NaNoWriMo [Who else will break 40k..?]

National Novel Writing Month , NaNoWriMo, is coming soon!

For those who are not as literary inclined, NaNoWriMo challenges people to write at least 50,000 (50 thousand, 50k, yes) words in a month, hopefully forming some coherent story in these 50k words.

Now, for those who do know about it will know it starts in November. However, right now, even from today, you guys are allowed to prepare your character bios, storylines, so on and so forth, as long as you don’t start writing your story proper until 1st November local time.

As such, I wonder if anyone would be willing to partake in this with me? Anyone want to work together to encourage each other to finish these 50k words, and maybe, just maybe, showcase everyone’s expertise at the literary arts?

Participants!

Laxaria
Frogmanex
vulcant13
Deriaz
JohannasGarden
Techyworm
blardjosh
Altheman
dasmitimsad
Glomple

Useful links to help the aspiring writer

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-writing-process/

http://papel.teiru.net/papel/ (Planning Program)

http://they.misled.us/dark-room (Distraction free writing program)

http://www.openoffice.org (MS Office replacement)

Edit. My progress: 950 words.

NaNoWriMo challenges people to write at least 50,000 (50 thousand, 50k, yes) words in a month,

50,000? Really?

I would be interested, but I would be afraid I’d not finish in time or be motivated, and I’d want to get better before I make a 50,000 word novel.

I wouldn’t mind trying this out. I’ve had other people mention other contests and things like this, but no one ever bothers following through with it. =\

Originally posted by dasmitimsad:

NaNoWriMo challenges people to write at least 50,000 (50 thousand, 50k, yes) words in a month,

50,000? Really?

I would be interested, but I would be afraid I’d not finish in time or be motivated, and I’d want to get better before I make a 50,000 word novel.

Nothing really beats hands on experience. I never thought I could write anything significant at first, yet I could cough up a 50k manuscript over about 3 months. It was fun and interesting, and really boosted my confidence!

I might have a go, but I mean for me to make a 50k word novel in a month, something I’ve never even attempted to do before and trying to fit it in with everything else it will be quite hard. I will do some maths and find out what I would have to do.

Edit: Worked this out with a paragraph writing test (not very accurate). I just wrote as much of a quality paragraph (in one minute) as I could. Then I worked out the rest…

Aim: 50,000 words
Time limit: 30 days
Average words per day: 1670
My writing speed: 0.67 words per second
2500 seconds a day
41 minutes a day

I think thats all right. But I don’t really have 41 minutes on weekdays, which would mean I’d need to do like 3 hours on each weekend day. Hmmm.

Sounds fun. I wonder if I’m going to be the only one who actually post a story again.

What’s the theme this time?

I already registered at that little website there. I gotta admit, their registration email? Kinda creepy:

Subject: NaNoWriMo loves Frogmanex

…=\

Edit: I guess this is my profile-thing? http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/502889

Originally posted by Frogmanex:

I already registered at that little website there. I gotta admit, their registration email? Kinda creepy:

Subject: NaNoWriMo loves Frogmanex

…=\

Lol. Imma gonna sign up.

Originally posted by Frogmanex:

I already registered at that little website there. I gotta admit, their registration email? Kinda creepy:

Subject: NaNoWriMo loves Frogmanex

…=\

Edit: I guess this is my profile-thing? http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/502889

That’s hot.

EDIT: So according to poo medicine, the theme is anything unlike last year’s NaNoWriMo.

I’m going Douglas Adams/Monty Python on my awesome story.

Signing up now, does anything bad happen if for whatever reason you don’t submit 50k words?

I don’t want a load of authors coming to my house and smashing my legs in.

I may submit something I actually want to get published. Or what I’ve done so far, since I don’t want to rush and finish it in a month. It’s over 100 a4 pages, dunno the exact. Got the last three parts to finish, but these weren’t originally going to be in it.

Anyway, sign me up >:3… Don’t be surprised if I don’t submit anything

That, or I’ll probably submit something next year :P

Originally posted by techyworm:

Signing up now, does anything bad happen if for whatever reason you don’t submit 50k words?

I don’t want a load of authors coming to my house and smashing my legs in.

Just be sure when you’re signing up, you don’t check the box that says, “Allow loads of authors to come to my house and smash my legs.” …

Originally posted by Frogmanex:

Originally posted by techyworm:

Signing up now, does anything bad happen if for whatever reason you don’t submit 50k words?

I don’t want a load of authors coming to my house and smashing my legs in.

Just be sure when you’re signing up, you don’t check the box that says, “Allow loads of authors to come to my house and smash my legs.” …

Phew, I didn’t tick ANY of the boxes, and I’m thinking about my story now :D

http://papel.teiru.net/papel/

For those who are doing planning, I suggest looking at Papel.

It can allow you to organise all your bits and pieces of ideas, characters, plot, setting, so on and so forth quite easily into small little packages that you can link up.

I think its the best writing-planning program I’ve ever touched though. Beats yWriter by a longshot in simplicity and intuitivity.

Guys, remember that IT STARTS IN NOVEMBER. I know it’s like, 2 months away, but still since you can plan from now, it should make writing 50k words all that easier!

I’ll try papel, I’ve been using notepad for about 2 months now D:

because my MS Word Decided it needs money to work.

Originally posted by techyworm:

I’ll try papel, I’ve been using notepad for about 2 months now D:

because my MS Word Decided it needs money to work.

http://www.openoffice.org

Originally posted by Mureth:

Or what I’ve done so far, since I don’t want to rush and finish it in a month. It’s over 100 a4 pages, dunno the exact. Got the last three parts to finish, but these weren’t originally going to be in it.

Doesn’t that. . . Y’know. . . Defeat the whole point of trying in the first place? It’s not a “Submit what I’ve got done so far” contest. . .

I might try this. The last two years I’ve tried, I’ve failed miserably. I might have to take a step back and re-consider what I did those two years, and find out what went wrong. A big part was school, and since I don’t go back until December (that is, if I’m accepted), I should have time. Just need to find out what I’m doing wrong that I keep getting stuck in my stories.

EDIT: My page. I’m. . . Not sure why it’s showing 1,171 words. . . But whatever. Lol.

Well, generally it is about how dedicated you are in writing the task.

Although I do warn that people who are not very interested in writing to seriously consider the choice. There is no point coughing up 50k words of rubbish, tbh.

I’m taking this opportunity to really sit down and accomplish some serious writing, as in, no nonsense, quality work. I could do it any time, but doing it during NaNoWriMo just adds to that brag factor. I’m such an ego XD

Anyway, I’ll probably spend the coming days/weeks to better formulate a group for this, and to offer suggestions to both new writers and experienced ones alike. Writing is subjective, hence you will always learn. Most importantly, develop your own style! :)

I would enter, but school’s coming up, and that would seriously wreck my concentration, sadly. xD

Maybe next year. ;-;

This definitely interested me, but I’m too scared to go and do it ;_;

What’s there to be scared of?

There is nothing wrong with trying, honestly! Don’t be frustrated if you can’t achieve the word count.

Ultimately, your quality of work is loads more important than the quantity of words!

Im doing it for sure :)

It’s just that with school I have, and activities away from school and even home. I mean I’d like to do something like this, just the pressure to write it would topple over me.

Well, if my math didn’t fail i have about 21 days or less to complete it, taking in mind exams and studying. My school term ends on Nov 25, so essentially I don’t have much time too.

Of course, my goal is to accomplish both 50k words and a quality piece (IMO), but I think the latter’s heaps more important.