I haven’t participated officially in NaNoWriMo since 2008, but I was a winner that year and I got the glory of owning this beautiful badge on the left. I will admit, it felt good–really good. That sweet rush of victory was like a breath of fresh air followed immediately by the reality that final exams were in two weeks and I had things to get done that had been on the back burner for the past 30 days. Oops.
I don’t do NaNoWriMo anymore for a few reasons, but I don’t want to discourage anyone from taking the leap because the process comes with some great perks.
The Perks
1) It makes you write. I mean seriously–all you’re thinking about all day is writing. You HAVE to meet that word count. You can’t sleep until you do because the guilt is so strong. No ideas? Keep writing. Not sure what to name your character? Keep writing and call him Joe, you’ll change it later. The mentality is to just keep writing, no matter what kind of awful writers block you may have. And the truth is, this is the only cure for writer’s block, and it’s a good habit to get into.
2) It teaches you commitment. NaNoWriMo teaches you to do what every creative writing professor tells you to do: write every day. It requires some serious dedication and commitment to the pursuit of 50,000 words so developing this habit is the only way to win.
After the Jump: More Perks to NaNoWriMo
Medium Roast 