Why I am quitting Nanowrimo

I have been doing Nanowrimo since 2002 – that’s eight years if you count this one. But first, a history of my writing career. I’ve been writing since I could read – in second grade I was the first person to get a book “published” under my teacher’s “publishing” system. I don’t remember too many achievements in elementary school, but I definitely remember that one. From then on that’s all I did. I talked with my dad about writing and I wrote like crazy. None of my stories were very good, of course, but they were mine.

Then I hit junior high and wrote my first novel. It was short, of course, and badly written with a terribly obvious “twist” at the end. I remember telling my friend about it and she decided to write one with me. It was a big secret. I wrote longhand, and during class, and it was a constant thing. I loved it to death.

Then I moved to Texas in high school and many of my stories got lost in the move. That didn’t deter me. I wrote on an old Windows 3 machine in elementary school and I continued writing on an old Windows 95 machine in junior high. In high school I got my own computer and kept going from there. Then I learned about Nanowrimo when I was 14.

Keep in mind this was “before it was cool.” This was before the Internet was mainstream, back when everyone made their websites on Geocities and Facebook wasn’t invented yet. There weren’t a whole lot of people doing Nanowrimo at this point. But there it was and I was so excited about it. So I wrote my book, stopped at 10,000 words, and essentially forgot about it for awhile. But I didn’t stop writing that year. I kept going, writing for fun, almost every single day. I wrote my second novel.

Then I remembered Nanowrimo again right before 2003. I made a new username and there I went. And I won. And I won again after that. And I won every single year including this year. And this is where I’m going to stop.

I believe in Nanowrimo, but I believe in it for the thing that it originally stood for – a way for people who want to be writers to finish their writing. Well, I know I can finish my writing. I know I can keep going. I know I can churn out a novel and finish it. But Nanowrimo has changed, and with it, I have changed.

Nanowrimo is now about “how many words can you get?” It’s about not getting 50,000, but going beyond that and writing a million words in a month for a lot of people. Nanowrimo has never been about quality of writing, but it was meant as a tool for writers, and so it’s one of those things where it’s assumed you’re writing because you love to write and want to get something published or share with your friends. But now there’s no expectation of that. It’s ONLY about word count now. It’s ONLY about getting “as many words as you can.” I’ve even read multiple people who count their blog posts–or essays written for school, or random tangents in the middle of their story, or journal entries–toward their word count. That’s not what Nanowrimo is about to me, and I cannot support that.

But it’s more than that. I have more personal reasons, of course. I pour all my creativity and effort into one solid month of the year and I don’t have any energy to write after that. I save it all up for Nanowrimo – I don’t have any energy after it. Now that I’m starting to get pretty serious about my writing, I’ve realized that this is unacceptable. I need to write every day, instead of barfing out a hastily crafted novel one month out of a year. The only serious things I’ve done outside of Nanowrimo in the past few years have been short stories. I want to write a novel, dang it!

So I’m quitting Nanowrimo to regain my creative sanity, to have more time and energy during the year, and a little bit because I don’t like what it’s becoming. Nanowrimo is a networking tool that helps get some words down, but I can get these words without it. I want to love writing again instead of thinking of it as a chore every November.

As a side note, what’s up with all these weird Nanowrimo spin-offs, like National Novel Writing Year and National Blog Posting Month? It’s baffling to me…

Feeling nostalgic…

I’ve been dreaming lately of my favorite city, Chicago, Illinois. I’m in love with a certain kind of city and I never thought Chicago was one of those until I visited last spring. Now I keep finding myself browsing the trip-planning websites, planning out a weekend jaunt to Chicago again.

In truth, I think we’ll end up going in January. Chris and I are thinking of moving there in 2011 and Chris has never been there (so maybe it’s just me who wants to move there… so far!). There’s nothing I hate about Chicago except perhaps that the job market for web designers isn’t the biggest in the world. But aside from that, I love everything–the water, the skyline, the weather, the people, the L, EVERYTHING. I’ve never in my life fallen in love with a city before Chicago, but now my heart keeps wanting to go back.

I just miss everything about being there. Last time I went, I didn’t take a friend, but this time, I’m excited because I’ll have Chris with me. I can’t wait!

Is there a city or a place that you find yourself constantly thinking about? What is it, and why do you love it?

We are damning the world’s future leaders…

…or at least half of them.

I’ve never really cared much for my name. Rebecca. It’s pretty plain, though I don’t know another person with that name. I asked my mother once why she named me that and she told me because it’s a versatile name with tons of options (Becky, Becca, Reba, Rebee, Rebecca, etc), but it’s still common enough that people will know how to spell it and I won’t get any weirdness for my name. Today, I’m pretty grateful to her. I think Becky is a fun name and it suits me better, but Rebecca is a good name to have people take me more seriously, like if I ever wanted to become a doctor or lawyer or politician (I don’t, but even if I did, it wouldn’t be weird).

I recently read an article on Reddit where someone put the names of the students on his wife’s kindergarten roster. The list includes some real gems, such as: Labronchea, Sirius, Leighaja, Kylinn, and Armontasha.

You can name your kid what you want. But when you’re naming your little boy (girl?) Labronchea, you are seriously making his life difficult until… well, until he dies. And I know “Kylinn” is omg so cute!, but can you ever imagine going to see your oncologist, whose name happens to be Dr. Kylinn Smith? I’m sorry, maybe I’m reluctant to jump on this whole “let’s come up with the most unique name ever” bandwagon, but I can’t take someone whose name is Kylinn seriously.

Yes, MaKenzie and KayLeigh and MaKayla and Precious and L-ia (Ladashia) and Genesis and Daisy and Angel are just the CUTEST NAMES EVER, but once they get beyond a baby and grow up to a real, live, functioning adult… then what? Then is KayLeigh going to go on to med school and become a world famous doctor?

Your own name is extremely important to you (and if it’s not, you’re one of the few – you’d be surprised at how important people’s names are to them). Mess up someone’s name and you are in for a bad impression. Get it right and you’ve made a friend. Names affect our perceptions of people, whether you like it or not. Names like Adam and John and Susan makes us think of solid, dependable people. Names like Zoe makes us think of someone fun and quirky, and names like Kylinn and Precious make us thing of… well, a pansy. A baby. A little girl who will never grow up into a woman.

Certainly it doesn’t make you think of a lawyer, or a doctor, or a politician, or a humanitarian, or an economist. It doesn’t make you think of someone solid and dependable.

Honestly, if you want my opinion, it makes me think of the names of… well, a stripper.

I am being brutally honest but I feel like this is important. You do all sorts of things to shape your child into the sort of person you think he or she should be. I’m sure in fifty years we’ll be more used to these sorts of names, but even so, while we are used to names like Brianna and Tiffany, they still do not inspire greatness in me. They still remind me of baby names, not names for successful women.

You want to name your kid something bizarre and cutesy? Fine, go ahead. But realize that your tiny baby daughter is going to grow up into a real, live woman. And when that happens, she may want to become something great.

And she also might want to change her name, while she’s at it.

Ten things

Ten things I wish I knew how to do:

1. Avoid headaches (major one tonight)
2. Dance
3. Sing
4. Make paper and bind books
5. Draw
6. Paint
7. Read Tarot cards
8. Design cool-looking web sites
9. Imagine 5 years in the future
10. Cook well!

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

Not only am I stylish, but I’m also certifiably insane.

Why am I certifiably insane? Well, because I’m hosting my first Thanksgiving this year when I hardly know how to cook and I want to make everything gluten-free. And turkey-free. Because 3 out of 4 of the people I’ve invited so far are vegetarian, plus me so 4 out of 5 vegetarians. Take that, meat-eaters! Anyway, this year I decided to stay at school and see if I can spend some extra time with my friends here before they go away next semester. I have a kitchen and apparently most people in my house are going home for Thanksgiving and the rest are going to host families. So that means it’s all about whoever I want to invite over! Woo hoo!

Sadly, the house itself isn’t going to be very exciting or festive, but I’m going to see how I can do with the food. I want to try Becky’s pie recipe (which is YUM) with gluten-free pie crust mix. Also, today standing in line at the cashier at Whole Foods I noticed the current issue of Vegetarian Magazine was featuring Thanksgiving meals. When I looked through it and saw that they were also labeled for “vegan” or “gluten-free” I bought it. I don’t care so much about vegan foods but I am super happy to have the gluten-free label. I’m very excited to look through the magazine and figure out what from that to cook!

I’ve also been going through Gluten-Free Girl and Chef recipes for main dishes. It’s my favorite place to find gluten-free recipes, despite the writers’ meat-eating ways. But there’s still something. And a story. It’s a gateway to somewhere else. Although I don’t have to just look there. I’m so excited about Thanksgiving I’ll probably look at lots of recipes and lots of food blogs before the big day, dreaming of great food and good company and laughter rather than working on my papers and projects and reviews before then.

Because Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy, to appreciate, and to greedily look forward to.

All my classes on Wednesday are canceled and I only have pilates on Tuesdays, so I have lots of time to prepare and be anxious and excited. What are you planning for Thanksgiving? Have you ever done the cooking for everyone? Are you looking forward to it?

Old dress, new outfit

I spent three hours Saturday shopping, which, let me tell you, is not exactly my idea of a fun time. But I really needed new clothes of all different kinds.

Afterward, a friend came over to see my ‘haul’ and to comment on what she thought of it all. Win! I got a pair of boots that I’m in love with and some leggings to extend how long I can wear my new skirts. (Me? Wear skirts? Which reality is this exactly?) Then she looked at my one lonesome, rarely-worn dress in my closet and said…

“I like this dress.” Pause, sinking in. “And you can totally wear it with your new leggings and boots and still wear it in the cold!”

You know, exactly like I’m doing today. Realizing that made me realize, in February I can wear my grey turtleneck underneath the dress, and later this evening when I have class from 7-10pm I can wear my new argyle cardigan over top so I am not freezing in the evening again.

Score.

Introversion

I’ve been procrastinating today by reading about introversion. Which isn’t particularly something I need to read, except to reaffirm that my feelings are valid, but something I wish I could make everyone on my college campus read. So I don’t feel so bad for not going out on Friday nights and instead staying in and knitting and watching TV. Recharging.

I particularly like this quotation from The Top 10 Ways to Market to Introverts: Above all else, do not use your cell phone in our presence. Introverts are hysterically vexed by what we consider this ultimate rudeness. If you want me to give it you straight, we also think you are pathetic because you can’t be alone for a moment with yourself. I think that thought every single time I see someone walking down the street with a cell phone glued to their ear, not paying attention to what they’re doing or where they’re going. It’s always shocking and re-affirming when I read things like this that completely match my experiences (I mean the entire article now). It feels like I’m being validated. Pay particular attention to #1-5. Especially #1, if you’re marketing to me. I definitely have no qualms about hanging up on telemarketers. (Very recently, I had this conversation with a telemarketer at 10:30pm: “Let me get this straight. You’re trying to sell me a newspaper?” “Yes, and —” “I’m sorry, I don’t buy newspapers. Good-bye.” As she started trying to say something else I hung up. Good-bye is good-bye and where did she get my phone number?? “Just keep talking” does NOT work on me. And I HATE being interrupted by someone on the street, unless that person is just trying to be friendly.)

I also enjoyed reading I Want to Be Alone. I love how she says at the end that she works 8-10 hours alone and then is glad to see her husband come home. I would be too! While I need time alone, lots more than most people, I love to see friends later. As long as you have the balance you need, it works. Introversion doesn’t mean you can live without people, it means you need to balance it. Just as the article Introvert Question and Answer: Friends vs. Alone makes the case for.

So I hope I’ve educated you a bit about introversion today. You know, the blogging brain is rusty. In a few more days I hopefully will have more interesting things to read about. Now go check out Logical Answers for Sticky Situations and enter their giveaway!

But where is the car-eating duck?

I don’t even care that Becky wrote a post about whatever her new project is. I’m going to write another one so that you don’t read it because she didn’t finish the layout for Lunsh.

Okay, okay, I’m kidding. Read this and then read her post below this, because I have nothing better to say and I support all her projects and endeavors. Even the ones that trump Lunsh.

But just before that I’m going to show you something.

Yes that’s right, it’s a car-eating duck.

I don’t mean to spam but…

… I’m having a giveaway over at my newly created website, Logical Answers for Sticky Situations! I know Stephanie will be mad at me for fixing this up instead of finishing the layout for Lunsh but… erm… I was excited. I hope you’ll come over and submit us a suggestion as to what you want to read about or ask us a question about which you need some advice using our handy form! Remember, you have to use the form to be entered in the giveaway!

(I promise, the new layout for here is almost done – just needs a few more tweaks!)

Now what are you going to give?

Yesterday I talked about your wishlist. Today I want to ask you what you’re getting everyone you care about. No, I don’t need super specifics; after all, you don’t want to reveal to everyone you’re getting things for what you’re getting them. But maybe people you know won’t read this.

Last night I realized that grinch as I may be about the holidays, it can’t hurt to get my friends a Christmas/New Year’s gift. Might curry a little favor even. (Har, har.) What could I get them though? Hmm.

There’s an Edward Gorey calendar at the local gift store that I’m dying to give to someone. Who would be perfect for it?

My idea for gifts for people I know here at college is to decorate a bunch of papers as holiday note-cards, then write lyrics or stanzas on each, individually suited to the best wishes I want to give each person. Most of the people I know are going abroad next semester, so I want to wish them well in their new adventures, and I think writing each person something special would work well. Then, because writing represents journeys and relationships, I think I’ll buy a bunch of cheap fountain pens in lots of colors to distribute along with these greeting cards. That way I give things that are personalized but not incredibly expensive, and still are connected to everyone.

And of course my closer friends and family I’m cooking up individual gifts for, which I’ll leave to your imaginations. My dad is a problem. I never know what to get him for his birthday or holiday. What do you get your dads?

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