www.nanowrimo.org . Because you know you want to.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I wouldn't want to read a novel I wrote, so I can't imagine anybody else wanting to.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Good. One less manuscript for the editors to read before mine hits their desk.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I'm actually thinking of doing this. I don't normally write, and it seems like the sort of insane month-long obsession I'd get.
Could be fun.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I'm in! Technically, this is my third year participating. It will be the first year that I "win". It will *determined*
Would anyone be interested in doing the Book in a Week challenge in October to get warmed up? The name's a bit of a misnomer, so don't be alarmed! Participants do NOT try to write a book in one week. Rather, the challenge is simply to turn off the internal editor and write as much as you can for the week. My goal was always 2-5 pages a day. The first time I did BIW, I wrote over sixty pages. Now, I'm just aiming for 1-3 pages a day, since I haven't been writing at all lately. Thinking I will likely do some essays for my writing journal.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I'm going to do it this year. I really am! I'm very excited.
*bounces*
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I've tried this before and never gotten beyond 5,000 words.
*hangs head in shame*
I've too much on my plate to attempt it this year.
But I'll be rooting for all of you that do! The forums are a blast, and it's a lot of fun and you meet some cool folks.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
It sounds like fun. I'll give it a try.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I might do it, but I dunno. I have so much other stuff going on and all of my writing ideas are already started. And some of my ideas are art- and writing-centered, and I need time to do both of them... :/ I can't exactly claim a comic as a novel...
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
Abby, I would check out the NaNoWriMo message boards. There has definitely been talk in the past of doing graphic novels or other art-related projects rather than an actual novel, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are talking about it again this year.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Made my plans, got a plot, starting to figure out the characters and general outline now.
All I need is a dependable computer. Sigh. Mine crashed twice in the last three weeks thanks to (I think) a faulty power supply. Hoping to be back up this weekend. I've got stuff to write!
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I have a very basic character and plot. Is it better to just let the story go where it wants or to make a more structured outline?
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I think I shall do this. It would be good for me.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I wish i had time for it this year. My poor novel form last year is still not finished, though i hit a good 10,000 words with it.
But there's too much stress around here to be worrying aobut my novel TOO. So i'll read the boards and plan for next year.
Ni!
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
Erm, I don't believe in a month rush for a book, it seems like it would become so sloppy and verbose where it doesn't need to be. I'm happy going at the pace I'm going on my novel, I'm at 6,000 words flat and still going.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
gah, I "did" nanowrimo last year... and failed miserably.
it was kinda fun though... guess I'll try again
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
I died at 26k last year. And now with college, I don't think I'll have the time to do it this year.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Heh- CM, I'm doing this so I'll have something to do with my time now that I'm in college.
Not knowing anyone does have it's advantages....
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I know, I know, I'm posting here way too much. I'm just so excited!
I just checked out the forums and they're great! The first time I've been on forums that compare even moderately to hatrack in intelligence. I can't wait to sign up!
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Last year I got to about... 2,000 words.
Then the plot whent right out of my head.
Now I just need a plot... And characters... I'll come up with something.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I highly recommend Chris Baty's book "No Plot, No Problem" for a better idea of what NaNoWriMo is all about.
The idea, for those worried about sloppiness and plot direction, is to galvanize "one day writers" to action. "One day writers" are those who say "one day I'll write a novel..."
You're not to worry about plot. Or consistency. Or, to a large extent, quality. The point is to prove to yourself that you can write a novel, you can make yourself take the time, you can do it.
Besides, there's a lot of freedom that comes with just pouring words on the screen as fast as you can. There's a lot of editing necessary afterwards, usually of the slash-and-burn variety, but you can stumble over some amazing sequences of imagination and inspired genius that you'd never have written in a careful, well-thought-out manner.
It's not for everyone. But it's a lot of fun. I've done it twice now, and each time ended up with the carcass of a pretty bad book that I later cannabilized and turned into several articles and the potentiality of maybe one pretty good book. And I found out that I can force myself to write even if I feel blocked, an important skill for any writer no matter what you do.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Hmmm... Thanks, X-ey! Maybe I will. It could be like NaNoWriMo and 24hr comic day all mixed. Over a month. Maybe I'd do one page a day. Hmmm... I'd have to think up a plot though. Or I could use one of those plots I already have... Hmmm...
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
Okay... fine. You talked me into it. Guess I'll join the insanity. Again.
No idea if I will actually finish this time, but hey, the trying is three-fourths of the fun. (Don't ask me what the other one-fourth is. Although, I suspect it's actually finishing the project.)
< -- This is me trying to think of an idea for the novel. Perhaps this will be my smiley sig until I can figure out what that will be.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
quote:There's a lot of editing necessary afterwards, usually of the slash-and-burn variety
That's what NaNoEdMo is for. Happens every March.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
They redesigned their site! Lots of fun stuff, more interactive, more regional-only stuff. Very cool.
Come on people, I ain't doing this alone...
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I tried a couple of years ago, and I made it about 2 days before getting good and sick with stomach flu.
Now I'm in a Master's program with a paper looming. I wish I had time to write a novel, but I don't. Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
To my shock, I may do this too. I have writer's block because of how nasty college is, and this seems like just the thing. I think I should make it more interesting and vow to write the entire thing while in my lovely old-fashioned dormitory elevator.
Jen
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Chris, I'm with you - I went ahead and signed up.
I am just setting myself up to be a glutton for punishment, but I start back to school in January, and this will be something cool to occupy my time with before then, I suppose.
I'm under Adrian_librarian, a way to celebrate my new position. I'm developing a church library and computer lab at our church, and this dovetails nicely with my plans to finish my undergrad then pursue my master's in Library/Information sciences. Wait...did I say above I didn't have much to do until January? Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I'm in. Again. Setting myself up for failure...
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
For when you just can't think of anything on your own.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Oh, and my NaNoWriMo username is annieshakira. In case we're interested.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Also, click on the "Team 2004" tab - my roommate is one of the Wrimos of the Day! (Abigail)
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Oh. Looks like "Wrimos of the Day" is alphabetical. Heh. Well, in that case - I'm up soon!
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
It looks like I may actually be doing this. Holy crap.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
I have a question for those who will be participating. Will you be sharing your novels with Hatrack? I'd be willing to share what I have written at the end of the contest with others.
I think it would be interesting to see what others were able to come up with in a month.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I'm going to try it. I don't know what I'll write, or if I'll share it with anyone, but I have a lot of stuff I need to get out, and this seems like a good way to do it. I don't even know if I can write 3,000 words, let alone 50,000, but I'm gonna try.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
I have the basic idea for my story, but that's it. I think the organizers of this thing are more concerned with quantity than quality. Once the month of November is over, people can go back and rewrite their novels to fix grammar and plot holes.
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
queen... don't worry. I have no idea if I can write 300 words in a cohesive story. But, I am gonna try as well. Just gotta come up with an idea and some characters to push it or drag it along.
BTW, if you can write a little more than half of that 3,000 word count a day for the thirty days, than you can make it.
Derrell... I think I owe you a critique of a story you sent me a while back. If I can find my print out with my notes, I'll see about typing them up and sending them to you. Although, the story was so long ago that you've probably moved on. I swear procrastination is like a mantra for me.
<--- Still no idea, but on the bright side my brain is starting to simmer.
Posted by Taberah (Member # 4014) on :
Okay, I'm in. I have no idea what I'm going to write about, though . . .
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I signed up - I must be nuts.
and went to Seventh Sanctum to try the character generator - ended up with this list: The dexterous, atheistic, religious archivist who can't resist helping people. The architect from a small family. The acrobatic hunter with no hope. The studious smuggler who lost meaning in life. The clumsy hermit. The obedient, lonely mentor from a small family. The pious mercenary with no hope. The pharmacist with an odd birthmark. The weak, unambitious, lazy theologian. The committed pharmacist.
again, Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I met Chris Baty last night. He is a GREAT speaker. Very entertaining. If he is coming anywhere near your area, GO! You won't regret it.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I know I'm entering the thread late, but . . . too bad.
I'm in. I first heard about NaNoWriMo last year and wanted to do it, but had no internet. This year, I have internet. I signed up.
A previous post mentioned Book in a Week - I've done it. I do it frequently. September, I wrote 150 pages. Yep, in a week. So in theory, 200 pages in a month shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
If anyone's interested, I signed up as . . . quidscribis.
Come on, let's get writing! Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
Well, I've written 3000 words in a night before. I figure I can do 50000 in a month, at least if it doesn't have to be completely cohearant.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
My personal best is 65 pages in a day. That's like, uh, let me see if I can do the math . . . 16,250 words. Yup!
I was brain dead at the end of it. I think I might have hemhorraged or something.
But if I do 3 and a little bit days like that, with hospital time and recuperation in between, I can do it no sweat!
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Wrote a column about it again, listed in this thread here.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
:bump: Well, at least if I landmark during November I'll have plenty of mashed potatoes to throw up against the wall.
Posted by Lost Ashes (Member # 6745) on :
Okay, I'm gonna give this one a try.
And I'm also going to get my first novel out and send it off to another publisher. It's been collecting dust since I sent it to Baen and they didn't bother to even send a rejection letter. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Lost Ashes, good for you! Join the insanity!
And besides, it was only one publisher who didn't buy your book. All you need is one who will. So good luck and keep submitting! You can do it!
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Links to NaNo resources, writing guides, spreadsheet progress reports, web page graphics, and more, along with excerpts from my last two attempts.
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
Thanks, Chris. I'll play around there for inspiration.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Alrighty, then. Chris, thanks to you, I've decided to set up my own NaNoWriMo site. It's all your fault!!!!
quote: To my right was Slash Bowles, production designer.
If Slash Bowles fought David Berserker, who would win?
P.S. Is that a site set up through Nanowrimo? I wonder if I should just stick with my livejournal.
Oh man, I was just reading my livejournal entry and spotted a powerfully ironic coincidence. Li (my nom de plumes maiden name) = lithium.
[ October 29, 2004, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: pooka ]
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Nah, I didn't set up anything through nanowrimo. It's just a subdomain of my already existing owned-by-me domain. Check it out - I rather like the layout!
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Why is everyone so much more organized than I am? Perhaps tomorrow I will write in my LJ several outlines for several stories I have started but haven't finished yet because I am too young to write them.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Too young to write them?
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Syn there is no such thing as too young to write! Just write, write, write. You'll never get better if you don't write, and if you wait until you're mature enough, good enough, talented enough to write you never will.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Syn, they're right! If you want to write, then write! Don't wait until you're older or the planets align or for a blue or purple moon. Just write!
Nothing else matters! So go and write.
As for organization, it only matters if you need it. I need structure and organization. Without it, I can't produce. My husband needs none, and he can write perfectly fine off the top of his head. What do YOU need?
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Okay, my HTML impaired self set up a quick and dirty NaNoWriMo page here. Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
i am geared to do this but can I work on more than one novel at the same time? i can't decide which one i want to develop.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Belle - I checked out your site, read your synopsis, and damn, I wanna know what the twisted ending is. Um, not twisted ending. Ending with a twist. Erm, yah. Cool!
Syn - have you bee to the NaNoWriMo site yet? There are forums there where you can ask your question of working on two novels. I don't know the answer to that. Check them out.
I'm also over at the NaNo forums as Phy.
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
Took me awhile, but I found this thread. (Yeah, I know I could have used the search, and I did eventually.) I am a member of NaNoEdMo and have been for awhile, but never had a need to use them until now. One of the posts there mentioned that Lulu.com is having a special for NaNoWriMo novels. I know that Mack has used their service before for her novel.
I went and checked the NaNoWriMo site and found a link to IUniverse.com as well. I thought those who participated would like to check out the links.
I have no idea if I am going to take the offer up because my novel just isn't finished, but I did reach the 50,000 word goal, which is a first for me. Yay!!!
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Also, if anyone wants book covers designed (for free! I need portfolio pieces!), you know where to find me.
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
quote: Also, if anyone wants book covers designed (for free! I need portfolio pieces!), you know where to find me.
See... now that's a reason to have your book published. A designer cover by Annie. It would become an instant collectible even if it was drivel. (I am just referring to my NaNoWriMo piece, btw.) Heck, even if you can't get it edited by the expiration date listed, you could have Annie work on the cover for the future. And, we'd be helping her out, as well. (She also said the magic word.... free.)
Annie is cool.
You would think after all that time of not using contractions it would have become second nature.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Now, I'm just aiming for 1-3 pages a day, since I haven't been writing at all lately. Thinking I will likely do some essays for my writing journal.
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
< -- This is me trying to think of an idea for the novel. Perhaps this will be my smiley sig until I can figure out what that will be.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Cool!![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
You would think after all that time of not using contractions it would have become second nature.