The Relaxed Writer

3 Reasons NOT to NaNoWriMo

This article first appeared in the October 2011 issue of my monthly ezine, The Relaxed Writer.

I'm posting it here with the encouragement of Jordan Rosenfeld, author, editor, fiction writer and writing coach, who emailed me with great comments before sharing this thought with her Twitter followers:

@Jordanrosenfeld: Would love to encourage all writers to subscribe to your e-letter, @MarlaBeck!! It's magic. 

I appreciate the good words, Jordan.  Relaxed Writers, I hope you'll find this article useful, too.  -MB

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3 Reasons Writers Should Say NO to NaNoWriMo

Considering drafting your new novel next month?  

November 1 marks the start of National Novel Writer's Month (NaNoWriMo), and many writers around the world--over 200,000 last year-- are preparing to challenge their creativity and endurance.

NaNoWriMo offers many benefits to writers:  community support, new writing friends, accountability, encouragement…and most of all, a very specific and time-limited writing goal.  After all, it's much easier to stay committed to your writing when you know others are making the same choices you are to forego family fun for writing.

But NaNoWriMo isn't the right writing structure for everyone. Read on for 3 reasons NaNoWriMo may NOT be right for you.

1.  Is This Your REAL Writing Goal Right Now?

A specific, time-limited goal is absolutely key to getting the most out of your writing intensive.  But what if "drafting a new novel in 30 days" isn't your goal, exactly?   Your life is short, my friend.   If you have a work-in-progress, would it make more sense to complete your draft or polish an existing manuscript instead?

Think It Through:  If you choose to “NaNoWriMo,” ask yourself if a new, rough draft of a novel is the goal that serves your writing career best.

2.  Set Up for Stress

NaNoWriMo was founded in 1999 by 20-something writer, Chris Baty.  He started the challenge because he and his friends wanted to get more writing done after they came home from work.

When I coach men and women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond--mothers, managers, professionals, executives, fathers--who've chosen to do NaNoWriMo, they often feel discouraged, frustrated or upset with themselves for not being able to complete the writing challenge.  If you have significant family or job ties, NaNoWriMo wasn't really designed for you!  Your writing goals may be much better served by choosing a different  structure.

Think It Through:  If you find it too difficult to fit yourself into the artificial structure of NaNoWriMo, stop straining and find another alternative that suits you better.

3.  Short-Term Imbalance, Long-Term Effects

As a life coach for writers, I'm trained to help you pay attention and honor your writing in the context of your whole life.  The writers I've coached who choose to "NaNoWriMo" have -- surprise! -- typically experienced quite an imbalanced month in November. 

I know that short-term balance is often necessary if we're to complete a big writing project. But the timing of NaNoWriMo is tricky. 

Baty founded NaNoWriMo in November because the weather’s typically rather rotten here in San Francisco in November. But for many writers, NaNoWriMo pits their relationships and home life against their creative work.  And the NaNoWriMo novelists I've coached typically take weeks to recoup their verve and energy come December.  In my opinion, a state of exhaustion is no way to start the season of gratitude, generosity and the promise of a new start in January.

Think It Through:  Before you commit to a month-long intensive, ask yourself if your diminished holiday season/beginning-of-the-new-year energy is a worthy trade-off. 

NaNo Alternatives

Participating in NaNoWriMo is a huge commitment of creativity, time and energy.  If you're going for the challenge, I’m rooting for you! But before you say "YES," please make sure this is the right time and writing structure for you.

NaNoWriMo offers structure, community and a fantastically clear goal.  But it's not the only way to get your writing done. 

• My Two Days to Write™ intensives offer accountability, goal-setting and support without committing all of November to your project.

• Camp NaNoWriMo lets you take the novel-writing challenge during the summer--an easier time, for many folks.

If participating in this year's NaNo doesn't feel quite right to you, take a little time to explore what writing structure might serve you best.  You owe it to yourself to do so.

And your writing career will thank you.

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5 Reasons You Might've Said "Yes" to NaNoWriMo

Did you ignore my reasons to say no to NaNoWriMo this year?  Well, then.  Let's look at a few reasons why you might've said "Yes." 

1.  You want to have some fun.

As a NaNo writer, community awaits, in the form of in-person meetups, writing dates with friends or community online with writers around the world.  I imagine nothing's more inspiring than sharing the  journey to 50,000 words with scads of fellow writers who know exactly what you're up against.   

2.  You want to be told what to do.

NaNoWriMo offers you a straightforward writing assignment for the month. You've got a deadline.  (November 30th.)  You've got a wrap party.  (Don't you?)  You've got a wordcount.  (50k.)  You've got  guidelines. (New stuff only.) 

You've even got tips from the NaNoWriMo founders themselves.

3.  You want to kick your inner critic to the curb for the month.

I really can't illustrate this point this any better than Cinette did when she commented on yesterday's Relaxed Writer post:

"My one and only reason for signing up for NaNo is because I need to make myself power through a first draft without running back over (and over, and over) the first thousand or so words. My inner editor is one pushy dude. I'm going to try and force a holiday on him.As your fingers fly, you won't have time to talk back to yourself as you write."

4.  You want to write every day.

My guess is that by mid-November, the process of transitioning to writing and actually sitting down to write will take you a lot less time than it does now. 

Why?

• you'll have little time to waste
•  you'll know you're not alone
• you'll be writing with low expectations ("just get it done" vs. "do it right")
• you'll know you're taking on the challenge to have some fun

5.  You want to get out of planning the holiday party.

If you're reading this in the U.S., your participation in NaNoWrimo is the perfect excuse to let someone else host Thanksgiving this year.  May I suggest you offer to bring the rolls and the drinks?  No cooking for you, my friend.  You'll be too busy writing.

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If you're joining in the fun, the day's fast approaching.  Good luck to you!  Coming soon: a few tips to help you get and stay in the groove as you NaNo. 

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image credit:  Schmeegan (Flickr)

3 Reasons You Might Want to Say "No!" to NaNoWriMo

As a life coach, I often offer my clients permission.  Permission to take themselves more seriously.  Permission to say no.

Permission to run like heck from crazy schemes that'll challenge--if not utterly decimate -- their sense of balance and well-being.

So it probably won't surprise you that I can think of a few really good reasons you should think twice before signing up for NaNoWriMo.  

I'm not saying NaNoWriMo isn't right for everyone (tomorrow I'll take a look at why you may want to do it).  For now, though, a few reasons why NaNoWriMo may not be the right fit for you.

1.   Apples to Oranges

NaNoWriMo was created in 1999 by Chris Baty and three of his friends, Rolf Nelson, Ryan Dunsmuir, and John Sanders, in their San Francisco apartment. These friends were twentysomethings at the time, and they met daily to write and drink and shoot the breeze. ("Half literary marathon and half block party," says Baty.)  

Chris and his friends didn't have much else going on. 

And they weren't taking themselves very seriously.

If you're like several of the writers I've coached through NaNoWriMo, you may instead be greeted at the door by a demanding cat.  A spouse or kid wanting to connect (or be fed).  A reminder that your Thanksgiving holiday to be planned and shopped for and prepared.

You might even be putting a bit of pressure on yourself:  "I'm really a fiction writer if I win this year" or "I'm not a real writer if I don't."

Take a deep breath.

Does NaNo's 50,000 word success criteria suit you?  Take into account your personal situation, consider NaNo's origins and decide if committing to NaNoWriMo will truly support you as a writer. 

If trying to meet the arbitrary word count will make you crazed with stress, take yourself too seriously or alienate your cat or family members, you probably should pass.

2. That Body of Yours

Will you follow those twentysomething guys' examples and rely on Red Bull, bourbon and mucho Doritos to power you through hours and hours of writing?

Even if you choose healthier snacks and drinks, my guess is that, come December 1st, your body will show some wear and tear.

If so, how will you feel as you face the holidays?

• A little on the flabby side?
• Exhausted as heck? 

Consider whether you'll be able to regroup and recover before January 1, 2011 rolls around.  (Because no one likes to start the new year feeling icky if they can help it.)

Besides nutrition and exercise, you also need to consider whether you're  susceptible to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.

If writing and typing for long periods of time strains your body, think through carefully whether this month-long exercise is worth compromising your long-term health.  Say no to NaNo.  Or get your voice recognition software up and running so you can work in a way that works for you.

3.  Process or Product?

Chris Baty talks honestly about the original NaNo writers' motivations that first year:

"[W]e wanted to write novels for the same dumb reasons twentysomethings start bands. Because we wanted to make noise. Because we didn't have anything better to do. And because we thought that, as novelists, we would have an easier time getting dates than we did as non-novelists."

Are you in the same playful state of mind? If so, sharpen your pencils and charge your laptop battery. NaNo may be a no-brainer for you.

But take a moment to consider what your prose writing really needs the most.

• Would you benefit most from focussing on process for now?  If so, NaNo might be a terrific way to divorce your inner critic for the month.

• Or, do you most need to improve your story structure, character development, plotting or scene writing skills?  If so, imagine where you'd be in a month's time if you devoted even half the time you'll spend on NaNo to working through a fine fiction resource like Janet Burroway's classic, Writing Fiction: a Narrative Craft or Jordan Rosenfeld's Making a Scene.

Life is short (the wise ones say it's so).  What's the very best way for you to improve your writing in the next 30 days?

Dare to Do What's Best for You

I hope you'll think carefully about NaNo before you commit.  If you're ready for the challenge, here's wishing you luck, good humor and stamina. If not, here's a healthy helping of permission to say "No thanks, not this year."

Dare to do what's best for you.

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image credit:  E-Magic (Flickr)

p.s. - The above links aren't Amazon affiliate links.  I promise to let you know clearly if and when I use them in the future.

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What do you think?  Come November 1st, will you or won't you NaNoWriMo?