With NaNoWriMo coming up in just about a month, I thought I'd write a little article about the "disease" that often comes along with it. (And no, I did not start this article a year ago and manage to procrastinate finishing it until now -- 12 months later. Okay, let's be real. I did that.)
Are you worried about your friend's sudden change of personality, looks, or priorities? Do they spend their time scribbling chapters on Chemistry notes? Well, I'm sorry... but they must have the dreaded.... *cue le scary music* NANOWRIMO-SITOSIS!
Never fear, I have lived through this disease, and I'm happy to say that it's only temporary. Within a month, your friend shall be back to their normal self. However, if you're curious about the stages and symptoms of NaNoWriMo-sitosis, this is the article for you!
Stage One -- The "Hey guys, I'm doing NaNoWriMo!" stage
Duration: Few days -- 1 week
Symptoms: Excessive bragging, fake complaining about staying up till the wee hours of the morning writing, and discussions of how a five-year-old could write Twilight better than Meyer. Patient will carry writing how-to books in backpack -- it's not like they'll read them, of course.
Stage Two -- The "Maybe I should actually get working on this" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: Bags under eyes that aren't actually created with the wonders of makeup, writing during History lectures (who really cares about a bunch of old dudes anyways?). Victim will procrastinate on homework to write. Those writing books are starting to look real attractive now.
Stage Three -- The "Curse you, stupid Writer's Block and whoever made up writing" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: By now, the initial inspiration will have worn off, and reality will start to set in. Patient will write like a madman at all hours of day, mumbling sleepily to themselves about whether they should kill off their main character or not just to put them out of their misery. Pores over writing books or internet articles. Starts to lose hope in ever winning NaNoWriMo.
Stage Four -- The "I GOTTA FINISH NOW PLEASE DEAR LORD HELP ME" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: Plot holes and flat characters ensue as patient becomes desperate, writing practically anything in their last attempt to reach 50,000 words by the end of November. Their writing may not be good enough to be toilet paper, but they don't care. All they want is to finish the darn manuscript. Stay away from patient as they may become maniacal and crazed.
Stage Five -- The "Thank God that's over" stage
Length: 48 weeks
Symptoms: Slowly but surely, you can expect the victim to return to their normal self. The manuscript is stuffed into the back of their closet to rest before editing. Writing books are returned to the library. The victim jokes about what a waste of time NaNoWriMo was, but secretly keeps the pride of finishing a manuscript in the back of the mind. And, when those 48 weeks are over and November comes back around again -- the cycle starts all over.
Are you worried about your friend's sudden change of personality, looks, or priorities? Do they spend their time scribbling chapters on Chemistry notes? Well, I'm sorry... but they must have the dreaded.... *cue le scary music* NANOWRIMO-SITOSIS!
Never fear, I have lived through this disease, and I'm happy to say that it's only temporary. Within a month, your friend shall be back to their normal self. However, if you're curious about the stages and symptoms of NaNoWriMo-sitosis, this is the article for you!
Stage One -- The "Hey guys, I'm doing NaNoWriMo!" stage
Duration: Few days -- 1 week
Symptoms: Excessive bragging, fake complaining about staying up till the wee hours of the morning writing, and discussions of how a five-year-old could write Twilight better than Meyer. Patient will carry writing how-to books in backpack -- it's not like they'll read them, of course.
Stage Two -- The "Maybe I should actually get working on this" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: Bags under eyes that aren't actually created with the wonders of makeup, writing during History lectures (who really cares about a bunch of old dudes anyways?). Victim will procrastinate on homework to write. Those writing books are starting to look real attractive now.
Stage Three -- The "Curse you, stupid Writer's Block and whoever made up writing" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: By now, the initial inspiration will have worn off, and reality will start to set in. Patient will write like a madman at all hours of day, mumbling sleepily to themselves about whether they should kill off their main character or not just to put them out of their misery. Pores over writing books or internet articles. Starts to lose hope in ever winning NaNoWriMo.
Stage Four -- The "I GOTTA FINISH NOW PLEASE DEAR LORD HELP ME" stage
Duration: 1 week
Symptoms: Plot holes and flat characters ensue as patient becomes desperate, writing practically anything in their last attempt to reach 50,000 words by the end of November. Their writing may not be good enough to be toilet paper, but they don't care. All they want is to finish the darn manuscript. Stay away from patient as they may become maniacal and crazed.
Stage Five -- The "Thank God that's over" stage
Length: 48 weeks
Symptoms: Slowly but surely, you can expect the victim to return to their normal self. The manuscript is stuffed into the back of their closet to rest before editing. Writing books are returned to the library. The victim jokes about what a waste of time NaNoWriMo was, but secretly keeps the pride of finishing a manuscript in the back of the mind. And, when those 48 weeks are over and November comes back around again -- the cycle starts all over.