I would say a big part of Nanowrimo is gimmickry. I don't precisely mean this in a bad way. If the gimmicks can lead people to attempting something long and challenging, like writing 50,000 words in a month, then they've proven their value. I have only written at that length due to Nanowrimo, so I do see the value.
On the other hand, during the recent talk by Chris Baty -just before November 1 - there is a link in a previous post - his interviewer showed off his 'writing cap' and his mascot dragon and the comment queue filled with people wanting to get their own. Good, but off-topic.
The "write, don't think" meme of Nanowrimo gets to me a little, too. When I completed my book in 2013, it was of a story I had day dreamed for years - it probably isn't particularly awesome to anyone else, but it was a recurring story I worked on in my head at great length. When I wrote it out, I learned all the plot points I had skipped and how dream logic had made possible events that make sense in writing them down - But I had a story with many plot points ready to go.
This year, I started with only an idea, a gimmick or single premise. One that grew through the first week but is now drying up. I need another thousand words tonight and I will use a technique that worked last year. I will jump forward in the narrative and hope that I can later fill in the gap between what I have now -mid Spring - and what I will soon work on - early summer.
I wonder how much 'real' authors rely on gimmicks.
Here is another example of gimmick writing - the new location:
The mountain I lugged my computer up is DongMae San and is in Saha Gu, Busan. In this way, I was able to exercise my dog and get a good three hundred plus words in. I will probably do it again, and maybe for my actual work as well. I could grade essays there.
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