Five years ago I participated in my first NaNoWriMo experience. And it was glorious. For folks who have no clue what that is, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days, and if you succeed you’re considered a winner. The premise is that everyone has the creativity to write a novel, but that most folks require a set deadline to achieve it. Also, you’re granted “permission” to write crap; the focus is on quantity not quality (but in the end you usually end up with both).
Over the years NaNo has grown to be quite the community, with all sorts of motivational resources. I’ll be candid, while I do attend some of the write-ins (it’s a surreal experience to keyboard or write in a notebook with 20 other strangers furiously doing the same thing – it would make a fabulous scene in a creepy Halloween movie) most of the time I’m ignoring those daily e-mail pep talks (and you tube videos, and tweeting cheers and facebook statuses that pound it into your head to write write write). Instead I’m focused on the writing itself during my spare moments, and that cheerleader stuff makes me roll my eyes. For folks who thrive on a cheering squad of strangers, however, use the tools that work for you! Also, some of those videos and such really are helpful in moments requiring inspiration. Or you know browse the forums titled “adopt a snarky character” or what have you on the NaNoWriMo website. NaNo does have it’s funny bone intact.
If you’ve never participated in the process, a quick google search will bring up many ideas to ensure success. I’ve found that different years different things work for me, as long as I stick to limiting the editing (don’t edit is strongly suggested). Also when I’m drawing a blank to take a break, interview my characters, or if possible immerse myself in their world for a little bit (go to a bar they’d go to, listen to the music they’d hear, etc.). And while I haven’t succeeded every year, haven’t reached the destination, the journey along the way has always proved amazing. That road is paved with hair pulling agony when my mind goes blank and can’t write or my fingers & hands ache from too much keyboarding. When what began as exciting potentional has turned into the drudgery of daily obligation in order to achieve the desired outcome. But those times are balanced by the frenzy and vibrancy of flashes of brilliance, that would never have made it to paper were it not for the road being walked, the paper being penned.
Besides the actual written work, one of the main reasons I continue to participate in it each year is that by realizing that I can achieve this goal I’m motivated to achieve other objectives that I may have feared to previously attempt (but sky diving is never gonna happen). It serves as a platform to manifest other endeavors and focus my ADHD wired brain to see a task through to completion. I credit participating in NaNoWriMo as one of the reasons, I felt I could say yes to the opportunities that have come along over the past 5 years that have lead to
- Becoming published in an academic anthology
- Presenting or teaching on non-academic topics
- Chairing a unique conference that will bring in about 500 folks
- Participating in mundane month long completion tasks (like clearing out a storage space)
- Creating a social organization with 2000 online members
- Starting this blog
Taking on a challenge that seems as daunting as NaNoWriMo, creates an awareness that it can be achieved. And even when failing, there is the accomplishment of having written a few thousand words along the way. That process in and of itself is huge for someone who may never have written before. If you’re wondering whether or not to take the plunge; I encourage you to just go for it. The worst that will happen is you realize it’s not for you, but something else is. The more likely outcome is you become the proud (or sheepish) parent of the novel you just finished birthing. The journey of a 1000 miles…..
Also, I’m trying to blog daily about the NaNoWriMo journey (as a personal motivation tactic), but that is unlikely to be of interest to most folks keeping an eye on thie Sesspool Blog. The writing is less.. intentional on the NaNoBlog and more a stream of consciousness than most of the writing I’ve done on this blog. It’s unlikely to hold interest for most folks who aren’t also Wrimos, but those who want to see it http://nanowrimoblog.tumblr.com/. In some ways it’s my place to go when I’m procrastinating/avoiding/need a break from the actual novel focused writing.
The Sesspool - Dive on In 