Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

It’s almost here.

NaNoWriMo.

National Novel Writing Month.

Oy.

There are three types of writers as regards NaNoWriMo:

• Writers who love it
• Writers who hate it
• Writers who haven’t heard of it

I don’t think I know any members of the first or last cohorts, but I know plenty in the middle one. Tons. Like every writer I know.

The current self-professed goal of NaNoWriMo is to encourage writers of all experience levels just to get out there and write. This is a worthy aim, in my opinion, but that’s not how NaNoWriMo usually comes across. Nope. A mash-up of marathon and sprint, it’s usually presented as either a ruthless competition or a shame-laden cudgel.

“What? You can’t write a novel in a month? A measly 50,000 word novel? And you call yourself a writer.”

“The only reason you can’t write a novel in a month is because you have convinced yourself you can’t.”

I know writers who can write a novel in a month, and I’ve known a few who have tried and come close during NaNoWriMo. Personally, if properly motivated, I could probably do it myself, but I would hate every moment of it, and writing is hard enough for me without hating it on top of everything else.

This year, though, rather than the usual “F that” commentary that bubbles up from fellow writers in my late October feed, something different is in the air, and it echoes what I’ve been planning as well. 

Rather than eschew the entire endeavor, let’s take what we want from this juggernaut and jettison the rest. 

In short: Let’s use it. 

Independently and without previous consultation, a handful of my writerly contacts and I, all long-time loathers of NaNoWriMo, have decided to actively participate in the event this year. All of us have seen our writing progress stymied for too long  by jobs, life events, etc., and we’re frustrated by our now inactivity. NaNoWriMo (we hope) will be the pry-bar that will break us out of our calcified complacency. However, none of us are going to try to write a novel in a month. None of us are even going to try to complete our novels-in-progress in a month. 

One of my contacts has decided to write a short story each week. Another merely wants to pick up his work-in-progress each day; in his view, even a word a day will be a step forward. For my part, I want to get back into the rhythm of writing, where the WIP is top-of-mind, and where I spend one day percolating on the upcoming scene and the next day writing it down.

November always seemed a stupid month in which to attempt writing a novel. I mean, Thanksgiving is not an insignificant holiday for most Americans, and with that in the mix you’ve already lost a week, what with planning or travel or cooking (or all three). It’s doubly stupid for me, this year, because I still have a ton of training courses to complete by Nov 10.

But it is not a stupid month for me—in and around all of the above—to clear away the cobwebs, brew some tea, review my notes, refill my fountain pen, crack open the steno pad, and get some words down on paper.

So, that’s the plan.

Onward.

k