M. K. Theodoratus, Fantasy Writer, blogs about the books she reads--mostly fantasy and mystery authors whose books catch her eye and keep her interest. Nothing so formal as a book review, just chats about what she liked. Theodoratus also mutters about her own writing progress or ... lack of it.

.

Monday, October 31, 2011

NaNoWriMo Madness

Do dogs drool over meaty bones? I'm beginning to think writers drool over NaNoWriMo. 

Went to the monthly Northern Colorado Writer's, and they devoted a fair amount of discussion to the Time-of-Writing-Frenzy. I knew the two independent book stores in town, sponsored writing tables for NaNoWriMo participants. I didn't know our public library was also in the act of encouraging writer to pound out the words. They even ran "classes" for teen and adult writers.

Even if you aren't participating, I recommend you read the blogs that mention NaNoWriMo. There a lot of good advice on the mechanics of producing words. Breaking through writer's block. Setting up your characters. Plus, much more.

Over at Operation Awesome, Lindsay gives her reasons for not doing NaNoWritMo. She's into quality more than quantity. More important, she gives some links to other blogs with great craft tips.

Morgan Bailey takes the opposite stance in her blog asking: Are You Ready for NaNoWriMo? She even hides some writing tips hidden within the text which will help you whether you join the madness or not.

Then, there's me.  I don't expect to come out of the month with 50,000 new words in the computer, but I'm doing it any way. I hoping that pounding out words, without thinking much about them, will help me break my 500 words a day habit. -- I may be planning to shoot myself in the foot. Thanksgiving's at my house, as usual, plus I start my Christmas baking about that time.

Think ... I sort of ... get NaNo ... though. Writing is mostly a solitary activity except for critique groups and writing buddies. In November, writers party and write for the heck of it..

6 comments:

Patricia Stoltey said...

Thank goodness I'm having no company for Thanksgiving (and NaNoWriMo will be my excuse for eating out at one of the holiday buffets instead of cooking).

My kitchen floor is getting replaced, but not until December 5th, so Christmas baking and preparing for my December company won't start until that's finished. I have a plan...(laughing out loud)...

Unknown said...

I have myself to blame for the Thanksgiving thing ... and Christmas too. I didn't want to drive to the Denver area.

LD Masterson said...

I debated on NaNo but decided against it. Timing is a big factor. Why do they hold this thing in the middle of the holiday season?

Unknown said...

Writers have been trying to write prefectly so long, they have to cut loose and party??????

Anonymous said...

500/day isn't bad at all, but I think it's cool that you'll be pushing yourself this month. And then in December, you can climb aboard the Write1Sub1 train!

Unknown said...

That's the plan, Milo, though I haven't decided whether I'll do short stories or novel.

By the way, managed almost 1500 words the first day ... while creating a part of my world I didn't know I had to write about. *still writing by the seats of my pants*