It's almost November. You know what that means...
It's almost National Novel Writing Month!
What is National Novel Writing Month, you ask?
Why, it is a month. For writing novels. Nationally.
It's a convenient excuse, is what it is. For all the frustrated writers out there, who find themselves busily doing something non-writerly in their diurnal lives. People like me. People who would really, really like to be writers, but have day jobs. People who, in the ordinary run of things, don't quite seem to find the time, on any regular basis, to put pen to paper and let rip. So to speak. National Novel Writing Month is a great excuse. Instead of relying on your own (nonexistent) self-motivational powers, dedication, and will, pretend it's an obligation! Compete in word-count with your friends. Feel sad and shifty if you fall behind. Drive yourself into caffeinated frenzies to meet a looming, immediate, panic-inducing deadline! Make yourself feel better about de-prioritising work, because you know lots of other people are doing it too.
There is strength in numbers.
NaNoWriMo is a good experience...I did it last year, and the pressure did spur me on to greater feats of production than I had ever managed before. I find it is absolutely impossible to devote time to creative activity in any systematic way while I have other, paycheque-related obligations unless I have this sort of crutch, or whatever you'd like to call it. This is quite possibly because I am not, and probably will never be, a real writer. Even so, I enjoy trying. It takes me out of my mathematical rut. It gives other portions of my brain a workout for a change. I get to feel productive and unique and artistic, one month out of the year. I get to indulge my deepest darkest fantasies.
Yes, my deepest, darkest fantasies involve writing.
No, that isn't lame.
Well, the same to you, buddy.
Anyhow.
NaNoWriMo: it's a jolly good lark! Let the power of deadlines work for you for a change!
I think this year I might try to write a love story about Alaska. Or possibly not.
Posted by aloysius at October 27, 2003 09:04 PM | TrackBack |