Why NanoWriMo Isn’t For Me
It’s November and word counts and madly typing writers have consumed the internet. As I watch the madness, I’ve had this feeling that I’m sitting on the sidelines. Somehow, I’m less productive, less speedy, less than the writers who pound out 1,000 wpm. That’s not being fair to myself, though.
I’m not a speed demon. That’s not a judgment on those who participate in Nano and do well with it. My hat’s off to the participants. But – you knew the “but” was coming, right? – that’s not me or my writing style.
I’m a thoughtful writer. I think about my sentences and my story structure and the emotional arc of my characters. I plan my setting to add to the mood of any given scene. I consider my theme and how it can be layered into my story in subtle ways through a conversation here or a description there. I can’t accomplish all of this – and well – if my focus is on reaching the challenging daily word count required to complete Nano. In fact, the crushing guilt I feel when I fail an unrealistic (for me) word count goal only makes it harder to write.
I think Nano sounds amazing on paper. I love the planning stage leading up to it. I love all the excitement people have around it. I love the sense of accomplishment so many writers have as they participate. The idea of shutting off an internal editor sounds amazing and freeing, but not for me.
Sometimes I wish I could be that faster writer who can churn a book a month, but that’s like wishing I was Julia Roberts. When I sit at my keyboard, the experience of writing isn’t just about my fingers on the keys. A lot of it happens in my heart and in my head. I need time and space to let that happen. My stories wouldn’t be my stories if I crammed them like I did studying for final exams. So while I wish everyone participating the best of luck, NanoWriMo isn’t for me.
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5 Responses to "Why NanoWriMo Isn’t For Me"
on November 11, 2010 | to this post
It’s not for me either. I think I’m at a place where I need to pay the most attention to my writing and I wouldn’t have the time to really do that with NaNo. I too wish everyone the best of luck and who knows, maybe one day I will feel comfortable and I’ll do it then.
on November 11, 2010 | to this post
Yeah, I’m with you. It does sound fun and I’m all for giving a new process a whirl…there’s always something to learn. But November is not a good month…too much football to watch!
on November 12, 2010 | to this post
I do think Nano is wonderful for those who have always wanted to write a novel, but anxiety keeps them from doing so. I think it can be a freeing experience, but I’ve had friends who have tried to take their Nano novel and edit it. Yikes. I feel better going slower, as well.
Plus, I can only write if a. hubby is home, or b. the toddler is in bed. Since November is high school winter tournament season, it’s a miracle if I ever see my husband, the band director. Nano is doomed to never really work for me.
on November 12, 2010 | to this post
This post made me feel much better about the fact that I don’t participate. I’ve wavered at times, wondering if I should do it, since one hears so much about it. I think it’s probably good for someone who hasn’t completed a rough draft yet of a large project. It probably jump starts them. But I worry that it would take time away from projects I’m already working on. I don’t think NaNoWriMo is for me, either.
on November 12, 2010 | to this post
I love Nano. I love the momentum and the support of the forums. I love the whole butt-in-chair philosophy, and it’s taught me how to be a better writer, that it’s okay to write a little bit of crap now and again.
It’s liberating.
That having been said, there are years I can’t do it, as much as I want to. This year, I’ve got my first workshop packet to put together for VCFA, and I want to send something awesome. I also want to start querying early next year, which requires an insane amount of revision on SPITFIRE.
But Nano will always have a place in my heart, even if I never do it again.