NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)

CamillaRhodes

Anybody doing it this year? Or done it before?

I'm just trying to get started on my first novel, and thought it might be a good way to kick me into working on it seriously (just signed on to the dole so plenty of time on my hands...)

BUT (a) I'd like to get started on my book NOW (in fact I've already done a bit of prep work, first 2 chapters, bones of plot outline, etc) and the website discourages you from taking part in NaNoWriMo with work you've already started writing, and (b) I just dunno if it's any good, or if it's just another procrastination tool to add to my increasingly lengthy list.

Any advice or opinions would be helpful. I really don't want to sit around for October twiddling my thumbs waiting for an imagined kick-off date dreamed up by people on the other side of the world (unless it's really, really worth it!)

MikeC101

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

Anybody doing it this year? Or done it before?

I'm just trying to get started on my first novel, and thought it might be a good way to kick me into working on it seriously (just signed on to the dole so plenty of time on my hands...)

BUT (a) I'd like to get started on my book NOW (in fact I've already done a bit of prep work, first 2 chapters, bones of plot outline, etc) and the website discourages you from taking part in NaNoWriMo with work you've already started writing, and (b) I just dunno if it's any good, or if it's just another procrastination tool to add to my increasingly lengthy list.

Any advice or opinions would be helpful. I really don't want to sit around for October twiddling my thumbs waiting for an imagined kick-off date dreamed up by people on the other side of the world (unless it's really, really worth it!)

I say go for it - start now if you want, I don't think it will make a huge difference.

From the NaNoWriMo FAQ:

Do I have to start my novel from scratch on November 1? Can I use an outline?

Yes.

This sounds like a dumb, arbitrary rule, we know. But bringing a half-finished manuscript into NaNoWriMo all but guarantees a miserable month. You'll care about the characters and story too much to write with the gleeful, anything-goes approach that makes NaNoWriMo such a creative rush. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate, and you'll tap into realms of imagination and intuition that are out-of-reach when working on pre-existing manuscripts.

Outlines and plot notes are very much encouraged, and can be started months ahead of the actual novel-writing adventure. Previously written prose, though, is punishable by death.

I dont know about this really. I'm not sure what's to stop you starting now and giving yourself a sooner deadline, or extending your word count (50,000 words isn't really much for a full length novel - it's a novella by some definitions) and gaining this gleeful approach that makes it all such a rush.

As to whether it's any good...it's hard to say. Maybe it will give you a bit of a boost to keep hitting wordcount targets, but it's
I sympathise with you on this one, my biggest problem is that I lack the discipline to stop myself procrastinating.

EileenG

I've never done it, and only had a quick read of the website, but I get the impression that you do a hell of a lot of writing in November and very little else. If you want to have a life as well, you might find it easier to stick to a couple of hours a day, and just build it into your normal day.

If you have something in mind, start writing now. Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be halfway through your book by the time November comes

Antilles

I have done it twice before and will be doing it again this year. I've been writing between them too, obviously, and I think they've helped my writing style develop nicely.

I'm hoping that this year's effort will be of a high quality

luckat

It's good fun, and how seriously you take the rules is a matter for yourself - except the ones about politeness and kindness, of course, which are set in steel.

There'll be meetings every Saturday, and you can talk to other people, chat through plot problems, encourage each other, etc.

If you want to procrastinate, you'll procrastinate. If you want to write, do it in a way that's fun for you, so it's something you're dying to do, rather than something you're avoiding.

SparkyDorian

Hey! I am going to do it this year. I am very excited... I just can't decide if I want to start from a complete blank, or use the plot skeleton I have been formulating. I don't usually have easy access to a computer, so I am going to try to get a used Alphasmart 2000 that someone I know is selling. I also write beyond this, so it would be good to have even after NaNo.

luckat

Reminds me, I must sell my Palm T|X Tungsten and its portable keyboard. If anyone wants to buy it...

Sarky

Seeing as there's only a month to go, I'm stickying this. Make sure you're all ready for November.

arecibo_

I'll be doing it. It'll most likely be complete rubbish but it sounds fun!

CamillaRhodes

Hey y'all, thanks for the responses (and the sticky! wowzers, feel quite honoured!) I've decided that, while I'll keep an eye on the NaNoWriMo stuff, I'm actually better off just getting on with it and writing, rather than chatting online to others about my intention to write (I realise the contradiction in my current activity). I guess I'll try to use it as a tool when I get stuck. But for now, I'm just getting on with it - 2,183 words so far today, whoo hoo! If I can keep up this pace until end of November, I should hopefully have the bones of a semi-decent sized novel, yay! Good luck to all the rest of you out there

SwearImNotPaul

Can't wait for this to start. Going to really put a lot of effort into it.

Darren and myself from Culch will both be doing it, so we're thinking of posting a regular diary about it. So it should be a lot of fun.

luckat

Not everyone who does NanoWrimo chats online about it. Most just do it.

AlaskaFox

luckat wrote: »

Not everyone who does NanoWrimo chats online about it. Most just do it.

I think the encouragement you'll get from others will help in the long run though. Especially on those difficult days 14-20.

Fukuyama

I'm doing a blog about it myself. It's looking great at the minute. Just finished coding it and I already have followers and subscribers.

Check it out - http://novelinthirtydays.blogspot.com :P

CamillaRhodes

Now that it's (almost) over, did any of you guys manage it? I didn't, unfortunately, but I did get over 30,000 words done, and I had a few issues which got in the way. But, if I'm honest, I was also just too lazy. I'm gonna kick my ar$e now and try to do it 'again' for December, i.e. aim for 50k, to give me a total of 80k which will hopefully be getting towards the fully complete version of my novel.

I found the inspiring emails to be quite nice, though I didn't read them all, so I'll go back to them during December. It would be super-inspiring to know if some of the other CWers had managed it!

coldwood92

are there any play writing competions

pickarooney

Unstickying until next year

desolate sun

coldwood92 wrote: »

are there any play writing competions

have a look at http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/
It's just like Nanowrimo but you write a script in 30 days. It's not a competition, but since you posted in the Nanowrimo thread I assume you are looking for something like that?