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Yesterday I received an E-mail reminding me It's almost NaNoWriMo time. That is National Novel Writing Mouth. You're suppose to write at least a 50,000 word novel in the mouth of November. For more info http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano
It may seem a little early but now is the time to start thinking about it. You can't start it before Nov One but you can have notes. Any type of novel and even a couple not so novels, but still 50,000 words. More info on that at the site.
They have online groups you can join and may have in person groups in your area. All kinds of good stuff there to help you.
I have written two novels that way and I'm thinking of doing it again. I have a space opera idea that has been floating around in my head for quite a few months and there more UF and/or paranormal ideas I have too.
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I'm thinking about doing NaNo. I've heard of it, but this would be my first time participating. I don't really have any ideas right now, though. I mean, sort of, but nothing developed enough to start on.
Posts: 128 | Registered: Apr 2009
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It would be a pretty cool idea to get a Hatrack group going for it. We could cheer each other on and talk about plot and all that, and maybe at the end of the month we could swap chapters or that sort of thing.
Posts: 620 | Registered: Mar 2009
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I wish I could pause life and partake in NaNoWriMo. In fact, I am settling in on my next novel idea and have roughed out a cursory draft of the prologue and start to the first chapter.
Alas, children, work, other responsibilities leave me only the time for 20% of the goal.
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I won't be doing it. I try to write at least 1k a day anyway, and usually manage more, but I like to come up for air and actually spend time with the wife and kids.
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Last time there was a hatrack group among the NaNo groups and a NaNo group among the hatrack groups.
Hmmm, I wonder if the Nano hatrack group is still up or would we have to start a new one?
And I need check the Nano Group for people in my area.
I understand about the time situation. That is why I debated both times and decided almost at the last moment. The first time anyway, I forget about last year but I think it was closer to the opening deadline. Anyway: I had to sacrifice most of my short story writing, doing crits, restricted my hatrack time. I also did some work at work which helped. I barely got over the 50,000, the last week of Nov.
I will add that most people who signed up for it made it. In fact a couple of us went over last year- 70,000 or 80,000 words.
[This message has been edited by LDWriter2 (edited September 25, 2011).]
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If I don't get my next novel written between now and then, I'll be in on Nano. I'll be in one way or another, I suppose, as I'd just have to come up with another idea if I write this one in advance. I've done Nano since 2007 and have been really happy with the results. Usually writing is so solitary, but with nanowrimo there's all sorts of other people participating, there are word sprints to be had (and I usually win those because I type really fast, winning is good!) there's the general camaraderie, and because November is not a month full of nothing, plenty of commiseration around family pressures and life pressures and the like.
Nano has given me the opportunity to write 4 of my 5 currently completed novels, and the fifth I only wrote because I knew I could due to nanowrimo (and wrote it in 40 days because I could.
So yes, count me in. you can usually find my on nano with the same handle - KayTi.
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Even if I had the time to dedicate a solid month of only writing, I don't like the concept of NaNoWriMo because I am too much of a perfectionist to freewrite in that vein.
However, maybe I'll use it as a goal to finally get my full synopsis done.
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I want to take the challenge, but I have a non-fiction book in me that needs to come out first. Don't suppose they'd allow that? If not, I'll just have to plod along and pretend I'm in the race. Posts: 2026 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Elan, read their rules and suggestions. I think they may allow something, memoirs or some such but it's been a year since I read the rules, I could misremember.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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I think I'm in for this year as well. I've learned a thing or two about outlining since last time and plan to come prepared. If you want to add me, I'm RoxyL there, too.
Since we did it last year, are we automatically enrolled this year? At a quick glance I didn't see a new enroll button, though I can still access my account from last year.
Still thinking of doing it but now I have half a dozen ideas to choose from.
I mentioned the space opera but I recalled there's an epic fantasy that has been floating around in my head for almost as long. I know the beginning and I've thought about doing from the POV of a character who isn't the big hero... like Frodo. My MC will be one of four to seven people on a journey to reach a location where they will be able to save the day. Each person will do something to save the day but there's usually one main guy/gal who has something very important to do. So my MC won't be him/her. But since he can talk to dragons he will still be important. And I may have one of those four to seven get killed and/or be permanently injured.
There's also the Angel novel sort of kinda of maybe along the same lines of Thomas E. Sniegoski 's Remy books. I originally came up with the idea during Buffy but have slightly modified the idea since reading the Remy books. I have a great opening scene for it but I'm kinda of not sure if I should make him forget he's an angel or not. At first.
I got a new idea for a half angel character tonight who has to learn who and what he really is. Sounds like a YA book to me.
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I'm out this year. Can't afford to commit to the pace. Everything is still in upheaval here, anyway. AND, I've decided I have to do a lot more thinking about what I want to write.
Posts: 3687 | Registered: Jan 2007
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Will this really be my fourth year doing Nanowrimo? I guess it will. Wow how time flies. That's 3 novels I'd never have written if I hadn't done it. Only one good one, but the other two have story lines that might be worth reviving someday.
Unfortunately I didn't finish last year, so I'm determined to do it this year. Our house has been for sale forever (or at least since April), and I can't imagine a better way to make it sell then to commit to a project of this scale. (Anyone want to bet me that we get an offer right before Halloween?)
This morning I woke up with the first 13 lines for the novel completely ready to go. Hopefully they'll still be there next month.
Thought of three more ideas. One is a space opera but deals with a militia type of force. Even though a certain planet is in a larger star nation it's on the outskirts so rarely sees any of the space navy. They have their own small space force.
Or a fantasy where the group goes on a epic journey like Lord of the Rings but set in contemporary times. Don't think I've seen a lot of those.
Or a SO with a newly minted captain of a small warship who has a family tradition to uphold even though he's not the best student, hence the small warship.
It would probably by good for me to do it this year. I seem to be in a writing slump. I do some at work but at home I tend to play around too much and end up with ten to twenty minutes for writing. Not enough time to finish a novel and revise a story for WotF. For some strange, unknown reason it's hard to get back into the habit of writing instead of playing. Actually, I think I know part of the reason.
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Hey we are down to a hand full of days. I still haven't quite made up my mind even though I think I know which idea to do even though that is subject to change. Well, actually I guess I did make my mind by accident.
They revamped the NaNo site and once I found the group,on the revamped forums, for my area I more or less promised I would work hard to attend the kick off party. Won't have time for pizza but I can say hi to some and see who is returning and who is new.
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I participated one year and accomplished the goal, but I've never been able to do much with all those words. Still, it was a fun exercise. I'll probably do it again some day.
Posts: 440 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Okay I started my novel. Not getting very far so far but I'm getting back to it soon.
Only 1800 some words. But I am working on chapter one on my laptop and two on my desktop. did that because of circumstances. I wanted to do most of it on my laptop but my wife was using the table for her crafts and I needed to write so I decided to do the next chapter on my desk computer. Never wrote a novel like that before.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Hey, thought I'd see what all my fellow Hatrackers doing NaNo are up to. I hope everyone's efforts are going well.
I'm going to give myself a pat on the back. I just hit 25k, though the book itself isn't anywhere near halfway done. It still feels good to reach the halfway to goal point before the mid-point of the month. I'm sticking with the standard goal for this year, since it's my first doing NaNo, but I may have to up it next year at this rate, just to challenge myself.
How is everyone else doing so far? Any successes/challenges to report at this point?
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I am behind. Yesterday I broke the 10,000 word level but I need to speed up.
I'm doing two chapters at once. Starts with my MC in space. In one chapter I turned an ordinary landing on earth into a life and death situation, and my MC goes to a family meeting smelling of sweat.
I can tell some sentences will need revising but I don't want to spend too much time trying to figure out how not to use was or the right word.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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So ya, I just started this, like today. But I think i can do it! Holding my breathing and diving in head first! Wish me luck, this is my first time doing nanowrimo, and my first time actually attempting to write more than one chapter of a book. LeetahWest if anyone wants to buddy!
Posts: 108 | Registered: Jan 2011
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I am now officially at 15,500 words. Still behind but still moving forward also.
I know one person... in my local NaNo Group... who is already over 50,000 words. And a couple of others over 20,000. I need to check to see but I might be in last place. Someone here thought they might be doing a 80,000 words novel if they had time to write it all.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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400 more words and I am finished with NaNo. I had to slow up a bit because my novel was planned for 40,000 words. I had to start another to get the words in, so I needed to pause to do some research.
Just keep at it and carve out the time and you can do it.
Posts: 1608 | Registered: Feb 2009
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I hit 40k last night *does the happy dance*, despite coming down with a wicked nasty cold. Sadly, the novel will be much longer than 50k, but at the rate I've been going, I think I should be able to hit 65-70k by the end of the month. Then I just continue on into December much the same until it's done. Should be finished before Christmas.
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nice! I wish I could have some time without my kids. I could get a ton more done. The kids compound distractions. First, there is the raising of them, so stopping fights answering questions etc. Then there is making them food all the time. I swear my kids tell me they are hungry ever hour and a half. Then I have to clean the kitchen to make food again, then I have to clean the house and do the laundry and on and on and on! I should be doing minimum of 3k words a day to catch up, but I missed yesterday to help me friend with her book launch and today isn't looking so hot either! Someone please take my kids!! On top of it all my sister will be in town for thanksgiving and staying at my place, which is a disaster because I haven't finished unpacking from when we moved in at the beginning of the month so I haven't been able to give the place a good cleaning. I could use a babysitter. Posts: 108 | Registered: Jan 2011
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Oh my. I will admit that I am aided in my writing by the fact that the only people depending on me are two cats, who sleep most of the day, and a bunch of coworkers I get to leave behind at the end of my 8 hours.
I will say this, Leetah, a salute you for even attempting NaNo with all the things going on in your life. I don't think I would have had the courage in your shoes. I can't take your kids, but I offer you a supportive hug from a fellow wrimo. *hugs*
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I understand the business of family life even though my business is different. But it can be done because it has been done. Hard yes, but worth doing.
But that's only a partial reason I am behind. I've been playing too much and today I lost three hours of writing because of a sinus headache that didn't want to go away. I ended up eating lunch about 2 hours later than norm. Not to mention, putting up Christmas decorations and my wife's been super busy with her online store all of a sudden. Wow, she's been shipping out stuff three days a week the last few weeks. She may have to take a week off from work to get it all done and her crafts organized.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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I've learned a lot about my writing style this 4th time around.
So it turns out that I have a lot to say if I get up early in the morning and get it done first thing. I could just stay in my pjs and write all day if I do that. But if I try to do a few things and THEN write? It just isn't the same. And the staying up all night to write like I've done other years? Not a chance. I'm officially too old for that.
I'm not sure how this will work out for me in the long term. It's not like life will just allow me to stay in my pajamas until 10:00 every day for the rest of my life. Though if life WOULD let me do that, I could probably be rich and famous by next year. Posts: 938 | Registered: May 2008
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I finished last week and have even gotten a critique in. I'll have my NaNo book on Amazon next month in time for Christmas.
Including my planning time, this will have taken me about two months of work to produce a 45,000 word Youth/MG novel.
(You noticed that I didn't write 50,000 words? I cheated and started the second novel in this series during NaNo.)
Posts: 1608 | Registered: Feb 2009
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I agree with Axe. How in the world do you get, even a 45,000 words novel ready to post in one month????
I'm still having problems getting last years NaNo novel ready.
However I met a writer online, through someone's blog, that might be your sister. If I understood her correctly she wrote and prepared a novel in a couple of months. It's the preparation that gets me.
But you did a critique. For a story or a novel?
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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No, LD. I finished the novel off early enough (in 12 days) to send the novel off for a critique.
I find it's much easier to get a half-sized novel ready. I'll be publishing another next month that I wrote over two years ago. It's 96,000 words and has sat forever in my WIP.
Posts: 1608 | Registered: Feb 2009
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That is still quick work... can I borrow your critiquer ?
But I'm doing better 26,800 and still some more work time. If I get Friday off I may get it done this weekend... maybe.
But still I have a better chance now of finishing it on time.
Some quick, dirty writing in places even though I'm trying to use some of the writing techniques I've learned recently.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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I finished this morning with 52,000 words, though I'm not quite to "The End" yet. I'm still very pleased, and I'll probably get to those awesome words before the end of November.
Posts: 938 | Registered: May 2008
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Yeah, I've been pushing along myself. I haven't done the verifier yet to officially "win", but that's mostly cause I've been too busy plugging away. Hit 70k last night, still going. I will NOT be at The End by the end of November, but I'm thinking 80-85k at month's end, which means only a week or two of December probably to finish this thing off (I'm still thinking 90-100k total for the book).
Still, I'm incredibly proud of myself for doing this, for pushing myself to write every day, to exceed the pace number, and for all the things that I've learned about myself as a writer. I find I'm already looking forward to NaNo 2012
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there's the general camaraderie, and because November is not a month full of nothing, plenty of commiseration around family pressures and life pressures and the like. 
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