You know what I love the most about NaNoWriMo? How it humbles writers into the dirt.
That’s probably a little mean to say, but I assure you it is very true. The act of writing is a humbling experience in many ways. The writer gives in to themselves. The writer must seek feedback from editors. The writer must put their story out in the open with no protection to be judged. And when all is said and done, the writer must contend with themselves with inevitable failure.
I’m not going into the process of traditionally publishing, which is even more humbling. Their work is not even seen by the public, since it must pass inspection of agents, editors, and marketing teams, before ever being officially picked up for release. Writing is a team effort, no matter the path.
The concept is a tough pill to swallow for some. I feel I’ve mellowed out on railing against the status quo, simply because I’m happy where everything is at right now in terms of avenues for writers. It’s a pretty sweet deal for all involved.
Not that it matters to all. Some people are just going to be large and in charge, and NaNoWriMo separates them from the pack. I don’t talk about success being assured from just great effort, because that means nothing in the lottery of life. I’ve seen authors with great talent never discovered by the masses for a multitude of reasons. Most of them have gone on with their lives.
No one said this path would be easy, even though the path to publication has objectively been made easier. I have fun keeping ahead of NaNo. I don’t know how long that will last, so I’m having as much fun as I can as I write.
My first NaNo was fun in reaching something like 14,000 words. No matter where you are, keep the positive feedback going. Every part of the process is a blast.