My Little Beef with NaNoWriMo

I know I'm going to get some flak for this, but every November I get this nagging urge to share my thoughts on NaNoWriMo -- National Novel Writing Month. My intent is not to sound snobbish or superior; I'm not a published novelist, so I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. I am, however, an editor and a lifelong literary enthusiast, and there's just something a little disquieting about the NaNoWriMo hype that I'd like to work through here.

In case you're unfamiliar, the premise of NaNoWriMo is that participants set out with the personal goal of writing an entire 50,000-word novel in one month. The focus is to get yourself to write as much as possible and not limit yourself with the burdens of tweaking and editing and over-thinking the story elements. As their website points out, "Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes." By midnight on November 30, you might end up with a publishable novel, or you might end up with a messy stream of consciousness, or something in between. The point is that you set a goal, you wrote your heart out with unrestricted passion, you participated in a huge event with thousands of other writers, you (hopefully) had fun, and you crossed the 50,000-word finish line with a complete novel.

At first glance this seems like a great idea. Why not? Free writing is an important exercise in an aspiring author's life. Even if your goal isn't to become a published novelist, it's still a fun event, right? Sometimes we over-analyze and over-plan a creative project so much that we stagnate, paralyzed by our relentless second-guessing. Sometimes we absolutely need to give ourselves permission to make mistakes in order to unfreeze our minds and let the creative juices flow. And when we're embarking on a journey to release these restraints and let the words pour out of us unhindered, it helps to know that we're not alone, that others are taking the same challenge. We find the motivation to write, no excuses. I don't have a problem with this.

. . . Well, not really. I'm talking about free-writing exercises, and that's not exactly what this event is about. NaNoWriMo entails cranking out a complete novel in 30 days. That's where I start to feel uncomfortable with the idea, and I have a harder time getting behind it. We're placing the value on quantity, not quality. Word count is the only standard we're using to determine success in this month-long endeavor.

Let me give you a little background. I've been editing manuscripts for the last five years. When I first started this job, I was a bit of an idealist. When I came across a manuscript that needed far more help than a mere edit, when a complete overhaul of the writing and the plot would be necessary to even make sense of the story, in my mind I tried to give the author a pat on the back for at least putting in all the time and effort to type out a few hundred pages of manuscript. I desperately wanted to find something positive about the story, and at least I could give them credit for that much: time and effort, and the courage to send it out into the world.

However, after years of evaluating and editing manuscripts, I have a more difficult time giving out credit for merely typing a story. Trust me, I want to say that it's a big accomplishment, but it's gotten harder to do so. Please realize that I'm not trying to pick on first-time writers; there almost always is something redeeming to find about a person's story (and the fact that they're contacting an editor means they're interested in improving their writing skills, so that's redeeming in itself). However, I can no longer look at a book's page count alone and call it a special accomplishment.

Technology plays an undeniable part of this. Word processors make it damn easy to sit down and crank out text. Hey, it's just a fact. In addition, most of our research is simply a Google query away. Let me emphasize that I don't think software is a bad thing . . . but it does make a word-count goal considerably easier to achieve. And with the changing book publishing industry, where e-books and self-publishing are becoming more and more popular, getting from idea to print (or e-print) is deceivingly simple.

Therefore, how does writing a novel in one month really improve your skills as a writer? I feel like this event is the first necessary step that gets writers in the habit of writing every day -- I will praise it for that. But my concern is that not nearly enough attention is being given to the critical stage of revision. To me, that's the part where you transform your writing into something extraordinary. It worries me when your ultimate goal is word count, and every day you're obsessively monitoring that number without giving thought to your novel's quality. I believe there's a valid concern here that people will have a false sense of accomplishment (and entitlement) once that counter reaches 50,000. No doubt that some authors are capable of cranking out a best-selling novel in one month, but the vast majority of new writers need to do significantly more work than simply typing out the words in such a short period of time. It's undeniable that too many people prematurely believe they're at the novel-writing finish line when really the work is just beginning. And I'd imagine the revision stage is possibly even more difficult, since in-progress planning and adjustments are discarded in favor of meeting the deadline. When the goal is quantity, a writer is in danger of believing that publication is right around the corner.

To reiterate, I applaud the free-writing aspect of this undertaking. But I believe the emphasis is misguided, disillusioning many of its participants into thinking they're Authors when there's more work to be done. In my line of work, I see so many people who think their novels are just a proofread away from the printing presses, when in reality they need help with plot, characterization, viewpoint, suspense, etc. Unfortunately, NaNoWriMo only seems to encourage the mentality that word count makes a novel.

4 out of 4!

SCAN TV, Seattle's Community Access Network, just had their awards ceremony tonight, and Ask an Atheist was nominated for four awards. And I'm so proud to announce, the show won all four: "Favorite New Program," "Favorite Local Show," "Favorite Studio or Live Production," and my absolute favorite, "Best Religious Program!"

Great job, everybody. You've all done very well!

The Beast Is Dead

That is, my trusty (in retrospect, not so trusty) ginormous laptop bit the dust yesterday. No sputtering, no groaning or coughing or BSODs -- just a rather surprising shutdown while I was in the middle of proofreading a paper. At least it didn't suffer long? :\

The good news is that my data is intact, and a friend will likely be able to hook me up with a cheap laptop and all the software I lost. But I'm still mourning the loss of my bulky yet hardcore machine (complete with a wide screen and enough space for a full keyboard). That laptop was supposed to outlive my now five-year-old desktop, but it couldn't even make it to two and a half years. Disappointing.

Not nearly as disappointing as the elections outcome, but I can't even think about that right now. Seriously, I just can't.

Progressives and the System

Yes, it's Election Day, and before I even go into my little rant, let me stop and plea: Vote, if you haven't already. Please . . . just vote. You have a problem with "the system"? Could you just humor me for today, and we'll talk about it when you get back?

Did you do it? Well, chances are, if you haven't done it by now, nothing's going to convince you otherwise. But I still have to try.

In the days leading up the election, there's been a fascinating discussion taking place on one of the atheist email lists. Someone was taking a step outside the discussion about who or what to vote for and actually arguing that we do not have the authority to vote on what rights a person should have, using gay marriage as an example. Even though he was in favor of allowing any consensual couple to marry, he objected to the system that allows him to decide upon the rights that all human beings should have in the first place. For him, no one on the list can satisfactorily answer where this "right" comes from, and that the majority is simply imposing its will on the minority. Therefore, he chooses to abstain from elections.

My purpose isn't to pick on this one guy, but I know there are others like him. I commend his intellect and thoughtfulness, and I even agree with his points to a certain extent. It does seem wrong that we should be voting on other people's rights. What authority do we have to make such a decision? This system is rife with problems, and from that point of view, you could argue that not voting is voting.

Um . . . but this is the system we have, as unfair and disillusioned as it might be. Yes, you could say that by giving in and voting, when we have ethical issues with the very notion of voting, we're just perpetuating a broken set of rules, and no fundamental changes are going to take hold. I get that. But if we could take a step outside of that bubble, which I believe brings us back to our sorry reality, I'll get to my main point: Many liberals -- educated, progressive, caring folks -- are philosophizing too damn much! I hate to say that, because I crave to have my ideas challenged, to raise my level of consciousness, to encourage rational and thoughtful debate. But when it gets to the point that people are actually abstaining from voting, I need to remove my head from the philosophical haze and remember reality and the bigger picture.

The truth is, the fundamentalists, the tea-partiers, the conservatives, etc., are not sitting around intellectualizing about the voting system itself. Frankly, I don't see that ever happening. So when you choose to abstain -- regardless of your righteous reasons -- the reality is that you're not making a statement about the problems inherent with the system; you're just helping them win. Yes, I'm taking a lesser-of-two-evils position on this, but I think it's necessary. For the time being, I say we need to work with the system we have, and slowly improve it with the tools available to us. That means voting.

So please, please, please, vote. It frustrates me beyond belief when I hear about someone -- who holds the same ideals for progress and bettering this country that I do -- choosing not to vote. You're not doing us any favors. Please. Vote. Now.

Sanity Restored?

So despite being in the grips of the plague that's been going around, I just had to force myself out of bed at 7:30 a.m. to attend Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity, Seattle edition (complete with cold and rain). I'm glad I did. The turnout for just Seattle surpassed my expectations (not to mention how many showed up in D.C.), and apparently there were satellite rallies happening all over the world. I needed this. It makes me feel hopeful again.

I love Stewart's comments at the end. If we ever hope to bring rationality back into political discourse, we need to look beyond party lines and work together. That is what America's supposed to be about. Pass it on.

And now for something slightly different...Even Beaker decided to make an appearance at the rally. Kudos to my friend Kyle for a superb costume, and Megan for being an awesome muppet model:

Farewell, Benoît Mandelbrot

Your work is an inspiration, and I especially cherish your explorations into the mathematical beauty of nature. You will be missed.

A Tribute to Benoît B. Mandelbrot, 1924 - 2010

Combining Efforts for Equality

As you all probably know, last Monday was National Coming Out Day. The outpouring of love and support for GLBT rights was both inspiring and heartwarming . . . and absolutely needed, given the number of gay teen suicides we’ve been hearing about. The fight for GLBT equality has been going strong for decades, and while we’ve made progress, it’s clear that we’re not out of the woods yet. That first step toward equality – coming out of the closet – is still necessary.

It’s no secret that I’m part of another minority group in this country: I don’t believe in god(s). I’m also a part of Seattle Atheists, a local nonprofit that strives to support and provide community for those who have no religion, educate people about atheism, and stand up against religious discrimination. As an activist movement, atheists haven’t had quite as much time to get the ball rolling. Again, that first step – coming out – is just as important for us. We can’t educate the public and fight for our rights if we’re invisible.

That of course led us to an interesting dilemma in the weeks preceding the GLBT Coming Out Day. Many of us considered the idea of making a joint effort to come out of the closet for both gays and atheists. Speaking for many (if not all) of the Northwest freethought groups, we largely support our family and friends in the gay community, and since a great deal of the discrimination against homosexuals originates from fundamentalist religion, it makes sense to work together. On the other hand, some atheists were already getting flak for the idea of piggybacking on a day that belongs to sexual equality. I understand where both sides are coming from, and I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to get offended by a joint equality day. Ultimately, we (the atheists) let it be and chose another day to make a timid step out of the closet (Uh, I think it was Tuesday).

So, as the token lesbian on an atheist board, here’s my take on it: I don't have a problem combining the coming out days. But I admit I didn't always feel that way. When I first "came out" as an atheist, it was an intellectual decision more than anything, and it wasn't a particularly traumatic experience for me. At least I could still get married, right? :P Coming out gay, on other hand . . . well, some of you know how messed up that situation was for me. I was in my twenties and straight-married and I fell in love with an engaged woman and we all were mutual friends – needless to say, I was an emotional wreck. At that time, I was way more sensitive, so I admit I got angry at straight atheists trying to compare the two experiences. "Which was more upsetting – coming out atheist or coming out gay?" people commonly asked me. Dude, fuck you, I would think. Being gay turned my world upside down. Rejecting Christianity aggravated some people, particularly my parents, but it didn’t rock the boat the way being a lesbian did. Everything changed once I finally admitted, "I’m gay."

Then again, at both times I was thinking only of my own "coming out" stories, and not of the larger picture. Some people have completely different experiences with both. Some families and communities – and whole nations – have been ripped apart over theological differences, and some homosexuals are lucky enough to be born into families and communities that support their sexuality, right from the beginning and without years of therapy and justifications. The point is that we should be working together. I've talked about this extensively with my (Pagan) girlfriend, and we agree that there are too many similarities between our movements to continue trying to separate ourselves. I'm frustrated a little with minority groups arguing about who has it worse, or nitpicking on the few differences we have. I understand how it can rub people the wrong way to join efforts, but I feel like we need to move beyond that mentality. I used nontheist and GLBT rights as an example because I’m intimately connected to both, but it applies to any minority groups struggling for equal rights. Being sensitive to your own minority should raise your consciousness about other minorities. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot if we continue to work separately. The way things are going in this country, we need to stick together.

It ain't easy being green

Whenever I see companies taking little steps toward more sustainable living, I get a warm fuzzy. Like when an ice cream shop decides to use compostable dishes and spoons, or when I notice a grocery store offering reusable mesh bags for its produce. The first time I grabbed a bag of SunChips with its new compostable packaging, I thought it was pretty sweet. The noise was a loud surprise, but come on...they made biodegradable bags! Can't we just pour our chips in a bowl or on our sandwich wrapper and sacrifice the tiniest creature comfort for the sake of Mother Earth?

Apparently not: "Frito-Lay hopes to quiet complaints about its noisy SunChips bags by switching out the biodegradable bags for the old packaging on most flavors." Got to do what the consumer wants, right? Well, the consumers still have their heads in the clouds.