posted
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.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
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...
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
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.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
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!
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
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?
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
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.
Posts: 1831 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I died at 26k last year. And now with college, I don't think I'll have the time to do it this year.
Posts: 1934 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
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!
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
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.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
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...
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
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.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
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.
posted
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? Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
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.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
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.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
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.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
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.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
posted
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.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
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! Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
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.
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
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!
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
:bump: Well, at least if I landmark during November I'll have plenty of mashed potatoes to throw up against the wall.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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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. Posts: 472 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
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!
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Links to NaNo resources, writing guides, spreadsheet progress reports, web page graphics, and more, along with excerpts from my last two attempts.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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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 ![[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.
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