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September 21, 2003

Something Shlocky This Way Comes

Just an early reminder that National Novel Writing Month is fast approaching:

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over talent and craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

While I'm inclined to lean more toward the talent/craft side of the aisle (since some kind souls tell me I write rather well; let's see if it carries over to the novel format), I think it's good that someone is out there simply encouraging people to write. Practice can do naught but improve one's writing, and that's a primary reason I've kept up with blogging - you know, aside from it being fun to be right all the time and share my universal "rightness" with all of you.

So, who's in?

I know that Kafka is taking the plunge - and I'm encouraging Jolene to give it a go. And I have vague mental images of Matt Moore saying he would try, but those might be fake beer memories.

What's the worst that can happen? You write 50,000 words of pure crap and lose a month of your life that you were only going to spend watching the idiot box anyway. No big loss. Come along.

So, how about it Jon Darby? You've got roughly 396 unfinished tales in your head - polish one up and put it on display.

Michele has posted some of her short story work; bring it on, oh ye of the often-slapped ass!

Zuly? You're an avid reader - give writing a try! Make it part of the Zuly's Reading Room adventure!

Anyone else? Why the hell not? You people disappoint me, ya know that? Heh.

Update: Zombyboy is in, planning to write a tale of love between himself and the various members of The Screaming Trees, and the unfortunate involvement of one tub of Crisco and a shaved llama.

Mmmoxie^TM is interested, but is too lazy to read up on it. That's a shame, because she has some good fodder for a story. And she could include pictures. Lots of'em. Ayup.

Update, The Second: Kafkaesquí decides to help out Mmmoxie^TM with this inspiring description of NaNoWriMo:

It's a month* of sore wrists. A month of sore back. A month of sore body parts you won't find in any biology text. It's a month of sleep deprivation. A month of neglected family. A month of ignored friends. A month of shirked responsibilities. It's a month of confusion. A month of self-doubt. A month of absolute despair. It's a month, 30 seemingly unending days, when your conscious faculties, your sanity and your spare time goes right out the window in an attempt to produce 50,000 words of pure and utter dreck.

Simply, NaNoWriMo is a month of self-imposed torture. Sound like fun? You bet it does!

* Or less.

Quite the motivational speaker, that guy.

Update, The Third or More: Lordy lordy, this thing keeps on growing. No, ladies, back down, I'm not talking about that. I'm talkin' about the people foolish enough to join me in NaNoWriMo. Who's up? Let's see!

Tony, the Kiwi athiest, has joined the team. He'll be writing about sheep. Lots of sheep. And canola oil and gags.

Tiffany has also signed up for literary pain.

Fools. I mean, uh, smart folks willing to endure pain for a greater good. I love you people!