Member-only story
NaNoWriMo Is Not for Professional Writers
If you want to sling words for a living, stay away
Once upon a time (yes, I went there), NaNoWriMo helped the budding professional writer come out of their shell and get some words on (often digital) paper. In the early days of self-publishing, when traditional publishing still ran the sandbox, it was an excellent pace for professional writers.
Today, however, NaNo sells false hope to writers seeking a profession as a wordsmith.
Before we get into it, let me be clear: there are many reasons for people to write, and I’m not shaming any of them (don’t @ me). What I’m talking about here are those writers who want to make a serious buck slinging fiction.
What I’m talking about here are those writers who want to make a serious buck slinging fiction.
I did NaNo twice. The first time I messed up and did it in August (I wasn’t going for NaNo, but I wrote the draft in a month). The draft didn’t suck — a lot of people say that about NaNo drafts. You can write fast and still maintain quality.
Back then, I ran a small publishing company that produced roleplaying games and works of fiction. I was trying to get something out there for my imprint. Unfortunately, the…
