NaNoWriMo

[EmpressOfTheGoldFlames]

Hello

Is anyone doing NaNoWriMo this year?
I'm going to start it at least & hopefully finish it. I've got characters swirling around in my head at the moment & some glimpse of a possible plot...

I paid the money and downloaded the desktop version of Write Or Die then found I was into the writing so I didn't need it. I'm sure it will come in useful when I hit a bad patch though.

19,188...so close to being back on track!

I didn't get any done yesterday as I traveled to a family party. Today hasn't been great either. Ohh hit the mid-point-blues.

sitting next to tunip in the lower word count camp

what is write or die, an app? Looked in app store but couldn't find it

Write Or Die

It plays scratchy violin music at you if you stop writing. You don't have to pay for it - the online version is free.

oh what a good idea

although with Hummel's trumpet concerto (in E) I probably don't need it, why does R3 hate me?

Too embarrassed to post my word count.

Love the sound of Write or Die though!

Okay, I have not done very well and am thinking it is not happening this time.

However, DD is now at 30,000. I'm feeling a bit ashamed of myself, but in complete awe of her!!

well I've been editing and restructuring (I know this is not how nanowrimo works) and I have 9022 more or less flowing words

and some scraps that I don't know where to place but belong in there somewhere, am way behind but that's ok

Well done Kinky's DD! I'm guessing she probably has more time than you though?

Am doing OK at 22k, but was well ahead until I took the last couple of days off. Losing the momentum a lot now.

Oh, a question: how many named characters do you think is OK? I have LOADS but many don't really play a role. Have to be named though as appear in sort of journalistic writing - is this OK, do you think?

I'm at about 26000. So only 6000 since Thursday but kids had sickness bug and now I have it.

And I wrote a load on Sunday, that's just complete rubbish and had to stop myself from deleting about 2000 words but I remembered last year I just put stuff I didn't like in a white font.

Don't think I will get any done today, unless I feel a lot better tonight.

Do they have to be mentioned in detail, why are they there? I'm too ruthless (but see my dismal word count), it's either driving it all somewhere very important or it goes. If they are essential to the plot then they will have to stay whether you like it or not I suppose?

They aren't really necessary in themselves, but the journalistic bits are, and they need to be convincing - news items always name names, IYSWIM?

Oh I see. Isn't it best to leave everything in for now, you can prune it later if you have to and the detail of these pieces feels excessive or otherwise bogs it down?

Yes, I think you're right. I am editing as I go though, can't do the straight writing bit.

I'm editing as I go as well, but only because it is going to need so much editing that if I didn't it would just be a mess. I will still do a massive edit when I've finished the first draft. It's a steep learning curve because it's the first time I've attempted a historical novel.

Lots of books have so many characters they have to put a massive cast list at the beginning; it's not a bad thing in itself. If you're not sure if it spoils it or not you can always hold off the decision until a later edit.

Hope you feel better soon, FlyingAardvark.

I wanted to do 2k this morning but only managed 1k, but that's ok because I also worked a few things out and shifted some bits around so I feel like I have done something worthwhile. I will manage some more this evening between dinner and watching Fresh Meat.

yes hope you feel better Flying

I have had enough, my word count keeps going down not up so might leave the book to write itself while I stuff my face.

I'm back in the game! Managed to catch up today...21, 685

Keep coming up with new twists and turns though that are not in the plan!

6100 now.

Still on track! I'll be celebrating the half-way mark shortly.

Thanks to all here for their encouragement.

Another question. How long are your chapters? Does it matter? Is 2 pages for quite a few (double spaced) too short? Would I be better to combine chapters, to pad out, or to leave? I've been changing every big scene change.

I haven't bothered with chapters at all. Part 1 is 28k words long, part 2 is 2.5k at the moment. I figure perfection and organisation are for the editing process.

I like to read books that have more random chapter lengths as the writer has decided on the 'right' length for the scene. I guess I think in terms of film scripts, sometimes the scene is long and involved and sometimes it's just a moment.

I start a new chapter every time I get stuck on an existing one. So have filed that under 'things to worry about later' too.

Am writing three very different books now, I hope they can be merged eventually, there are some links. Thought this nanowrimo would be a good creative outlet but only seem to have an unbearably stiff neck and a load of terrible writing to show for it :(

One my characters is drinking a whiskey so am "method writing" in solidarity

I planned out my chapters before I started and have pretty much stuck to it.

Mine are between 3,000 and 5,000.

I'm on 22,000 at the moment and on Chapter 6.

I think it depends on what's right for you. Short chapters wouldn't work for my book, but that doesn't men they wouldn't if I was writing a different story.