I know it's a month early, but the terms been popping up here and there on this site and elsewhere so I thought I'd bring it up officially.
Who's doing it this year? What previous years have you done it? What's your strategy (Outlining before hand? Starting completely from scratch?)
For newbies, nanowrimo stands for "National Novel Writing Month." It's a challenge to write a "novel" of 50,000 words in the month of November. It might sound silly, and certainly it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it can also be fun and exhilarating. Official details are posted on their site.
Me, I look at it as novel seeding. I usually start out with some kind of germ, which begins to take form in October. By November I usually have something to work with, and then I let 'er rip. By the end, I have a rough draft, ready for revising.
I've done it for three years now, the first time in 2003. I also met my now husband at one of the after parties, so there's a special sweetness to the event for me.
[This message has been edited by annepin (edited September 28, 2007).]
Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :
I have been thinking about this years story quite a bit. It's an idea I've been juggling around with for a few years now and this year I actually might use NaNo to begin it. NaNo give's me the perfect chance to actually write it without neglecting my current WIP
I've done the last two years, though failed miserably at both by only reaching 25k in the month -_-
Posted by AstroStewart (Member # 2597) on :
I'm still undecided on if I'm doing it again this year. I used last year to get the first half of my WIP's rough draft done, but since then I haven't actually finished it yet, and the next novel I have in mind is its sequel, so I'm not sure I want to start it without finishing the last one...
But I did successfully manage it last year.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
I did my first NaNo last year and enjoyed it a lot. I managed a little over the fifty thousand and finished the story with a few days to go. At the time, I had thought it would an almost impossible feat, but since then I had written a 120,000 word novel is less than that!
What's my stratagy? Last year, I didn't even have an idea of a story two days before it began, the day before I came up with a first scene and it started from there. I have so many ideas for stories but nothing concrete. I don't tend to plan anyway, so I'll probably just start 1st November and see what happends.
annepin, that's a wonderful story; I might be tempted to go to an after party myself now!
Posted by oliverhouse (Member # 3432) on :
> I've done the last two years, though failed miserably at both by only reaching 25k in the month -_-
Only 25K words in a month is a failure?
Posted by Tricia V (Member # 6324) on :
I don't have a plan to do this this year, but I don't think it's a bad way to go. I worked from an outline in 2004, when I "won" (made it to the finish line) and in 2006 when I got about 36k in before I suddenly felt I was doing something wrong.
Posted by TheOnceandFutureMe on :
I haven't done it before, but I think I will this year. I could always use another motivating force to actually sit down and write.
Forget my GPA (ha) and social life (HA!), I'm going for it.
Ben
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
I plan to do it this year, annepin.
We're talking about doing a novel workshop on one of the other writing boards I participate in, if you're interested.
Posted by Wolfe_boy (Member # 5456) on :
I'm doing it, for the third time. Failed once, succeeded once. I'm trying to break the stalemat in favor of success this year.
My strategy is to not plan our outline very much, and just write and see where it gets me. I usually have a rough idea of where the story is headed to, but I love so very much being surprised by what my characters do throughout the book. I've learned to treat my characters as separate people with their own motivations/desires/etc, that are completely outside of my control. They just run amok and do what they do.
Jayson Merryfield
Posted by Hunter (Member # 4991) on :
I participated for two years, but took last year off. I had too much going on at the time, but I still missed it. I plan to participate this year. I always enjoy the boards there too.
Posted by Amator (Member # 6517) on :
This will be my first attempt. Greenville apparantly has a core group of NaNoWriMo devotees who host opening and closing parties, weekly write-ins, and other support.
At this point I'm reading the book "No Plot No Problem" about NaNoWriMo and outlining the three projects in contention for November.
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
50000 is rather short of a novel that i would wright. my shortest book i am working on has 150000 words and still is only 75%compleat.
sounds like it could be rather fun to me to try to wright a 50000 word novel.
Rommel Fenrir Wolf II
Posted by meg.stout (Member # 6193) on :
So my username on nanowrimo is:
meg.stout
and I've added a couple of buddies - anyone else want to hook up before the writing crunch occurs?
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Fifty thousand words is a short novel.
And my longest novel didn't even reach one hundred fifty thousand words. I have hopes for my incomplete current novel, which took a full year to reach one hundred thousand words, but I'm planning to go back and start revising it once I get back from vacation.
Posted by meg.stout (Member # 6193) on :
If you have done NaNoWriMo before but have despaired because you are in the midst of a work in progress, check out Zokutou.
Zokutou has nifty progress bars you can put in various places to advertise your progress...
Posted by Tricia V (Member # 6324) on :
What the hey, I'm in. Though it may just be guilt for cancelling the campout with ya'll this weekend.
I guess a screen play for LDS Film Festival should keep me busy until Nov 1.
Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :
I must admit that I am one of those people who doesn't understand the concept. I don't understand spending a month writing a novel that would be too short to market. (And I don't mean to put down people who do it at all. It's me. I don't get it. )
I'll finish my current novel soon and will be in the depths of editing that and an earlier novel that I've decided to pull out and try reworking. So no, I won't take part. But good luck and have fun to everyone who does.
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
I'm in, going over to nano to create my account (hopefully this same handle.)
And JeanneT - uh, OK. But 50k IS salable in certain markets (Children's and YA fiction, for instance). And much of the point of Nano isn't to sell the resulting manuscript anyway. You should read up on it, the guy who started it just wants to get people WRITING. Isn't that good enough?
Posted by Hunter (Member # 4991) on :
Also, 50,000 words can just be the first third of the novel. I took my nano one year and in December added another 30,000 to it. After nano that 30,000 seemed like a breeze.
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 4064) on :
I am doing it this year, though friends tell me that I am pushing too hard on this.
I was part of it last year, but was unable to do any writing due to illness. This year it is all for proving that I can do this.
My straegy is that right now I am using Ywriter to do basic outlines for the scenes so I have ideas of what is where when I start writing. I also have bio basics for my main and secondary charries.
I see 50k in a month as a way of getting used to writing under pressure. Writers do that when facing a deadline. It also helps with setting a writing routine.
My nick on the site is KaliAngelKat if anyone wants to buddy up.
~Bonnie~
Posted by mrmeadors (Member # 6378) on :
I'm doing it as well, for the fifth time. I won all four times I've tried it previously .
While Chris at NaNo advocates it as an opportunity to write a novel from start to finish in a month, I always just write my 50,000 words and continue on to wherever the novel ends (usually about 80k). I've never "ended" a novel at 50k. What some people do is write until they reach about 40-45k, and then, if they want to say they "finished" their novel, they skip ahead to a point close to the ending and just finish it off from there. They fill in the blanks when they re-write it.
And if anyone is deciding not to do it because they don't think they have time for it, think about this: I'm only able to write about three hours a day. 5 at the very most. Once you're on a roll, you can get through the 1667 words per day quite easily. And what I find to be the key is, during the first week, while you are all psyched up, get through as many words as possible, to make a little store for later, when things might not come as easily. Also, start writing at midnight on Nov. 1st, and go for as long as you can. You'll get twice the writing done in one day, because after you wake up, it's a whole new writing day .
mel
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
I'm scared at the thought of a 200,000 word tome written completely by you Rommel.
[This message has been edited by Zero (edited October 27, 2007).]
Posted by meg.stout (Member # 6193) on :
If anyone wants to add me as a buddy, you can go to my provile at:
and just click the "add as buddy" link under my picture.
Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :
Due to a temporary loss in sanity...I've decided to join in the craziness. 50k can't be that hard? Can it?
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
thank you Zero. i dont know if i should feel honered or frightened.
Rommel Fenrir Wolf II
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
PS I shall go and have a stiff drink to end the pain in my head. even more frightning is that that is only book 1 of 7.
[This message has been edited by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (edited October 12, 2007).]
Posted by Tricia V (Member # 6324) on :
I had a pretty detailed outline worked out my first year, and that guided me through pretty well. That might benefit me again, to at least have 25 scene/chapter seeds that I can choose from. I know I sometimes skipped around my outline.
Posted by lehollis (Member # 2883) on :
I did mine in September, so I'll pass this year. Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Yay! I'm so glad to see others joining in! I'm a bit scared since I have nothing this year, no outline, no scene, no characters, no idea. Usually I have something. We'll see what happens!
Me neither, annepin. Looks like we need to get together and thrash out a couple of good plots. I know I want to write fantasy/science fiction, for young adults, but as far as anything else... my notepad is empty! Posted by Warbric (Member # 2178) on :
I usually go into NaNo with the flimsiest of ideas, use every stupid trick I can conjure to keep going, and -- most importantly -- try my best to coax the muse from behind the dreaded inner editor so we can play and just have a little fun.
Yeah, I'm in for another run. Same username there as here. Going non-medieval/non-European fantasy this year.
Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :
I'm partway to a plot. I have a world, and a couple characters, and a handful of possible ideas, and most of all...not enough time!
There are still aspects of the govt to finish hashing (although I have most of it defined enough.) I have to come up with a religion that is unique to the planet (since religion was not something brought to the colony, it just happens at it always does). Then there is the type of humans that show up from outside the colony.
Still, having a decent grasp of the main entity that drives the initial plot...that does help a good bit.
[This message has been edited by darklight (edited October 26, 2007).]
Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :
I'm in. I'm kings_falcon there too.
50,000 words is only 1,667 words per day. It means you have to get the internal editor off your shoulder. It's fun and exhausting. Also, December is National Finish Your Novel month. So . . .
[This message has been edited by kings_falcon (edited October 26, 2007).]
Posted by wrenbird (Member # 3245) on :
You guys are all getting me fired up. I don't think I am going to do NaNoWriMo, I am pretty involved in the novel I am writing right now. . . BUT In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I am GOING to finish my novel in the month of November. *gulp* I'm only about 1/2 way done, but I am going to do it. If you all can write 50,000 words next month, then I can finish my novel.
Posted by Tricia V (Member # 6324) on :
Well, first I was out, then I was in, then I was out, but now I think I'm in.
Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
Nanowrimo sounds interesting, thanks for letting those of us who have never heard of it in on the secret. My username is SpokaneSunshine.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
Thanks to a conversation with my daughter a few nights ago, I now have a plot! All I need do now is outline a few scenes.
Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :
darklight, I added you as a buddy, lol. I would like a couple more Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
I added everyone who put links here, but I can't seem to find a way to search for people on the nano site. So please clue me in on how to search for you, or post a link to your profile, and I'd love to link to the rest of you.
mrmeadors, you're right about starting at midnight, going to bed, and it's a whole new writing day when you wake later the same day. Not only does writing twice a day in what's actually a single session feel like you're making great progress, it can also be good fun, like when you're in a "word war" with someone.
I was in a "word-war" with a buddy last year. I'd write until just before midnight and post the numbers for that day, and then I'd continue beyond midnight for a bit.
Meanwhile, my buddy would go to bed thinking he had a slight lead on me only to wake up and find himself a couple thousand words behind me again! While it was funny to confound him like that, it did succeed in motivating him to not slack off.
Also, where mrmeadors mentioned going like gang-busters in the first week to build a cushion towards the doldrums in the middle is really good advice.
I'm on the same page as wrenbird, now committed to finishing my own novel. Which is at 30k words and needing an additional 70k. But hey, miracles can happen, and I have great notes and outlines.
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Yeah, i try to get as much written early as possible. Esp with thanksgiving in the middle of it (nothing like family to keep you from writing! sheesh.) I also start an Excel spreadsheet, calculate my target word count for each day (50,000/ 30), my actual word count, and my short fall/ overage for each day.
Okay, I think I added everyone that had links here. Kings_falcon, i can't find you...
Zero and Wrenbird, good luck on your books! There's always Nano '08.
Yeah, I know if I have time to post, I should have time to work on my novel. Well, yeah. I guess I could check my word count.
986. That's not as bad as I was dreading. See, that's how this process goes, if you can hit your goal on a daily basis, it's kind anti-zombifyint.
[This message has been edited by Tricia V (edited November 01, 2007).]
Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
I'm in this year.
Posted by KaliAngelKat (Member # 4064) on :
Okay I am still trying to figure out how I came up with nearly 3,000 words with the day I have had! I really must have needed to write....
Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :
If we force ourselves to write, we will write.
I built out 3500 words and most of them were done when I was bleary eyed and basically falling asleep. I think I wrote about 2-300 words with my eyes closed and my hands just typing away, lol.
Well, todays a good day to write as well! Miserable weather leaves me no choice!
Posted by Tricia V (Member # 6324) on :
I wonder how many words I didn't write while I was waiting for Nanowrimo to start.
Posted by SilentOne (Member # 4814) on :
I'm in too. I haven't posted here in forever, but if any of you know me and want to add me, your welcome to. I'm Deanna at NoteBored and DeaSis over at NaNo.
Posted by Stewie72 (Member # 6774) on :
I'm in too. Up to 3400 att. If you want to add me as a buddy.....
Not enough time to spend, I don't think I'll make the goal.
Posted by Sparrol (Member # 5734) on :
So far, 6683 words. Not doing too badly, but I'll probably fall behind during the week.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
In the last two days (the weekend when I thought I would get a LOT written) I have managed a total of around two hundred words, and am now 3,500 words behind with todays target amount to write too, which means I would have to write over 5,000 words just to keep up!
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
It's okay, I'm behind, too! That's the name of the game, right? I didn't even have a story idea until right before. Now that I do, I still don't have a plot worked out, so I'm sort of winging it... Right now I have just over 5000 words, so I'm 3,000 words behind. But as long as you keep doing 2,000 words a day, you won't fall further behind, and you can slowly make up for the 3,000 missing words. If you still kept at it continuously, that's only just over 100 words a day! You can do it!
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
I'm 16,000 words into my NaNo novel and I've thought of a great query hook:
Living with his alcoholic mother, Lenny could never have imagined a world in which the American war of Independance was ongoing, and William the Conqueror was beaten at the battle of Hastings, until he found himself there.
Well, something like that!
How's everyone doing?
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Whoa! Your story sounds pretty interesting, darklight. And I think it's a tribute to your experience and growth as a writer that you can start thinking about your query hooks as you're writing. It seems like an important skill for a professional writer to be able to do.
I'm about 23,000 words along, but I'm running out of steam fast. I kind of knew I would, since I started out without a clear plan. But I've set my characters up to have complications and conflict, now I have to devise a way for them to get out of it!
Posted by AstroStewart (Member # 2597) on :
I'm doing NaNo again this year too. I forgot to add my link here tho, if anyone wants to be my buddy. http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/148895 Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :
So who made it this year?
I crossed the finish earlier today. I know both Mommiller and Darklight did as well.
Who else?
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Ugh... (hides face) I got stuck at some 32,000 words. Next time I'll try to have a loose outline, at least in my noggin if not out on paper.
Congrats to the finishers!
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
I finished with 53333 on day 27, I honestly feel like I can do anything right now. I hear there's an expedition leaving for Everest.
I'm also 1/4 of the way through my first editing pass. I'm doing the simple stuff of fixing typos and cleaning up really obvious stuff, making notes elsewhere on additional scenes to write, more significant jimmying of the text. As soon as I'm done w/my first pass I'm going to put it down for a while and pick it back up in the new year, but I'm optimistic. It turned out a LOT better than I thought going into it, and I'm excited to have a novel complete, even if it's just a first draft.
Congrats to other finishers. I know there are a bunch of Liberty Hall'ers who slipped over the finish line at the last minute - way to go!
Posted by SilentOne (Member # 4814) on :
I finished at 51,164 early this evening.
Posted by halogen (Member # 6494) on :
14,000... excuse is I really couldn't get into my story
Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :
Finished last night with 51K, and half a plot. Which is OK since my intended wordcount is around 100K. Now to put the rest of the novel in good order Posted by meg.stout (Member # 6193) on :
Congratulations to all who won this year!
Alas, health and research and job and deep resentment amongst family members for the neglect I put them through last year combined to halt my progress. But now that the calendar no longer says November, writing won't be considered Nanowrimo neglect.
And I've done my research and have mondo bottles of pills.
Let the writing resume...
Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :
51300 or so. It has a plot...and an ending.
Alright, I'd be flat embarrassed to let anyone read it...but it is a good base for a nice 80k novel once I work out more of the things that got skimmed over in the rushed nano version.
Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :
I finished with 56,145 words. Half a plot and another 3 at least to follow on with what I wrote. I'm actually happy that I was able to write as much as I have done, as it's also allowed me to expand my world a great deal as well as introduce a central theme to the world that connects it together.
I love it when things fall into place when you don't really mean them to
