Nanowrimo--Waste of time or good thing?

[aprilg]

Well, I'm ten percent done on my fifth Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). It's the final book in my tetrology. Bittersweet, but now that I know the story arch maybe I can head back to do revisions to book one.

So, doing 50,000 words in 30 days, or 5,000 words every three days, or 1,667 words a day. Is this good practice to get into the habit of writing every day?

Would love to hear people's thoughts on it. I'm not in the position to recommend it as a sure fire way to get published, because it's my short stories which are getting published not the novels. But I love being able to stay with my characters for longer than 3,000 to 8,000 words.

All the best!

[Steven Barnes]

Jeeze. I would think it excellent practice. This might need to be followed by a "National Re-Writing Year" however...

[AdamCrafter]

I'm not doing it myself (this year), but I've always liked the idea of setting high goals and going for it.
NaNoWriMo and related creative 'drive hard for a month' plans seem to bank on the short time/high goal combo.

[delilah]

I'm writing 2,000 words a day for NaNo, and so far, I've never felt burnt out or like I was pushing myself for word count. I can see how NaNo could be a problem, but that isn't the case for me.

I suspect it isn't for everyone though. We all have our own effective styles (it's just a matter of finding them).

Delilah

[Steven Barnes]

Sometimes it's useful to try a new style, though...

[aprilg]

Last year I did 2,000 words a day. It felt very good.

This year I'm not pushing it, I'm just at the 25% mark. It's so weird though; I really prefer novels just because you can really get to feel the characters. In short stories it's like the story is over before you've even half way gotten to know them as people.

It's almost addictive to keep writing about the same world, the same people. Arthur Conan Doyle came to hate Sherlock Holmes and killed him off at least once. But other writers who do series, I think they must have a great time.

[Steven Barnes]

You know, I've never believed that Conan Doyle really wanted to kill Holmes off. He left himself such an obvious "out" to bring him back that it felt like a negotiating ploy with his publisher...

[aprilg]

I'm so happy that you said that!

I don't know what it is about Sherlock Holmes, as described he seems way too introverted and obsessional to be someone you'd want to hang with, but he's absolutely addictive (forgive the pun).

Which reminds me, I think I'll buy my ten year old son a complete works of SH for X-mas <evil laugh> and then I'll read all 60 stories and four novellas again.

Thanks for making my day!