Why NaNoWriMo Works

The Office of Lights & Letters' yearly challenge, National Novel Writing Month is nearly upon us. I will be rising to the occasion again this year, though with a much more well thought-out plan than I had the last two years. I will more than likely report on my status on my personal blog for those interested.

I promote NaNoWriMo each year for a variety of reasons:

1. Any organization that promotes literacy for all ages is a good organization
2. OLL promotes cultural interaction by involving people from across the world
3. It's a great motivation tool, even if it's one that is mostly self-done

Mostly, though, I promote it because it's writing. And while there is a large contingent that takes up the challenge each year who don't take it nearly as seriously as I do (I am well known to be very serious about my writing, editing, and language), I still believe that everyone involved is doing a lot better than most when it comes to doing something worthy of being called art.

Ken Robinson spoke a number of years back about the education system teaching out creativity in our students; it's nice to see so many people each year working against the grain by doing something creative. Writing is a hard task when it comes to putting your imagination into a comprehensible form. So it should go without saying that those who even attempt the challenge - regardless of whether or not they reach the fifty thousand words - has done more than the average individual.

That is why I promote such a good concept and the people who run it. If you're not doing NaNo this year, ask some of your writing colleagues if they are. If they are, then do your very best to support them every step of the way. Much of a writer's motivation comes from encouragement.