John Bryant
Word count check: 2041. #NaNoWriMo22 day 1 was a good day. Looking to continue the momentum. How's your #NaNoWriMo going? #WritingCommunity #amwriting
Nov 2, 2022 at 1:47pmWeb
Show threadgeoffreygevaltNov 2, 2022

@johnwhowrites I'm an outlier, John. While any effort to get people writing is good &some are helped by participating, for most it is a terrible discouragement--what's produced is bad & few go back to revise. The idea you can produce a novel in a month is preposterous.

In schools, NaNoWriMo is more damaging: Kids who already think writing sucks & that they're no good at it, drop out early or become hopelessly lost in the process. More: https://medium.com/fuck-niches/nanowrimo-is-a-waste-of-time-2bd22ecbd757

But, glad it's working for you!

NaNoWriMo is a waste of time - Fuck Niches - Medium

I appreciate that it brings attention to writing ( and, yes, any initiative to help people write more is a good thing), but I don’t think the NaNoWriMo exercise…

Fuck Niches
Show threadJohn BryantNov 2, 2022

@gg Yeah, I hear ya! I think nano could do a better job with the messaging that the intent is to create a first draft, not a full-fledged novel. My current project is 3 years in the making.

You're 100% correct. When November ends, the output sucks. It should be touted that it's then your job to revise revise revise, edit edit edit, and do it all over again. Write, rinse, repeat.

Show threadgeoffreygevaltNov 2, 2022

@johnwhowrites Thanks for the response, John. I think what we fail to do for writers, beginning in fifth grade, is to SHOW that revision is the secret to good writing, that EVERYONE revises and that revision is, actually, fun and rewarding.

I saw a post here somewhere in which someone was asking whether we liked writing or editing better. To which I wanted to respond (but couldn't find it) writing IS editing.

cheers. (And my project is also three-years in the making.)

geoff

Show threadJohn BryantNov 2, 2022
@gg Absolutely! It's kinda like the iceberg model. People think of writing as slapping words on a page, but there's so much more underneath: research, edits, revisions, interviews, feedback, getting an editor, etc... And then there's the whole bit about getting people to actually read it. I mean, outside your friends & family. 😂
Show threadpixielaurenNov 2, 2022

@johnwhowrites I have just hit 4K so feeling good for day 2.

But I know it’s a long month so … too early to tell whether I’ll get it this time!

Show threadTimNov 2, 2022
@johnwhowrites great job! Keep up the energy! I hit about -600 words yesterday (editing). Chop chop chopping away :)