Writing a good book takes a lot of work. But during National Novel Writing Month, many literature enthusiasts devote themselves to writing a novel—all in November.
The focus is the word count. With the goal of 50,000 words in mind (or sometimes another goal of the participant’s choice), participants often spend every spare moment writing. Although there are loopholes, such as getting an extra word every time a main character is mentioned by giving the main character a two-part name, it takes a lot of effort to get 50,000 words written.
While some participants spend a month dedicated to writing an entire novel just for fun, others deem their literary work worthy of publication after the month is over.
NaNoWriMo is particularly popular in the Portland area, but not enough students participate. This can be attributed to inspiration from Portland’s local authors and the exposure to literature from the bookstores in the area, such as Powell’s.
There are events all over Portland dedicated to celebrating this month of novel-writing mania, such as the Night of Writing Dangerously, the Soiree of Furious Typing, NaNoBeerMo and a celebration on Dec. 3 dedicated to the month-long writing frenzy finally ending. Many of these events involve participants writing together for several hours straight.
The events that happen most are called write-ins. A write-in is a gathering of NaNoWriMo participants at a café. They bring their computers or notebooks and write together. Any participant can start a write-in. All they need is a location, and they are able to post about it on the NaNoWriMo website to invite other participants and have a fun afternoon or evening of writing.
The weekly write-ins, hosted by the participants themselves, are held anywhere, from downtown Portland to Beaverton. The writers can then bounce ideas off each other and ask how their writing is going. Though write-ins are useful for everyone who is trying to get work done, the NaNoWriMo enthusiasts who attend these write-ins tend not to be students.
More NaNoWriMo events directed at students would inspire more students to participate. On-campus NaNoWriMo events or on-campus write-ins would inspire students to take the time to turn the ideas they carry around in the backs of their minds into good pieces of writing.
Not only does the lack of student participation result in fewer students being inspired to participate, but also does nothing for those who have never heard of it.
Despite the fact that the Chit Chat Café, located right on campus, is listed on the NaNoWriMo website as one of the best places in Portland to write, no write-ins take place there. If the student participants on campus were to organize one, more of Portland State’s student population would be inspired to take part in NaNoWriMo. In addition, those who have not been swallowed up by the month-long writing event’s large following in Portland would become aware that they can put their creativity to good use.
It is likely that many students are too busy to think too much about writing. Though one needs time for school and other work, it is also important to realize one’s dreams of becoming a creative writer or work in another field that involves creativity, instead of tying oneself down to a career in their field of study and leaving no room to write. Even a business student with dreams of being successful as a business tycoon can write the occasional story.
No matter what someone does for a living or how much work they have, they should still find the time to be creative. If you haven’t written in so long that you’re forgetting what it feels like, write a story. If you have to wait at the bus stop for an hour, write a story. If we learn this as students, and begin to form the habit of writing as soon as we think of something that could become a piece of writing, it will be easier to continue this trend later.
In a way, this is what NaNoWriMo is about. During this month, participants write every chance they get, sometimes making themselves write even if they do not quite know what to write, in order to reach their word-count goals. Hopefully, the motivation lasts for some of the participants, who will then continue to make time to write throughout the year. And for the truly dedicated, it should last for quite a time.
If you are interested in dedicating a month to writing that exciting story you have been meaning to start, it is not too late. Though it is already the middle of November, you can still start now and see how far you get by Nov. 30.