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National Novel Writing Month
With Stephanie Slewka
NaNoWriMo Alumna
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001; 1 p.m. EST

During the month of November a small non-profit group based in Oakland, Calif. is sponsoring National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Participants across the country have one month in which to write 200 pages -- or 50,000 words -- of a novel.

Veteran NaNoWriMo participant Stephanie Slewka was online Thursday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. EST, to talk about the yearly event.

The mission of NaNoWriMo is to encourage anyone interested in writing a novel to get their first draft down on paper. Participants range from neophyte writers to professionals. The organizing group provides online participant guidelines, word count-o-meter, newletters and a community forum. NaNoWriMo began in 1999 with 21 participants. That grew to 150 writers in 2000 and over 1,000 are expected to participate this year. This year, NaNoWriMo goes on the road as one representative drives across country holding NaNoWriMo events.

Slewka is an independent television producer based in Washington, D.C., and a veteran NaNoWriMo-er. With coaching and encouragement from NanoWrimo Ambassador Victoria Schlesinger, she was among those who reached the 50,000 word mark last year, and has signed up again this year. She just finished her first independent documentary which will air on PBS, and hopes to finish her second unpublished novel by November 30. She will join Schlesinger on the road for a few days of the Nano Across America trek.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Studio City, Calif.: What feedback have you received from writers in the past as to how this exercise has motivated them to get serious about their writing? (Or make them realize they have no talent and go back to waiting tables)

Stephanie Slewka: I can't speak for others, but during last year's writing event, NaNo Roving Ambassador Victoria Schlesinger and I sat down and worked together on several occasions. We were behind schedule, and wrote like madwomen. We reached the point where we could write a thousand words an hour. Both of us have agreed that in the year since then we now know the distinction between dawdling and writer's block! The exercise took away a certain amount of fear and procrastination towards writing of any kind: be it business correspondence or poetry or prose. I guess the answer is that we learned you just have to do it. As for talent or lack thereof, it depends on what kind of writing you are trying to turn into a money-making venture.

Washington, D.C.: I saw a quote from the NaNoWriMo founder on the Web site. It said that the contest is all about quantity -- NOT quality. Isn't that sending the wrong message?

Stephanie Slewka: No, the message is you can't write unless you're actually writing and so many of us won't commit words to a page unless we think they are perfect. And that is the perfect excuse to do nothing. This is the un-block.

Seattle, Wash.: Do you know if any of the "winners" (completed novels) from the last two years of NaNoWriMo have been published?

Stephanie Slewka: Afraid not.

Arlington, Va.: So this is all about writing as a money making venture?

Stephanie Slewka: No, indeed. It's about writing because you love it. But if you want to make money writing there are many ways besides the oh-so-romantic writer-in-the-garret fantasy. And I guess if it beats waiting tables, why not?

Chicago, Ill.: Tips for a person participating in National Novel Writing Month who is struggling with putting in a large number of words per day?

Stephanie Slewka: Don't think too hard. Don't re-read, there is no time. Just go, go, go until the writing does its own thing. Pick the time of day where you are least tired, unplug the phone, do not multi-task, don't be hungry and give yourself daily, manageable deadlines.

Washington, D.C.: When does the sign-up period start? I've never heard of this before but it sounds incredible. I'm sad I missed out on this round.

Stephanie Slewka: November Uno next year, sign up will start in October.

Washington, D.C.: Where can we see Victoria Schlesinger?

Stephanie Slewka: You mean see, see, or virtual see? She is up on the nanowrimo.com website. Sadly, you missed the DC kickoff writer's night, on November 1. Right now she's in California for family matters, but will reprise her trip in Boston at the weekend and head west. There is a DC Nano group if you would like to write with those folks.

Victoria will be back in DC for a work stint in March.

Arlington, Va.: Can you explain how NaNoWriMo was born?

Stephanie Slewka: Sadly I was not there from Year One, and as a fiction writer, I'd be glad to make up a great story for you, but I think if you want the real thing you should check out the Nanowrimo.com website. If you don't like that version, get back to me!

Vienna, Va.: What can you suggest for aspiring writers? How hard is it to get published? Are there workshops available?

Stephanie Slewka: As an iconoclast, I'm afraid I have not done the workshop route. Do you want to write fiction? There are plenty of workshops and courses for that. As for getting published, it depends what you are writing, novels, short stories, non-fiction. There are plenty of outlets for first person pieces, just pick up any popular magazine. There are also plenty of outlets for short stories. Novels are way harder, and if you are serious, you can always find an agent and send in a manuscript.

Studio City, Calif.: Of the current writers signed up, any stats on how many are "on schedule" for their 2000 words per day?

Stephanie Slewka: At the risk of sounding like the White House briefer, may I refer you to the Nanowrimo.com website, where on November 10, the first batch of wordcounts must be submitted? It's deceptive, though. Last year I was waaaaaaaaay behind by the midway mark and, being absurdly competitive, was absolutely terrified at the wordcount posted then. Turns out many of those who started with a head of steam petered out before the end. It really is a lot of work. But, as I always say, old age and cunning triumphs over youth and enthusiasm every time. Well, almost.

Vienna, Va.: What is your documentary about and when will it air on PBS? Do you get a lot of support in the writing industry? How competitive is the publishing industry?

Stephanie Slewka: Hello. Post? Am I allowed to flak for myself? If so, please check out my website www.fifthmanfilms.com. There is a clip from the doc on it, it's about a tiny island up in Maine that is torn apart over the value of arts in the school and a former Broadway producer who tries to heal the rift by making a musical. A real life Waiting for Guffman, if you will. Air date in Maine Dec 12, still waiting to hear for national PBS.

How competitive is the publishing industry? Ha, that is very funny. The only analogies that come to mind are not really printable, but just think aggressive....

Washington, D.C.: Is Chris Baty as good looking in person as his picture on the Web site?

Stephanie Slewka: Better. More fun, too.

Virginia: The vast majority of deaf people have problems writing English since our primary spoken language is American Sign Language. Do you have any advice?

Stephanie Slewka: That is fascinating...There are so many concepts you can express in ASL that you can't write in one word in English. Sounds like a perfect outlet for poety.

If not, how about writing a play? If you want to write fiction, I suggest writing as you see fit and then showing it to a friend who will proofread.

On the other hand, I could suggest reading more. There are several deaf writers who write English very eloquently.

Washington, D.C.: How do you think Nanowrimo might impact the literary scene in the U.S.?

Stephanie Slewka: First off, my friend, any would-be novelist worth their salt would NEVER use impact as a verb. Aie, aie, aie. Who knows, perhaps if Nano gets enough publicity, a publishing house might deign to read some of the finalists' work. If it were more of a business venture and less of a lark, I suppose one could try to get an insta-book published of the 'best of" the finalists, but that is kind of not the point.

Parsippany, N.J.: First off, I want to wish the best for Victoria, who was so nice when I met her on her New York visit. It's a pity these few cities will miss out on her hosting. Anyway, Stephanie, I wanted to ask you what your novel is about and have you read it or tried to edit it since last year?

Stephanie Slewka: The one last year was called "Can You Walk There?" and it was all inter-connected stories linked to people and places you could walk to from my house. I have re-read some of it and it's not as awful as I had imagined. I was actually going to spend November editing it, but decided to go ahead and do Nano again this year, so it awaits.

Studio City, Calif.: I just heard about a blind astronomer. If he can do that, it looks like someone who wants to write can give it a go.

Stephanie Slewka: Speaking of blind, there is an absolutely wonderful book written by Stephen (sp?) Kuusisto called: "Planet of the Blind." It will bring tears to your eyes.

Warner Robins, Ga.: Do you let friends and family read your novels when you're finished?

Stephanie Slewka: My family's idea of reading is the Reader's Digest, but I do let a few select friends take a crack at the stuff. I leak out sections here and there and wait for the feedback. Bear in mind that people are either wimpier or kinder than you would wish, so a real critic is hard to find.

Centreville, Va.: Why November? I'm signed up as a participant in NaNoWriMo, and I'm really excited about it, but I'm finding it very difficult to find the time to write, and as the month wears on it'll get even more difficult as holiday travel starts. I'm wondering why the organizers didn't pick a nice quiet month when nothing is going on, like March.

Stephanie Slewka: I am not really sure, but I tell you, if the family reunion at Thanksgiving becomes overwhelming, you have a good excuse to find a quiet spot. And there are now outlets in so many airplanes and trains, there really is no excuse not to write on the fly.

Richmond, Va.: How many of your fellow nanovelists have you actually met?

Stephanie Slewka: Last year I flew to California to meet the "finalists" at the end bash. They had strung up a page from each novel on clotheslines around the house and I spent the evening trying to match the page to the writer. I never got it right!

This year I met a dozen or so of the DC-ers.

Chicago, Ill.: What are some of the feelings you have after you've written 50,000 words besides it being nice to not have the writing pressure any longer?

Stephanie Slewka: Hallelujah! I did what? How many bottles? The recycling guys are going to think I'm an alcoholic...Movie, what's a movie? What on earth am I going to do tonight now I don't have to write? What if someone comes back after I'm dead and reads the garbage I wrote? Oh no..

Studio City, Calif.: Who is your best critic, and what makes him/her so?

Stephanie Slewka: The best is the worst, and that would be me. Actually, the best writing advice--and it wasn't really given as advice, mind you--was when I worked for a TV pundit and columnist John McLaughlin. He buzzed me into his office at the crack of dawn one day and picked up the pieces of paper on which I had written my first thing for him.

"This is (expletive)." He hurled the papers onto the floor. "This hurts my eyes, get this out of here so I don't have to see it anymore." Later I returned and he went over it word by word. He would pause, pick a word and shout: do you mean this, or this (a synonym) or this (another synonym.) Or this? We didn't move on until I had picked exactly the right word. This really taught me to be unsentimental. I no longer keep a word or a sentence or a paragraph just because I like the way it sounds. It has to be right. Most people are much too sentimental about their writing.

Springfield, Va.: Another question... I did go to the Web site but I don't quite understand how you pick a winner or a finalist.

First one who writes the required number of words?

Stephanie Slewka: It's all about the journey...there is no one winner just as there is no overseer of the word count. It's the honor system. Anyone who says they have written at least 50,000 words "wins."

Falls Church, Va.: Is Victoria also participating in the contest this year while she drives across country?

Stephanie Slewka: She is, she is trying to write each times she meets a group of Nanoers. If I am not divulging state secrets, her book is about a person and her doppelganger who are both on a trip. (Pretend it is the New Yorker and insert umlaut over the "a" of doppelganger.)

Arlington, Va.: Stephanie, I have an idea for an informational cookbook. Where do I start? I'm not a great cook. What publishing or writing venues should I look into? Is that part of the industry different from novel writing?

Stephanie Slewka: Please excuse my stupidity, but what is an informational cookbook?

Springfield, Va.: Can we get on any kind of mailing list so we don't FORGET next year when it is time to sign up? I just read about this venture today and went to the Web site. It sounds FANTASTIC to get the static out of a writer's head. Keep it up. I think aspiring writers need more outlets such as this to get them going and remove all "blocks." You'd be surprised how hard it is has been to find just plain writing workshops.

Stephanie Slewka: There was a mother-daughter writing team who showed up at the DC kickoff event last week. They had heard about Nano almost a year ago while they were in Paris and they thought about their joint novel for a whole year and signed up this October. I'm not sure there will be a mailing list, but if you bookmark Nanowrimo.com for next October, you can sign up then.

Chicago, Ill.: How do you jazz up a scene if it’s getting too boring?
Or is that part of the process of writing where you need to include more detail to get the action and ideas of the scene across properly?

Stephanie Slewka: Bail! Every man for himself! If it is that boring, which I doubt. You're probably just feeling stuck.

It depends on how attached you are to the scene. Can you cut it short if you are falling asleep? You can add description, a new character, but I think you have answered your own question. It sounds like a crucial scene, so you need to let people know why it is so important. Anything that helps do that will spice it up.

Warner Robins, Ga.: Last year NaNoWrimMo had something like 150 participants; this year there are over 5,000. How did that happen?

Stephanie Slewka: Blame the Media! And word of mouth. I think there were a couple of stories written, but a lot of friends told friends and it mushroomed. I also have a pet theory which I have tested on several folks that people want to write, get things out, in the aftermath of September 11th. Could be poppycock, could be the zeitgeist.

Grub Streeter, Minn.: Stephanie Slewka: I just became aware of this fine endeavor; so have begun a parallel deadline for myself -- to finish what has been laying around here for two years unfinished... so with rewrite and lots of motivation will make it by end of the gales of November -- outside the game of course but you set the fire under my "Underwood," whatever! Off and running...

Stephanie Slewka: You are a grub after my own heart. Congratulations! I have my grandfather's Canadian Underwood, but it could not withstand the pounding, so it's the Mac.

And just for whoever...I go to the online version of OED and Merriam Webster's every day and make myself use the word of the day in my Nano novel. Sometimes I can't even remember what they mean the next day, but who cares!

Cathlamet, Wash.: Oops, sorry, didn't see your Web site listed.
I visited it. But now that I've visited, I became fascinated but now it's too late!
(It said no longer accepting entries.)

Why couldn't The Post have had you on LAST month? Sigh.

washingtonpost.com: Right you are. I apologize for not being more on the ball. -- Producer Liz

Stephanie Slewka: Ah but this gives you a whole year to dream up fantastic characters and fabulous plot twists.

At the end of the DC Nano kickoff, I asked one of the writers what he had written that evening and he said his main character had just eaten the Sun. Made me feel like an unimaginative loser.

Studio City, Calif.: Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. I must leave now and whack some golf balls and, hopefully, figure out a way to include a thousand words on that this evening.

Stephanie Slewka: I was in Vermont one summer and met a guy who whacked old golf balls into a lake naked. Naked golf, anyone, he would ask? A great pickup line. Bet you could write more than a thousand words on that variant.

Sarf Lundun: Expresso or cappucino?

Stephanie Slewka: Red wine, loosens the fingers.

Annapolis, Md.: I've written a few (very few) tech articles that were published. For the most part, I found the process to be really enjoyable. However there were moments when the creativity just stopped. Any suggestions for dealing with these instances? Sometimes it can last for weeks, then suddenly at 3:00 a.m. it starts flowing again.

Stephanie Slewka: If the article has a logical arc and you are stuck partway, then map out on paper what you are saying and where you are going and let logic take over. The writing might not shine, but you can clean that up later if your aim is to finish. If not, enjoy the agony, bake cakes and pace up and down while biting your fingernails. I like to clean my closets.

Stephanie Slewka: All right, gang. I have been sitting in a dark room without windows for months editing my dratted film. I am free at last in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains watching the wind blowing in the trees and will head outside while the sun shines. I

washingtonpost.com:

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