. The ones that no-one usually eats, because they are full of oil and siff. Now that's what NaNoWriMo aims to do. Get those novels done. Most of it will be crap, but it's the attempt, not the content that counts.
I would do NaNoWriMo, but it's always in my exams. Bleh. But I'm considering doing my own writing month next year.
For example, the only reason the American tanks beat the German tanks in WWII was because the USA produced about 40 kak Shermans to 1 (vastly superior) German Panzer. They lost 4 Shermans for every Panzer destroyed, but they were still 36 up.
If you ever played Starcraft, Warcraft, C&C, etc then you will be familiar with quantity and swarming too. Niel had a good analogy too.
If I am purchasing or producing a product or service myself, then I'm with you and I want quality. But one must also understand that quantity has it's place and purpose as well.
Same with gyming or starting a new business, same with a lot of things. Lots of people make excuses about "the time isn't right" or "I want it to be perfect" etc etc. The time is never right, the idea is never perfect and this is an exercise in forcing you to work within the constraints of imperfection and to push through it anyway.
I think it is a wonderfully valuable exercise, one I'd like to try myself. Though November is looking to be just as stuffed with crazy overtime as October has been for me, so that may be a pipe dream. :(
Predictably, the past two nights, when I should be working on my current WIP, I've been trying hard as hell to finish the last bits of my current Civ III game. Only two civs left to destroy!
Niel, some good analogies there ;)
Steven, you're pinpointed exactly why I always lose at RTS games - I have super awesome troops but they're always outnumbered by inferior units. Still though, when it comes to books, I'll take quality over quantity any day.
Gareth, I never said the idea has to be perfect. I just think you need to be saying something that you think is worthwhile. Writing for writing's sake is fine but it ain't going to sustain you through writing a novel. You need to be trying to express something.
MJenks, ah, I am very familiar with the problem of video game distraction. Hope the writing is going well?