November 1st, 2008 / 7:03 pm
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NaNoWriMo – 101 Reasons to Stop Writing

Today, people all across everywhere have typed the first word on their way to writing 50k words that should resemble in some way a ‘novel.’

I am not a ‘fan’ of NaNoWriMo. There is something corporate and mindless about it, to me anyhow. Even the website looks corporate and mindless. Not that corporations are bad. I just have a hard time thinking about writing that way – have you seen these romance novels that you can insert your name into and the name(s) of your lover(s)? That is corporate to me.

But I know many people who are fans of NaNoWriMo and who participate in it, and they are all good people (I think). So that makes me think that maybe there is something I don’t get about NaNoWriMo. That maybe I am the moron. That maybe while I complain about NaNoWriMo, all these other people are actually getting some writing done.

I once took a class that forced me to write a 40k word novel in a semester. The experience was painful. My writing was pretty awful. I felt like a kid throwing a temper tantrum. I purchased Chris Baty’s book No Plot, No Problem (NoPloNoPro, as I like to call it). In it, a man who has maybe three or four unpublished manuscripts sitting in his desk gave me advice about how to write a novel. Thanks Chris.

In good news, that class led to some stories that were later published.

But not a novel.

If the number of participants in NaNoWriMo each year equals the number of people who have purchased his self-help book novel book, then Chris Baty is making good money.

What is good about NaNoWriMo? I’m sure there are good things about it, but I am stubborn and like to only think about things in my brain using very simple language, such as ‘bad’ and ‘good’ and ‘sleepy,’ etc.

I am sitting in the Las Vegas airport and I am waiting to board my airplane to Houston. If the plane crashes, then this will be the last thing I ever wrote in my life:

A shitty post on NaNaWriMo.

 

Okay, we’re boarding. Wish me luck and then go visit this site – 101 Reasons to Stop Writing. I laughed a little bit: “Express yourself all you want. Just don’t keep submitting it for publication. You’re filling the world with shit.”

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54 Comments

  1. Darby

      I used to feel similarly, but saw an interview with aimee bender on youtube (googletalks) and she answers a question about it and I liked her nonchalant approach to it, that it basically gets you writing, and probably more than you would’ve done otherwise. If you’re already like in the middle of a project, probably you shouldn’t do it, but if you’re looking for a new project, I think nanowrimo, all the corporate silliness aside, is just a way of setting an arbitrary goal. I’m participating, but staying away from the nanowrimo site, corporate silliness, etc.

  2. Darby

      I used to feel similarly, but saw an interview with aimee bender on youtube (googletalks) and she answers a question about it and I liked her nonchalant approach to it, that it basically gets you writing, and probably more than you would’ve done otherwise. If you’re already like in the middle of a project, probably you shouldn’t do it, but if you’re looking for a new project, I think nanowrimo, all the corporate silliness aside, is just a way of setting an arbitrary goal. I’m participating, but staying away from the nanowrimo site, corporate silliness, etc.

  3. pr

      When Nanowrimo started, it was a little bitty thing, no? But it has grown. Still, I love the whole “in schools” thing it is doing. I think that’s good. I sort of love nano- it’s just so silly. I did it five years ago? Something like that. And I didn’t finish- but later I did. I’m pleased with what I did that month. Not that I didn’t have to revise. But still.

  4. pr

      When Nanowrimo started, it was a little bitty thing, no? But it has grown. Still, I love the whole “in schools” thing it is doing. I think that’s good. I sort of love nano- it’s just so silly. I did it five years ago? Something like that. And I didn’t finish- but later I did. I’m pleased with what I did that month. Not that I didn’t have to revise. But still.

  5. pr

      That don’t write site is funny.

  6. pr

      That don’t write site is funny.

  7. Blake Butler

      nice

  8. Blake Butler

      nice

  9. Bradley Sands

      I’m doing it for mental health reasons. I’m in the middle of a novella which I can’t work on again for a while for a certain reason. The novella is written in first person. There is another novella that I want to start, also first person. But I don’t want to start it because I’m afraid the voice of the protagonist of my current novella will get all screwed up when I go back to it.

      But I feel the need for a big project, one where I can use third person and not have to concentrate on voice. I have an awful lot of free time too. So I’ve given myself permission to write a shitty novel this week.

      It’s not about getting a novel done. It’s all about not putting effort into what I write and having fun with it. I wrote a Nanowrimo novel a few years ago, and while it really sucked, it was a lot of fun to do.

      I’m capable of writing a good novella in a month, but I don’t want to start on anything serious right now. I don’t think I’m capable of writing a good novel in a month.

  10. Bradley Sands

      I’m doing it for mental health reasons. I’m in the middle of a novella which I can’t work on again for a while for a certain reason. The novella is written in first person. There is another novella that I want to start, also first person. But I don’t want to start it because I’m afraid the voice of the protagonist of my current novella will get all screwed up when I go back to it.

      But I feel the need for a big project, one where I can use third person and not have to concentrate on voice. I have an awful lot of free time too. So I’ve given myself permission to write a shitty novel this week.

      It’s not about getting a novel done. It’s all about not putting effort into what I write and having fun with it. I wrote a Nanowrimo novel a few years ago, and while it really sucked, it was a lot of fun to do.

      I’m capable of writing a good novella in a month, but I don’t want to start on anything serious right now. I don’t think I’m capable of writing a good novel in a month.

  11. Ryan Call

      darby/bradley

      that makes sense to me: a goal for writing words and the fun factor.
      i can see that, though i normally don’t set word goals for myself

      could you not just, say, do your own novel writing thing? on your own?

      i know its not about getting a novel ‘done’ – thats why i think the whole thing is sort of artificial in that way and not helpful for me.

      but, still, it IS about getting a novel done.

      that is what is confusing to me.

  12. Ryan Call

      darby/bradley

      that makes sense to me: a goal for writing words and the fun factor.
      i can see that, though i normally don’t set word goals for myself

      could you not just, say, do your own novel writing thing? on your own?

      i know its not about getting a novel ‘done’ – thats why i think the whole thing is sort of artificial in that way and not helpful for me.

      but, still, it IS about getting a novel done.

      that is what is confusing to me.

  13. Bradley Sands

      It inspires me to do it whenever everyone is else.

      It IS about getting a novel done for most people. Think it’s a bad idea in most circumstances. People who have always wanted to write a novel want to feel good about themselves and do it. They do it this month because it motivates them. They are giving themselves permission to stop being lazy for one month and put a crazy amount of effort into writing a novel. Most of the people participating are not what I would consider “serious” writers.

      I think Nanowrimo is good if the participants are aware that their novel is likely to not be very good and they are ok with it.

      It is very easy to do for people who are unemployed. But it’s difficult for people who do not have much free time. I have a lot of downtime at work, so there you go.

  14. Bradley Sands

      It inspires me to do it whenever everyone is else.

      It IS about getting a novel done for most people. Think it’s a bad idea in most circumstances. People who have always wanted to write a novel want to feel good about themselves and do it. They do it this month because it motivates them. They are giving themselves permission to stop being lazy for one month and put a crazy amount of effort into writing a novel. Most of the people participating are not what I would consider “serious” writers.

      I think Nanowrimo is good if the participants are aware that their novel is likely to not be very good and they are ok with it.

      It is very easy to do for people who are unemployed. But it’s difficult for people who do not have much free time. I have a lot of downtime at work, so there you go.

  15. pr

      the corporate thing is bugging me. wasn’t it just some guy- like ya all- who started a silly website years ago? yeah, it’s grown, but its very non-profit seeming to me.

  16. pr

      the corporate thing is bugging me. wasn’t it just some guy- like ya all- who started a silly website years ago? yeah, it’s grown, but its very non-profit seeming to me.

  17. Brandon Hobson

      I love the airport in Las Vegas.

  18. Brandon Hobson

      I love the airport in Las Vegas.

  19. pr

      From wiki-

      Chris Baty started the project in July 1999 with 21 participants in the San Francisco Bay area. Since then, the event has been held in November “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather.”[1] 2000 was the first year NaNoWriMo had a website; participants joined a Yahoo! club in the absence of official forums. It was also the year that many of NaNoWriMo’s ground rules were laid out, such as disallowing works in progress or co-authored books. 140 participants attempted the challenge, and 21 wrote 50,000 words.

      In 2001, Chris Baty expected 150 participants; 5000 signed up.[1] At that point, sign-ups were not automated, so Baty and a small team of volunteers spent the end of October and early November registering the massive backlog of participants by hand. Other troubles included a hacking of the site and massive bandwidth use, forcing Baty to postpone the addition of official wordcount verification.[2] 700 writers crossed the finish line that year.

      2002 saw massive technical improvements and increased automation to the site, as well as what Baty described as “laugh-so-we-don’t-cry t-shirt misadventures.”[1] Media attention from National Public Radio and CBS Evening News drew increased attention and a participant count of 14,000. The next year, the NaNoWriMo team began the Municipal Liaison program and sent out the first set of pep talk emails. Baty also began work on “No Plot? No Problem!” during the 2003 NaNoWriMo, writing the NaNoWriMo guide concurrent with his own fiction novel.

      The site continues to grow every year; 2004 was marked by a new site layout, entirely new code, book-styled Flash profile pages, and 42,000 participants. In 2005, 59,703 people participated and 9,765 were declared winners. New features to the site included the Young Writer’s Program and the official Podcast. 2006 included more participants, more publicity from the likes of BoingBoing.net and Yahoo[3], and additional features such as a WriMo comic and a sponsorship program.

      In 2007, 101,767 people registered — the most ever to participate. This year also brought the first fundraising event — “A Night Of Writing Dangerously”. All participants, or “WriMos”, who donated $200 or more to the cause received an invitation to a 6-hour event in San Francisco featuring free food and fun, prizes, and much more. Weekly email pep talks from well-known authors were also new for 2007.

  20. pr

      From wiki-

      Chris Baty started the project in July 1999 with 21 participants in the San Francisco Bay area. Since then, the event has been held in November “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather.”[1] 2000 was the first year NaNoWriMo had a website; participants joined a Yahoo! club in the absence of official forums. It was also the year that many of NaNoWriMo’s ground rules were laid out, such as disallowing works in progress or co-authored books. 140 participants attempted the challenge, and 21 wrote 50,000 words.

      In 2001, Chris Baty expected 150 participants; 5000 signed up.[1] At that point, sign-ups were not automated, so Baty and a small team of volunteers spent the end of October and early November registering the massive backlog of participants by hand. Other troubles included a hacking of the site and massive bandwidth use, forcing Baty to postpone the addition of official wordcount verification.[2] 700 writers crossed the finish line that year.

      2002 saw massive technical improvements and increased automation to the site, as well as what Baty described as “laugh-so-we-don’t-cry t-shirt misadventures.”[1] Media attention from National Public Radio and CBS Evening News drew increased attention and a participant count of 14,000. The next year, the NaNoWriMo team began the Municipal Liaison program and sent out the first set of pep talk emails. Baty also began work on “No Plot? No Problem!” during the 2003 NaNoWriMo, writing the NaNoWriMo guide concurrent with his own fiction novel.

      The site continues to grow every year; 2004 was marked by a new site layout, entirely new code, book-styled Flash profile pages, and 42,000 participants. In 2005, 59,703 people participated and 9,765 were declared winners. New features to the site included the Young Writer’s Program and the official Podcast. 2006 included more participants, more publicity from the likes of BoingBoing.net and Yahoo[3], and additional features such as a WriMo comic and a sponsorship program.

      In 2007, 101,767 people registered — the most ever to participate. This year also brought the first fundraising event — “A Night Of Writing Dangerously”. All participants, or “WriMos”, who donated $200 or more to the cause received an invitation to a 6-hour event in San Francisco featuring free food and fun, prizes, and much more. Weekly email pep talks from well-known authors were also new for 2007.

  21. pr

      sorry guys- that post was a bit long. but it was just some dude with 21 frens! thats what i love about it.

  22. pr

      sorry guys- that post was a bit long. but it was just some dude with 21 frens! thats what i love about it.

  23. sam pink

      bradley, you corporate bitch

  24. sam pink

      bradley, you corporate bitch

  25. pr

      More wiki stuff, but how great is all this? Corporate? How bout- LUV. the love of the spread the writing. I just got back from a hockey game -my team lost 5/6 in the last fuckin minute. Now I’m drinking.

      STUFF TO MAKE YOU LUV NANO LIKE NANO LUVS THE WORLD:
      In 2005, NaNoWriMo started the Young Writers Program, primarily aimed at classrooms of kindergarten through 12th-grade students, although homeschooled students are also welcomed. In its inaugural year, the program was used in 150 classrooms and involved 4000 students. Teachers register their classroom for participation and are sent a starter kit of materials to use in the class which includes reward items like stickers and pencils. Lesson plans and writing ideas are also offered as resources to teachers, while students can communicate through the program’s forums. [11]

      In September 2006, NaNoWriMo officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit under the name The Office of Letters and Light. All contributions are tax-deductible under U.S. law. Donations can be made directly, or users can purchase items such as T-shirts and mugs from the NaNoWriMo store. In 2004, NaNoWriMo partnered with child literacy non-profit Room to Read, and continued that partnership for three years. Fifty percent of net proceeds from 2004 to 2006 were used to build libraries in Southeast Asia; three were built in Cambodia, seven in Laos, and seven in Vietnam. The program was retired in 2007 to refocus resources on NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program.[12]

      NaNoWriMo runs a Laptop Loaner program for those who do not have regular access to a computer or word processor. Old, yet functional laptops are donated from NaNoWriMo participants. Those wishing to borrow a laptop are required to cover the cost of shipping it back and must send a $300 deposit along with proof of identity, but are not charged a fee for using the laptops. In 2006, AlphaSmart, Inc. donated 25 brand-new Neos to expand the Laptop Loaner library with the promise of 25 more over the next two years.[13]

  26. pr

      More wiki stuff, but how great is all this? Corporate? How bout- LUV. the love of the spread the writing. I just got back from a hockey game -my team lost 5/6 in the last fuckin minute. Now I’m drinking.

      STUFF TO MAKE YOU LUV NANO LIKE NANO LUVS THE WORLD:
      In 2005, NaNoWriMo started the Young Writers Program, primarily aimed at classrooms of kindergarten through 12th-grade students, although homeschooled students are also welcomed. In its inaugural year, the program was used in 150 classrooms and involved 4000 students. Teachers register their classroom for participation and are sent a starter kit of materials to use in the class which includes reward items like stickers and pencils. Lesson plans and writing ideas are also offered as resources to teachers, while students can communicate through the program’s forums. [11]

      In September 2006, NaNoWriMo officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit under the name The Office of Letters and Light. All contributions are tax-deductible under U.S. law. Donations can be made directly, or users can purchase items such as T-shirts and mugs from the NaNoWriMo store. In 2004, NaNoWriMo partnered with child literacy non-profit Room to Read, and continued that partnership for three years. Fifty percent of net proceeds from 2004 to 2006 were used to build libraries in Southeast Asia; three were built in Cambodia, seven in Laos, and seven in Vietnam. The program was retired in 2007 to refocus resources on NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program.[12]

      NaNoWriMo runs a Laptop Loaner program for those who do not have regular access to a computer or word processor. Old, yet functional laptops are donated from NaNoWriMo participants. Those wishing to borrow a laptop are required to cover the cost of shipping it back and must send a $300 deposit along with proof of identity, but are not charged a fee for using the laptops. In 2006, AlphaSmart, Inc. donated 25 brand-new Neos to expand the Laptop Loaner library with the promise of 25 more over the next two years.[13]

  27. Ryan Call

      corporate is the wrong word.

      i apologize for using it.

      that is the good thing about nanowrimo – i think the outreach and stuff he does is very good. i like that part of it. thank you, pr, for showing that to me.
      i think i am talkinga bout mostly this idea that

      you need a month to be like, ok, i should really write that novel.

  28. Ryan Call

      corporate is the wrong word.

      i apologize for using it.

      that is the good thing about nanowrimo – i think the outreach and stuff he does is very good. i like that part of it. thank you, pr, for showing that to me.
      i think i am talkinga bout mostly this idea that

      you need a month to be like, ok, i should really write that novel.

  29. Bradley Sands

      Sam Pink: You couldn’t finish a shitty novel if you had a hundred years.

  30. Bradley Sands

      Sam Pink: You couldn’t finish a shitty novel if you had a hundred years.

  31. Ryan Call

      i think i was also too quick to say that if you buy his shitty book he gets rich.

      i bet he probably takes that money and just puts it towards his nonprofit.

  32. Ryan Call

      i think i was also too quick to say that if you buy his shitty book he gets rich.

      i bet he probably takes that money and just puts it towards his nonprofit.

  33. Ryan Call

      though i still think i used mindless correctly.

      trying to write that thing that semester was not healthy for me.

  34. Darby

      Yeah, not corporate, but just, I don’t know, something offputting about it. Also, something being started small doesn’t mean anything. Everything starts with just a few people who got together. That’s how scientology started, hubbard called some buddies and said lets make a new religion but with aliens.

  35. Ryan Call

      though i still think i used mindless correctly.

      trying to write that thing that semester was not healthy for me.

  36. Darby

      Yeah, not corporate, but just, I don’t know, something offputting about it. Also, something being started small doesn’t mean anything. Everything starts with just a few people who got together. That’s how scientology started, hubbard called some buddies and said lets make a new religion but with aliens.

  37. pr

      Darby, I get your point, but lots of things also start big, with big corporate backing. I like when things start out small and grow because they are a neat idea. ( think of html giant’s future!) I’m not buying his book, nor does anyone have to try to write a novel in a month- but I think its a case of some guy with a clever idea who grows his idea in a socially responsible way. So, cool. If it were me, and I had a good idea, and it grew, I’d be smoking hash all day on my yacht. So I respect him.
      Scientology? That’s a reach, Darby.

  38. pr

      Darby, I get your point, but lots of things also start big, with big corporate backing. I like when things start out small and grow because they are a neat idea. ( think of html giant’s future!) I’m not buying his book, nor does anyone have to try to write a novel in a month- but I think its a case of some guy with a clever idea who grows his idea in a socially responsible way. So, cool. If it were me, and I had a good idea, and it grew, I’d be smoking hash all day on my yacht. So I respect him.
      Scientology? That’s a reach, Darby.

  39. Darby

      I’m not sure anything starts out big. What’s an example of that? No corporation suddenly emerges as a large corporation, if you trace things back, it’s always one guy who had an idea and did something.

      The problem with nanowrimo as an ‘idea’ is that it seems like it could exist without an organization attached to it, like a holiday. It would seem purer if there was no nonprofit around it, claiming ownership of it. Creating an organization around a holiday is kind of like piggybacking on something that is happening anyway. I don’t know. It’s like an organization saying, we own Christmas, now donate money to help Christmas be better.

  40. Darby

      I’m not sure anything starts out big. What’s an example of that? No corporation suddenly emerges as a large corporation, if you trace things back, it’s always one guy who had an idea and did something.

      The problem with nanowrimo as an ‘idea’ is that it seems like it could exist without an organization attached to it, like a holiday. It would seem purer if there was no nonprofit around it, claiming ownership of it. Creating an organization around a holiday is kind of like piggybacking on something that is happening anyway. I don’t know. It’s like an organization saying, we own Christmas, now donate money to help Christmas be better.

  41. pr

      First scientology and now Christmas? You know Darby, that nano started out as a a little writer community website? Very very similiar to this one. It’s not a religion for fucks sake, .bad or good or whatever (scientology bad, than xmas good, first they are the religion, now they defile one??!) What, you don’t want to have kids write? That makes the site “impure”?

      You’re high. I Iike you anyway.

      And actually, many things start out with huge corporate backing. Like, many corporations. Like the band Nickelback? It was an indie site, with good intentions. They are still a good force. Unlike me. I’m in in the sea around Greece, smoking great stuff.

  42. pr

      First scientology and now Christmas? You know Darby, that nano started out as a a little writer community website? Very very similiar to this one. It’s not a religion for fucks sake, .bad or good or whatever (scientology bad, than xmas good, first they are the religion, now they defile one??!) What, you don’t want to have kids write? That makes the site “impure”?

      You’re high. I Iike you anyway.

      And actually, many things start out with huge corporate backing. Like, many corporations. Like the band Nickelback? It was an indie site, with good intentions. They are still a good force. Unlike me. I’m in in the sea around Greece, smoking great stuff.

  43. pr

      Also, just to reiterate Ryan’s point, in that I totally understand the idea that writing a novel in one month is not healthy. Frankly, that sort of pressure is not good for many people. But others thrive on it. Anyway, they are not bad peeps. They are not scientoligists. And they are not destroying xmas.

      I still like you though, Darby. Your’e stubborn. I like that.

  44. pr

      Also, just to reiterate Ryan’s point, in that I totally understand the idea that writing a novel in one month is not healthy. Frankly, that sort of pressure is not good for many people. But others thrive on it. Anyway, they are not bad peeps. They are not scientoligists. And they are not destroying xmas.

      I still like you though, Darby. Your’e stubborn. I like that.

  45. Darby

      Jesus, pr. I’m not saying nanowrimo is a religion, obviously. Why are you thinking I’m saying that? I’m just trying to come up with examples of organizations, or trying to model it in some way that’s similar, and it’s tough because no one’s done what they are doing before, so I approach it cautiously from an ethical point of view. Your base for building a model was that the only condition for likeability was because it was a good idea and it started small, and I was simply trying to say that because something started small doesn’t make it good, ethically. When micro ideas turn macro, all kinds of shit happens. Nothing about nanowrimo is bad, necessarily, they do good things for kids, no one is saying they don’t, obviously. Probably the good they do outweighs the strangeness of it all.

      But, do you deny it could probably exist and grow without a nonprofit surrounding it?

      You’ve not given an example of an organization that started big. Things that start with corporate backing are simply extensions of corporations that utlimately started small.

      Also, I like you. You’re stubborn. I like that. Keep doing it.

  46. Darby

      Jesus, pr. I’m not saying nanowrimo is a religion, obviously. Why are you thinking I’m saying that? I’m just trying to come up with examples of organizations, or trying to model it in some way that’s similar, and it’s tough because no one’s done what they are doing before, so I approach it cautiously from an ethical point of view. Your base for building a model was that the only condition for likeability was because it was a good idea and it started small, and I was simply trying to say that because something started small doesn’t make it good, ethically. When micro ideas turn macro, all kinds of shit happens. Nothing about nanowrimo is bad, necessarily, they do good things for kids, no one is saying they don’t, obviously. Probably the good they do outweighs the strangeness of it all.

      But, do you deny it could probably exist and grow without a nonprofit surrounding it?

      You’ve not given an example of an organization that started big. Things that start with corporate backing are simply extensions of corporations that utlimately started small.

      Also, I like you. You’re stubborn. I like that. Keep doing it.

  47. pr

      Of course they could grow and exist without a non-profit thingy! That was my whole point of saying how I would never do that, and be on my yacht in Greece! No you didn’t say they were relgions, but your compared them to different religions in two opposite ways- good, bad. And I call that reaching to make a point.

      My point is they are more like this site than they are like the Scientologists, for fucks sake. And I win on that. I call myself the winner. Cause the Giants done won.(I do like you though).

      The many, many companies that don’t start out small and grow slowly with a good heart? The many companies that immediately get big corporate backing and are a commodity to begin with? It’s like comparing Mudhoney to Brtiney Spears. Both exist. I don’t even argue that one is better than the other. But Nano is Mudhoney.

      Also, my whole tiff is- good for them. Good for Chris Baty. I actually wish html giant the same success. I like good ideas with ambition and reach and intelligence. That’s what I think Nano is. An I like to see them rewarded with growth and success.

      But I agree with Ryan that it’s not a good approach to writing for everyone.

  48. pr

      Of course they could grow and exist without a non-profit thingy! That was my whole point of saying how I would never do that, and be on my yacht in Greece! No you didn’t say they were relgions, but your compared them to different religions in two opposite ways- good, bad. And I call that reaching to make a point.

      My point is they are more like this site than they are like the Scientologists, for fucks sake. And I win on that. I call myself the winner. Cause the Giants done won.(I do like you though).

      The many, many companies that don’t start out small and grow slowly with a good heart? The many companies that immediately get big corporate backing and are a commodity to begin with? It’s like comparing Mudhoney to Brtiney Spears. Both exist. I don’t even argue that one is better than the other. But Nano is Mudhoney.

      Also, my whole tiff is- good for them. Good for Chris Baty. I actually wish html giant the same success. I like good ideas with ambition and reach and intelligence. That’s what I think Nano is. An I like to see them rewarded with growth and success.

      But I agree with Ryan that it’s not a good approach to writing for everyone.

  49. Darby

      oh my god. nevermind. I’m not comparing nanowrimo to a religion, I’m simply comparing aspects they share, aspects you defined (started small, good idea). Nevermind. I’m comparing colors. I’m saying hell is pretty color (red), Christmas is a pretty color (red), doesn’t mean I’m comparing hell to Christmas. Nevermind. Obvifuckingously nanowrimo is more like this site than scientology. Jesus Christ.

      All companies start small and with a good heart. No company starts instantly big and with a fuck-you mentality. Even with corporate backing, before the backing, it was small. No company starts instantly without a good heart, it’s growth and wealth that cause trouble.

      My beef is, if it can exist and grow without an organization around it, than any organization around it should be suspect to suspicion.

  50. Darby

      oh my god. nevermind. I’m not comparing nanowrimo to a religion, I’m simply comparing aspects they share, aspects you defined (started small, good idea). Nevermind. I’m comparing colors. I’m saying hell is pretty color (red), Christmas is a pretty color (red), doesn’t mean I’m comparing hell to Christmas. Nevermind. Obvifuckingously nanowrimo is more like this site than scientology. Jesus Christ.

      All companies start small and with a good heart. No company starts instantly big and with a fuck-you mentality. Even with corporate backing, before the backing, it was small. No company starts instantly without a good heart, it’s growth and wealth that cause trouble.

      My beef is, if it can exist and grow without an organization around it, than any organization around it should be suspect to suspicion.

  51. Ryan Call

      jesus christ you two.
      i did not realize i would do that with the word ‘corporate.’

      honestly,
      i don’t know what to say. i just dont think writing ‘works’ that way. it seems artificial and lazy and overly cheesy and stuff. i am not someone arguing that we should protect the sanctity of writing or anything, im just saying: if i force myself to write 50k words in 3months (not to mention 30days) it will be shit and i will hate myself.

      also, i dont like the whole ‘production’ of it.

      and yeah, it has humble origins. cool. (it is probably more intelligent than htmlgiant). and hooray for their success. and good work for their outreach or wahtever you call it.

      i just dont write that way i guess. and i am a jerk who doesnt like it when other people have fun.

  52. Ryan Call

      jesus christ you two.
      i did not realize i would do that with the word ‘corporate.’

      honestly,
      i don’t know what to say. i just dont think writing ‘works’ that way. it seems artificial and lazy and overly cheesy and stuff. i am not someone arguing that we should protect the sanctity of writing or anything, im just saying: if i force myself to write 50k words in 3months (not to mention 30days) it will be shit and i will hate myself.

      also, i dont like the whole ‘production’ of it.

      and yeah, it has humble origins. cool. (it is probably more intelligent than htmlgiant). and hooray for their success. and good work for their outreach or wahtever you call it.

      i just dont write that way i guess. and i am a jerk who doesnt like it when other people have fun.

  53. bark » National Novel Writing Month: What’s in a writer anyway?

      […] and tweets all over the web at this time of year. (I Googled a quick selection here, here, and here.) And really, I can’t understand why writers, of all people, would have so much anger toward […]

  54. Mary K

      I encourage Nanowrimo doubters to visit the forums (you can browse without being a member). Check out the community that has grown up there. Writers and readers and other creatives encouraging each other, even when they disagree with one another. There is a distinct lack of trolling and spam. Debates stay friendly. And the friendships. *Swoon.*

      Even if you don’t want to write 50k in a month (which is less than 2k a day – not that hard, really), you can participate anyway. Do what you can. Get into the spirit of fun and friendship.

      I’ve made some of the best friends I know through local meet-ups of participants. My background is legal and technical writing. It’s fun to dabble in fiction once a year. No worries, just writing and having a blast.

      Even authors like Neil Gaiman and Sue Grafton support this event. C’mon. It’s an excuse to have a good time and get some words on paper that you might never have done without it. And that, as far as I can see, is a good thing.