Thread: NaNoWriMo 2008 - Good or Bad?

Over the next few months this forum will become the NaNoWriMo 2008 forum and will again be flourishing with activity. Last year during the event and even post event, I found several websites that stated they hated NaNoWriMo while there was a ton that adored it. I've only officially participated in one NaNoWriMo (won) yet I've seen others who've done it for years. Personally I enjoyed NaNoWriMo and the comradery it encites. Is the finished "novel" publishable after a month? Probably not but I do see it as a potential stepping stone for new authors. I'm curious to know what others think of NaNoWriMo. Do you hate it? Do you love it? Why?

Celestial

Love it.

Why? I find it's bucket loads of fun, and I relish the competition that has developed between myself and a few friends.

08 will be my 5th year (and my 5th win).

It's great fun and a very worthwhile exercise

I definitely agree about it being fun. This past year I went to write-ins and found them to be an absolute joy. The flip side of that was when NaNo was over I felt like I was in withdrawls. I certainly didn't stop when NaNo was over. I kept writing and finished my novel. Sadly, I felt it would take some ungodly amounts of edits and re-writes to make it publishable. Is it really worth the effort to write the novel in 3 months time (or 1 month technically) and then spend the next 9 doing edits? I guess the only one that can answer that question is myself. I'm just curious to know if other people finish the novel and put the time an effort into making it salable after NaNo.

Originally Posted by celestialwolf

I'm just curious to know if other people finish the novel and put the time an effort into making it salable after NaNo.

Yes.

And yes again.

I was reading up on the posts from 2007 and am very tempted to try it this year. It does look like fun. I say go for it!

I'm taking time off of work to do the rewrite of my Nano '06 novel, and then I shall begin pimping it out. I couldn't do '07 because my wife and I had a baby in November, but I can't wait to do '08. It's a great way to jump start your writing, if you have the guts.

My pet hate with NaNo is NOVEMBER is a busy month.

I know we are all busy all the time, just November and December are sardines already.

I found it to be an interesting stretch of work. great idea to not judge the work just put it down and not look back. that can open some doors for people who can over think their work.

all in all a great execise for the mind.

i don't see what there is to hate about it. if you participate, and hate it, then don't participate. and if you are not participating then why are you gonna hate on those who are? seems silly to hate on something like NaNoWriMo where the party involved does so willingly with the only incentive be the exerience.

'08 will be my first, and i can't wait! I'm looking forward to the write-ins, meeting new people, drinking lots of coffee, and buying new notebooks to write my story in

I think most of those websites were from people who aren't writers but has friends that are who participate. They pretty much got sick of hearing about NaNo. I think those that weren't were professionals/editors who got tired of receiving submissions of NaNo novels that weren't edited or polished. I think they were hitting maybe a bit more than the slush pile. I just wanted to thank everyone who's responded thus far.

I can't speak for everyone but I found the write-ins to be awesome. Even though NaNo's been over now for months, I still meet monthly with some of the writers from the write-ins. We go over ideas, pieces that we're working on and just chat about things going on in our lives. I never would have expected to form bonds with others in such a short time but it's a testament to NaNo. I'm sure you'll have a blast.

Has any of you ever written something on NaNoWtiMo and then got it published?

There's a page on the NaNo site for people who have but 9 out of 10 don't because NaNo is about quantity rather than quality. Also, NaNo is looking for you to complete a 50k novel, as in "The End". 50k manuscripts are extremely hard to sell since most publishers look for either smaller Novella's (20-30k) or real Novels (75-110k). Even if you didn't type "The End" and kept writing after NaNo, most people either don't finish the novel or the novel is so incoherent (plot, character, believability) that it needs a complete rewrite or edit to be even a decent draft. Feel free to try though because it can be done and has been done before. It's all about determination and commitment. (Has anyone had their novel published? | National Novel Writing Month)