My reply is an inevitable "No." It's not that I don't think it's a good idea, or that it's a waste of time. I just know how I work. For starters I hand write my manuscripts which is slower in and of itself. Then I just work slowly. I tend to write a bit in the morning and then do other things the rest of the day. I don't spend hours writing. I'm not sure I could.
None of that adds up to 50,000 words in 30 days. But it does add up to the occasional novel and or novella.
But it does leave me on the outside for an entire month while other people freak out over word counts and plot problems.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I could participate. I can see the appeal of the challenge. And it must be satisfying to see the words rack up and have something to show for a month of hard work. At the same time, most of the authors I know reach the end of NaNoWriMo, and promptly metaphorically shelve their NaNo novels in perpetuity, never to see the light of day.
So what exactly is there at the end of all that stress? Bragging rights? A sense of accomplishment? Well, I don't exactly know. But I do know that if you get to the end and make word count, have yourself a treat! You've done something at least. You wrote.
Yeah, it's not for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big challenge and I'm glad i motivates people but it's not for me either.
ReplyDeleteI've never participated though I have challenged myself at times. However, I've had to do two 30 000 word novellas in less than a month (at different times)and I succeeded and they are published.
ReplyDeleteI participated five times and "won" three times - but though one of the "novels" evolved (distilled?) into a novella that sold, the other two stank audibly.
ReplyDeleteDid I learn anything? Maybe a bit about getting out of my own way when writing. I'm glad I did it, and glad I beat it - but the second and third victories weren't really needed. Those Novembers could have been better spent.
Not for me either. Never been the least bit tempted.
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