Slog - Comments on National Novel Writing Month, Week One http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi For some inexplicable reason, I found myself surprised by the blogosphere's whiny response to National Novel Writing Month. (Why I'd ever find myself surprised by the blogosphere's whiny response to anything remains a mystery.) Gawker, which recently hired two new writers who seem to think they're working for Vice Magazine, snarked: We've always been unimpressed with the people who trumpet their participation in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which as far as we can tell involves telling everyone you know (usually via your blog) that you're writing a novel in a month, woohoo, way to go you. Seriously, it's almost... Copyright 2008 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:55:24 -0800 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:23:12 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Megan I did NaNoWriMo back in 2001 with some friends-- the three of us set out to write the most horrible novels possible, choosing for the purposes the genres of romance, fantasy, and chick lit. None of us made it to the 50,000 word goal, but it was loads of fun. Good luck with yours-- 15,000 words already is a damn good start!

]]> Megan http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488105 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488105 Arts Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:08:36 -0800 Comment by giantladysquirrels props for "void of her sunglasses." keep up the good work.

]]> giantladysquirrels http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488113 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488113 Arts Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:20:54 -0800 Comment by Gomez Both those stuck-up little shits can go teabag Ted Haggard.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488156 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488156 Arts Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:40:03 -0800 Comment by Davida I'm at 10,000 words, which is as long as anything I've written in my life. I think this is my favorite bit so far:

"Henry went back to his desk, and paused for a second, looking over the phone records. The number, 1-900-468-7588, surely was an anagram for something, and he spent a minute or two trying to figure out what it could be, until, sighing, he picked up his desk phone and dialed the number.
“Hi there, fella!” The automatic voice on the other end squealed, “You’ve just called 1900-HOTSLUT, and it’s SO nice to hear from you!”
Henry sighed. Hot slut. He could’ve figured that out. He was good at scrabble and word games."

]]> Davida http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488212 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488212 Arts Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:59:35 -0800 Comment by Ruth Haney Gawker and Bookninja bloggers: I'm sorry you have writer's block exacerbated by self-loathing, but work it out with a drinking problem on your own time (and good luck at National Drunken Writing Night next year, poseurs!). But Paul, do I detect a bee in your bonnet as well? "What National Novel Writing Month is not is a big ‘eff you’ to the editorial process, or a big ‘hell yeah’ to the (shudder) self-publishing world." If someone wants to post his or her entire novel, why not? I agree it's fucking lame (God, no one's going to buy the cow at that rate, people!) and wouldn't do it myself. But if someone wants to, good for that person, it's not against the rules. Maybe it's not an eff you or a hell yeah, but something else entirely. Who knows? And really, who cares? My point is: keep up the rockin' pace on your novel! I say keep the bonnet (it's smashing!), lose the bee, and spend at least some of those 35,000 remaining words explaining why the bus driver grew a moustache, and if the monkey made him do it. ;)

]]> Ruth Haney http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488247 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/national_novel_writi#c488247 Arts Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:23:12 -0800