A Writer Against NaNoWriMo

[browngirl]

So, Alma A. Hromic, a writer, has written an article condemning NaNoWriMo and its participants, which can be read here: http://www.swans.com/library/art8/aah032.html

I have to admit, I was a bit worried about reactions like this one, because I have friends who write for a living, friends who have written for years and years, and I worried about seeming to trivialize their vocation and livelihood. What do people think of her take on NaNoWriMo, not least you, my friends on LJ who are writers?

Comments

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

I think NaNoWriMo is designed to help break through the perfection/paralysis block that many novice writers have. If you're terrified of producing crap, you won't produce anything. By consciously embracing the idea of producing crap and by emphasizing quality over quantity, thereby coming at the idea through the back door, I think it gives people permission to *practice* writing.

IOW, writing a crap novel in a month isn't a substitute for taking months or years to write a good novel. It's a substitute for sitting around wishing you were a writer.