I'm toying with the idea but it's pretty intense. However it may be just what I need to start being really productive.

I know that the NaNoWriMo site has its own discussion forums, but I was thinking fellow Hatrackers may want to stick together, since we're the ones with HUBs!

Any comments, particularly from any of you who have already done it? What was it like? How far did you make it? How prepared were you before you started? What did you do that worked? What would you do differently? Are you going to do it again?
 

You are allowed to make up notes in advance for whatever idea you have - I definitely would do that!
 

Jon
 

I have had a cool breakthrough, FYI. The novel idea I have that has been giving me fits, now has a potential ending!! This is a big deal because I just couldn't seem to figure out what happened past the midway point of the novel (and I have spent many hours over the past year pondering it). Yesterday I brainstormed out loud with my hubbie in the room, and he provided a couple of very cool ideas, which allowed me to figure out at least one, possibly two, feasible routes through the second half of the novel.

I now feel comfortable attempting the NaNoWriMo because I have a pretty good idea of what I want to write. Now my biggest problem is actually doing it, but I really respond to deadlines, so here's hoping. I should set myself some sort of consequence if I don't make it, I think . . . somehow 40 lashes with a wet noodle probably won't cut it.

2000 words a day does sound rather doable. Typically my short stories end up being between 1700 and 2000 words, and I write a draft in one sitting. So if I can make that my goal, or say 8 to 10 pages a day, I may be able to make it.

The most important thing for me, I don't know about you guys, is to not revise. I have a bad habit of revising a page fourteen times (or so) before writing the next one. But I read a book on revision which says even if you decide to change something really major, like POV character, just change from that point on and fix the beginning later. That really opened me up to just pounding it out without going back and tweaking.

Here's hoping!

[This message has been edited by autumnmuse (edited September 16, 2004).]
 

Eeep. Signup in 14 days... midnight on the night of the IgNobel Prizes....
 

Should be fun at least, I've been looking foward to it ever since last year November.
 

Jon
 

I have a concept for a novel wandering around in my head for a while now and am probably going to use nanowrmo to get it down on paper. Good luck to everyone who's going to give it a try!
 

Rux
 

Thought a gentle reminder wouldn't hurt.
 

Oh well...I'll do a novel in 3/4 of a month...just see if I can't!
 

Jon
 

Just a thought, but anyone here want to start a Hatrack based Nano circle?

Since I haven't written a novel before, that would let my extroverted tendencies express themselves, by being able to say things like "wow, I was totally stuck on that chapter but I just thought of something for my protagonist to do which gave me three more chapters of material" or something of that ilk; or "I'm totally stuck, any ideas for what could happen after x event?"

Does that sound too intense for you guys? If even one other person is interested in that level of accountability, maybe we could email each other. If a bunch of us, we could probably still do it under this topic, if that's okay with Kathleen. I am not including critiques at all, just stuff to keep us going till we cross the finish line.
 

Susan
 

I fully intend to attempt to have my novel published (after revision of course, this challenge is just a first draft for me) but I wonder if doing Nano is signing a death warrant for publishability? Or is it just that none of those people try to publish?
Any thoughts?
 

This is my 4th year doing nano. I don't think it's disturbing that so few nano novels have been published - that isn't really the point. nano is about just writing at all, not necessarily writing well. sometimes that's enough.

I've learned a lot from my nano experiences, and had fun, too. It doesn't bother me a bit that nothing I've produce from that time is even vaguely publishable.

mileage varies, of course.
 

I'd be willing to be part of a support/idea team.
 

Christine-even if you go away for the holiday(as I am planning) go ahead and sign up. It is a great boost to writing productivity that goes on past November.
 

The bar is very high for what's going on in my life right now, but I will never get there if I don't at least REACH for it, ya know?
 

So I have to be _Christine, but I signed up.
 

I called Books-a-Million to find out about my shipment since I ordered "No Plot? No Problem!" along with the book for Sims2 and Writers of the Future XX (EricJamesStone has his story published in it!). Turns out they were waiting for a new shipment of the Sims2 book! The lady apologized and set my other books to ship ASAP - maybe I should have ordered it sooner, but I wasn't even sure I was going to do NaNo... oh well.

Anyone have a plot yet? Or characters?
 

I have a main character. I have some sketchy plot. I'm not doing an outline for this one (crosses fingers) but I've got a beginning, an end, and a few key scenes in mind so I'm hoping that I can make it work.

But as I understand, the novel in a month isn't supposed to be poetry but a rough draft, and that's exactly what I'm doing!
 

I am still trying to decide which story I am going to work on. I have a short story that I am expanding, and the basic outlines of another that's a little further developed.

A whole novel in a month eh? That bar is sooooo high!
 

I started a "Hatrackers" thread under the Writing Groups and Clubs forum at NaNoWriMo so we'd have a place over there too!
 

I'm not to worried about the non-published percentages. Any book generated during NaNoWriMo probably needs serious revision(s) and polishing. That's going to cut of many people, who may not put in the rest of the leg work after the initial burst. Then add the long query/response cycle times, and the math would say that only books from two or three years ago would really have hit the place where "published" is possilbe. Factor in the usual odds, and you won't get a huge number.

BTW, I'm GinaZ over a NaNoWriMo. GZ was appearently too short (silly 3 character minimum!).
 

Jon
 

[This message has been edited by autumnmuse (edited October 06, 2004).]
 

According to http://www.tarakharper.com/faq_pub.htm#chances

.03% of submitted manuscripts are publshed (3 of 10,000). She's used actual research on her site (she writes sf/f). Her section on publishers is worth reading.

According to an article on www.writersdigest.com, possibly only 1 tenth of 1% of submitted manuscripts are of publishable quality. Not that that applies to "Big Names" who can sell less than top-rate quality on their name alone.

It is hard to break in, but obviously it is done. Just be better than your favorite author!
 

Scary scary numbers. I rather assumed that novel sales would be held down by the small number of people ever actually finishing one, but perhaps it is that they finish and send it off before it is really ready to go.
 

I'm going to work on Haven, a young adult paranormal novel. And seeing as I'm one of those unfortunates slaving away for the man over Thanksgiving...it shouldn't be a problem (unless I've got a lot of catching up to do...)

~Alethea
 

The first for those who aren't doing NaNo, but are willing to help those who are. For example, if you want to be a NaNo buddy, put a post offering your services. Anyone needing a buddy can look at the list and e-mail a request for help.

The second for those who are doing NaNo. Asking for help on a particular segment, posting updates on projects, looking for motivation, etc.

What does everyone think? I know we talked about it a while ago, so are there people still interested in forming a Hatrack NaNoWriMo support group?
 

Susan
 

So, if you treated every month like NaNo... you'd have 12 a year. Thus, it should only take about 3000 years to get a novel published. And, if it sells well, you should have a decently stocked junk drawer that you could then resubmit.
 

Just 3000, eh? No sweat...
 

Whee! Good luck my fellow NaNoWriMo-ers.
 

The nano site is down- I wonder why. I can't imagine people are posting to it rather than writing. Though I guess if 90% of the people are following a losing strategy, that could explain it because there's a projected 50,000 involved this year.

P.S. I've been trying slow and steady for fourtten years and have squat to show for it. I'll let you know if I get anywhere with this.

[This message has been edited by franc li (edited November 01, 2004).]
 

And the first day's quota is in!
 

But best of luck to ya'll!
 

I decided that his story is either not ready to tell or not mine to tell in the first place. I bagged it and rifled my filing cabinet for anything that would coalesce into a workable story, and I think I've found it. I had another 1K words in short order, then piddled about and got a few hundred more down after babysitting my granddaughter for a couple hours after work. I can already see some problems with some of the characters as I hastily outlined the basics, but I think I can work it out. I kinda have to now. I somehow dragged someone from work into the NaNoWriMo fold and she's the type who, though basically a nice person overall, will make sure I'm aware of her disappointment in any lack of progress.

Anyway, all that aside, good to hear some of us are off to good starts already!
 

However it turns out, the results won't really start coming in until later this evening, so you have alllllllllllllll day to reach your quota. Even if you only get 1500 or so down today, at least you'll only have to make up a little bit tomorrow.

Good luck.
 

NaNo ~2 days = 6345 words
Previous novel idea started last decemeber = 4300 words (after three starts, in all fairness)

Witness the power of a deadline and a good dose of Exuberant Incompentence!

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 02, 2004).]
 

It's amazing what a good ole deadline can do for your writing. Of course, others might say it is the power of setting goals.

Either way, keep up the good work.

Anyone else have an update on the days writing? Or did y'all get caught up in the election?
 

Gotta get some sleep, since Ohio won't hurry up and make up its mind! (Uh, I won't mind, as long as it does what I want it to do...)

I'm almost done with my third chapter - got an mc I like, a potential hunky love interest (who will still be hunky when revealed for his true self), but realized I need an antagonist.

Maybe a big cicada...!
 

Overall I am quite proud. I have started this novel several times in the past, once writing 27 pages of it. This time, although only on page 22, I feel that I am already on the way to victory!!
 

Autumnmuse: January is a good time to think about that. For now... JUST WRITE! *g*

punahougirl84: Want some help in coming up with your antagonist? I and others would be happy to offer suggestions, if you like! Just email or post either what you have so far, or a short synopsis of the characters and the plot you have in mind.

Christine: No excuses now, election day is over. WRITE! *G*

Jules, GZ: Keep up the good work!

Warbric: Still going strong? Did you make up the first day's word count after you changed novels?

Anyone else doing it? Report, please!

Susan

I am pleased to say that despite getting highly distracted by politics yesterday, I managed to write 2866 words, only 134 less than my daily goal. I think I can make those up today...hope so....off to tackle that challenge now!
 

If none of that rambling makes any sense to you at all, then you obviously do not make it a habit of mixing waffles and syrup, a couple cups of coffee, M&Ms and other chocolate candy and Red Bull into your diet all in the same morning.

Edit: Ack! So hyper I forgot to say that my word count (including the sparse and reluctant Chapter One) is now at 6,332.

[This message has been edited by Warbric (edited November 03, 2004).]
 

If you need help brainstorming, or trying to find the "problem" with chapter one, let us know.
 

http://www.ericbenson.com/nanowrimo-report-card.xls

I'm at 5131 words, but I got distracted today and wrote very little. Still have an hour before midnight and only, um, 1500 words to write to stay on target. Yikes!
 

(Word Count: 8647)
 

http://erikbenson.com/nanowrimo-report-card.xls

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited November 03, 2004).]
 

The important thing is to get the stuff down on paper. You can go back and sort it out and line it up and transition from one to another later.

Writing what wants to be written when it wants to be written makes what you write more interesting and fresh than it might be if you forced it to wait until you got around to it in a more linear fashion (that is, making Chapter 19 wait until you have written the eighteen chapters that come before it).

Movie scenes are not always filmed in the order in which they are edited together, and story scenes don't need to be either.

Skip over things--put in a note about what needs to go there, so you can write it later--and go on to the stuff you are excited about.

By the way, I don't

quote:

---

make it a habit of mixing waffles and syrup, a couple cups of coffee, M&Ms and other chocolate candy and Red Bull

---

Here are some virtual chocolates, though, in case they help.
 

The problem I am having is because my antagonist has to seem like a really good guy to my protagonist, but the reader needs to figure out he's a slimeball. Problem is, my POV is pretty tightly on the protagonist, so I can't show anything he doesn't know. Right now I'm just going to let the reader discover right along with him that all is not well in this green Eden. But it is pretty hard.

Uncle Orson sure seems to make it look effortless, all his mental descriptions and characterization. I am fighting and fighting to make mine coherent. I fear that I am spending too much time explaining some things, and not enough time explaining others. Aaargh!

Morale a bit lower today. But I at least have 6600 words, so it is not a lost cause, even though it was like pulling teeth to get them.
 

Just keeping the focus on the antagonist slightly more than he would deserve from his visible participation in the story so far can drop a pretty big hint.
 

<Christine runs around pulling all her hair out.>

It's a shame, too, I have pretty nice hair...

Sigh, but for some reason I feel as if the first threee chapters of my novel have been almost entirely told instead of shown. I think it's because at the last minute I decided to start the story quite a while before I had intended to in the first place and it's not matching my outline and so I don't know what to show. So, I know the problem, but why can't I get it out of my mind and say, "Ok,then do better in the rewrite and keep writing this one!" Yesterday I ran out of steam and only wrote 2k words. Grrrrrrr
 

Susan
 

Christine: Don't worry about "show don't tell" too much. One thing about "tell" is that it is faster than "show"; it takes fewer words to write and gets the jist of everything down on paper (or up on the screen ). As you work through the month, if you find yourself getting stuck while moving forward, you can always go back to a more "telly" section and re-write it so that it is "showy" instead. It will keep you writing, increase your word count and possibly inspire you for what can happen in future chapters.

And don't worry too much about your word count being down. Some days you'll write more some less. You only have to shoot for an average.

Everyone: Keep up the good work and keep us posted! Now stop lurking, reading or whatever and go write another chapter .
 

Thanks Susan! The basic idea is there is this woman (27) who maintains a travel web site. Trouble is, she doesn't travel - ever since her best friend got killed when they went on their "post-graduation-travel-Europe" trip. Her site is great - she relies on tons of research, world-wide web cams, and sending her parents on trips instead.

Stuff happens, and she ends up trying out Hawaii's new virtual travel agency. Kind of a stepping stone to get back traveling. It will turn out to NOT be virutal, but a way to travel to other planets... The owner is a scientist/inventor on the run from the government (doesn't want to be the next Einstein/atom bomb guy), and the only travel agent is a guy from another planet (my mc figures out he's holographically enhanced to look like god's gift to women - see a pic of the guy who plays Horation Hornblower in the A&E series if you want to know the looks I'm basing him off of). He's actually more feline in nature, but she finds out later.

So troubles will happen as she travels, finds out what is going on, gets stranded, etc. The agent will end up with her (romance eventually). I plan to have her visit 3 different places.

I don't know if I should limit myself to antagonists at each stop or if there should be a main one, who might also be traveling the way my mc is.

I'm headed into Chapter Four, where she takes her first trip. Any thoughts on an antagonist for what is apparently an adventure tale (and I will go back and review some, like Indiana Jones)?

EDIT - now that I've written this, I just realized (duh) that I could have a government agent as an antagonist - maybe stumbles on the travel agency and somehow ends up following (having to follow?) my mc... Wow! Just doing this little thing makes that so obvious... though maybe some other less cliche ideas would be better.

[This message has been edited by punahougirl84 (edited November 04, 2004).]
 

First thoughts: It immediately struck me that your antagonist might be an alien who has a vested interest in keeping such a travel device from being used, or conversely, one that wishes to use it to travel to Earth for nefarious purposes. Of course that's an "off the cuff" thought that hasn't gone through any expansions or revisions, but in this case it's probably more important to throw something out to you than to sit and mull it over myself.

Perhaps someone here will have a better idea, or can take the thread of my idea and muchly improve it-- which shouldn't be too difficult!

Susan
 

Your antagonist could be a government agent sent to either supress the invention or to abscond with it for the government's own use. Either way that could allow you to strand your traveling pair for a bit.

Susan

 

You are a great buddy :-)

Lee
 

Or the antagonist is the "dead" friend (of course she didn't really die...). I'm thinking a bit of the movie Sneakers with Danny Glover and Robert Redford.

Good luck.
 

The (not really) dead friend IS the gov't agent; The dead friend was killed by the gov't agent; The dead friend was killed by alien antagonist.

There are at least two antagonists, warring with each other (gov't and aliens), with the traveling pair caught up in the middle.

Gosh, there are all kinds of possibilities, and I'm sure we're barely scratching the surface here!

Okay, time for me to go do MY work.

Susan

 

Thanks you two - happy writing!

Lee (I've been dancing with my twins - and this weird stuffed ballerina bear - odd face - not writing, but a great workout for body and mind!)
 

4149 words today....I am now up 10 words for my goal to date and I might decide to write some more...right now, I'm getting some food and a breakt ho!
 

kdw: Yes, I see your point. I think that is what I'm going to have to do. I'm wrapping up Chapter Three, though I'm certain that Chapter One -- when it wants to be born -- may impact upon it, or maybe vice versa. Then I'll take a long look at my (sketchy) outline and see what jumps out and begs to be written right now. The remark about the syrup, coffee, chocolate and Red Bull consumption was a comment on my currently very high intake of simple sugars and caffeine which is probably wreaking havoc on my health and nerves, if not my communication skills.

Christine: I keep wrestling with that same monster. I feel the telling is taking over and the showing is lost in the shuffle, but I keep trying to stay in the mind of "just put it on paper" now and stress out about polishing it later. Not that easy to do, is it? I'm one of those guys with long hair and I find myself tugging on it some in my distraction... when the frustration begins to mount the temptation to start tearing at it and ripping it out is overwhelming sometimes, so I feel for you.

Robyn_Hood, shadowynd, and yanos: Nice coaching and great advice. I've been making it my habit to stop by here first each time I sit down to resume working on my project. I love the advice and encouragement.

Fellow NaNos: I'm motivated to keep at it by checking your word counts and reading your accounts of the process and your progress. Keep it going!

[This message has been edited by Warbric (edited November 04, 2004).]
 

Man against man

Man against nature

Man against himself

Lee, your antagonist doesn't have to be a character, it can be the problems your mc encounters in this not-so-virtual travel she's doing.

An antagonistic character can complicate things in a story, but stories don't need such characters in order to work. Stories just need obstacles and things going wrong that the mc has to deal with. The story is about the mc and what s/he does in response to what happens. It's not about the antagonist.
 

That and a certian psyco competive streak coming out that is really begin egged on by min word counts, quotas, and all those other bars on peoples names over and NaNo central (the 27000 guy excluded. Those people are just really crazy and I can't compete with that and go to work too (probably couldn't compete with that and not go to work, come to think of it)).

Spelling, grammer, typos, plot holes...
Those are problems that are meant for sometime after Nov. 30th.

(11147)
 

Good luck to all those who are similarly engaged!
 

Well, I knew what I was writing, so it was easy. I'm doing everything - the mc's internal issues, the problems that result from the adventure and will throw in antagonists that fit in with it (all of them).

Thank you Kathleen - you are wonderful, and appreciated.

NaNo site is down...

[This message has been edited by punahougirl84 (edited November 05, 2004).]
 

Word count: 8723 and on Chapter 3.

 

I just have to write an extra six hundred words today to get caught up. I can do that. Right?

(7907)
 

Good luck, ya'll!

*stands on sidelines editing already written novel*
 

MaryRobinette, of course you can make it up! You guys are doing GREAT! Keep up the good work!

Yes, I know, I used exclamation points for nearly every single sentence above. But doggone it, I'm excited by how well you are all doing!!!

Hopefully next year I'll be in a position to join you all! Umm.. you ARE all planning on doing it again, yes? No, wait. Don't even TRY to think that far ahead. One day at a time, loves, one day at a time! *G*

Keep up the *fabulous* work!

Susan

 

Everyone is doing great. Thanks for all the updates.

If you reach 11,500 by tonight, you can safely take some time off on the weekend.

If you are below 8,500 though,it's time to catch up and kick it into high gear.

MaryRobinette: You got to meet Steve! Like in real person! Up close! Wow!!!!! (...and I don't even have kids ).

Don't worry too much about being below your daily goal. As long as you write a bit more on another, it will all shake out in the end. Besides, you got to meet Steve!

RunningBish: Welcome to Hatrack. Keep us posted. And, while I'd love to take credit for the report card, I believe it was MaryRobinette who originally posted it .

------

Alright, keep up the good work everyone. You're almost 25% done.

 

I know you guys can do it, so no excuses. No hob-nobing in Iceland or dancing with ballerina bears in Maryland -- you know who I'm talking about.

Ahhhh, forget all that. Have a great weekend everyone and I hope you can stay on track for your goals. Keep us updated here when you take your breaks. I'll check in on Monday.
 

Have a wonderfully wordy weekend!

Susan
 

Sili
 

But next year... next year I shall participate... and then nonsensical, hurriedly-written tales of zombies and punks shall sweep the nation! [*]

Best of luck to all those brave and hardy souls giving NaNo a shot... you can do it!

[*] for "nation" read "an empty Word document".
 

No hay here yet and I'm taking a break from my web work, so I thought I'd pop in and give you your morning dose of encouragement. Get your writing done early so you can get out and enjoy the rest of the day with your families and friends. Don't falter now, you've been doing so well, all of you!

I'll check back in later, and hope to see notes by then that you've all finished your word count for the day and are kicking back and relaxing.

Susan

 

I am slightly behind, with about 7000 words today. I am planning on hitting 10k tonight to catch up.
 

Well I am positively disgruntled. Not that I was gruntled earlier, but... My hay isn't coming until tomorrow. I called after they didn't show up for a few hours and the wife answered. She sounded annoyed, and verged on rude, and insisted that it was tomorrow. Now I am quite certain that when I spoke to her husband yesterday, he said the flatbed would arrive at ten tomorrow, which would make it today. Yes, indisputably today. Hmmph.

I shall simply be glad when the hay is delivered and I have no excuse to call and speak with that person again. Well now. I feel much better after having groused a bit. Okay, I don't, really, but this has to count as my writing for the day, so it shall have to do. *mischievous grin and wink*

Susan

But I'm back on track for today, quota already in. I'd try the take off weekends thing, but, in addition to not being able to commit to enough words during the week to keep up, I think I would loose too much momentum by taking a day off. Each day is getting a bit tougher just 'cause I'm wearing down a bit, and putting it off a day isn't going to help me with that tendency towards inertia.

(16426 Almost officially 1/3 done!)

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 07, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 07, 2004).]
 

1) Comcast was down, so I couldn't get on-line at all.

2) I sign in at NaNo, and it says thanks for logging in punahougirl84, then takes me to the home page, but instead of saying "signed in as punahougirl84" it says the normal "user login" - I Can't Get Logged In On The NaNo Site - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!

I did e-mail tech support, and they did the auto-reply, I did what they said and nothing helped, so I replied, and am waiting for a reply... meanwhile I was supposed to be doing stuff and I can't let my regional forum know what is going on because I can't log in...

Did I mention AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH???

So, I'm going to go catch up on class work, and hope things get fixed, then do more NaNo tonight during the Ravens game.

Mutter, mutter...

Glad everyone else is working hard and doing so well :-)
 

I am at 15,066 and that's even with a day of sightseeing.
 

Just think, in three days you'll be at the 1/3rd mark for time. All you have to do is try to get to 17,000 or so words by then. From the posts over the weekend, it sounds like most of you aren't far off.

Keep the updates coming and don't forget to use your HUBs and if you need the Penmanship*, we're only a whistle away!

----

*The Penmanship is the Hatrack sloop, ready to sail to your rescue.
 

GRRRRRRR can't write anything this morning!
 

Are you stuck on something particular, or is it just distractions?

p.s. Did your kitty come home last night?
 

Anyways, I wrote a bit more yesterday, which put me at 11,503 for the first week. I'd have had more except for those couple of non-productive days.

Today my goal is 2,500 words, and will be until I am back on track to cross the finish line by the 24th. That way if my novel is longer than 50,000 (which I hope it will be) then I can still finish by the end of the month, even allowing for Thanksgiving.
 

How did writing go this morning? Were you able to get on track, or was the phone being a pain?

I know all about phones being pains. I sit at a switchboard all day and just when I get into the middle of something non-switchboard related, the phone staarts ringing off the hook. It's as though it were my job or something .

Autumnmuse: Thank goodness your baby is safe.

As for the writing, keep it up. Every little bit gets you closer to your goal. And there's no rule that says you can't write a longer novel. Go for it!

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited November 08, 2004).]
 

I had the same problem yesterday, punahougirl84. It seems to be working now, although I guess that doesn't help much with the ML stuff that was date sensitive.

[Edit because I misspelled a fellow Hatracker's name wrong, and it was bothering me every time I scrolled down.]

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 11, 2004).]
 

And I'm having fun - the words are coming easily, and I keep wanting to write way more than I have time to do. Usually it's a more painful process than this.
 

I've had my character have a couple of really interesting dreams that I didn't know he was having until they started appearing on the page. So far I had enough planned ahead of time that there haven't been many surprises, so I was glad to see them.
 

Christine, so glad your puss-cat is safe and back home again. I myself have three totally indoor, very sheltered cats, and I know I would be panicked if any of them escaped into the outside world!

Autumnmuse: Thank God your baby wasn't hurt!

All of you, keep up the great work on your word count! Try to get a bit ahead of your goal, if you can. That way you budget time for emergencies, or just plain old relaxation.

Susan

Maybe week two really is all they say it is in terms of being the hard week... I think I'm just still a bit off since I lost a bit of my word count pad over the weekend. The pad made me very happy!

I hit 18,198 earlier today, but had to stop to do things like clean and go to a meeting.

I think I need to make my new goal to catch up with GZ, just once ;-)
 

But I've written the climax of Part 1, and am into the beginning of Part 2 which is flowing a little more quickly.

 

So what does that mean exactly? Well, 16,667 words will put you at the one third word count if your novel is going to 50,000 words.

There is no rule that you can't write more.

Congratulations to everyone who is ahead of schedule. If you have a different set of goals, I hope you're meeting them. And if your stuck, want help brainstorming, need encouragement (or a task master ), don't forget you can always ping someone from the NaNo buddies thread.

You're getting there!
 

Keep the updates coming. I was over at NaNo this morning and checked out the status of some of y'all. Keep up the effort.

If things are going slow, don't worry. Keep working at it. Writing a novel in one month is a daunting task but if it gets you writing, even a little bit, go with it. If the pressure to finish by the end of the month is too much, then forget about it and just keep writing until it's done (even if it takes a year or two or ten ). Do what you can through NaNo and then just keep writing.

Only 20 days left to go...

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited November 11, 2004).]
 

I took last night off so I'm right at 15k - but I am planning on writing approximately one million words today, and getting ahead a little.
 

Someone on another board I hang around on started off the month with a 20,000 word day.

Yes, you read that right.
 

I passed the half-way mark tonight (WC = 26059). Whoo-Hoo! And got a new idea that helped flesh out the middle that had been dragging the last couple of days! New energy. I love it!

Thanks, all you great cheerleaders out there, and fellow NaNo participants! I love the Yay waves!

To those of you that are up to snuff or ahead of the game, WOOHOO!!

We're proud of ALL of you that are attempting NaNo, no matter where you are with your word count!

Susan

[This message has been edited by shadowynd (edited November 11, 2004).]
 

I am just short of 20k total, myself.
 

So now I have a map with features, but still need to name the territories. I had already, before November, done a world-building table, so I know about the society and geography, but needed some names.

I wrote less than 100 words for NaNo yesterday. I'm shooting for more today - rainy and cold should inspire words, so I'm hoping the kidlets just relax quietly today.

I'm not a happy camper, but I'm sure I'll do better today. Hope you all have a productive Friday!
 

I don't worry too much about naming stuff in the first draft. My piece is full of clever names like "Guard1" and "LameBoyfriend" which I just go through and replace in the rewrite.
 

Last night as I was heading to the computer to write, a migraine came out of nowhere and knocked me out for the count. So I spent the evening in a haze of pain, no room for thoughts of any description much less the ability to work on my novel. I feel fine this morning, (knock on wood) so we'll see how well I do tonight.
 

If you reach 25,000 words before midnight on Monday on the 15th, take a well deserved break.

Everyone is working so hard, it is exciting to see the progress you are making collectively.

And you know, I don't think it matters how long it takes you to write a 50,000 word story, when you get to the halfway point, it can feel a bit like a mid-life crisis! O.K. I'll admit I'm too young to have experienced my own mid-life crisis, but I have experienced the middle of a 50,000 word story and I don't think the analogy is too far off .

I think it was just before the 25,000 mark and then a few chapters after the 25,000 mark that I felt a bit stalled. I knew what needed to happen leading up to the middle and what needed to happen for the end of the story, but the inbetween stuff seemed a bit hazy. It's been a while since I did the actual writing, but I know stopped for a while and had to try sorting things out a bit before I could continue.

I don't know if anyone else has had this type of experience, or if you are experiencing it now with NaNo, BUT if you are, don't panic. You still have lots of time to work through plot twists and characterization. There are times when you need to force yourself to write, but there are other times when you may have to sleep on it for a night. Sometimes if you take a break and work through it in your mind first, sitting down to write it out will be that much easier and yield that much more for both content and word count.

To everyone, have a great weekend and let us know if you make the halfway point by Monday night.
 

You guys are still doing fabulous!!!

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 12, 2004).]
 

I think your migraine was a mystical way of absorbing the blow to your baby's head. So you get the migraine and she wasn't hurt. Good job!

I rolled off a pingpong table when I was a baby and landed on my head. Nobody was thoughtful enough to get a migraine for me. I still get them myself.

I don't even know why I'm posting on this thread. I'm not doing NaNo. I'm only editing this month. But I'm about 55,000 words through, and hope to hit 81,000 by the end of next week!
 

I hope the demons of distraction will stay away from one and all this weekend, and you can all concentrate on meeting your goal of 25k for the halfway mark.

I'll be thinking of each and every one of you today while I am cooking my heart out for a local gathering. Keep up the absolutely splendid job you have all been doing!!

See you tonight!

Susan
 

Sounds like you are all doing very well.
 

Thanks for the support people sent me - it helped. I hosted a write-in at the local Borders, so six of us wrote and drank coffee and snacked in companionable competition.

Onward and upward (with the word count),
Lee
 

Those who are not yet to the halfway point, no worries, you've all day today to accomplish that. I KNOW you can do it!!

I'll be holding my breath (figuratively, at least) waiting to hear reports from the rest of you, hopefully tonight!

You can do it, you can do it, you can do it, you can do it!

*G*

Susan
 

Congrats to all those hitting the half-way mark *Happy Dance with you*
 

Go GZ - that is so amazing! I was just glad to catch up to my 2K-a-day goal. . .
 

I've had a bit of a disturbing revelation; my plot isn't really long enough, or I'm not fleshing it out enough, or something. So I've decided to create a handful of new characters on a parallel plotline that travels throughout the novel, until they connect with each other past the halfway point.

This makes me quite nervous because the idea that I've had for years had gotten quite comfortable and kind of claimed the whole couch to itself, and doesn't know how to feel about a newcomer suddenly invited to the living room.

But hey, winging it works in other areas of my life, why not for a major work of fiction that I fully intend to have published? Heh heh.
 

26429 and counting.
 

Keep up the great work!

----
Edit at end of day: If you happen to live in Alaska or Hawaii (or there abouts ) you have nine hours remaining to get to the halfway point!

I think everyone is pretty well there, so keep on writing!

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited November 15, 2004).]
 

Word count: 25,564

Also I realized I didn't have nearly enough plot so over the past two days I've nearly doubled the characters and added a couple plot twists. It's going much better now that I've done that, before I felt the story was too simplistic and linear, and I didn't think I could squeeze 50k out of it. Now I should have no problems reaching that, and then some. Yay!
 

Well, we're halfway through week three, another week and you should be getting ready for the home stretch.
 

I've just broken 30 grand, and everthing is going maahvelous, darling. A character who was just born in my brain three days ago is quickly stealing the show, and has fallen in love with the wrong guy, but it is soooo right!! At the beginning of the night it was a struggle just to pound out two hundred words, and then I realized what was going on and the floodgates opened. Yippee! hopefully this euphoria will last for the rest of the month, although I am a bit like Anne of Green Gables: either in the "depths of despair" or "sailing over the mountains of the moon."

Here's to happy sailing, everybody!<raises a mythical glass filled with the alcoholic beverage of your choice>

[This message has been edited by autumnmuse (edited November 18, 2004).]
 

I wish you all the best of luck!
 

Christine, sounds like you've a hard road ahead, but if anyone can do it, you can! Instead of having to do 7k words for a few days, why not try to do a few thousand extra every day until you leave? Don't forget, you can write on the plane trip, too! What else are you going to do, after all? I'm sure there will be somewhere in London that you can get online and update your word count.

And.. enjoy London! Happy Thanksgiving, even if you do celebrate it with steak and kidney pie and yorkshire pudding! *G*

Susan

Had a good night last night. On the Nanowrimo forums there was a 10 minute challenge: how many words could you write in ten minutes. I did that over and over until before I knew it I had over 3000 words, and in half the time I usually spend writing. I think I'll repeat that for a while. You guys may want to try it as well. It's very simple. Just write down the number of words after 10 minutes, and try to beat that in the next 10. I actually seemed to get worse on each successive attempt, but hey, I still got a lot done. Am at the 35k mark, 70% of the goal of 50k. Although it's not looking like I'll be done at 50. I think I'll try to wrap up the story arc anyway so I can feel a sense of accomplishment, then come January during the rewrite I plan to hack everything to pieces and put it all back together quite a bit longer anyway. I'm loving the feeling of meeting immediate goals, instead of just "someday" I'll write my novel.

You guys are awesome cheerleaders, and that always helps! Keep on keeping on, everyone.

[This message has been edited by autumnmuse (edited November 20, 2004).]
 

I'll be having to crunch stuff to get the end to be at 50k. I'm writing in little notes of where I want to be sure and go back and fill in.
 

I can type a ton of words in 30 minutes but it seems to take me a while to gear up to do that, so I don't think I'm any faster than most people, overall.

But I like the race against the clock aspect, because it's just one more way to distract the internal editor.
 

GZ: WOW!! You are *really* close!! You're an inspiration to us all!

MaryRobinette: Your husband being there is a HUGE distraction (but a wonderful one! *G*). You are doing an absolutely awesome job, considering. Keep it up, I know you'll make it! Hey, what do the Icelanders think about our Thanksgiving holiday? Are you talking about it? It's this coming Thursday, in case you've kind of lost track of it, there at the top of the world.

We haven't heard from some folks in a while... Reports, please! C'mon, let us cheer you on!

Susan

I'm at 48072. Tomorrow... Tomorrow I too with cross the NaNo finish line... And then keep going, 'cause the story isn't done yet, and I suck at smooshing it into just 50k.

<Happy Dance Going On>
 

Oh, and to say that this is now the longest thread
 

With no Thanksgiving or Halloween to distract them, and with a Christmas that starts thirteen days before ours, the holliday decorations have been up for weeks now. Somehow, it seems more appropriate than having Christmas wreathes jostling for attention with pumpkins.
 

The challenge was to accomplish 50k by month's end; No one said you had to *stop* there! *VBG*

MaryRobinette: I know what you mean. They put up the Christmas decorations in town last week (though the stores have been stocked since.. yup, since before Halloween). I just had to roll my eyes! I can still remember when Christmas stuff stayed tucked away in the dark recesses of storage until after Thanksgiving. Eep! I'm probably giving away my age! *G*

Keep up the great work writing, MR. Even if you don't have turkey on Thursday, you've still got tons for which to be thankful!

My posts will be sporadic for the next few days as hubby is going into the hospital for some "scheduled repairs & maintenance". Hopefully he'll be out by T'giving. I WILL still be checking NaNo reports here every day, though!

Keep plugging away, one and all. I'll be rooting for you!

Susan
 

FYI - Since I'm involved with the Salvation Army Angel Tree, just wanted to speak up in favor of early Christmas stuff.
The deadline to turn in gifts for less fortunate kids is December 7, 2004. To get the angels "adopted" in time, we have to put the Angel trees up by November 1, 2004.
I couldn't believe some of the negative, rude and mean comments I got while putting up the tree, even when I tried to explain that the tree had to go up early because of the deadline. People acted like I was spray painting graffiti or something, instead of trying to help out underprivileged kids.

Don't let it get you down, the fact that people react so strongly against seeing Christmas icons out of season is actually a good thing. It means that they are more likely to be open to the idea that Christmas is about giving rather than buying. Of course, the rudeness and such aren't so good, we would all prefer polite queries to hostile comments. But think how much more valuable such obsticles make your service
 

If you're close to - or past - 50,000, an extra whoo-hoo and yee-haw!!!!

By now everyone should be heading into the homestretch: less than 9 nine days to go. At the end of today you should hopefully be close to 37,400 words. Wow! That in itself is an accomplishment. Hang in there, the finish line is in sight!
 

I couldn't even face the computer.

So yesterday it was back to work, and I hit 40,201. Only 2K behind my personal goal, but still, I really wanted to hit that so I could be done by Turkey Day! I'm so excited for everyone who has finished or is close to it - we are doing an amazing job!!!

Ok, back to the real writing (I wanna count my posts for wordcount too!!!).

Lee
 

Say, since I'm so quantity-challenged, is there a para-NaNoWriMo for people like me? Perhaps a NaShoStoWriMo? Or even a NaFlaFicWriDay? A NaZipCoWriMin?

Keep after it, power-writers.
 

(50115)

Wow. Just Wow.

I'm not sure what happened, and I can only hope I can keep it going. I would have always said before I was quantity challenged. Past experience would have indicated as much. But something about giving myself over to the NaNo craziness just opened something up.

<Very Happy>

And A big Yeppie for everybody else NaNoing here at Hatrack too. Ya'll are doing great! Keep Going, the finish line is in sight! That last 10k is like nothing...

 

Just keep participating in those!!

Susan
 

I am at 40,000. Once more into the breach!
 

Well, today I'm leaving for Thanksgiving. I always get a lot of writing done on a plane for some reason! Maybe I'll catch up. But if anyone sees my lost motivation, please send it back to me.
 

Well, actually, you've all done what I cannot. I hereby humbly bow in your general direction. Well, as humbly as I get, anyway.

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited November 23, 2004).]
 

Then I'll just have the other ~40k words to write.
 

I've just downloaded my certificate.
 

For those of you not quite there, keep pushing forward. You're all very brave souls for attempting this, and you are now so close to the end. There will be plenty of time to procrastinate in December!
 

P.S. And now that I'm done with the Nano contest, I don't have to follow rules like not using prior writing. (such as my landmarks on the BFFAC) Woot!

[This message has been edited by franc li (edited November 27, 2004).]
 

I am only 8,500 words away from the finish line. I'm going to try to polish it off by midnight Sunday.

I actually still have a few pages to finish in the last chapter, but I was so excited I went and got validated at 50,258.

Congrats GZ, Jules, MaryRobinette, and anyone else!!!

Lee
 

Well done!

quote:

---

MaryRobinette
Member posted September 16, 2004 12:55 PM

I'm planning on doing the NaNoWriMo too, but I've had problems writing since I got out to Iceland so it's a little more frightening than before.

---

The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself, of bugabears and things that go Bump! in the night: of the dreaded "No operating system found.", the endless whir of hard drives seeking, seeking, and the headlines "Multiple suicides sweep the Nation! NaNoWriMo site self-destructs under the onsluaght of purple prose! Reykjavik residents stunned as a lithe woman clad only in a strange-looking belt runs through the streets waving a hard drive in the air, screaming "It fried! It fried! It's not my fault!"!

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited November 29, 2004).]
 

I'm at 46k. Almost done. I thought I was going to finish it off last night but I have a stupid cold and just want to go to bed.

So, the end result is I still need 9,000 words, I have no idea how to tie up all my plot points and make the end of the book work, I have things happening until 10pm tonight which I can't get out of, and basically that leaves me with a little time tonight and tomorrow to finish, assuming my little one and my head do not explode.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

But, I may yet make it!
 

Go Christine! Go autumnmuse! Go Beth! The finish line awaits. And remember, you have till 4am PST on December 1 to get it validated. You can sleep after that.

[This message has been edited by MaryRobinette (edited November 29, 2004).]
 

autumnmuse, Beth, Christine...
You're almost there! Write, Write, Write!!!!!

Don't worry if everything doesn't tie up just so. Just type like there's no tomorrow!

[This message has been edited by GZ (edited November 29, 2004).]
 

Edit: Just staggered over the finish line and collapsed in joyous exhaustion. Congratulations to all who preceded me in crossing over that line and all who are right on my heels about to cross it yet.

Now to let it cool off for a little while and go on to outline the first and third novels that bookend this one before I tackle any rewriting chores (it needs much!) fleshing out a number of chapters I made an effort at before bypassing for the ones that were ready to be written first, and fix that shoddy, cliched working title.

[This message has been edited by Warbric (edited November 29, 2004).]
 

Jon
 

Only 15 Hours, 22 Minutes and 59...58...57...AHHHHHHH!!!!!

Get Writing!
 

Nowhere near done with the story, and there's a staggering amount of rework that needs to be done once I do finish it.

But.

50k.

I fully intend to do it again, and keep writing in the meantime.

Hurrah to everyone who made it! And also to people who at least tried! I still ended up writing a ton more than I ever have before.
 

And way to go autumnmuse! 41k isn't anything to laugh at!

It's been a very productive month here at Hatrack...

 

Sorry I was unable to cheer you all to the finish line: my computer chose this rather inopportune time to die. Bleh!

Armed with a brand new laptop, I am back again and congratulating all that participated in NaNo this year, even if a bit late.

Cheers all, happy rewriting and editing, and here's to next year! *G*

Susan
 

Lee
 

But I *do* hope to participate next year! *G*

Susan
 

It's about time.

Sincerely,
Mr. Fisher
 

It made it to about 65k words in the end. I'll probably start work on the second draft some time in the next few months.