Wrimos Around the World: Of Typewriters, Rhinos, and Anti-Deletion

One of the best parts of NaNoWriMo? The incredible community of writers that gathers every November. Today, we spotlight Michael Clemens and the Typewriter Brigade :

1. So fill us in on the Typewriter Brigade! We want to know everything.

The Typewriter Brigade is a worldwide group of typewriter enthusiasts, smooshed together into a moderately dysfunctional noveling family. We offer advice on machine repairs and restoration, encourage impulse machine buying, and try to slog through a high-velocity month in low-technology style.

Occasionally we even get writing done.

2. What is the best thing about noveling on a typewriter?

The biggest benefit is no distractions. It’s simply not possible for me to waste my writing time by fooling around on Twitter or the forums when I’m typing, and thank goodness. I have the attention span of a gnat. I’d never get anything done if my typewriter had WiFi.

For write-ins, I use a Smith-Corona Skyriter, which was designed to be portable enough to take on an airplane or use on your lap. My main NaNoWriMo machine is an office typewriter, a battleship-grey 1952 Royal model KMG dubbed “the Beast.” It’s more work than using a computer keyboard, but I find it very satisfying, and once I find my typing rhythm, the words really flow. Since there’s no delete key, every typo becomes a word-count boost. This is a secret Brigade bonus.

3. Tell us about the novel you’re writing this year in six words.

"Plucky orphans, nefarious villains, airship racing."

4. We’ve heard much of the Brigade’s NaNo Rhino: Please explain.

Ah, the Rhino. Mine lives in my typewriter, making rude plot suggestions and demanding very strong coffee in very tiny cups. He’s both a good luck charm and grumpy muse. Many of the Brigadiers have adopted Rhinos of their own. Their pictures regularly appear in the forum.

Little known fact: Nano Rhinos grow wings when their Wrimo caretaker reaches 50,000 words. They fly away to avoid the editing process, molt, and then come swaggering back the next year to bully us through another November.

5. What is one piece of advice you would give to a nervous novelist who may or may not be reading this post?

If you’re not reading this post, go back and read this post! It’s excellent and amusing.

If you are reading this post, my advice is: don’t delete during November.
Remove the Delete key or glue a tack to it. Turn off spell check and grammar check and WiFi. Keep every boring and useless and pointless sentence. You’re too close to the work to make good decisions in November.