November 3, 2010
Laura Miller vs. NaNoWriMo
by Melville House
On Monday, I wrote about my ambivalence concerning National Novel Writing Month. While there are many things I appreciate about NaNoWriMo, I am dismayed at the “dearth” of good books and exciting writers to have emerged from the event. My comments were, I felt, a blend of support and critique. A mixed-review, as they say.
Now Laura Miller has written a completely unabashed attack on NaNoWriMo at Salon:
Frankly, there are already more than enough novels out there — more than those of us who still read novels could ever get around to poking our noses into, even when it’s our job to do so. This is not to say that I don’t hope that more novels will be written, particularly by the two dozen-odd authors whose new books I invariably snatch up with a suppressed squeal of excitement. (Actually, there are more of those novels than I’ll ever be able to read, as well.) Furthermore, I know that there are still undiscovered or unpublished authors out there whose work I will love if I ever manage to find it. But I’m confident those novels would still get written even if NaNoWriMo should vanish from the earth.
Miller expands her critique to include not just NaNoWriMo, but the larger “narcissistic” culture in which everyone believes they deserve to be a writer, but few bother to actually read. Her essay closes with a call for us to celebrate the “quieter triumph” of reading:
Rather than squandering our applause on writers — who, let’s face, will keep on pounding the keyboards whether we support them or not — why not direct more attention, more pep talks, more nonprofit booster groups, more benefit galas and more huzzahs to readers? Why not celebrate them more heartily? They are the bedrock on which any literary culture must be built. After all, there’s not much glory in finally writing that novel if it turns out there’s no one left to read it.
Miller’s essay has caused a riot of debate on the Salon comment board, with the majority rallying against her. What do you think?
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36 Comments
First of all, she’s making a gross assumption when she says that all these writers doing NaNoWriMo aren’t also readers. How the hell does she know? The reason I write is BECAUSE I read. Second: sure those who do write all have secret fantasies about being the author of the next Great American Novel, but does that mean we should discourage them from writing?? By no means! If you write, you know your chances of fame and fortune are slim, but that is not why most people write. Writing is cathartic. Writing is absolutely free therapy. Writing is an expression of the inner parts of a person’s psyche. Writing ought NEVER be discouraged; how would Ms. Miller like it if people had discouraged HER writing? NaNo is that necessary outlet for those who always wanted to write but never had the courage – like your company’s baseball league or something.
And…IT’S FUN! So live and let live and stop being a snob about who has the right to write.
First of all, she’s making a gross assumption when she says that all these writers doing NaNoWriMo aren’t also readers. How the hell does she know? The reason I write is BECAUSE I read. Second: sure those who do write all have secret fantasies about being the author of the next Great American Novel, but does that mean we should discourage them from writing?? By no means! If you write, you know your chances of fame and fortune are slim, but that is not why most people write. Writing is cathartic. Writing is absolutely free therapy. Writing is an expression of the inner parts of a person’s psyche. Writing ought NEVER be discouraged; how would Ms. Miller like it if people had discouraged HER writing? NaNo is that necessary outlet for those who always wanted to write but never had the courage – like your company’s baseball league or something.
And…IT’S FUN! So live and let live and stop being a snob about who has the right to write.
I know that I could write 50k if I wanted to. The problem is that it wouldn’t be about anything.
I know that I could write 50k if I wanted to. The problem is that it wouldn’t be about anything.
I don’t do NaNo because it is fun to produce crappy writing. And I have several writer groups that are supportive in ‘the off season’. To me, NaNo is about having fun, meeting new writers, and learning from each other what it takes to get a novel done.
If she is so concerned about reading bad fiction, she should just stay away from self-published books. As much as I would love to have a print copy/non proof copy of my book circulating, I want it to be the best and I am going to work at it until I can get it submitted to an editor. I want to do this the right way, not the easy way.
Practice makes perfect.
*Goes back to writing*
I don’t do NaNo because it is fun to produce crappy writing. And I have several writer groups that are supportive in ‘the off season’. To me, NaNo is about having fun, meeting new writers, and learning from each other what it takes to get a novel done.
If she is so concerned about reading bad fiction, she should just stay away from self-published books. As much as I would love to have a print copy/non proof copy of my book circulating, I want it to be the best and I am going to work at it until I can get it submitted to an editor. I want to do this the right way, not the easy way.
Practice makes perfect.
*Goes back to writing*
I more or less agree with at least the spirit of what you’ve excerpted from the Salon article. I’m conflicted about NaNoWriMo. I tried it for the first time last year but things got in the way and I bailed partway through. I contemplated trying it this year but knew things (not the least of which was some reading I wanted to do) would get in the way. I’m one of those people who does read and does want to write but who has trouble finding the discipline to do the writing. Something like NaNoWriMo in theory provides an excuse to force myself to be disciplined for some period of time. The problem with it is that since it focuses on word count rather than on quality (even first-draft quality), I think you waste a lot of time writing drivel just to get the word count. I do better writing when working on shorter things as I’m interested in them. Somebody like me needs a happy middle-ground between the public masturbation of a NaNoWriMo and the temptation to write only when it’s fun. One way I’ve found something sort of like that happy middle-ground has been to write about reading. Until just recently, I blogged group reads of a number of books for about a year and found it very stimulating, since it forced me to read more carefully and helped me exercise the writing muscle, even if not specifically the creative writing muscle.
A couple of years ago, I bought the domain NaNoReaMo.com but never did anything with it.
I more or less agree with at least the spirit of what you’ve excerpted from the Salon article. I’m conflicted about NaNoWriMo. I tried it for the first time last year but things got in the way and I bailed partway through. I contemplated trying it this year but knew things (not the least of which was some reading I wanted to do) would get in the way. I’m one of those people who does read and does want to write but who has trouble finding the discipline to do the writing. Something like NaNoWriMo in theory provides an excuse to force myself to be disciplined for some period of time. The problem with it is that since it focuses on word count rather than on quality (even first-draft quality), I think you waste a lot of time writing drivel just to get the word count. I do better writing when working on shorter things as I’m interested in them. Somebody like me needs a happy middle-ground between the public masturbation of a NaNoWriMo and the temptation to write only when it’s fun. One way I’ve found something sort of like that happy middle-ground has been to write about reading. Until just recently, I blogged group reads of a number of books for about a year and found it very stimulating, since it forced me to read more carefully and helped me exercise the writing muscle, even if not specifically the creative writing muscle.
A couple of years ago, I bought the domain NaNoReaMo.com but never did anything with it.
I made the mistake of going off to read a book (ironically enough) after posting the Salon piece and suspect it’s rather a lost cause wading into the self-feeding frenzy the comments have since become — at a certain point they take on a life of their own and you stop reading them.
But this blog has a more thoughtful audience, so I do want to reiterate what is in fact the key point of my piece, not something I “expand” it to include:
My intention was not to discourage people from writing. I have no particular problem with people writing, especially if they do it primarily for their own personal satisfaction: I just don’t think we need fund-raising nonprofit organizations to cheer them on. I don’t think the rest of us ought to congratulate them when they insist on telling us about it. If it gives them pleasure, great, but I think we need to get dial down the idea that writing is an especially admirable or exceptional activity or that the people who do it are something special and deserve special support.
BUT THAT IS NOT MY MAIN POINT. My main point is that we should be doing ALL of these things for *readers* instead. Because at this stage, I think readers contribute more to our collective literary culture, and because readers are a vanishing breed. It’s time we celebrated them, valorized them, treated them like heroes.
I made the mistake of going off to read a book (ironically enough) after posting the Salon piece and suspect it’s rather a lost cause wading into the self-feeding frenzy the comments have since become — at a certain point they take on a life of their own and you stop reading them.
But this blog has a more thoughtful audience, so I do want to reiterate what is in fact the key point of my piece, not something I “expand” it to include:
My intention was not to discourage people from writing. I have no particular problem with people writing, especially if they do it primarily for their own personal satisfaction: I just don’t think we need fund-raising nonprofit organizations to cheer them on. I don’t think the rest of us ought to congratulate them when they insist on telling us about it. If it gives them pleasure, great, but I think we need to get dial down the idea that writing is an especially admirable or exceptional activity or that the people who do it are something special and deserve special support.
BUT THAT IS NOT MY MAIN POINT. My main point is that we should be doing ALL of these things for *readers* instead. Because at this stage, I think readers contribute more to our collective literary culture, and because readers are a vanishing breed. It’s time we celebrated them, valorized them, treated them like heroes.
My god, they have galas & fundraising for NaNoWriMo? Wth! Does it raise $$$ for libraries or something?! Haiti? Oh…it’s for *more* creative writing programmes, God bless ‘em. For Kids! I dare not protest. I just want to remind these folks that quite a few libraries in the USA, last time I checked, are facing closure or the threat of having to become more of an internet cafe/performing arts community centre than a place for reading. There’s a shortage of readers, not writers for crying out loud. Once you get the first, the latter is a given, don’t sweat it so much.
My god, they have galas & fundraising for NaNoWriMo? Wth! Does it raise $$$ for libraries or something?! Haiti? Oh…it’s for *more* creative writing programmes, God bless ‘em. For Kids! I dare not protest. I just want to remind these folks that quite a few libraries in the USA, last time I checked, are facing closure or the threat of having to become more of an internet cafe/performing arts community centre than a place for reading. There’s a shortage of readers, not writers for crying out loud. Once you get the first, the latter is a given, don’t sweat it so much.
I very much agree, Laura. Are you familiar with The Big Read? It’s a national (NEA-sponsored, I believe) program that pushes reading by providing resources to communities/cities that participate. I just finished up a read of Zora Neale Hurston’s _Their Eyes Were Watching God_ thanks to the program. @MatthewBaldwin’s @infinitesummer program of a year-and-a-half ago got a bunch of people reading a really hard book and sparked my own year-long venture in group reading. I’d love to see more programs like these, and once I get some of my own (privately masturbatory) writing out of the way, I hope to start group reading/blogging again. It really was awfully rewarding.
I very much agree, Laura. Are you familiar with The Big Read? It’s a national (NEA-sponsored, I believe) program that pushes reading by providing resources to communities/cities that participate. I just finished up a read of Zora Neale Hurston’s _Their Eyes Were Watching God_ thanks to the program. @MatthewBaldwin’s @infinitesummer program of a year-and-a-half ago got a bunch of people reading a really hard book and sparked my own year-long venture in group reading. I’d love to see more programs like these, and once I get some of my own (privately masturbatory) writing out of the way, I hope to start group reading/blogging again. It really was awfully rewarding.
Shouldn’t all the commenters at Salon, be, I don’t know, like working on their novels and not dicking around on the internet?
Shouldn’t all the commenters at Salon, be, I don’t know, like working on their novels and not dicking around on the internet?
Laura Miller makes a lot of sense to me. But is NaNoWriMo really about writing at all or just a need to gear up for a collective challenge?
Laura Miller makes a lot of sense to me. But is NaNoWriMo really about writing at all or just a need to gear up for a collective challenge?
After reading the Salon article the comments had already reached critical mass, but instead I’d like to comment here to say:
I am a fan of NaNoWriMo and have “won” twice before and am doing it again now.
I absolutely agree with *most* of what Laura says on Salon, but I think she missed the point.
Yes, 99% of amateur writing is total crap. But, usually the incredibly difficult publishing industry will weed out most of that crap (with notable exceptions, ahem, Stephanie Meyer…). And yes, with or without NaNoWriMo, most crappy amateur authors will write anyway and there’s no reason to stop or encourage them. So what?
And yes, we as a nation and as writers should be reading a lot more.
However, my main and only beef with NaNoWriMo is the artificial restriction that you must start a project from scratch and write “crap”. Why? This encourages bad garbage that is written just to “write something” and will never amount to much.
This is like restricting a marathon to only participants who have never tried to run before. What sense is that?
I don’t take NaNoWriMo’s only message as: “so you’ve always wanted to write a novel, don’t know how and probably have no talent? Join us!”
To me NaNoWriMo’s most important message is: Write every day. 1667 words a day isn’t impossible. You have to write every day to get those gems, because they happen when you don’t expect it. Sit down to write even when you’re uninspired. Find the discipline to write anyway. You might be amazed at the results.
I take part in NaNoWriMo to write 50,000 of one or more in progress novels. And I edit. There. I admit it. I’m officially in contravention of the “rules”. And they can stick those rules up in their well-meaning asses. Because 50,000 new words on any project in a month is a win and as a serious writer I shouldn’t be attempting to churn out new crap all the time. I should just be writing every single day.
After reading the Salon article the comments had already reached critical mass, but instead I’d like to comment here to say:
I am a fan of NaNoWriMo and have “won” twice before and am doing it again now.
I absolutely agree with *most* of what Laura says on Salon, but I think she missed the point.
Yes, 99% of amateur writing is total crap. But, usually the incredibly difficult publishing industry will weed out most of that crap (with notable exceptions, ahem, Stephanie Meyer…). And yes, with or without NaNoWriMo, most crappy amateur authors will write anyway and there’s no reason to stop or encourage them. So what?
And yes, we as a nation and as writers should be reading a lot more.
However, my main and only beef with NaNoWriMo is the artificial restriction that you must start a project from scratch and write “crap”. Why? This encourages bad garbage that is written just to “write something” and will never amount to much.
This is like restricting a marathon to only participants who have never tried to run before. What sense is that?
I don’t take NaNoWriMo’s only message as: “so you’ve always wanted to write a novel, don’t know how and probably have no talent? Join us!”
To me NaNoWriMo’s most important message is: Write every day. 1667 words a day isn’t impossible. You have to write every day to get those gems, because they happen when you don’t expect it. Sit down to write even when you’re uninspired. Find the discipline to write anyway. You might be amazed at the results.
I take part in NaNoWriMo to write 50,000 of one or more in progress novels. And I edit. There. I admit it. I’m officially in contravention of the “rules”. And they can stick those rules up in their well-meaning asses. Because 50,000 new words on any project in a month is a win and as a serious writer I shouldn’t be attempting to churn out new crap all the time. I should just be writing every single day.
What I don’t understand about all the NaNo haters is why they think that EVERYONE who takes part in writing a NaNovel will also try to PUBLISH it. I don’t write to get published. I don’t think a NaNovel deserves to be published. I don’t think my writing is good enough to be published.
These publishing business people are perhaps afraid to realise that not everyone who writes wants to be part of their exclusive club?
I think it’s absolutely horrible that all these published authors, journalists and other publishing professionals take it upon themselves to bust the kneecaps of those thousands of enthusiastic people who come together during NaNo and otherwise, to share their passion – writing.
What I don’t understand about all the NaNo haters is why they think that EVERYONE who takes part in writing a NaNovel will also try to PUBLISH it. I don’t write to get published. I don’t think a NaNovel deserves to be published. I don’t think my writing is good enough to be published.
These publishing business people are perhaps afraid to realise that not everyone who writes wants to be part of their exclusive club?
I think it’s absolutely horrible that all these published authors, journalists and other publishing professionals take it upon themselves to bust the kneecaps of those thousands of enthusiastic people who come together during NaNo and otherwise, to share their passion – writing.
She’s a bit of a snob, certainly. But as one commenter pointed out, she’s assuming we all write and don’t read. I’d dare say that writers read far more than anyone else.
As far as all of us hoping to write the next big novel? Not really. Actually, it’s therapeutic to put words on a page, to compose ideas and create pictures just to get them out of our heads. Certainly, that’s what she does when she blogs or whatever…it’s a part of communication, whether it is read or not, oral or visual, popular or rejected. To assume an appreciative audience is the only thing that makes writing worthwhile is ignorant to say the least.
She’s a bit of a snob, certainly. But as one commenter pointed out, she’s assuming we all write and don’t read. I’d dare say that writers read far more than anyone else.
As far as all of us hoping to write the next big novel? Not really. Actually, it’s therapeutic to put words on a page, to compose ideas and create pictures just to get them out of our heads. Certainly, that’s what she does when she blogs or whatever…it’s a part of communication, whether it is read or not, oral or visual, popular or rejected. To assume an appreciative audience is the only thing that makes writing worthwhile is ignorant to say the least.
Laura, I agree that there always seems to be that one horrid person at a book event who claims s/he is writing a book yet can’t be bothered to read one. (I suspect these are also the folks who infiltrate BEA, bully unassuming editorial assistants into reading their manuscripts, and then leave follow up calls every week thereafter.) But I don’t think those writers are in the majority. All the NaNoWriMoers I know are voracious readers. They heard about NaNoWriMo through book-related blogs and media. And they’re participating because it seems like a fun, low-stakes way to participate in something they love. None of them are expecting applause at the end of it. Last year, none of my friends even wanted to share their work–with each other, much less the world.
As for celebrating reading and readers, I’d argue there’s nothing inherently good about reading. Didn’t you read “The Women’s Room?” (Or know anyone in college who read “The Fountainhead?”)
Laura, I agree that there always seems to be that one horrid person at a book event who claims s/he is writing a book yet can’t be bothered to read one. (I suspect these are also the folks who infiltrate BEA, bully unassuming editorial assistants into reading their manuscripts, and then leave follow up calls every week thereafter.) But I don’t think those writers are in the majority. All the NaNoWriMoers I know are voracious readers. They heard about NaNoWriMo through book-related blogs and media. And they’re participating because it seems like a fun, low-stakes way to participate in something they love. None of them are expecting applause at the end of it. Last year, none of my friends even wanted to share their work–with each other, much less the world.
As for celebrating reading and readers, I’d argue there’s nothing inherently good about reading. Didn’t you read “The Women’s Room?” (Or know anyone in college who read “The Fountainhead?”)
A National Novel Reading Month wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. I’m nothing much in the wider scheme of literary things, but I’m of the distinct persuasion that people who really want to write – like me – _can_ learn a great deal more from reading than setting themselves stoically on a march towards a somewhat arbitrary deadline. Reading a great novel, whether it’s Perec or Austen or Baldwin or Angus Wilson, separates one from the inward concerns of ‘me’ and ‘my project’ and pushes your aspirations and your understandings outwards.
Writerly aspirations aside, in and of itself, reading a novel is an experience unlike any other. It’s a slow art. Reading a novel necessarily involves reading oneself, which is a valuable and consistently overlooked thing for anyone to do.
I’m not sure I’d say ‘this is something we need to do instead’ as confidently as I’d say ‘this is something we need to do as well’, but …
A National Novel Reading Month wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. I’m nothing much in the wider scheme of literary things, but I’m of the distinct persuasion that people who really want to write – like me – _can_ learn a great deal more from reading than setting themselves stoically on a march towards a somewhat arbitrary deadline. Reading a great novel, whether it’s Perec or Austen or Baldwin or Angus Wilson, separates one from the inward concerns of ‘me’ and ‘my project’ and pushes your aspirations and your understandings outwards.
Writerly aspirations aside, in and of itself, reading a novel is an experience unlike any other. It’s a slow art. Reading a novel necessarily involves reading oneself, which is a valuable and consistently overlooked thing for anyone to do.
I’m not sure I’d say ‘this is something we need to do instead’ as confidently as I’d say ‘this is something we need to do as well’, but …
I agree with Miller’s main point: We should encourage more READING. However, I fail to see how bashing people who want to write is going to achieve this. Her piece is rather mean-spirited, yes.
I read your Monday piece on NaNoWriMo; it’s nice to get the perspective of someone who’s tried it. I haven’t and don’t think I ever will — for me, writing is a private act. However, I think it’s great that others try it. Whatever works to keep that ass-in-chair.
I can’t understand how anyone could think that a first draft pumped out in one fevered month could be publishable, though.
(P.S.: Were you at AWP Denver? I think I met you.)
I agree with Miller’s main point: We should encourage more READING. However, I fail to see how bashing people who want to write is going to achieve this. Her piece is rather mean-spirited, yes.
I read your Monday piece on NaNoWriMo; it’s nice to get the perspective of someone who’s tried it. I haven’t and don’t think I ever will — for me, writing is a private act. However, I think it’s great that others try it. Whatever works to keep that ass-in-chair.
I can’t understand how anyone could think that a first draft pumped out in one fevered month could be publishable, though.
(P.S.: Were you at AWP Denver? I think I met you.)
1. I know several professional writers who have fiction published on a regular basis, who are participating in NaNoWriMo for the camaraderie and to kick-start a new project. The group seems to be good for that. I was going to use it to write the rough draft of a second novel, but I decided to spend November polishing my first novel, which I completed this year after about 800 drafts. Yes, serious writers revise and revise. Even writers who think NaNoWriMo is harmless, good fun.
2. Every writer I know who is taking part in NaNoWriMo is an avid reader. The writers I have met at writer sites are avid readers. I don’t know where Ms. Miller came up with the example of a writer who doesn’t read, but that example is misleading.
3. The tone of Ms. Miller’s post seemed unnecessarily harsh. That tone implies a lot about the current, emotional debate over who is a writer and who is not, and what kind of publishing is legitimate. This debate has been raging for at least a couple of years, and I’d be surprised if Ms. Miller did not expect the outcry her post provoked. Controversy brings traffic, which sells ads, which makes it possible for online publications to pay staff writers. I wish Ms. Miller the best. She writes about books, and that’s good for everyone who loves books. Debate is good, too.
1. I know several professional writers who have fiction published on a regular basis, who are participating in NaNoWriMo for the camaraderie and to kick-start a new project. The group seems to be good for that. I was going to use it to write the rough draft of a second novel, but I decided to spend November polishing my first novel, which I completed this year after about 800 drafts. Yes, serious writers revise and revise. Even writers who think NaNoWriMo is harmless, good fun.
2. Every writer I know who is taking part in NaNoWriMo is an avid reader. The writers I have met at writer sites are avid readers. I don’t know where Ms. Miller came up with the example of a writer who doesn’t read, but that example is misleading.
3. The tone of Ms. Miller’s post seemed unnecessarily harsh. That tone implies a lot about the current, emotional debate over who is a writer and who is not, and what kind of publishing is legitimate. This debate has been raging for at least a couple of years, and I’d be surprised if Ms. Miller did not expect the outcry her post provoked. Controversy brings traffic, which sells ads, which makes it possible for online publications to pay staff writers. I wish Ms. Miller the best. She writes about books, and that’s good for everyone who loves books. Debate is good, too.
I’m still at a loss as to what Ms. Miller expects. Her MAIN POINT, reiterated here, is that we should be celebrating readers instead of writers. Why precisely?
“Because at this stage, I think readers contribute more to our collective literary culture”
Contribute what? Readers don’t contribute. Readers consume.
What should we be doing for readers that we aren’t now? Ms. Miller claims there are already too many books. I guess making more books for readers is out the window. But if you ask most readers, what they want is books to read. So there ya go.
I can walk into any bookstore and I have a whole smorgasbord spread out before me. A good bookstore is an orgiastic delight for a reader. Online I can find hundreds of blogs and other websites to discuss books with other readers.
What else are we supposed to be getting in celebration of our relentless reading? Maybe someone could put together a non-profit organization that gives us a gold star pin for every 10 books we read?
The NaNo non-profit puts a lot of their effort into writing programs for students in school. Encouraging children to write encourages them to love books. It encourages them to become readers.
I agree that it’s a very sad and dismaying thing that fewer and fewer people are readers. But is a fund-raising telethon going to change that? No. People need to be taught the value of BOOKS. Not the value of other readers.
I read over 100 books per year. The only reward for it that I ask is that I can continue reading books that appeal to me.
I’m still at a loss as to what Ms. Miller expects. Her MAIN POINT, reiterated here, is that we should be celebrating readers instead of writers. Why precisely?
“Because at this stage, I think readers contribute more to our collective literary culture”
Contribute what? Readers don’t contribute. Readers consume.
What should we be doing for readers that we aren’t now? Ms. Miller claims there are already too many books. I guess making more books for readers is out the window. But if you ask most readers, what they want is books to read. So there ya go.
I can walk into any bookstore and I have a whole smorgasbord spread out before me. A good bookstore is an orgiastic delight for a reader. Online I can find hundreds of blogs and other websites to discuss books with other readers.
What else are we supposed to be getting in celebration of our relentless reading? Maybe someone could put together a non-profit organization that gives us a gold star pin for every 10 books we read?
The NaNo non-profit puts a lot of their effort into writing programs for students in school. Encouraging children to write encourages them to love books. It encourages them to become readers.
I agree that it’s a very sad and dismaying thing that fewer and fewer people are readers. But is a fund-raising telethon going to change that? No. People need to be taught the value of BOOKS. Not the value of other readers.
I read over 100 books per year. The only reward for it that I ask is that I can continue reading books that appeal to me.
I have to be slightly amused at people who are so agitated over a relatively obscure event that even authors and avid readers I know are unaware of.
No doubt most of the writers who start NaNoWriMo will not produce a complete novel, let alone a readable or publishable one. Indeed, it’s likely that each year a few dreams of literary greatness are dashed by unsuccessful attempts to produce a manuscript. SO WHAT?
Like many other hobbies, trying to grind out 50,000 words during the month of November is a harmless pastime that entertains those who participate in it. Aside from a few friends and family members who feel neglected, it harms no-one.
When I was a girl I loved watching figure skating, but I’d never been on ice skates. I had my first chance at the ripe old age of 19–and discovered I could barely stand up, let alone execute a triple jump! In that one embarrassing evening I gained enormous respect for skaters that I never got from being a spectator. Perhaps many NaNoWriMo participants have similar experiences, realizing just how difficult it is to write decent prose, and will return to eleven months of novel reading with a new appreciation for the authors’ craft.
One or two NaNoWriMo authors have been published. Certainly it wasn’t the draft that emerged on November 30, fresh from word sprints and pep rallies with fellow NaNos. The writer would need to put significant work into such a hastily written draft before an editor would consider it, and then there will be the inevitable editing at the publishing house. If even one wanna-be writer churned out a decent novel, wouldn’t it be worth something?
Nobody forces us to participate in NaNoWriMo or read the output. I’m sure many of the writers realize, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, that they aren’t cut out for a writing career and happily put aside their pens or word processors and go back to reading. If they do so with a new appreciation, if they have satisfied their dream of emulating a favorite author, who’s to say there’s anything wrong with that?
I say “Go NaNos”!! Give it your best shot, then return to the happy life of reading with a new-found appreciation for the craft of writing.
I have to be slightly amused at people who are so agitated over a relatively obscure event that even authors and avid readers I know are unaware of.
No doubt most of the writers who start NaNoWriMo will not produce a complete novel, let alone a readable or publishable one. Indeed, it’s likely that each year a few dreams of literary greatness are dashed by unsuccessful attempts to produce a manuscript. SO WHAT?
Like many other hobbies, trying to grind out 50,000 words during the month of November is a harmless pastime that entertains those who participate in it. Aside from a few friends and family members who feel neglected, it harms no-one.
When I was a girl I loved watching figure skating, but I’d never been on ice skates. I had my first chance at the ripe old age of 19–and discovered I could barely stand up, let alone execute a triple jump! In that one embarrassing evening I gained enormous respect for skaters that I never got from being a spectator. Perhaps many NaNoWriMo participants have similar experiences, realizing just how difficult it is to write decent prose, and will return to eleven months of novel reading with a new appreciation for the authors’ craft.
One or two NaNoWriMo authors have been published. Certainly it wasn’t the draft that emerged on November 30, fresh from word sprints and pep rallies with fellow NaNos. The writer would need to put significant work into such a hastily written draft before an editor would consider it, and then there will be the inevitable editing at the publishing house. If even one wanna-be writer churned out a decent novel, wouldn’t it be worth something?
Nobody forces us to participate in NaNoWriMo or read the output. I’m sure many of the writers realize, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, that they aren’t cut out for a writing career and happily put aside their pens or word processors and go back to reading. If they do so with a new appreciation, if they have satisfied their dream of emulating a favorite author, who’s to say there’s anything wrong with that?
I say “Go NaNos”!! Give it your best shot, then return to the happy life of reading with a new-found appreciation for the craft of writing.