Thursday 1 November 2012

November = NaNoWriMo

So it's November 1st again which means it's time for NaNoWriMo. For anyone who doesn't know what that is, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, where the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days!
This will be my 4th year participating and I'm excited to get stuck in again, but this may mean that my blog is a bit quieter for the next month as I will be spending more time writing than reading so reviews may be a bit rarer. I have got some posts scheduled and I will still be reading bits so stick with me. I may also do updates on my writing progress.


Now, I've seen quite a few NaNoWriMo posts this year, some have been similar to mine, people excited to get stuck in and start writing and I love to see the enthusiasm but some are very nengative about it.

Some are saying that NaNo is an insult to writers and a way of making writing and becoming an author sound like something easy. "Just becuase you can write 50,000 words in a month doesn't make you a novelist/author,writer" and on that aspect they are right, but that is not what NaNo is about.

NaNo is more about the community, people coming together, sharing their love of writing and getting started on something that has the potential to be great.

Over the years none of the 'novels' I've written in the 30 days have stayed the way they were written. For me NaNo is a kick up the butt, a push to stop me procrastinating, to finally get those ideas down, without editing, changes, over-thinking, just getting the basics on paper, when the month is up I can then spend the next months/year/years editing and changing and molding it into a proper novel. That for me is what NaNo is all about, a way to get those ideas out, have fun and let your creativity flow, a way to give you the building blocks to what could one day be a great novel. And if it turns out to be total rubbish then at least I tried it and really only wasted 1 month doing it.

So whether you are taking part or not, enjoy November and support us NaNoWriMo's. I'm going off to start a brand new adventure and I can't wait to see what world will come out of my fingertips. Wish me luck!!!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Barely a day has passed, and I have already been panicking and overthinking about whether this was the right plot or if the story would be enough. Reading your post reminded me that I should just write. All that matters now is getting those hidden ideas out and filling up that word count. NaNoWriMo should be fun, afterall. Thank you.

Aleksandra said...

Good luck!

I'm not participating, but I hope you'll have lots of fun & reach your goal!

Happy writing!

barmybex said...

Sydney - Good luck and thanks. I'm glad my post has encouraged you to keep trying. Don't overthink - just let the words pour out of you, have faith and yes - ENJOY!
Feel free to add me as a writing buddy - http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/barmy_bex

Thanks Aleksandra. :D

Angela's Anxious Life said...

Good luck.. I am not even attempting this since I am in no way a writer. But it sounds fun!

Angie

Laura BurgandyIce said...

Yay for NaNoing!!! :-) Write away!!

Great post with good reasoning for writing. No way is 50,000 words "easy". If anything, NaNoWriMo encourages real respect for authors who not only write entire novels but press through to gettin' 'em published, too.

I'm writing, hypothetically. I haven't actually started, per se, and I'm picking up where I'm at already, which is like cheating, but I love their word count encouragement. Can't beat the community, either.

I'm cheering you on!!! You can do it!

barmybex said...

Thanks Angie!

Laura - Thanks, I know what you mean. When I wrote this post I hadn't technically started yet, but like you I'm carrying on from a story I had already started. Will still do 50,000 words though on top. :D

Good luck to you too, lets cheer each other on!

Moonlit Librarian said...

Good luck! I'm also participating. If you want to be NaNo buddies, my name there is DancinLibrarian.

barmybex said...

Thanks Moonlit Dancin Librarian. hehe.
I've added you as a buddy.
Good luck with the writing. :D