What NaNoWriMo Is and Isn't

Everyone by now knows about NaNoWriMo, and, while having a working knowledge of what it is, you still might not know what it is. Miranda, for example, doesn't know*.

NaNoWriMo Is...
...a great way to get yourself into the habit of writing daily. Even if you only manage 10 minutes each day, the important thing is the habit.
...helpful in completing that shitty first draft. It's a right of passage. Trust me, I'm a non-professional.
...useful in figuring out your backstory. A lot of times you need to know where you came from before you know where you're going. What better way to make that word count than writing backstory?
...a tool that can shut off your internal editor. Only if you choose. I know plenty of people who keep their editor on at all times. If I did, I'd be somewhere around 1,000 words.
makes you accountable and also motivates! In order to win, you need to complete at least 50 thousand words. You have to verify them. If you have other friends on your NaNoWriMo account, you can see how many words they've written versus you. Who doesn't like competition**?

NaNoWriMo Isn't...
...an excuse to get out of Thanksgiving dinner. No matter how tempting that is.
...designed for you to finish your novel on November 30th, only to query on December 1st. Novels take time. All your premature querying does is A) make you look like an asshole, B) piss off the people you want to represent you, and C) make the rest of us want to track you down and put the hurt on you***.
for you to torture your critique group with your hot-off-the-presses-yet-still-written-entirely-in-passive-hey-it's-a-choice-voice.
...built for you to eat chocolate for every single meal. Even though there is that Reese's cereal to consider, remember, vegetables are your friend. As is Coke.
...an excuse to not socialize. With regional chapters of NaNoWriMo internationally, you can hook up with other WriMos and get your word count on together.



Are you (un)officially participating in NaNoWriMo? What else is NaNoWriMo good for?


* But I bet she could write a completely original zombie book, so I'll forgive her.
** Me, actually.
*** Personally, I would never beat you, but I can give you a good verbal thrashing.

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Last.fm hit of the day: Back in Black by 69 Eyes