I’ve been quite slow and quiet on my commentary about Malaysian politics these days. Perhaps I’m still on holiday mood where I’d love to munch on various delicacies more than giving a damn on what kind of soap opera our not so lovable politicians are acting on national tv.
But I guess, the festive mood would somehow have to end, and I’m waiting for all hell to break loose on Monday. Will farm animals go on rampage again? Will the bald giant squid wizard, Harr Mee continue to practice his black magic on innocent mermaids and merman by capturing them, torturing them and feeding them pet food? Will Jedi Council regain it’s power in the galaxy once and for all or will the Dark Side cackle with triumphant joy as they trample the Jedi Council? And will Big Bad Lala still be in power or will he forever be put to sleep?
Once the festive mood is over, I’m sure it’s going to be as ugly as hell out there, and yours truly is once again overcome by her insomnia as she thought of the hellish days ahead. Seriously, I can’t imagine what kind of horror fairy tales that I will soon serve for the reader’s reading pleasure.
Just thinking and imagining that the tug of war for power will soon be continued after the festive season drives me crazy. For the sake of her sanity, yours truly once again seeks distraction by anticipating to participate in another crazy thing in this coming November…which is NaNoWriMo.
I’m actually counting down for this particular event and feeling slightly anxious and jittery as I cross my calender. I’m quite aware that a lot of you out there do not know what is NaNoWriMo is all about. NaNoWriMo is actually an abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month, and I doubt that it’s properly introduced in Malaysia, as it’s actually a crazy approach to online novel writing that is hosted yearly by NaNoWriMo.org since 1999 where participants begins writing on November 1 and try to finish a novel with at least 50,000 words by the midnight of November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone, including children and teenagers who has thought immensely about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited time given to accomplish writing a novel in a month, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. The insane approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and just write. Write in November, and leave the editing later in December.
Apart from pushing aspiring novelist to the limit, the real aim for this is actually encouraging people to write without having to obsess over quality. Not to mention to be able to mock real novelists who procrastinate on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work and turn out just as mediocre as the Wrimos.
This program also aim to build confidence and self assurance towards young children to participate in this yearly event as every participants is considered a winner even if they do not manage to hit the 50,000 words goal in one month time. Completing a novel that contains 50,000 words in a month is just an added bonus to this exhilirating insanity. If a participant is lucky enough, his or her work would be published as there are many international publishers tend to look for novels to publish by the end of November.
During that one month time, participants would often give support and encourage one another and in the process, one would definitely gain more than a novel by the end of the month. One would gain hard to find friends who supported you through thick and thins.
A novel in one month time? It sounds crazy, isn’t it? Well, if it is, then yours truly is a madwoman, because she have been participating in this particular event yearly without fail since year 2003. Unfortunately for me, I only manage to complete a novel within one month time twice due to lack of determination and perseverance. And I’m not so sure if I’ll succeed in completing a novel in one month again this year, as inspiration for writing novel seems to be draining away and blending with my not so conductive environment.
This year around, I’ll probably be more interested in bitching about whatever that’s gone haywire in our country instead of writing a novel. Besides, there’s not much people who are crazy enough to join me in my yearly madness. There’s lack of support for such madness in Malaysia, but I don’t think I’m about to be defeated in this whole challenge because it’s actually good to unleash my wildest imagination into writing. I really would like to see how far I can go again, this year. If people from all over the world can do it, why can’t I?
This is not an advertorial, mind you. I just would like to promote some…err… healthy way to go high on imagination. And also…I would like to ask if there’s anyone of you guys would like to join me in this insanity this coming November? Calvin? Pete? Garfield? Fergie?Kevin? Rose? U-jean? Anyone? LOL. I know most of you are very important people and the world could not go on without you attending to it…but won’t you guys take pity on this madwoman and accompany her to be crazy too? She can get pretty lonely, you know? Let’s get high, just write and get published.
Ahahaha… okay, I know, I know… I must be a nutcase to even suggest anyone here to join me, but just in case there’s anyone who is interested to take on the challenge and push yourself to the limit in writing line, go to NaNoWriMo website to find out all about it.
If you have young children whom you want to encourage them to write and improve their language and confidence along the way, they too can join, just check out the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program. Beats having your kids nursing a can of coke over Playstation or online games during the holidays. Parents, challenge your kids and get them to go nuts over this, and it’ll definitely save your cash as your offspring would be too busy putting their thoughts on paper or prints to even think about asking you to bring them shopping or some trip to the theme park.
Below is a logo of my 2008 NaNoWriMo Badge.
Cleffairy: Oh my god! I did it again! I have gone and pledge my whole November to the pursuit of month-long novel.*shrieks* What have I done? *chant* I…Will…Try…Not…To…Cheat…This…Year! LOL.
Nanowrimo, sounds like a spell from Harry Potter. Nanowrimo, toto first prize, nanowrimo toto first prize, nanowrimo toto first prize……ha ha LOL.
Whoa… you’re going crazy again this year, eh, Lizzy? Have confidence you’re gonna complete it this year?
Pete…that’s not going to work… ahahaha…. but I also want toto first prizeeee! Oh, yeah, how’s your fishing trip?
Angel… yeah, I’m going crazy again this coming November. Will be pretty high on tea and cokes. Care to join me? Nope, I dun have much confidence that I will be able to complete a novel in one month again this year, Angel. I’m loaded with work and other commitment, but I will try to do my best to complete it in one month time. Anyway, girl, where have you been? Haven’t been seeing you around?
hehe, writing will never be a task to u….it’s just gonna flow right thru i m sure ah jie. tell me about it ok. i think u will complete it in no time with no less flair….hehe!!! ok la…i wanna go bed already…tired!!!
LOL… ktx… how have you been ah? I dun really dare to imagine how the outcome is going to be like this year…. must be some horror, seeing how Malaysia environment has affected me… that’s why I’m… err… hunting people to go gila with me this year. But looks like a lot cabut oredi, because the challenge is quite crazy for working adults. For teenagers who have nothing to do and raging hormones affecting their writing, accomplishing such things is really possible. LOL. Ahaha… Whoa, why are you sleeping so late? Well, goodnight and sweet dreams. Take care out there, k? 😀
walaue…….so what will you be writing on this year? transvestites, gay, sex, drugs, politics……id personally recommend the sex bit…hahaha.
You have lots of creativity, u don’t need to cheat!
And btw, I wanted to pass u this award as I think u r really a cool blogger. Pls accept it. Read frm my blog. It’s ok if u don’t want it 😀
I am sure you can do it.
For me, i can’t write a decent article in a month, so I will realistically opt our from this na-thingie. haha
If want to bitch, am bitching about how we are treating our natives. so angry. Sigh..
Calvin….I dunno what I’ll write this year…last year was a horrible attempt at fantasy and romance… I bet this year is plain bitching on what goes wrong in our country…. whahaha… but of course, I’ll try not to lohhh… 😛 Ahahaha… I think horr, you got talent… maybe you should write some guide on how men should treat/respect women. You’re good at that. 😛
Celine… you look too high on me liao… ahaha… when writing a novel, I constantly have to fend off author’s block and stuff. Always get stuck in the middle of it. Ah, yes, the award. Thank you so much for the award, Celine. I will put it in my blog later after my dinner. 😀 Muacks…. that’s my first award ever.
Amoker….I start doing it, but completing one… is another story. Ahahaha. When I was an English teacher, I introduced this NaNoWriMo thingie to my students, and it worked out pretty well…. really do good to their confidence and knowledge. 😀 Too bad it’s not so common in Malaysia. In overseas…during November, cafes and restaurants even sponsored Wrimos writing space as well as giving away free drinks and tidbits.
Go ahead and bitch about things that is screwed up in Malaysia… I’ll be joining you in bitching about it too.
What if I say I’d accompany you in this madness? Can’t promise to deliver 50,000 words in 30-days but at least I’ll try. 😉
Wahhhh.. finally, got ppl want to accompany me in this madness… *sobs* I am so touched. All these while been going crazy alone. LOL… 😛