Jun 05 2008
“No Plot? No Problem!” by Chris Baty
No Plot? No Problem: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty has more than a heck of a subtitle, it also humor in high doses, which every reader (serious about writing or not) can appreciate. I picked it up on a whim - I saw it at the library (where else?) and thought it looked like an interesting concept. How could you write a book in 30 days, let alone attempt it without an established plot in hand? Does the plot just appear out of nowhere?
Apparently it does. At least it did to Chris. He decided back in 1999 that he would write a book in a month. He had no ideas for the book, he had no background in writing books, or in writing fiction at all for that matter. He did it on a lark, and convinced coworkers to go along for the ride. They named it National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short.
The month was both incredibly fun and incredibly difficult, as they progressed through the “Wow this is fun!” stage in the beginning, to “Can’t I just kill everyone off and finish the book 50 pages in?” stage, to “I’m starting to make progress here - I think I may allow the characters to live after all” and finally to “I did it, I finished!!”at the end of the month. It was a hilarious recounting - I almost snorted milk up my nose at one point, and I actually read a couple of paragraphs outloud to my husband because they made me laugh so hard.
NaNoWriMo became an annual event, and the size of the group grew quickly, especially after they were featured in USA Today and other national newspapers and magazines. The whole point to the exercise is this: Nothing ever gets done without a deadline. Example: When do I clean my house? When my in-laws have called and are coming over. Why am I cleaning? Because I have to, before they come. What if they didn’t come - would I still be cleaning? Not likely! I can always find something better to do than clean my house, trust me! 
NaNoWriMo works with that principle, and makes you finally finish a book, because you have to - you have a deadline! For those Great American Novelists who have been writing and working on a book for the last 10 years, this kind of thing can be liberating, because it frees you from perfection, and lets you - no, forces you! - to let it all hang out. You have to write 50,000 words in 30 days. You don’t have time for perfection!
If you’re interested in more info on the NaNoWriMo concept, make sure to check out the National Novel Writing Month website for lots of fun info and a chance to see Chris’s style of writing in action. If you don’t think the website is funny, then you won’t enjoy the book. I would have to question if you’re alive or not, but that’s besides the point. 
Is this a book to pick up if you want help polishing prose, or figuring out the finer points of characterization? Not hardly. But it is a good book to read to get pumped about writing, and really cranking out a book that just might end up being a decent story in the end. NaNoWriMo is a great concept that apparently a lot of people have participated in - I even found a Today.com writer who has participated in NaNoWriMo: Our Creative Writing blogger. How cool is that?!
I give No Plot? No Problem! 5 out of 5 stars. Any nonfiction book that makes me laugh this hard is worth the stars!
Havs
I’m so glad you included this book. Chris Baty is my hero! I’ve been doing Nano on and off for about 5 years now, and loved (and hated) every second of it! I was even ML (municipal liaison) for my area for two years.
It’s definitely a worthwhile venture for the aspiring novelist, or even just someone who enjoys writing. And the write-ins we had - oh my! You’ve never met a more hodgepodge, unlikely group of people - nor have you seen a group bond so quickly!
It’s truly an experience - in every sense of the word.
http://inthegarden.today.com
Wow, how cool! I’m glad you did it and loved/hated it!
Reading that book was just so fun because every time I picked it up and started reading it, I was infused with a “I can do this - I want to do this right now!” spirit. His enthusiasm is very contagious.
I have been thinking I should try it this November - we’ll see if I remember by that point.
It seems like something I would really enjoy.
Thanks for swinging by my blog - it’s fun to have feedback!
Havs
http://nonfictionlover.today.com
Awesome that you found this book! I’ve done Nanowrimo for the last two years and have pumped out 2 novels. It really is a great deal of fun and the community is wonderful! I haven’t actually read the book, but even reading some of the pep-talks that Chris sends out during Nano - the guy is really fun! You should definitely give it a try! I plan to do it again this year - join my friend list; I’m listed as Ravensgryff
Cool beans! I literally had never heard of NaNoWriMo before picking up “No Plot? No Problem” at random from the library. How is it that I missed such a fun event every year? Have I been living under a rock?
Anyway, I’ll have to see if I can do it. I’m going back to school this fall and taking classes full time (I have to, to keep my scholarships) so I might be going crazy in November.
I definitely want to though. We’ll see - maybe it won’t be as bad as I’m imagining.
Hugs!
Hava
http://nonfictionlover.today.com
I do NANO every year. When I was getting my book published the editor loved that I did it even though I write nonfiction for pay and NANO is designed for the fiction writer;)
Wow, you’re a published author? That’s awesome! Do you have a link to your book so I can check it out? I might be able to read it through interlibrary loan and review it, so definitely send a link along if you can!
Havs
http://nonfictionlover.today.com
I LOVED this book. I used it religiously during the Nano months and it really helped me along when I felt like I wanted to quit.
Nano was what got me started in article writing. After doing the challenge, writing anything under 50,000 words was a piece of cake.
Diana
http://single.today.com
I’ve done NANO now for quite a few years, and seeing this review here is very timely because I’ve been looking for a couple of writing books to add to my summer reading, and this was one of the possibles. I’ve got quite a few nuts and bolts fiction writing book, but this one seems more personal and on the ground stuff that fires up creativity. Good stuff! Thanks!
Diana: LOL! I can see that!
50,000 seems like such a huge chunk of words. Very overwhelming. :-} I thought it was ultra cool when Chris Baty talks in his book about Lani Diane Rich doing NaNoWriMo, and the fact that her NANO book ended up getting published afterwards. I especially thought that was cool because I’ve read a book by her and enjoyed it! I read it long before I read “No Plot,” and I had NO CLUE that’s how she got started. How awesome! What a small world…
KatieAnne: If you’re wanting to get excited about writing, just read roughly 2.3 pages of this book, and you’ll be raring to go! He has this amazing ability to infuse his readers with enthusiasm. Every time I read it, I put the book down and thought, “I want to go write, right now!” Definitely a great book.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone - keep it coming! Do we have any other NANO writers in our ranks?
Havs
http://nonfictionlover.today.com