When I tell people about NaNoWriMo I often get this sort of reaction:
"Who reads the novel when you're finished?"
"No-one."
"Do they publish it?"
"They don't, no. But a number do get published."
"Do they pay you?"
"Umm. No."
"So why on earth would I want to spend all that time writing, when nothing will come of it?"
In 2007, Rugby Fever hit South Africa in a big way. The shops were decked out in green and gold. A good number of the shoppers were dressed in green and gold, many of them wearing rugby shirts. The spirit was contagious. We were all united with a common goal. Bring home the World Cup trophy.
I imagined myself going up to some of them and asking . . .
"So, are you going to actually play in this game?"
"No."
"Are you related to any of the players?"
"No."
"Do you get any money if they win?"
"Umm. No."
"So why on earth would I want to spend my evening watching a game I don't normally enjoy until late at night, when 'nothing' will come of it?"
NaNoWriMo is all about the rush! The spirit on the forums is contagious. We all have one common goal. Each day you have a task to complete. It's QUITE do-able (only 1,667 words a day) and it's FUN.
Take a look at these statistics . . .
- NaNoWriMo started in 1999 with 21 participants.
- In 2007 over 100,000 participate across the globe
- 15,000 crossed the 50k finish line by the midnight deadline.
Doesn't that tell you something?
If you look at the "NOVEL IN A MONTH" label, your knees turn to jelly. Mine do, anyway. But 1,667 words in a day? I can do that. And that's all it takes to "bring home the gold".
I can't tell you the sense of excitement that builds up as you see the end in sight. You know you're going to make it. Woohoo! And the moment when you download your smart certificate that announces you "ARE A WINNER!" . . . oh man! By the way, many of the writers have gone on to see these novels accepted for publication.
So have I convinced you? Check it out for yourself at NaNoWriMo
