Comments on: No NaNoWriMo http://www.dummies-for-destruction.co.uk/random/2009/11/no-nanowrimo/ Dummies For Destruction - A drop of blood in a sea of piss Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy http://www.dummies-for-destruction.co.uk/random/2009/11/no-nanowrimo/comment-page-1/#comment-165451 Andy Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:27:02 +0000 http://www.dummies-for-destruction.co.uk/random/?p=6577#comment-165451 I agree that taking chances is an excellent thing, and even that lowering expectations can have a positive effect - that's partly why I've taken it up this year, a) to give myself the kick up the arse required to start writing again and b) to see what happens if I 'suppress the inner editor' (as naNoWriMo puts it) which is totally against my nature to do. My issue with the event is the word count obsession. I attended the kick-off metting of our local group and much of the talk was around joining the 'Word Wars' competition, where groups with the most amount of words win. There seems to be an unhealthy obsession with the number of words written, and very little interest in the *quality* of what's written, and I'm afraid that doesn't interest me in the least. I'm taking part and giving it a go, but if I get further into November and think I may have started writing something that's actually worthwhile, i'll pull out of the event and continue writing at my pace, rather than the pace (and word count) dictated to me. I agree that taking chances is an excellent thing, and even that lowering expectations can have a positive effect – that’s partly why I’ve taken it up this year, a) to give myself the kick up the arse required to start writing again and b) to see what happens if I ‘suppress the inner editor’ (as naNoWriMo puts it) which is totally against my nature to do.

My issue with the event is the word count obsession. I attended the kick-off metting of our local group and much of the talk was around joining the ‘Word Wars’ competition, where groups with the most amount of words win. There seems to be an unhealthy obsession with the number of words written, and very little interest in the *quality* of what’s written, and I’m afraid that doesn’t interest me in the least.

I’m taking part and giving it a go, but if I get further into November and think I may have started writing something that’s actually worthwhile, i’ll pull out of the event and continue writing at my pace, rather than the pace (and word count) dictated to me.

]]> By: QE http://www.dummies-for-destruction.co.uk/random/2009/11/no-nanowrimo/comment-page-1/#comment-165450 QE Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:43 +0000 http://www.dummies-for-destruction.co.uk/random/?p=6577#comment-165450 I mostly disagree (not entirely, granted, but mostly). Their emphasis in that quote is very unfortunate and I may be some way from the party line, but I always felt that the intention was you shouldn't feel you need to spend time planning, not that you weren't allowed to do so. To write with lower expectations and hence take some risks is very good practice, as is the timed challenge itself: it can still be valuable to write something even if it isn't worth anyone else reading. Your own reasons for not taking part are fair enough but I think you're being a bit harsh on the event in general. I mostly disagree (not entirely, granted, but mostly).
Their emphasis in that quote is very unfortunate and I may be some way from the party line, but I always felt that the intention was you shouldn’t feel you need to spend time planning, not that you weren’t allowed to do so. To write with lower expectations and hence take some risks is very good practice, as is the timed challenge itself: it can still be valuable to write something even if it isn’t worth anyone else reading.

Your own reasons for not taking part are fair enough but I think you’re being a bit harsh on the event in general.

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