For Authors
This week: In Defense of NaNo Edited by: Crys-not really here More Newsletters By This Editor
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Hello! Happy November! My name is Crys-not really here , and I am the guest editor for the For Authors newsletter this month. |
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In Defense of NaNo
Every November, millions of people all over the world take part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Every year, I also hear several people (mostly accomplished novelists) complain about NaNoWriMo. I've heard complaints ranging from disgust that NaNo produces nothing but useless junk from writers for an entire month, to the sentiment that if writers are serious about writing novels, they should take their time and stretch out the process over months.
To those writers who don't believe in the process of NaNo, I'd like to say one thing: We all write differently. Some of us are good at writing novels off the top of our heads, and others need to plan for months ahead of time. Some of us write well under pressure, while others need to take our time. No one writer's process is exactly the same as another's.
There's also a misconception by some that NaNo novelists aren't serious writers. Again, I'd caution those people that, just like there are different types of writers, there are also different types of NaNo novelists. Some, if not most, novelists write crap during NaNo, it's true. But for some of those novelists, writing for NaNo may be the first time they've ever attempted or completed a full length manuscript. You can't fault first time novelists for using NaNo as a tool for making it over that first hurdle! Other novelists go on to publish their NaNo novels. You can see a list of published novels that started out as NaNo novels on the NaNoWriMo website.
It's true that many NaNo novels never get revised or published. So what? For the writer, those words weren't lost. They were a part of the process of learning how to write a novel. Most of the novels written in the world are probably still sitting on a flash drive or hard drive somewhere, never to be published. And that's okay, because those novels had to be written. Thoroughly revising a novel can take months to finish, and that's a whole different skill set that some writers just aren't ready for yet.
If you're like me, you lead a really busy life and can only devote one month out of the year to truly writing without distraction. November is the perfect month to do that, because millions of others make up your support group!
NaNoWriMo isn't for everyone, but those of us who strive to write a novel every November need support! Cheer us on, or join us next year if you dare! |
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Thanks to everyone who has written in about my past couple of newsletters! I always welcome your comments.
This newsletter opened a box I couldn't close. It made me wonder if my MC had issues besides the obvious OCD that might be more subtle? Prejudice? desire for higher status? What fears might he have? I am now at a loss....Thanks! :P -Quick-Quill
I usually take 2-3 weeks prep work before actually writing and I can honestly tell you the writing goes a lot smoother. And touch on all the points you've mentioned - I work on character biographies, setting, I find images on the net I can reference, the seasons of the area, the history of the area, etc. Excellent newsletter to help new authors/writers prepare for their first NaNoWriMo. -StephBee
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