I've talked about NaNoWriMo a lot over the years. The good. The bad. And now NaNo has announced that they are shutting down. I am sad. I found the ways they chose to address the issues they had more problematic than helpful. But I want to say something that doesn't just apply to NaNo. Anything that you learned how to do, with NaNo, you were the one that did the work. The framework, the doodads, the camaraderie, all of that helps, but you did the work. We often fail to honor our elders, our teachers, our ancestors in this society. But I think we also often over attribute some organizations with helping us become something when we did the work. Now I think my English teachers in the acknowledgements of each of my books even though I wrote those books with my hands, my brain. I had some great English teachers, truly great. And well, I had some not so great ones. I can acknowledge that all of them helped me, but also recognize that they helped me be a thing I was going to be if I put in the work.
I read a news story about some pro-athletes that are doing a thing that is basically fancy pilates. It isn't called pilates of course. Because the people who run the program want to have a different brand, and have their own I'm guessing well trademarked machine. And it doesn't matter if the bend and stretch program you are in is called yoga, or pilates, or bend and snap, if it works for you, cool. If it doesn't, also cool. (And also, I know there are differences between yoga and pilates. I am not saying there are not.) But in the end if you move carefully, well, and regularly, you will see changes in your body. You will develop flexibility or strength or both. But only if you put in the work. It doesn't matter how many classes you sign up for if you don't go.
And yes, I know people who published their NaNo. I have published some on my NaNos. I have also not published some of my NaNos.
So in the end, I am thrilled for all the people that were able to find their writing groove. Sad for everyone NaNo failed to properly care for.
And now, I need to get back to my writing.
