NotNovWriMo!

 


Every year, around November, people participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) as a way to help motivate their novel writing. The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. Every year it seems to get more popular.

Except this past November, it got a little - weird. No, make that a LOT weird.

I won't go into detail about it here. I did a deep-dive into it for the Starship Fonzie podcast, so if you're interested, give that a listen. But the bottom line is that NaNoWriMo has gotten way too big, way too understaffed, and way too fraught with drama and scandal to be the main standard bearer for this sort of collective writing event.

It's time for something different.

Maybe with a little less drama. Maybe with a little more control. And definitely with a lot less weird shit taking place on group forums.

Most importantly, something that's NOT during November - a month filled with holiday preparations, home winterizing, and family events. I mean let's face it, November is about the worst month to pick for a collective novel-writing event.

To that end, I'm introducing "NotNovWriMo." A novel-writing month that's in January, rather than November. The Milwaukee Science Fiction & Fantasy League is doing this, but I encourage other local groups to do likewise.

It needn't be this January. Some other groups might want to do theirs in February or March. But certainly in one of the post-holiday months when it's super cold outside and there's nothing better to do than sit in front of a keyboard with a cup of hot cocoa and a story outline.

To participate, all you have to do is - write! Then post your progress somewhere on social media. Something like, "1,700 words today, and feeling great!" It doesn't matter where. Just write, and brag about your progress.

It couldn't be simpler.

Basic, straightforward, and no diaper-wearing fetishists making participants uncomfortable. (Again, listen to the Starship Fonzie podcast if you want the gory details.)

I encourage everyone out there to get their lost or forgotten manuscript idea out and get back to writing. Do it this January! Do it instead of November! It's time to take our National Novel Writing Month back from the overburdened administrators we never asked for in the first place.

Besides, nothing is as rewarding as having a wonderful story being completed, and then enjoyed by others.


Eric

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