Author Has Mixed Feelings About NaNoWriMo Challenge
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When it comes to writing a quality novel, best-selling author Joshilyn Jackson believes you need to take your time. Nonetheless, she is planning to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this November. In this edition of “Writer to Reader” on “City Lights,” Jackson takes a look at what drives some people to speed write 50,000 words in one month and what the end result might be.
As far as the history of NaNoWriMo goes, it’s relatively simple. In 1999, freelance writer Chris Baty and some friends simply decided to challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in a month. The group of writers they that accepted the challenge grew from year to year and now hundreds of thousands of writers are typing toward the finish line.
Jackson’s opinion of the event is a bit divided. “Trust me,” Jackson says, “in 30 days, you’re not going to write a good novel.” In fact, some literary agents plan long vacations around the end of NaNoWriMo to avoid a deluge of poorly written novel submissions.
On the other hand, Jackson acknowledges that the event creates a sense of community around a pursuit that is typically lonely. She also believes it helps build discipline.
“If writing’s your full-time job, you have to do it most days,” she says. “And jobs you do from home require more discipline than a career that takes you out of the house.”
Getting into the spirit of the challenge, Jackson has decided that she will be participating this year. She already has the first line, is between novels, and thinks this could be a fun way to get a jump on the next one.
“Can I produce 50,000 words in 30 days?” Jackson wonders. “I don’t know. I do know I’m going to try.”
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