NaNoWriMo (November 2012) - Who's In?

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by Horny Devil

Established members do though
.

Originally Posted by Joseph Robinson

And they'll stay quiet about it too .

Oh, now I'm almost intrigued. I think I found a new twist for my NaNo Novel.

[R Hagel]

D*mn you, Alexa!

I've always put this off too. I've always had a million excuses. And like you, I'm running out of good excuses.

I have a feeling I'll be signed up within the next 24-48 hours...

Becky

p.s. Oops, I meant thank you, Alexa, for giving me the necessary kick needed to think about it seriously again...

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by CJWrite

Oh, now I'm almost intrigued. I think I found a new twist for my NaNo Novel.

The "twist": It was a muscial all along.

Chubby Checker - The Twist - YouTube

[CJWrite]

Hey, now... I happen to like The Twist, but how can a novel be a musical? Now there's a novel idea. (ARRGH! Sometimes I hate myself, but I couldn't resist.)

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by CJWrite

but how can a novel be a musical?

I don't know, but I'm going to try anyways.

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by Joseph Robinson

I don't know, but I'm going to try anyways.

This I gotta see. But maybe you should make it a children's book instead, since you might have a little better chance at getting it published...

On second thought - maybe not. I can see that ending badly.

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by CJWrite

This I gotta see. But maybe you should make it a children's book instead, since you might have a little better chance at getting it published...

On second thought - maybe not. I can see that ending badly.

...Not with my brand of humor. On a serious note though: is publishing part of the challenge, or can we just do this for fun?

[CJWrite]

From what I understand, publishing and polishing aren't part of the challenge? We're just supposed to finish the first draft of a novel by the end, right?

I think the challenge is to just get the novel penned and pretty much planned out, then we can go back and polish it later.

The more I think about it, the more I really want to do it now. I guess it depends how much other work I've got during that time though...

[R Hagel]

OK, I'm signed up.

From what I understand, publishing and polishing aren't part of the challenge? We're just supposed to finish the first draft of a novel by the end, right?

Right -- the challenge is to write 50,000 words without worrying about editing, worrying about whether it's any good, etc. You dont' even have to finish the novel -- you just have to finish the first 50k words. (Though some people will write novels that are 50k words, so those folks will finish their first drafts.)

I love the part about how it doesn't even have to be good. Write with reckless abandon!

Becky

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

I love the part about how it doesn't even have to be good. Write with reckless abandon!

Becky

Probably why the challenge is so short. Given any more time, one would probably hem haw around and not get it finished. I know I would... I procrastinate somethin' fierce.

But with only a limited amount of time to write, I'd worry more about getting it done than whether or not it's good. A first draft is never good, but that's the editing and polishing phase is for.

[HeySal]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

OK, I'm signed up.



Right -- the challenge is to write 50,000 words without worrying about editing, worrying about whether it's any good, etc. You dont' even have to finish the novel -- you just have to finish the first 50k words. (Though some people will write novels that are 50k words, so those folks will finish their first drafts.)

I love the part about how it doesn't even have to be good. Write with reckless abandon!

Becky

Oh well, hey -- this is going to be fun then. Becky's on board. You have your subject yet?

I guess I should go sign on now then. I thought we were supposed to wait until the end of October or something.

[HeySal]

Musical novel? Is that where you click a link and listen to a soundtrack attached to the book? What happens if the music is too fast to read to?

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by HeySal

Musical novel? Is that where you click a link and listen to a soundtrack attached to the book? What happens if the music is too fast to read to?

Learn to read faster.

[HeySal]

Just signed up. Will see you there Alexa, Becky. There is a place for "writing buddies" on the profile page, but I"m not sure how to link up with you all there.

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by HeySal

Just signed up. Will see you there Alexa, Becky. There is a place for "writing buddies" on the profile page, but I"m not sure how to link up with you all there.

No, I don't know this yet, either. I think now's too early, though ... probably during October is the time to do that, because they have a big "clear-out".

My username there is "alexaherself", anyway.

[R Hagel]

My user name is...

wait for it...

rhagel

Cool, Sal, this will be fun! Don't have my subject picked out yet. I have a lot of ideas, so I need to narrow it down. Or maybe I'll pick something entirely new, who knows.

Becky

[Dave Patterson]

If you folks don't mind I have a step-daughter interested in the "challenge" and thought it would be a good idea to direct her to the Warrior forum and this thread specifically...I know she'll be in good hands here.

[HeySal]

Um............why would we mind, Dave? Just because you can be scary doesn't mean she'll be, too.

[R Hagel]

Originally Posted by HeySal

Um............why would we mind, Dave? Just because you can be scary doesn't mean she'll be, too.

LOL! Send her over, Dave.

I'm getting excited about the challenge. Typically I like to plan a bit, but I'm considering totally flying by the seat of my pants. So maybe I'll have an idea of where the novel should start and where it should end, along with a few major plot points, but no heavy planning between now and Nov 1st.

Hmmm. That would add to the fun of it, at least for me. And it's different than the way I usually write. Maybe it will free up my creativity.

What's everyone else doing? Are you going to totally plot it out before Nov 1st? Or will you be lucky to slide in Day 1 with an idea? Or something in between?

Becky

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

What's everyone else doing? Are you going to totally plot it out before Nov 1st? Or will you be lucky to slide in Day 1 with an idea? Or something in between?

I'm doing what you're thinking of doing. I know what the starting point is, and I know where the characters are going to end up. I've pulled a few random ideas from joking around in this thread that will manifest themselves into plot points.

Other than that I'm just inserting my characters into the world, giving them a goal, and seeing how they get there as I write.

[Laura B]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

What's everyone else doing? Are you going to totally plot it out before Nov 1st? Or will you be lucky to slide in Day 1 with an idea? Or something in between?

Last year I had no outline, just wrote it as it came to me. I'd like to try a basic outline this year because it's going to be a trickier novel to write. I need to have a plan or it's going to explode in my face.

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

What's everyone else doing? Are you going to totally plot it out before Nov 1st? Or will you be lucky to slide in Day 1 with an idea? Or something in between?

I think I'm probably an "outliner" rather than a "pantser", but I'll do my outline on 1st November. I do already know who I'm writing about, and why, and roughly what happens to them, and why.

I've been reading most of a writers' forum, a little bit at a time, for the past 3 months.

[Rose Anderson]

I'm in as "floridarose". Only because ramblinrose was already taken.

[R Hagel]

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I think I'm probably an "outliner" rather than a "pantser",

And if you were something in between, then you'd be a pantserliner. Like me.

Hmmm...

Becky

(Hey, what is everyone looking at? This is the off topic forum, right?)

[Joseph Robinson]

Joe128687: Because you know you want to see what the heck I come up with .

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by Joseph Robinson

Because you know you want to see what the heck I come up with .

I see you came up with a new way to spell affiliate marketer...

"Occupation:
Freelance Writer/Affilaite Marketer"

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by CJWrite

I see you came up with a new way to spell affiliate marketer...

"Occupation:
Freelance Writer/Affilaite Marketer"

[CJWrite]

CRAP! Foiled again...

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by CJWrite

CRAP! Foiled again...

Always take incriminating photos.

[CJWrite]

Originally Posted by Joseph Robinson

Always take incriminating photos.

I wish I would've gotten that fortune cookie...

[Thaddaeus T. Hogg]

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I talked myself out of it, last year.

I just signed up for this year.

Who's in?

National Novel Writing Month

Whooooo weeeeee! I am shore nuff all over this one! I LOVE nanowrimo! I ain't shore what it is but if Alexa is gonna be there it has GOT to be good!

Actually, I was just pullin your drawers there! I really DO know that that Ntional Novel Writin Month is and it has done motivated me to write my first novel! I tend to write "Hillbilly Erotica" but Alexa has motivated me to go in a brand spankin new direction! I am gonna write some "Paraunnatural Romance" and it is gonna feature vampires and wearywolves and all that! Let me give you a little sample from my new novel...

"Cletus was a vampire and his truest love Alda was a wearywolf. They was in love but they came from different sides of the woods. They tweren't together much so they wanted to do somethin that didn't suck and they could have a howlin good time!"

And then later in the book...

"Cletus looked deep into Alda's eyes and saw the passion what burned there! He saw the hunger and the yearnin and it made ole Cletus's long johns get all bunched up! After he got them unbunched he ran down to the highway and got some supper to soothe the hunger he saw in Alda's eyes! After they had eaten, they got down to some serious lovin! Cletus slowly lowered his overhauls! Then he run behind a tree to take a leak cause he had drank too much shine!

After Cletus got back he told Alda, "Alda (he called her Alda cause that was her name), I just cain't stand to stand here and look at you like this" so he sat down. Alda sat down too and she looked deep into Cletus's eyes and saw the desire that was in them eyeballs. She KNEW that he had run out of shine and he was desperate for more! She reached up and took Cletus's head in her hands and slowly, oh so slowly, moved her lips to his. Then, lovingly, like the brush of a feather, her lips met his and they swapped tabacky!"

That there is all you get for now. I just wanted to give you a little sample so you would be gettin all hot and lathered up for National Novel Writin Month! All you writers get involved and make little Alexa happy!

[R Hagel]

Thad's cheating, Thad's cheating! You're not supposed to start writing before Nov.

[Thaddaeus T. Hogg]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

Thad's cheating, Thad's cheating! You're not supposed to start writing before Nov.

Rebecky, I ain't started yet! That was just what I WOULD write if I had started writin but I am writ nothin so I ain't started writin, right?

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Originally Posted by Thaddaeus T. Hogg

..."Hillbilly Erotica" ...!

Since that pretty much involves the back of pick-um-up trucks and shotguns, a few months down the line, wouldn't that type of stuff be more suited to "Off Road Romance Monthly?" You're talkin' short story type content, not novel length stuff here...

[Joseph Robinson]

Originally Posted by Elmer Hurlstone

Since that pretty much involves the back of pick-um-up trucks and shotguns, a few months down the line, wouldn't that type of stuff be more suited to "Off Road Romance Monthly?" You're talkin' short story type content, not novel length stuff here...

Ah, but throw in a couple of jealous opposums and you have enough drama for a 20 year telenovela.

[Thaddaeus T. Hogg]

Originally Posted by Elmer Hurlstone

Since that pretty much involves the back of pick-um-up trucks and shotguns, a few months down the line, wouldn't that type of stuff be more suited to "Off Road Romance Monthly?" You're talkin' short story type content, not novel length stuff here...

Well Elmer, I just ain't exactly shore how to say this but I will give it a try...

When we is talking romance in YORE life it may be a short story but when we is talkin romance in MY life we is talkin a novel the size of War and Piece!

I ain't really shore I can say that but I did anyhoo!

[travlinguy]

Okay, I'm officially in. Got a great idea for a story on my morning walk. I'm EZ Writer on the site. Looking forward to it.

[Dennis Gaskill]

Originally Posted by HeySal

...is there an incentive other than personal accomplishment?

Since NaNoWriMo is an anagram for "Win A Moron" I'd be afraid to win...

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill

Since NaNoWriMo is an anagram for "Win A Moron" I'd be afraid to win...

True, true ... but I think of it more as a Warm Onion, myself. (Rather than "Iron Woman", you understand ...).

[Dennis Gaskill]

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

True, true ... but I think of it more as a Warm Onion, myself. (Rather than "Iron Woman", you understand ...).

I do understand. My wife wouldn't like the Iron Woman either, but a Warm Onion might be acceptable.

Maybe I'll join you in this next year. I don't think I can be ready by November of this year with all the projects I have going on.

[Laura B]

Just for convenience, here's a list of everyone's NaNo site names so far (let me know if I've missed you and I'll edit):

alexaherself
rhagel
floridarose
joe128687
EZ Writer
Serena Casey (that's moi)

[HeySal]

Well, got my first kindle done and will be spending time tomorrow trying to figure out kindle and putting this up on their software. One down - and one to get done before Nov. I can do this.

[travlinguy]

A little nugget for all the aspiring (and seasoned) Amazon writers, you might want to check out this site. Lots of useful marketing and promo resources, one of which is a source of readers willing to review yer books. Yeah! Author Marketing Club - Free Book Marketing Resources & Tools For Authors

[Cybria]

I'm so in! I just saw The Big Year. This year has been a hard one for me and I think I need my own "Big Year" accomplishment this year. I've attempted Nano in the past....got to the halfway point a few years ago and was discouraged about trying again. But I'm going to do it in 2012. This year I am planning ahead.

[R Hagel]

My goal between now and Nov 1st...

Learn to be a bit more efficient and productive with regards to my regular workday. My idea is to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge WITHOUT extending my work day in any significant way. In other words, I want do do my regular work AND my NaNoWriMo writing in the same amount of time I currently spend doing regular work only.

Please, hold your laughter until the end of this post.

Becky

(Ok, this is the end of the post. You may now guffaw, chuckle, snort, giggle and laugh.)

[travlinguy]

Originally Posted by R Hagel

My goal between now and Nov 1st...

Learn to be a bit more efficient and productive with regards to my regular workday. My idea is to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge WITHOUT extending my work day in any significant way. In other words, I want do do my regular work AND my NaNoWriMo writing in the same amount of time I currently spend doing regular work only.

Please, hold your laughter until the end of this post.

Becky

(Ok, this is the end of the post. You may now guffaw, chuckle, snort, giggle and laugh.)

I can relate to your intention but not to being able to work that way. I've had a rule almost since I began writing. That is to get at least 2000 words down for every writing session.

Last summer I was writing a novel. I was really inspired. I had many days where I was able to get 6000 words and even more a few times. I sat at the computer for up to 16 hours with only food and potty breaks. I loved it.

There are only a couple of things that are better than being in the zone when writing. I can't let a schedule interfere with that outside of strict commitments. When you're hot, you've gotta run with it. I do realize though that not everyone is crazy like I am.

[R Hagel]

Totally agree with you on that point -- when you're in the zone, you keep writing. And indeed, when I get in that zone, I'm not going to say "Well, my time is up for the day." Rather, I was talking about those days when the muse isn't being as cooperative as one would hope. In that case, to stay on track, I'll still write. But I'm more likely to quit when my regular workday is done.

Here's to the muse coming out to play and all of us getting in the zone come Novemember...

Becky

[Cybria]

R Hagel, if that is your goal and you know it's achievable, then more power to you. Personally I don't have enough story writing experience to know whether or not I could pull that off. But I will probably spend just as much time online as I do now, just less Facebook and Twitter.

I'm using Scrivner to draw up character profiles, do research and write up an outline. When I last did nanowrimo I was just flying by the seat of my pants, which wasn't the best approach. Admittedly, I am scared out of my mind this time around. But I have a month to prepare, and so I will use it wisely.

I'm also looking forward to the write ins. Didn't get to attend any last time. It will be great to meet other wrimos.

[HeySal]

It's not going to be that much of a problem for me. It's the refinement of what I write and making sure the plot doesn't fall apart under a little bit of scrutiny that will be the hard thing for me. But as far as several thousand words a day.....well, you've seen some of my posts in here. Nuff said.

[Laura B]

The site was relaunched last night! National Novel Writing Month