NaNo is stupid and ugly. Also fat and smelly, and its mother dresses it funny.

[naamah_darling]

So, this person I've never heard of even though her 'About' section makes her sound really important has decided that NaNoWriMo is a waste of time, and has decided to write about it in a particularly condescending and unpleasant wayI've done NaNo three times in the past. It's fun, or it's meant to be. It's not meant to be a method by which Great

Comments

[jadziabryn]

"It was yet another depressing sign that the cultural spaces once dedicated to the selfless art of reading are being taken over by the narcissistic commerce of writing."

...wut.

Selfless art of reading? I've got news for you lady, my reading is pure selfishness. As much as I love curling up in a chair and reading for hours at a time, I don't see how it benefits anyone but myself.

[naamah_darling]

I know, right?

But, no, see, readers supporting writers is selfLESS. Writers supporting readers are selfISH.

I am profoundly grateful for my readers, so yeah, I can see how writers should be glad to have readers, and see them as doing them a favor. But as a reader, I'm so grateful to the writers I love. It goes both ways. This person is not just stupid on the issue, she's totally obnoxious.

[jadziabryn]

Riiiight it's totally selfish to create an amazing universe and fantastic characters, then share them with the world.

How could you do such a thing writers, HOW COULD YOU!?

Yeah. She's insane.

[sanat]

THANK YOU! Yes. That "selfless art of reading" bit just boggled me. Are you kidding? Two of the main activities that got me through the hell of my high school years were reading sci-fi/fantasy and masturbating, and with the latter I at least learned something I could teach my future partner to do.

[naamah_darling]

AHAHA, that is fucking sweet. *lol* It's BOTH!

[starfire68]

I love it :D I'm going to have to bookmark it (tells me I'm not as far behind as I thought I was ;)

And Naamah, brilliant writing as always. I've participated in NaNo for the past five years. I have yet to actually win, because I usually derail about mid-month and get back to my art (I'm primarily an artist, but I wrote professionally for years when younger, and love the feeling and rush that I get from writing on deadline. Yes, I was a reporter ;)

Funny enough, I'm also a voracious reader. Sounds like this person is way off-base :/

[reneekytokorpi]

Useful!!! My stress level just dropped significantly! <3 to them and to you for sharing!

[pythia]

Okay, so she says there's good books to read, and that people should be reading, not writing. And that if you're not a professional writer, you shouldn't try and write.
...where does she think professional writers start? They're not *born* professional, they were amateurs too once. I dare say at least a couple of writers she enojys have probably participated in NaNo at some point, and I know of some excellent, now published authors who started with NaNo.
If everyone is told never to attempt to write a book, who's going to write all these novels she thinks we should read?

[sanat]

She deigns to mention that NaNoWriMo is what got Sarah Gruen started on "Water for Elephants". But somehow that's different, because... she acknowledges it. Or something special like that. :eyeroll:

[naamah_darling]

It took me a pass to catch the reference, but I fucking love your icon.

[pythia]

It is great, but I can't take credit for any of it, haha.
Neil Gaiman is motherfucking awesome, though.

[sylvidoptera]

Thank you for this. You hit the nail on the head. Now if only we could hit HER on the head. :)

[un_sugarcoated]

i should have some wordy and indignant comeback to that woman's snotty opinion, but it's 4 a.m. and i'm just avoiding writing on MY NaNo story. so, i'll just say, "Wow, what a cunt."