NaNoWriMo (November 2012) - Who's In?

A cooler November challenge :p.

It's tempting. I could even cheat, since I have a half-finished novel on my desktop.

I've got my novel idea: comedic cross country road trip as two friends try to find and fight a grizzly bear. Random? Yep, but it's going to be awesome.

I did NaNo last year for the first time (successfully). I haven't quite decided whether to do it again, but I'm leaning toward yes.

Have you done it before, Alexa?

I'll be doing it, though maybe not officially as I'll probably start well before Nov. I've got a long sequel to a recent novella planned.

Not to hijack this thread... Since there are a bunch of fiction writers participating here, would anyone be interested in review swapping for Kindle books? Rather than respond in this thread, PM me. I'd like to get a group of serious folks together.

Maybe this will inspire you all to get inspired!

Famous Writers' Retreats: The Rooms Where Classics Were Created

I'm in. I already have the character and chapter outline. I've written the prologue and part of chapter one, but I can't seem to get the rest done. Maybe this'll help me

Leslie

From Stumbleupon:

How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method - StumbleUpon

Questionnaires for Writing Character Profiles - StumbleUpon

Exercises for Fiction Writers - Page 2 - StumbleUpon

My procrastination has been made to benefit you all. You're welcome :p.

I just saw your sig somewhere Alexa and it hit me! I'd forgotten all about NaNoWriMo; I signed up a few years back but have been so busy since. I'm even busier right now but ... (Deep Breath) ... I'm signing up!

I'm hoping to join this year. I usually end up with other projects going and can't find the time. But maybe this will be the year I commit! It could happen.

Rose

My copy of "Writing the Thriller" is now in the mail (even though I swore I would spend no money with Amazon this month). That's okay, I knew my resolve would crack.

Rose

I WAS going to write a novel...but I think I'll be sticking to mini-novels. And for those of you who don't know, Kevin Riley (that's right, the Hamster King himself), has started a publishing company called One Bite Reads. You can learn more about it here: One Bite Author Program - Get Published & Promoted With One Bite Reads

Although, maybe it would be a good idea to start a Skype group to hold each other accountable so we get our writing goals done every day. Could also help with writer's block and such.

[/randomthoughts]

I like the mini novel concept and might try it. I can see that modern readers might like shorter fiction. If marketed right, it could really catch on. Historically there have always been forms such as short stories and novellas, but we might be ready for a new version of this for the digital age.

Okay - I might be in. Um..........what happens when you finish the book? Does someone else get some sort of rights on it? Is there an incentive other than personal accomplishment?

I have the story already started actually - but had to put it aside. I have one to finish in oct. so it's a warm-up. I could be ready to do this in nov.

I was going to create a group on the NaNo site called Writing Warriors or something but I believe when they relaunch the site each October they delete everything and start over, so until then I guess this is our group thread. Glad you started it, Alexa! This will really help to motivate me, having some writing buddies.

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...

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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.)

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

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.

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.

The site was relaunched last night! National Novel Writing Month

*puts hand up* Me! I have most of my novel from last year. I really would love to finish it

hmm... this might be the kick in the butt I need to get working on my sequel novelette. It won't be 50,000 words... but maybe I will do the third in the series during November too!

Lee

Woooo hoooo, Lee!

Hey everyone, only about a week and half until we begin. Can't wait!

Becky

I'm just gonna get done with Saving Ricky just in time for start up. Whew. I expected it to be a long tome but it's not so I'll be cruising.

This is going to be fun.

I've created a group over at the NaNo site for Warrior Forum Wrimos. I don't know if it will be easier for us to just continue this thread or pick it up there, or keep both going - whatever works for you guys!

Warrior Forum Wrimos | National Novel Writing Month

Head over and introduce yourself! Then you can click on other posters' avatars to go to their profile and then click "Add as Buddy" near their photo. Please feel free to add me and I'll do the same.

Thanks Laura - I just posted. I've got a huge question about Pen Names and accounts at Amazon, too. I didn't ask it there as I don't wanna inturrupt introductions with it. I'm interested in seeing who all will show up. One of my facebook pals just asked for the link - he's been looking for one. He's in the UK - hope that doesn't matter. The more the merrier.

Anyhow. I have a Kindle account and just released my first work - it wasn't fiction and I used my own name S.A. Taylor on the copy. Now I am writing a fiction and would like to use a pen name. That's the situation.

My question is - can I use a pen name for one work on the same account that I have work under my real name, too?

Yes, you can. I have it set up so that where it says "Hello Laura Burke" in my Author Central account, there's a dropdown with "Serena Casey" that I can switch to. Problem is, I can't remember how I did it! But I did find this thread here on WF that might help: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...e-account.html

I suck at titles - my own is just one simple word "Dowser" for now unless I can think of something better later.

About yours? How about something like "The Fine Art of Indiscretion"?

I think there is a title brainstorming board on the NaNo site, too, IIRC.

After completing it in '09, I'm planning on doing it again this year. Actually, I'm thinking about going rogue and either completing a WIP or writing non-fiction.

Can you tell I'm totally ready to start? lol

With me, if a title doesn't hit me immediately, it's a royal pain the patoot to think one up. I'm not sure I have the right one for my book. I might never have the right one for my book. If it sells, it will be good enough I suppose. I usually don't have much problem with the cover pics, though, and this time I'm completely blank. I hope that during 30 days I'll be able to crunch that problem though.

Oooh, it starts in only hours, now ...

I wish all Warriors well for it, this year (and hope none is adversely affected by that hurricane?!).

My working title somehow ended up being "Degrees of Freedom", but I feel comfortable with it, anyway.

NaNo's site seems unbearably slow, at the moment, with just under 13,000 people online there, they say ... I hope it isn't going to be like this for the month?

I'm at around 16,000 but the last part sucks and I'm rewriting it, so I'll probably be sitting around that many for a few more days.

Hahahahahaha -- Saving Ricky: The Second Rescue, now live on kindle

*cracks knuckles and gets ready to rock on novel*