The Writer's Corner: Novel-Writing Month | Culture | Summerville Journal Scene

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The Writer's Corner: Novel-Writing Month

Published Tuesday, August 24, 2010 3:54 PM

By Ellen E. Hyatt
Summerville Journal Scene ®

Gentlemen (and Ladies), start your engines. No, the command

isn’t for May and the Indy 500 but for October as writers prep for November 2010.

During November, thousands in the U.S. and the world will start writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as “NaNoWriMo.” The goal is to produce 175 pages (50,000 words) starting on November 1 and ending on November 30 at midnight. Writers must start to prepare, however, in October. To assist with that, the Summerville Writers Guild will host Rebecca Enzor at their meeting at 6:30, Mon. Aug. 30, at Perkins on Trolley Road.

Guild member Carole Brier contacted Enzor, a nuclear chemist interested in writing. Enzor will discuss NaNoWriMo, something she has participated in for the past 5 years. She will undoubtedly remind those interested in participating to register by Oct. 1 and begin research, character sketches, outlines.

According to the NaNo website, writers “win” by meeting the goal. Why do people participate in this? Chris Baty, who is credited with beginning this activity 10 years ago, states the month of writing “provides writers with a deadline, forcing them to overcome their fears and write.” Those who have participated tell us that what matters is “output.” Not talent. Not polished prose. Some say it is fun to know others are plodding along with them. In fact, there are ways to be in touch with others also trying to complete 50,000 words. It’s a reminder that misery and joy love company.

Carole Brier, who participated in 2009 and received the certificate to verify her official completion said, “It’s a lot of work.” Brier says the activity is a way to connect with others interested in writing. She says NanNo is intergenerational, too. Others say it is a way of “not going it alone,” which writing is, of course. Don’t we recall the “madness of art” by Henry James? “We work in the dark; we do what we can.”

NaNo, though, is a creative exercise, a way of “trying.” It is doubtful that those participating in NaNo regard their “completed” work as complete. On November 30, most participants will reaffirm that writing is hard work. Writing is “opening a vein,” as sportswriter Red Smith used to say. Or, if we prefer F. Scott Fitzgerald, “All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.”

Sure Joan Baez may have referred to writing as something that “crawled down [her] sleeve and came out on the page.” But the rest of us realize that the best and wisest of writers are correct: Writing is a process; it doesn’t end when a manuscript has. “All writing is rewriting.”

Those blessed — and cursed — with the passion know the procedural task before them. One way fiction writers get started in the process is to race in NaNo. After crossing the finish line, some realize the real work is just starting.

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