NaNoWriMo 2021

I think I'd like to try cranking out a draft this year.

 

definite 'maybe.'

I'm inclined to spend the remainder of the year working on short stories (okay, maybe the odd novella) set in the 'Eldritch World,' with maybe one or two tales tying sideways into AE Lowan's books...but there are a couple of long delayed novels that need writing....

 

I'm not sure I'll participate this year. I did it the last two years and got to 30k words both times. While it doens't qualify as winning Nano, it's a great way to jumpstart a novel. At the moment though I've got two editing projects to finish (something like 110k words in various stages of readibility) and if editing goes well a novel to publish. It depends on how fast those go. But if I get it done before Nov 1st, then I've got my next project lined up already. A lot of the plotting has been done (enough at least to keep me busy for a month). We'll see how the next two months go...

I'm all for drinks. Black tea while writing. A nice glass of cognac to celebrate when it's all done.

Doesn't November always explode for you? Maybe just stay indoors this year and hide under a blanket.

 

Have you tried writing while hidden?

I'll happily follow along and suport you. I'm just making sure I've got my bullet proof vest and bomb-protection on at all times while I'm doing so, just in case November explodes again...

 

Umm. Don't quite know how to say this, but...

Without in any way criticising the concept, the organisers or any of those who take part.

In light of our discussion on writing and describing people of colour, and the way many non-white people feel excluded from most mainstream writing because they perceive the characters to be white. Has anyone ever thought about how an initiative like NaNoWriMo comes across to those of us who, like me, can't write at this sort of rate owing to disabilities like dyslexia? I know the intention is to be inclusive, but just setting a target like that can come across as excluding those who can't write at that rate. No, it isn't intentional, no that isn't what NaNoWriMo is out to achieve. But... Just a thought.

And no, I'm not going to take part. But, good luck and good writing to those of you who do!

 

What does "ja" stand for?

 

It's like everything else in an ableist world: "of course you can do it, can't everyone?"

Not related to NaNoWriMo, but I once read an advice column in which the letter writer complained that their partner asked them to keep quiet while they were working from home - not in meeting, just doing paperwork/computer work - because they couldn't work with noise in their surroundings. The columnist completely dismissed the partner's request, saying everyone needs to learn to shut out noise, it's a basic professional skill, you're not really an adult if you can't do that.

Made me see red. Such a thing would NOT be possible for me because of my ADD. I can easily see the same being true of the letter writer's partner.

While I theoretically can write at the rate NaNoWriMo calls for, and I sometimes write at three or four times that rate for a day or two, I can't do it consistently. Some days I can write a lot, some days I can't write much or at all. I really need to be in the right space on many levels, and I can't predict when I will be.

 

No. But in a way, if you do try to take that into consideration there is very little you can actually do, in the same way that we don't question how people with only one leg feel when they see a marathon being run in 2 hours

I think NaNo is very open and inclusive in what it does. They even mention it's a very daunting challenge. You can set your own goals and they're very supportive for whatever you set out to do. They don't preach or judge but instead cheer anyone on. The even have a whole subforum catered to people with disabilities and Neurodivergence. They make a concious effort to be as inclusive as possible. They probably don't succeed in all cases, but no one does. It really is a warm and welcoming community.

 

I've never reached the finishing line with 50,000 words, although I eventually finished the two novels I began during NaNoWriMo.

But I'm not sure if I'll enter again. Although I like the community feel, entering makes me rush too much at the beginning of the novel (which is when I naturally go slowest), and I think this costs me time later when I have to fix the messes I've made by going faster than is right for me. So I'm not sure that people who don't enter really lose anything. We all have different speeds of writing, and it may be better to follow our own rhythms.

 

Me too! If we can make it NaShWrMo (the Sh being for short story) then I'll join in.

 

I love that idea!

Maybe we could have one on this forum, for this forum. Thoughts?

 

Maybe we can sneak in here.

 

Write a short story eh? Well, maybe. It doesn't help me, and that isn't because I write more slowly when I'm writing a short story. No, the reason is that in my experience a good short story is much harder to write than a novel. I find myself spending a lot more time thinking the story and character arcs through (once I've got the idea for the story itself) because getting these right in only a few thousand words is a real challenge. Its a challenge I enjoy.

As for NaNoWriMo 2021, no I'm still not going to do it. I'm about a third of the way through my fourth novel and I have deadline of mid-december to get it to my editor. Publication next summer. That's something they don't tell you as a new author - get signed for a multi-book deal and you've suddenly got contractual deadlines to meet. For a one book deal you might get away with a few delays in the editing process, but when you've got a multi-book deal you're writing to order. And that means writing even when you're not in the mood or when you're out of ideas. So what started out as a bit of fun and a personal challenge is suddenly a job requiring self-discipline. Trust me, it's quite a big step.