tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post2740448900792153307..comments2023-09-20T09:08:24.505+01:00Comments on Remember It's the Future: The NaNoWriMo NaysayersBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16677076598470332030noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-45586848623862903332012-11-15T22:42:37.692+00:002012-11-15T22:42:37.692+00:00I think what I dislike about NaNo is the fact that...I think what I dislike about NaNo is the fact that hordes of preteens/teens use it to slobber all over everyone that they're "writing" a "novel" when in all actuality, they are practicing their writing skills and (hopefully) having fun. It's the pretentious way (some) NaNo folks slap it in their sigs in forums about the 'net and simper on and on about their "book", which is half fan-fiction, half blog, and mostly drivel. Things have their place, and NaNo is about fun (and maybe, once in awhile, sparking some true talent). But when folks turn a deaf ear to you when you say you're a writer because half the world says this because of something like NaNo, then people get annoyed. Elly Sketchithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17379366244806552515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-70383480854062917612012-10-30T21:05:28.086+00:002012-10-30T21:05:28.086+00:00What does this person mean "professional writ...What does this person mean "professional writers?" I'm afraid I know. I'm afraid he refers to those us who are career writers, who have editors and deadlines and contracts, and writing is how we pay our bills. (Contrary to what TV and movies portray, and some people seem to believe, we can't afford to lollygag for months on a beach, or run around the world on private yachts, drinking ourselves in oblivion. We have mortgages, and kids in braces, and kids in college. No one is providing us health insurance. We hope we don't get sick.) I am a professional author, but I wasn't always one. It took me a lot of HARD WORK, a lot of persistence, patience, belief in myself when the going got tough. Most of all it took turning a deaf ear to nay-sayers. All of them. If there had been a NaNo when I first started writing, you better believe I'd have jumped on that train before it even got to the station. Good luck, writers, all of you, pros and amateurs. We are in it together. God speed.K.D. McCritehttp://www.kdmccrite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-84490930748059856782012-10-30T05:36:01.050+00:002012-10-30T05:36:01.050+00:00It does get tiresome, all the NaNo-dissing that st...It does get tiresome, all the NaNo-dissing that starts flying around this time of year, doesn't it? And most of the criticism entirely misses the point. It's not like most people expect to crank out a masterpiece in 30 days, any more than someone who immerses themselves in learning French for 30 days would expect to strut out of that experience with a fully developed grasp of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. They'd sure be one heck of a lot farther ahead on that road than when they started, though.<br /><br />One of the things the NaNOsayers don't seem to grasp is that many, many, MANY of us simply don't have the luxury of being able to immerse ourselves in our writing for more than a weekend at a time. As you say, when November rolls around, we give ourselves permission--and our families give us permission--to slap on the blinders and ignore all the usual obligations as they pile up in a heap around us. Thirty days of permission to focus. What's so heinous about that?<br /><br />Great post, Rik!Kern Windwraithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771591425163484238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-32190085863646341092012-10-29T19:57:08.250+00:002012-10-29T19:57:08.250+00:00Yes, NaNo is all about the experience! No writing ...Yes, NaNo is all about the experience! No writing endeavor has ever been more beneficial to me! I met fellow writers, learned how to organize my materials to meet a deadline and how to let go and just write already!! <br /><br />Wonderful post!! :) Bullishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05343416717330536392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-44401237821185826452012-10-29T17:59:05.081+00:002012-10-29T17:59:05.081+00:00Def. writing is so much fun esp. when the words fl...Def. writing is so much fun esp. when the words flow and hours pass in the company of characters with minds of their own:)alberta rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132420168908365099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771589069545279175.post-81581786243509720312012-10-29T12:54:18.388+00:002012-10-29T12:54:18.388+00:00"... Rather like a penis, writing is most fun..."... Rather like a penis, writing is most fun when it is hard." --> Haha, brilliant! And yes, I totally agree with your post. I think people who say NaNo promotes "bad writing" don't know what they're talking about. If anything, NaNo promotes good writing habits if you ask me. Whenever someone asks me how to finish writing something, I tell them that they just have to crank out a first draft. You're not supposed to think about how good it is; that's what editing is for. Just barf it all out onto paper, and the organization can come later. If you never make your way through that first draft, you'll have nothing to work with. That's what I think is so great about NaNo; it encourages writers to crank out that first draft so that they actually have something down on paper. Sure, it will probably be crap like most first drafts are, but no one writes a perfect book in the first go. Plus, I think writing without inhibitions is what creates the best ideas. Brigid Gorry-Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481935746189946137noreply@blogger.com