Yes, it’s that time of year again. So flex those fingers, crack those knuckles, sit your butt down, and get ready to type type type!
For those of you who don’t know, Nanowrimo is a challenge to write a novel of 50,000 words in the month of November. No, it doesn’t actually have to be a novel, from start to finish. Write 50,000 words of a coherent storyline–that should be enough. It’s exhillirating, frustrating, teeth-gnashingly fun! I’ve done it, and finished, twice now, in 2002 and 2006. And, of course, it’s at the Nanowrimo after party where I met Ryan.
So, up until this moment, I had no idea what my story was going to be. I’m not a natural outliner. Nevertheless, in previous years I’ve started with _something_–an image, an idea, a theme, a character. This time, I had nothing, until a few minutes ago, when a scene came to me. I feel much better now. Just a few more hours now to stew over image and come up with a plot…
3 times? Have you no shame? Is there no limit to your masochism?
A friend, who is a community college english prof no less, has decided to give it a try this year.
Here is the true horror: he will _collaborate_ with others. They say they’re going to collectively outline a plot, then divvy up chapter writing responsibilities. His so called collaborators are yet more teacherly types.
As a past sufferer, er Winner, I pointed out that their little plan mitigates the exquisite pain of Nanowrimo and is therefore just about the only rule the contest expects participants to keep. In reply, I received some half-baked anarchistic ‘rules are meant to be broken, power to the people’ mumbo jumbo excuse.
Teachers. Cheating @ Nanowrimo. So lame.
Yes, we are a bitter lot, we past ‘Winners.’
ENJOY YOUR BURN!!!
Good luck, good luck!!!!