I'm taking a departure this year from my usual science fiction and writing a fantasy instead. Don't have all the details worked out - still have a month - but it looks like my main characters are 11 or 12 years old and get into a heap of trouble by nearly destroying the world.
What about you?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
For the last two years I've started ambitious nanowrimo stories and have always felt daunted and didn't complete them.
So this year I'm going to finish the story I just started writing last week. It'll probably end up being closer to 35,000-40,000 words, if that.
I know it doesn't satisfy the technical goals of the program, but getting SOMETHING accomplished is better than trying something big and stopping before I even start. So I think it satisfies the spirit of NaNoWriMo.
My story is called Carvin Hedridge. It's about a guy who happens upon a lost village when he gets lost. Something there calls to him and he stays for awhile to explore, and soon ends up defending the village from a great threat. In the end he finds the village is a lot more than it first appeared. I don't want to give too much away in case anyone wants to read it.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
That sounds interesting, Lyrhawn. Really really interesting. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Well actually, and this might sound pretty goofy but, the whole idea for the story came from two places. One of them was a dream I had, which I'll tell you all about after I finish writing the story, as the crux of the dream would ruin the ending of the story. And the other part was this:
quote:Carvin Hedridge wasn’t a normal town, but then it didn’t pretend to be. Tucked away behind a ring of low hills in New England, with jolting cobble stone streets and old gas lamps; walking into town felt like taking the New out of New England. It wasn’t easy to find, a veil of mist ringed the hills. There was only one road into town, and it passed over a small creek that marked the borders of the town, by means of a covered bridge. Curiously, not everyone saw the bridge. Driving along the old gravel, tree lined road, some saw only rough rocks and boulders cast about an impassable river. But a lucky few saw the bridge, and being of a different breed of man entirely, they passed over.
A stranger entering town would immediately notice that there were doors everywhere. Every store seemed to have five entrances, all leading into the same building. And the main street only had six stores. The only building with a single door was the bar, adorned with a bright wooden sign that read “a friend in mead is a friend indeed.” And despite the covered bridge and the gravel roads, there didn’t seem to be any cars in town. That wasn’t a surprise to the citizens, considering cars were outlawed. Lots of things were outlawed. Odder still, though there were clearly apartments above the few buildings in town, there didn’t seem to be any homes, though a visitor might have assumed they were behind the trees and down the lanes that led out of town. It didn’t seem like much for a town of Carvin Hedridge’s size, but the people never seemed to mind. The good people of Carvin Hedridge, living in a town that was different than most towns, were different than most people.
To anyone who might have seen Carvin Hedridge on a map, it was simply weird. It was a road side attraction, or to the more cynical, a tourist trap. But anyone who really paid attention would know that tourists and cartographers never made it to Carvin Hedridge. Anyone who really paid attention would realize that six doors in one building didn’t all necessarily lead to the same store. And anyone who was really paying attention would realize that Carvin Hedridge was anything but a tourist trap.
I wrote that the day before I had the dream, having absolutely no idea what the story was about. It was like writing a movie trailer and then basing the movie entirely off the trailer. It came to me out of nowhere at something like five in the morning. I felt like I'd actually been there, and writing that little blurb was like writing a journal entry about a place I'd just seen. You'll find out why that feeling is significant if I ever finish it. When I had the dream the next night, it all came together, and I set about the task of writing it.
Now on one hand it feels daunting to write something that I had such a clear impression of to begin with, and something that very quickly has become very important to me, and on the other I'm excited to get it all out.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
That sounds very interesting, definitely something that would catch my interest in a bookstore, ya know?
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Hmm. I should think about this. I'm finishing a major project this month and may be totally unemployed come November--why not try to write a novel?
Lyrhawn, you've got me intrigued.
Posted by guinevererobin (Member # 10753) on :
I'm going to try and do NaNoWriMo this year. I feel bad abandoning my current novel project for the month, but... I think it and me could use some time apart anyway.
Which means I should start outlining now, or November will turn out a mess of meaningless rambling word-counting, rather then a coherent novella. I'll update when I have a plot.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I'll be in. My NaNoWriMo successes have been very hit and miss, but giving up is something only losers and occasionally smart people do!
Now, what to write. I want to start something new, as the rules state, but the books I started previously and never finished have started calling to me with new ideas.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Totally haven't started thinking about plot or characters, but I'm definitely in.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I'm in. I'm finally done with my master's program, so I have time to do frivolous stuff like writing novels.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
It's great to see so many people joining in the insanity!
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm going to give it a try. And I'll register just as soon as the site will come up for me.
I stalled out on the short story I've been working on, so my novel is going to explore the backstory of a couple of the characters. The witch is having an affair with the king and his youngest son finds out about it. Meanwhile, the king's most trusted knight has vowed to avenge his son who was killed in an accident only to discover the prince was responsible.
I figure if I bring the melodrama, I'll stay interested for the whole 30 days. I get annoyed when people talk about melodrama like it's automatically a bad thing. Enough people watch soap operas that I can't be the only one who occasionally enjoys some over the top, sensational plots.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I've been working out a fantasy novel in my head that's probably chock full of cliches, but I've got to get it all out. A "wizard" sets out to foil the plot of his fellows to take over the world, but to do it must forsake some important vows he took early in his training and enlist a uniquely talented young man in a dangerous mission. That's the framework I've got so far. There's lots more details swirling around it.
Or I'll continue a story I wrote years ago about a young couple traveling to and from Duluth, MN to find their identities again. There's a big land-boat Cadillac in the story and a mechanic named Butch. Can't be that bad.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm in as TheOptimist. It sounded happy. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Bah, my sister dragged me in. I am now Tricia V over there. I fired my pen name this summer. Though I guess I could log in and get all my buddy names from last year.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Oh, right, my screen name there is JennyJenJen.
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
I've yet to succeed, but that isn't stopping me. I'm in again as Vadon.
I honestly have no idea what I'll write about. Perhaps it's about a wallaby that married a koala in one night of drunken passion. Now he is caught in a dilemma, he was raised in a very religious home and divorce is not an option, lest he be bound to the flaming grasp of the devil. He knows he cannot divorce her, but is there some other solution? His solution comes by the great toad mafia Croakers. They are willing to kidnap the Koala and bring her to a zoo, where our Wallaby protagonist can claim she had taken ill and died. Unfortunately, no mere zoo can keep his koala-wife in for long, and the Croakers always demand their favor to be paid back.
...Yeah, probably not going with that one, though it would be fun.
Posted by DaisyMae (Member # 9722) on :
Hey, I haven't commented in a long while, but I've been lurking about.
I'm trying Nano for the first time this year. I'm going to do a YA urban fantasy. I've been researching and trying to lay out an outline. I'm a long time writer, but have never attempted a novel. I can use all the friends I can get. I'm on there as HoodieWriter.
Good luck NANOS!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So, everyone, how goes your preparations? Panicking yet? Freaking out? Only 11 more days and a few hours in my time zone until it starts...
I'M NOT READY YET!!!!!!!! Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
11 days?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
What, is my math wrong? *consults fingers and toes* Oh, right, October has 31 days. Um, oops?
How about 12 days and a few more hours? Will you take that as an acceptable answer, Alex?
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Oh, well, that's not much better. I was trying to assent to your disbelief, but I'm too tired to employ any smilies.
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 10765) on :
Lol! Not Ready Yet??????
I accidentally deleted all my outline work on the laptop, so I have to bust a move to get it all back.
If you want to buddy me, my nick is KaliAngelKat.
This year's tale is a fantasy called Karia, originally titled, Daughter of the Winds.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm in the spreadsheet phase, deciding what needs to be said. Then I realized my first fourth was too short and I had to bring in a whole new character. Aarg!
It's ok. I can get a backstory and motivation for one character in a week and a half. I can do this.
Kali, I love your titles. Have you thought about using both?
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
This thread is evil. I saw it last night, went to the Web site and spent a whole bunch of time (didn't check) on the forums there. Stayed up way too late and am paying for it today.
And, yes, I am already signed up as CaySedai.
Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
I wonder if I could count my thesis? I keep wanting to do this, but figure until that beast is done, I can't do something like this. My story idea is about three wizards who trained together. Magic tends to be very corrupting, so one of them is refusing to use magic at all. The other retired to a monastery and the third takes over the kingdom in a bloody coup. The two trying not to be evil get sucked in to trying to eliminate the tyrant. So, kinda cliched but it is hard in fantasy not to include some cliche.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Technically you're not supposed to use any former writing. That said, I'm going to modify the story I was working on for ScriptFrenzy but I'm starting over with a new plotline.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I haven't done NaNoWriMo the past two years. In 2005 I contemplated it, but elected not to. Last year I didn't even contemplate it. This year, I'm contemplating it again. Except it's been so long since I've done any sort of creative writing that the idea well is pretty darn dry at the moment. If inspiration hits in the next few days I'll join in, but I'm not betting on it.
Posted by forge (Member # 11101) on :
My problem has never been starting stories - be they novels or otherwise - but finishing them.
Can we start a month dedicated to actually finishing current projects?
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
There's a website for that concept, but I forget what it's called.
N.B. It's not an "official" Nanowrimo deal. Just something someone thought would be a good idea. I had a look at it, but it's not really what I'm interested in. I already nanoedmoed my first book and it's still not done.
Posted by forge (Member # 11101) on :
That website leaves much to be desired.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Eh, you get what you pay for.
Posted by forge (Member # 11101) on :
Which makes me wonder where my $10,000 check went :/
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Okay. Got a new password. Invented a placeholder title. Checked out the forum and the wrimo get-to-gethers in my area. Ordered a portable laptop so that handcramps stall me not by writing in long-hand.
Now all I need is a plot, s few characters, and some lengthy ideas about descriptions of stuff.
Good lord.
Why doesn't technical writing from work count?
I'm gonna work it into the plot this year.
Why waste all those work hour words, anyhow?
*grin*
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I used the block of 36 Dramatic Situations to pick what my characters would be doing. It helped that I already had one subplot in mind, but I like lists to get my mind moving. It's like having options to choose from is just what I need to get my brain out of neutral and back to work. Maybe it'll help.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Just wrote my annual NaNo column, and now it looks like I'll get to write a longer article for our print edition next week. I may get to interview Chris Baty (NaNO founder) for it! Anyone got any good ideas for questions?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
What evil demon possessed him in the first place to start this shin-dig, and what must we do to free him (and by extension, ourselves) from this ungodly torture?
How's that for a question?
*grin*
Posted by frogcat (Member # 8862) on :
NaNoWriMo is scarily compelling. Fear of abandoning the project once started. Fear of spending too much time on the project. Fear of writing something lousy. Confronting fears can be a great way to live. I'm gonna sign up!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Welcome, frogcat, to both Hatcrack and NaNo! Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
The third time is a charm. This year's working title: Holy Water May Cause Hives
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Steve, cool title. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Vampire novel?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Of course! Lyrhawn's way smarter than me. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I am adding y'all as buddies with abandon. The adding with abandon, not the buddies. New login name ends in -fras.
Beat me with sticks if I don't write this year!
----
Edited: Um, how do I search for people by their usernames? Where is the search button found? (Speak...very...slowly... )
[ October 26, 2007, 01:25 AM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
The main page still has apologies for the site's speed, so I'm guessing they haven't gotten it turned back on yet. They assure us it will be turned back on at some point.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
What AvidReader said. It's been turned off temporarily. But, if you go to the Hatrack thread on the NaNoWriMo site, you'll find a bunch of us and can buddy us that way. Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Haven't signed up yet... but will do so soon, most likely.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: Steve, cool title.
Thanks, I was proud of myself when I thought of it.
Lyrhawn-
quote: Vampire novel?
Actually, it's an adaptation of the following paragraph:
quote: They say that anyone can come into Christ and, therefore, be forgiven. And if we are forgiven, some religions believe that means we are guaranteed a ticket to heaven. But is it really that concrete?
This idea was tested a few years back when I first rolled into town. I was bad news for everybody. You see, my name’s Damien. And I’m actually the Anti-Christ.
It's something that I came up with and jotted down on a Wal-Mart receipt.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
quote: if you go to the Hatrack thread on the NaNoWriMo site
The site has no search feature. Could I get directions, please?
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I'm not seeing a Hatrack thread either. Link?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Evidently I was caught in a continuum where past years merged with this year... I created one. So, everyone, please introduce yourself over there with your username here so we know who you are, and feel free to buddy with abandon! Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I just wanted to say that whether I can or do win this year, I am so happy that I did it in 2004. Back then, there was no question of having the time, but it was a matter of priority.
Perhaps I will experiment with dictating my novel while I drive to and from work. If I can find my recorder.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Thanks, quid!
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Hooray! Thanks!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
So... I really can't start writing until Nov 1st, eh?
I've been plotting more and more, and have an almost complete plot - though more gets added every day. Still no real ending... the one I've envisioned would probably require a sequel to be written just to encompass it.
I have one character fleshed out to aboug 30%, and two more that I know will be in the story. I have a long way to go in that department - though I think I will limit it to a single main character, a decent sized group of secondary characters, and a host of tertiary ones.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Woo! Pro writer Keith R.A. DeCandido (Star Trek books, Serenity novelization, etc) has a book due at the end of November anyway, so he signed up at NaNoWriMo. Talk about peer pressure; he's used to pumping out thousands of words a day and he has to finish on time, so keeping up with him will be a challenge. Here's his profile. Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Is it just me, or is the NaNoWriMo site very, very slow?
Every time I try to do something on the forums, it takes an eternity to load the page.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
It is, and has been. They've been working on speeding things up - which is why the search functions aren't there right now -- but they're getting slammed with visitors. They're too popular!
Things should settle down a bit after the 1st.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Too popular?
I hold you personally responsible for that Chris... if not for your article, the site would not be so slow.
Curses!
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 10765) on :
It has been very slow! It was slow last year too.
One day to go!
I added people to my buddy list of buds!
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
I'm thinking about it. I tried once before, and it ended up a mess - I think I do much better with a well developed outline.
I guess I still have 2 days to outline Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I've got my plot (mostly) and am now working on characters.
I know the essentially backstory and motivation for my main character, but I need to work on the details... like personality, occupation, favorite breakfast food, number of freckles, etc...
As for supplementary characters, they're all pretty much relegated to roles, still - character's adopted father, nursemaid, friend, crazy old scholar guy, bug lady, etc.
Characters definitely need some work. Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I'm doing it this year. I'm gonna take full advantage of the "No plot? No problem!" idea. I plan to just start typing and see where the words take me. I think it will be fantasy, but I'm not sure. I'd like to start it out in the real world and only very gradually introduce the fantastic elements.
Also, I think I'm going to go with the Dracula style: letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, etc.
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 10765) on :
Good Luck Everyone!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Less than a day! For me, anyway - I've got 15 hours and 16 minutes to go... Although, really, I won't start writing until morning - no way am I starting at midnight - so yeah, it's a day. *cough*
One day to go! Woo hoooo!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Of course, Nov 1st is looking to be my busiest and most jam-packed day at work (meetings and training and such), and I likely won't be able to get home until hours after I normally do.
And today I have so little to do that I could even start writing *at* work if I wanted to.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: For the last two years I've started ambitious nanowrimo stories and have always felt daunted and didn't complete them.
So this year I'm going to finish the story I just started writing last week. It'll probably end up being closer to 35,000-40,000 words, if that.
I know it doesn't satisfy the technical goals of the program, but getting SOMETHING accomplished is better than trying something big and stopping before I even start. So I think it satisfies the spirit of NaNoWriMo.
My story is called Carvin Hedridge. It's about a guy who happens upon a lost village when he gets lost. Something there calls to him and he stays for awhile to explore, and soon ends up defending the village from a great threat. In the end he finds the village is a lot more than it first appeared. I don't want to give too much away in case anyone wants to read it.
I was thinking about your story when I was driving to Omaha last night on a business trip. I passed by a sign that said "Maple River Junction" but I read it as "Magic River Junction." (It's in Carroll County, Iowa.) Map Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Woot! I actually wrote more than my daily goal. I have no idea how to wrap up my second scene, but I get to sleep on it. Come on, subconcious. Gimme something to work with. 8)
How'd everyone do Day 1?
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I actually wrote about 2,000 words today! Sadly, I doubt I will have as much time as I had today ever again.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
431 words, including a list of the MC's family. But, I attended a 7-hour copy editing workshop and drove 3 1/2 hours home afterward. I got a bit of a late start.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
638, but will hit it hard again in the morning.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Sometimes I feel my purpose in life is to make others look better. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
You guys are awesome. Go, go, go!
I'm not a NaNoWriMo participant, but I admire the dedication that you folks put in.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
3,249 so far.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
811
Like I said - make other people look good. (Or goo - I almost left off the "d".)
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I think quidscribis should hit 50k by the end of the week at the rate she's going.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
3380 so far. Wrote most of them yesterday.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: I think quidscribis should hit 50k by the end of the week at the rate she's going.
You're funny. It'll take at least a week and a half.
I don't know if I'll be able to maintain the momentum - I still haven't finished plotting the story. I'm working on that still. I've got about ten or twelve scenes plotted that I still haven't written, so I've got a few days grace there, but I've got to get to plotting if I'm going to be able to maintain any amount of speed at all. I don't do well at all without plottage in place.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I'm up to 4,319 words so far, which is nice, 'cause it gives me some breathing room for the next deadline.
When I type my word count into Wikipedia, I get NGC 4319, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellatio Draco.
Cool.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
5,616 as of this morning, but the early rush is easy. My problem is always the second week when I suddenly run out of all the great ideas I've been percolating and have to start stitching them together somehow.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I just folded under the strain like a dollar store umbrella. But good luck to everyone who's still going for it!
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I'm worried that will happen to me too pooka.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Don't say those things, Chris. This is my first time and I don't need the fear.
Can we get a volunteer to donate two or three more servers to NaNoWriMo?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Pooka, don't fold! You can do it! You can! You, too, Dragon!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
7040 words. My head hurts. My hands are cold. But my insides are glowing!!! *big grin*
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
7040 for the day? Or thus far?
I've discovered, to no surprise whatsoever to me, that I suck at fight scenes. Suck. Completely and totally suck. Kidney punches? What do those feel like? The only fight I've ever been in, I broke the guy's nose and he cried all the way home (I was eight or nine, he was two years older, and he had at least 30 or 40 pounds on me). That's the sum of all my experiences.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
So don't write fight scenes. Some of the most effective scenes I've read had close to no detail in them.
"After all that, the silly fool insisted on coming at me with his knife. A busy minute later and I was inspecting the markings on the blade with interest as he curled up on the floor, his hands between his legs and his face turning redder than a home-grown tomato."
"I still don't know what happened, but she grabbed my wrist and twisted and it was suddenly very urgent that I hurl myself face-first at the floor."
"He moved, and suddenly my side was screaming at me. If I were trained in such things, I could tell you which organ he punched, but all I know is that is seemed pretty vital at that point."
"His sword blurred. His opponent fell to the ground, with more than one thud."
Just write the situation and the results, adapted to your own style and genre. Depending on the mood you're shooting for, less detail means more for the reader to imagine. The only time I use detail is when it is vitally important for the reader to know what happened (such as Ender's fight scenes, when OSC wanted to show how carefully and conclusively Ender acted).
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I love the gerund far, far too much.
It is becoming rapidly obvious to me that the word count is designed to force -- force! -- the inner editor into shrieking blubber in the corner. I'd heard that, but shoot, it's true.
---
Edited to add: 5559
[ November 04, 2007, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chris Bridges: The only time I use detail is when it is vitally important for the reader to know what happened (such as Ender's fight scenes, when OSC wanted to show how carefully and conclusively Ender acted).
Waaaall, I never would have guessed the pseudonym was "Chris Bridges," but now it all makes sense.
<_< >_>
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
OK...
"The only time I use detail is when it is vitally important for the reader to know what happened. An example of another author doing this would be Ender's fight scenes, when OSC wanted to show how carefully and conclusively Ender acted."
Smart ass. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Dude, my inner editor requires a meeting with Jack D to sufficiently gibber in the corner.
*spread hands
It all looks like a conspiracy! And a pretty humorous one, too.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I came up with a brilliant plan for coming up with things to move the story line along. I will take five songs I hear on the radio and write them into my story each day.
I actually thought this up while on a long drive Thursday, but decided not to write them down at that time. You know, 55 mph, after dark ... maybe it's best I keep my hands on the wheel and my eyes on the road. Just a suggestion.
Anyway, since I'm drawing a blank on the five songs from Thursday, I'll just list a few I've heard lately: "Believe" Cher (break-up song) "Big girls don't cry" Fergie (she wants to straighten herself out) "Who knew" Pink (breakup song - he left) "Rockstar" Nickelback (wish fulfillment)
And I got sidetracked trying to think of a fifth one, so I'll end it here. It's 1:15 a.m. and I'm tired, so blame this whole semi-coherent post on a very long day.
My novel is very loosely based on my great-great-grandmother and other ancestors/family members. I'm using family history as sort of a skeleton to build on, but changing names and dates and creating a whole bunch of stuff to explain why certain things happened. My g-g-grandmother was married 3 times. The second marriage, at least, ended in divorce for reason of abandonment, according to another family member who has accessed the divorce record (from the 1890s). So, I'm moving the whole family forward 10 years so that her husband can run off to the Klondike gold rush.
Current word count: 930
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks, Chris, about your advice about fight scenes. You're absolutely correct.
quote:It is becoming rapidly obvious to me that the word count is designed to force -- force! -- the inner editor into shrieking blubber in the corner. I'd heard that, but shoot, it's true.
Lovely imagery there, CT.
16,223. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
7,334. Now planning my daring midnight raid to sneak into quidscribis' head and steal words.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Hey, quidscribis, can I have some words?
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
tomorrow wall broom jacket yellow
(for those needing a few extra words)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
leprechaun moving green grass clouds covering volkswagon beatle beetle juice yummy breakfast
There, more words for those who need them. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Woo hoo! That makes 7351! Keep 'em going, guys...
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I actually started this tonight. What, am I nuts?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uprooted: I actually started this tonight. What, am I nuts?
No. Yes. Yes! No. Definitely... Yes.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I would agree on the yes. You are nuts. However, if you use those words that have been donated, you're only about 6650 behind... Totally doable.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Just back from a write-in . . . 9001 total words, now. With lots of good materials to make more words on over the busy, overbooked, harried and hectic week. And only 4 days in! Yay! I'm averaging well over the 1667 a day to make the goal! *beams*
Three years ago it took me all month to get to 8000.
Last year, all month to get to 30,000.
Muse, don't fail me now!
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I'm at 8,029. I'm averaging 2000 words a day, and never less than 1800, so I may even finish a few days early!
I'm trying to organize a write-in, but having never participated in one (and not knowing anyone who has), I'm wondering what usually goes on other than writing. Since I pulled together and pulled in the two dozen or so students who are all working on this at UGA, I feel rather obligated to put together some events.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I've got 6725, just over what I need for 4 days. As long as I sit down and push myself to write every day, I'm OK. I can do this. I've been able to turn off my inner editor so far and just write, and it's coming out.
Granted, I'm still dancing around at the beginning of the story looking for a break where I can slip in and move forward. I've told 3 separate beginnings so far, all of which are vital to the story. I just don't have the thing outlined enough to be able to fit them together on the fly.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Shan, congrats!
Joldo, that's great! Staying ahead is good. Gives you flexibility if you need it.
From what I've read in the ML forum, yes, there's writing at the write-ins, but that's not necessarily all. The general advice is to have two areas - one for writing, one for conversation. That way, if someone needs plot help or some such, s/he can go to the conversation area and talk to whoever else is over there.
Another suggestion is to have a jar of plot ideas (or index cards, or whatever) for people to pull out a plot idea when/if they need one. Alternately, bring blank index cards and have people at the write in write down their suggestions for others to use and add to the pile.
Word wars. Timed events (15 minutes?) where everyone's quiet and writes like crazy. Whoever got the highest word count in that time period gets... I dunno, a Hallowe'en candy.
afr - yay! Good for you!
Can you work on the plot outline in any *cough* non-NaNo'ing spare time? If you have any?
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I'm trying to keep up with my goal, but I'm not getting the average word count I need.
I'm averaging about 1300 per day, but normally it's late at night before I'm forced to stop by exhaustion and the need to wake up in a scant few hours - so I'm not exactly sure about the quality of work.
I've popped up to 5429 words, and I need to write about 2900 today to catch up to where I should be.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
FlyingCow, even if you walk away from this with, say, 39,000 words written towards your novel in November, how, exactly, is this a bad thing? Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
It's not, but since my novel is more likely to be 80-100,000 words, I'd like to be more than half way done by Dec. 1st.
One of my biggest challenges has always been writing discipline, really - getting words on a page each day. I've always been a "clump" writer - blasting out 10,000-15,000 words in a day, then not writing for weeks.
While this worked great for freelance assignments where I had to write, say, 20,000 words in three weeks, it doesn't work so well for a novel. I have three started novels that all sit around 10-20k words or so, but I always peter out.
Normally that's because I waited so long between blasts of writing that I had to go back and reread what I had before continuing, which put me into a downward spiral of rewriting/editing.
NaNoWriMo has been great at getting my to persist, but I'm just not achieving the volume I want yet.
I'd like to clock around 2k words per day, on average - which is reasonable for me, I think. It's just finding the time.
Plus, I'm a very deadline-oriented person... so I'm really gunning for at least that 50k goal.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yeah, I hear you. Good luck. Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis:
afr - yay! Good for you!
Can you work on the plot outline in any *cough* non-NaNo'ing spare time? If you have any?
An outline would be a nice thing, wouldn't it? I'm feeling like my story hasn't really found traction yet. But I have the worst time making an outline. I always have. Outlines and me don't jive too well for some reason. The best I've done for this story is an extended conversation between two people about one of the main characters. I figured out a fair amount of the story by writing that conversation. However, I'm still trying to get the story from point A to point B so I can take advantage of what I figured out. Meanwhile, I'm busy writing scene after scene.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I've got a page long rough plot outline. I'm on roughly line three of it. I seriously doubt I'll get even to the half way mark with 50k words.
Maybe if I wrote at quid's rate, I'd finish it... but I haven't been writing at quid's rate. Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
afr, I'm the same way. When I do make outlines, which is hardly ever, I never actually follow them, or I give up on the story because I feel like it has no room to grow.
On the other hand, it takes me a while to get going.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
If I were to have outlined LotR before writing it, it would have been along the lines of:
"Get ring from Bilbo Take ring to elves Group chosen to take ring to be destroyed Fight in mines Meet with more elves Party breaks up in three, etc, etc"
I like to have anchor points. I really don't know how my characters will get from point a to point b sometimes, but it's fun finding out.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I don't outline, but I've got a good idea of what all my characters want and it's driving them along right now. Except, of course, for my main character--he's buffeted by others' desires, for the moment.
I also discovered when I start getting bored with the prose, I gotta add in things. Like fire arrows and hobos. It works quite well.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I folded and created an outline much like FlyingCow's, kind of anchor points for the story. It felt good to at least know the direction of events. It also allowed me to jot down all the different threads I need to follow as the novel wears on. There's a lot going on, and somehow it's going to have to tie together. What I mapped out is only part 1 of the story I have in my head, but it's probably going to take all of my 50,000 words to tell it. I wonder if this is how Robert Jordan got started.
But yay! I broke the 10 grand mark with 10,072 words. I'm on track with the word count, but without much of a cushion. Writing late at night is definitely not my prime time, but it's the only time I have.
My POV just got shot at with arrows and discovered a power he has in the forest. I meant him to have that power, but I didn't know when he was going to discover it. Cool.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I broke 25k earlier today. Okay, I'm now at over 26k, but the 25k one was the big marker.
afr, congrats for beating 10k, and it's cool about your character discovering his power.
My female MC is now an emancipated child at 11, official and everything with a magical brand on her forearm. Which makes other major plot points work out so well. I didn't know she was going to be legally emancipated until it happened. My male MC is a crossdresser. Okay, it's to hide from seriously bad people, but still...
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm at about half of where I should be, but I am starting to wean myself from my need to hit the internet and look up every detail as I go. I'm doing more to just write. If I can keep that up, I'm calling it a victory.
I don't think I could work with ya'lls outlines. I have a spreadsheet of all the scenes I need to hit that I work from. That leaves me free to figure out how to get the narrative or dialog to move towards the goal.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
AR, when I hit a point where research is needed, I do something like <<<<<<<<<<<<RESEARCH: How large would that deer be and how difficult to drag it to the camp? And how? By the hind legs? Oh, and how much do sled dogs eat in a day anyway?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And then move on. The note's there, so the inner editor is satisfied and I can move on without being nagged by it. And the <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>> make it show up all nice and obvious when I do edits or a quick scan-through. Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I've been zoning out and writing 3000 words at a stretch. It's been fun.
I don't have any outline. I have a plan of my characters and what they want. That's it. I'm letting them drive.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I lost a lot of ground last night, only managed 600 words.
And tonight looks like it might also be slow because of dinner commitments.
I've gotta find some time to get words down! Grah! Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Me too FlyingCow! And I didn't write anything on Monday because I had class and whatnot all day.
Maybe I'll make my goal to get 50,000 words by the time I go home for Christmas break. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I didn't write much yesterday, and I haven't written anything today. I gotta get on that...
How're the rest of you doing?
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Stalled at the moment.
Wrote nary a word on Wednesday or Thursday, and I'm unlikely to find time tonight, either.
Tomorrow morning I drive to Maryland to visit with my sister and see my nephew in a play, and Sunday I drive back to NJ. Hopefully I'll have some time Sunday to put words down, but schedules keep intruding.
I'm also starting to be a little bothered by the fact that my characters have so little.... character. They don't really have distinct personalities so much. I need to start working on that moving forward.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Maybe you should stop in to KarlEd's Quizno's.
Before I was a quitter, but now I'm a sympathy striker Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm only at 6,000 but I've got a three-day weekend. Even with a half hour out visiting the Korean, Vietnam, and (if I can find it) WWII memorials, I should have plenty of time for writing and laundry.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I missed writing yesterday and am trying to get back on track. I'm only a half a day behind.
FlyingCow, turn off your internal editor! I'm getting the same thoughts now and then, but I'm only able to keep going because I promise myself I'll go back once I get the 50,000 words written. If I start feeling like I'm going the wrong direction with something, I start a new scene and move on from there. I know it's stuff you've heard and done before, but it helps having someone remind you now and then, doesn't it? Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I think I've finally decided to go the YA route with this one. It's starting to feel more and more that way, so I'm going to give in.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
So I pretty much started two days ago... a third of the way through. Guess who's not gonna finish for the third year running Oh well, this novel feels much less forced than they have in the past, I'm just sorta writing when I feel like it and writing whatever the hell wanders through my mind. I have no idea where it's going to go, I'm guessing science fiction cause that's what I always write, but it might not even be that. Here it is, if anyone wants to take a look:
I don't think I'll make it either Alcon, but writing when you feel like it is certainly a much less stressful (if also less productive) method.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I'll be darned if I'm not going to finish this. That is all. Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
I feel like I can't commit to anything until I finish my thesis. But everyone else writing has inspired me to do some non work related writing. 2000 words so far. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
We were out of town for the last four days, so no writing done - I don't travel well, I get sick, I end up in massive amounts of pain, we're occupied by lots of other things going on, yada yada yada.
And I caught tonsillitis. In what remains of a chunk of tonsil that the surgeon left behind. Because I lived in that much of a horse-pucky town when I had my tonsils out.
So. Tomorrow, I resume the road to, er, well, I can't think if anything alliteration-wise, and nothing rhymes. That sucks. Onwards and upwards, ho! then?
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Ok, I wrote very little this weekend, and I lost my lead. Still, I'm not falling behind.
Today I have to do laundry, so I guess I'll take my laptop to the laundry room and totally zone out typing.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
quote:Originally posted by advice for robots: I'll be darned if I'm not going to finish this. That is all.
I'm getting out my scissors, my string, and that half-moon needle, just in case.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
*half moons pooka*
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 10765) on :
*growls* I have been sick since Halloween and only managed to pop out a tiny bit of wordage.
I am still fighting this one!
I got a call from a friend that is heading to Provo for a wedding this weekend. I was supposed to go, but the illness stopped me.
I hope she remembered her camera!!!!!!!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Got back in the groove a bit today. Managed 2100 words or so, and I'd keep going but I'm exhausted and need to be up in 6 hours.
I now need to average about 2500 words per day if I'm going to reach 50,000.
On the days I've actually written, I've averaged about 1450 per day... though I had a few off days, so I'm currently averaging about 700.
I hope to hit 10k by tomorrow evening. I'm about to start a large and tense fight scene between my MC, a group of caravan guards, and a great beast that has attacked in the night. Should be a blast.
Okay, off to sleep now.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Even though I have a helpful outline, I'm finding myself slogging through scenes where I have no idea what's going on. Now one of my secondary characters is going to fall in love with the girl my main character was supposed to fall in love with. The nerve!
I am about to jump over to the next part that actually advances the plot, though. I can see things bogging down if I don't.
But hey, I'll pass 20,000 words tonight!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I passed 9000 - and I hope to hit around 11000 tonight. Have to go out with my boss after work, though, so I don't know how much time I'll have.
Tomorrow should be a good day, though. Hoping to cap 14000 or so. Still pretty far behind the curve, unfortunately.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
But you're making progress, FlyingCow!!!!!
Onwards and upwards, ho!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I liked the comment in one of the support emails that you should write at least ten words per day.
Even if you can't get any real volume down, just writing ten words will keep the story in the front of your mind - it will mean you thought about it enough, and got back into the scene enough, to put down a sentence.
I never thought about it that way before, but it's an invaluable tip, I think.
Just that has made signing up with the site worthwhile.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I should hit 25,000 tonight, or be close. Yay!
Finally the story's going somewhere. I've got some action going. One of my characters is going to escape the enemy camp with the person who captured him, and the other is headed to overthrow a government. They're On The Way Somewhere, when before they were just muddling around.
If I looked back, which I'm not going to, I'd see that I haven't included much justification for any of it. It's there, inside the characters' heads, but I haven't brought it out. But that's a job for the revisions.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
30,854. I'm about a day and a half behind in word count. Don't know what I'll have at 50,000 but this is really good practice.
Is anybody else still in this?
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Haven't written anything in days, word count is 3345, yet I'm optimistic. I've got at least double my word count for any previous year and the month isn't over yet.
Optimistic or so tired I can't get in touch with reality - it's a toss-up.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Oh, I'm definitely still in. Haven't written much in several days - the inlaws came to town, and when that happens, it throws my schedule completely out of whack, and I end up doing more stuff cuz, you know, it's the inlaws, so I also end up in more pain...
Add to that that I really need to develop the curriculum for the school/college - it's vital to the plot - and that's had me in headaches. *sigh*
I whine, I complain, but tomorrow, I write again. Oh, and I'm sitting at 37k+
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I'm technically still in it, but I have no hope of reaching 50,000 words.
I'm at just under 9,500 currently. My new goal for the month is to hit 15,000. If I can keep that pace up, I'll maybe be able to finish this novel in about 7 months or so. Time will tell.
Posted by Borealis (Member # 10056) on :
19,000 here... but I'm a two-timer already so I HAVE to hit 50k again. thanksgiving break game of catch-up, anyone?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
37,836
Pluggin' on
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
How do you people do it?
I'm struggling to flesh out a longish short story will probably end up being around 10,000-14,000 words. And that seems like a lot to me. I only have three scenes/sections out of 8 somewhat written.
It's probably because I am in the bad habit of revising while I write -- and when I come back to the project I tend to revise what I've already written before moving on to a new stuff.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
ding! ding! ding! for the win
Revising is often the death knell of getting it done. That's why Chris Baty specifically advises against it.
Nothing I have is good, other than maybe a few brief flashes, but I have it. I'll rechew that cud after and pull out what's worthwhile, digest again what isn't, and hopefully spit back something useful.
(Er. Not revising here, either.)
However, I'm not afraid of belting it out anymore, and that's a big step for me. Continually revising was what kept me from writing, and I think it's that way for a lot of people. Not everyone, but a lot of folks.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Well, crap. For me revising while I'm writing is deeply engrained -- goes all the way back to the way I daydreamed as a child.
Perhaps there's no hope for me. But first I'll try to try not to.
Also: I think we always knew you were a belter, CT. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Hah, hah.
---
Look, in my opinion, if you get what you want out of it, you win. Maybe not technically, but for your own intents and purposes. The first time I managed to sign up, and that equaled win for me. (I hid in my closet, but you know, baby steps.) The second time, I managed to get my friends on my friend list and come up with a plot. Win. The third time is now, and I have a chunk of words under my belt. Win, baby, win.
You don't have to give up revising as you go. However, I think CB was specifically trying to get people to force past that internal editor, because the continual analysis of the internal editor was keeping a lot of people from writing. For me, this is liberation: I had always edited as I went, obsessively reworking, and I never got very far with anything. Now I'm amazed at how far I can go, and I am sure my internal editor will have a field day of things to chomp on when I'm done.
YMMV, of course.
Congrats on you for taking it on, however it works out for you.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Turning off the internal editor, plus writing every day, is how I've gotten this far. Without my internal editor on this amounts to little more than freewriting off of a loose outline, but I'm actually getting somewhere with a story I've been chewing on in my head for a few years now, and discovering how the story might play out, and coming up with new characters and new conflicts, all because I've decided not to second-guess myself. I don't even go back to read what I've written before I start writing again. I don't even backspace more than a few words to correct something. I put it on the page and I leave it there, and I do my best to use it. That's how I've gotten as far as I've gotten.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Final stretch!
How are we all doing?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I wimped out at just under 15,000.
My kid broke yet another bone, and "medically fragile child" trumped "creative writing urge", leaving me in the oozy depths of black despair.
Oh well.
I can still cheer everyone on -- and I developed some wonderful ideas for future projects.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm sitting at 41k and change and still going for the NaNo finish. The novel itself is proving to be longer and more detailed than I thought, so it's probably going to wind up being done when I reach 120 to 140k. My writing time starts in... three minutes. Better get cracking!
Shan, sorry to hear about your kid. Good to hear about your wonderful ideas. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I'm pulling for you all Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I gave up around 10k. I kind of feel like I wimped out, but what with my course load this semester and various distractions from my social life it just wasn't going to happen.
Oh well.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I'm at about 42k right now and definitely shooting for a win. I'll have to take some extra time in the next few days to make up the words.
Like quid, I'm thinking my novel will be much longer than 50k. I'm just barely getting to anything important happening. Of course, on the next draft, it'll all get tightened up. But that's my internal editor talking.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quidscribis -- you are such an inspiration! You go, girl!
Nathan will hopefully be out of the splint tomorrow and into something smaller. I've told him NO MORE broken anything. Poor kid.
I am actually feeling some excitement about the project ideas, and over Turkey Day I did start in with interviewing my grandmother. She's a tough nut to crack, but once she got into it she really didn't want to stop.
I have two projects.
One is to simply capture the family history on the maternal side. A corollary is to get with my father on his side and take the family history book and some of the more interesting stories from the 15th-20th centuries and create a kids' story book.
The other is to write a definitive parenting manual. *evil grin* Everyone keeps saying they weren't handed one at the birth of their child . . . I'm gonna get this puppy written up and it'll go like wildfire, I'm sure!
It certainly won't be a "tell you how to do it" sort of book at all -- I am hoping for fun, for thinking, for room to grow, for recognizing and building on parental strengths, for tidbits of information and useful ideas along the way and places to maybe find more information if needed . . . I have lots of nifty ideas . . . *grins*
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Um, Shan, I'm confused. Not that I mind being an inspiration or anything, you understand. It's just that I don't see why I'm an inspiration when, for example, afr has a higher word count than I had when I posted that.
I'm currently at 43k and change, and hoping to plug the gap between here at, oh, 44k by the end of the day. Oh, now that I think about it, probably not too realist. Dinner's in, what, 15 minutes? Oh dang. Then Fahim's cousin is coming over.... Okay, so rest of the day is now shot. Skip that. Tomorrow...
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Well, let's see -- yours was the highest word count when I was writing my response so I didn't see afr's word count until after I posted.
{SIDE COMMENT: afr -- your word count is awesome! }
quid -- You're an inspiration because you keep on with the project! You go past the end date. And you actually set writing times! And stick to them!
*amazed*
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Mine may become massive. I'm about half-way through, story-wise, and I'm at 44k. Not only that, looking back over the beginning, I think when I edit what I've written so far it will at least double in size. Pacing's good, but there's a lot of extra scenes that ought to be in there.
Expect a fat little fantasy novel. Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I think I'm not even going to reach 10,000 at this rate. Work and wedding planning have just become too much.
I'm keeping up the fight... just at a slower rate. Then again, at this rate, it might be 2011 before I finish. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I'm in the 40's, but I'm not proud of most of it. I was spending too much time trying to get dialogue and description just so -- and taking time away to go start a grass-roots organization -- so I fell back to essentially describing the novel to myself so I could fill it in later. Call it the .5 draft.
"Here's where she'll discover the secret path. Put in some description of the area, mention how gloomy it is, prolly add some mental argument as she tries to decide if its worth it.
"Peter will try to jolly her along but she's still mad about the romantic overtones he's started using (assuming) so she'll fight his suggestions even when they're good, like this one. They'll argue, again, and not notice the demonbeast that has crept up behind them, interested."
"Describe the demonbeast."
Somewhere between insanely detailed notes and an actual draft.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
I'm at about 5000 words and it doesn't look like I'll get any further in November. I like what I've got so far though, so I think I'll try and keep going even though NaNo is over. Silly school distracting me from my life pursuits... The more I think about it the more I like the idea of taking a few years off to just do whatever and work however before going to grad school...
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I'm very happy with how this is going. A new character stepped in a few days ago, and he's giving me a lot of fun to write. I'm so happy with how this month has gone, and I think I'm going to try working as a municipal liaison next year.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
So is the site not accepting word count updates or did they move the button? I'm at 7,145 now, and I'd like credit for my recently renewed progress. It's lame progress, but it's mine and I want it.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I'll have about 47,500 by later tonight, and will do the last leg of the home stretch tomorrow. Whoohoo! I'm gonna win, baby!
I'm amazed at how much I've been able to write just by not going back at all, ever. That's the only way I've gotten so many words down. This draft is crap. I wouldn't even favor it with "rough draft." Maybe "scratching." But it's given me a good idea of how a decent story could be laid out. Pounding it out has opened up a bunch of unexplored avenues. I think I could build a fairly good outline from what I've written this month. Plus, I have a better feel for roughing out a novel now, and what it's going to take to get a complete draft done. So this has been a very positive experience.
P.S. Avid Reader, I can still see the text field where I enter my word count, and the submit button, on my Author Info screen. Is that where you're looking?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
47,724 Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Well, I'm finally done with 50,471 words. Yay! 4:24pm, so I still had hours and hours of time. Piece of cake...
Shan, that whole sticking to writing times thing - blame Fahim. No, seriously, he's so good at helping me develop habits, but then it's my own fault when I fall out of them. He also cuts me off of certain websites *cough*HatCrack*cough* from 8am to 4pm - with my permission - to help encourage my productivity. And, happily, it WORKS! He's really really really good for me.
But still, I'll take your compliment. Definitely. Thank you.
Chris, what you're describing for your novel, I've heard called a zero draft. It's sorta between a long detailed outline and a first draft. And, you know, since there's a name for it, it should be obvious that there's whole entire bunches of people out there who employ that method. I say, as long as it works.
My novel is nowhere near done. I've barely gotten to my MMC messing about with things he's not supposed to mess about with at all, and I can still see a lot of places where fleshing out needs to take place. This is going to end up being my longest work ever. It's also the one I'm the happiest about thus far in terms of quality. Yeah, it's a first draft, and yeah, it definitely needs work, but it also needs less work than any other previous draft I've written, I think. It really feels like my writing is improving, so happiness reigns. Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Thanks, afr. I thought I remembered it having its own button on the left in the blue area. Hooray for updates.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I have 3100 words to write today. I can do it!
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Way to go, quidscribis!
Go Joldo!
I've got 2000 words left. I can taste it.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
50037
I can't scramble my file, though. My computer won't do it. Is it really necessary, or just an exercise in paranoia? I mean, no one has access to these, right?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
*high-fives Joldo*
I have no idea about the access or how the rights work in this case. Can you break it up into smaller files and scramble it that way?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I think it's pretty much an exercise in paranoia. I used the replace feature in word and replaced all my vowels with consonants - that was good enough for me. But if you don't want to/can't, I wouldn't worry about it.
Congrats, Joldo!
Go, afr!!
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Validated at 58,231.
Joldo, I doubt there will be repercussions, but it is easy. Just go into "Edit" of your word processing program and do what quidscribis said.
Congrats to all who even just tackled it. Good going!
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I am an official winner with 50,166 words! Hooray!
Congrats, CT!
Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :
My brother finshed with 15 minutes to go at 50K even.
Way to go everybody! Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Congrats, CT, afr, and Pegasus's brother! Woohoo!!!
Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
5816 words- so a tenth of the way. I also did around 3000 words on my progress review (which has a maximum page limit of 8 so that was what it had to be) I didn't let myself write fun stuff until work stuff was done and since I HATE writing progress reviews, I spent a ridiculous amount of time staring at that file.
Posted by Sergeant (Member # 8749) on :
I have seen the NaNoWriMo threads here several times without really checking out what it involved. Maybe next year.
My wife started writing sometime this last month and is sitting at 60-70 single spaced pages. If I had known I would have directed her to the site as I would imagine she has met the 50k limit. Oh, well.
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Onwards and upwards, ho! then?
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4:24pm, so I still had hours and hours of time. Piece of cake... ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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