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Original poster

NaNoWriMo 2014

105 replies

TunipTheUnconquerable · 30/09/2014 16:20

Anyone else going to do it?

I thought I'd start the thread now as it's a good idea to do some thinking before you start so you can really hit the ground running in November.

For those who haven't done it before, the idea is to write 50k words of a new novel in November.

It's a good way to get motivated to get words down on paper, especially if you've always wanted to write a novel but never managed a whole one before.

There's an official website at NaNoWriMo.org where you can register if you want, but you don't have to.

Anyone?

OP posts:
Guilianna · 30/09/2014 16:48

I think I need to sign up this year. Doubt I'll make 50 but might be good for 30! aiming to start solo 1st Oct and then continue nano-ing
Are you tunip on there too? I am ninth

Guilianna · 30/09/2014 16:48

ninah

fuzzpig · 30/09/2014 17:18

I would love to do this! I do have some time in the day and it would be good to put my brain to a decent use. I've had the bare bones of a novel in my head for a while and this might be a timely kick up the arse to actually write something. How much time per day would you say it requires? I don't even know how much 50k 'looks' like IYSWIM?

Dwerf · 30/09/2014 17:26

Signing in! Yup, I'm doing it again this year Grin

Dwerf · 30/09/2014 17:30

fuzzpig depends how fast you type, I can usually get 1k down in about an hour, allowing for coffee, brain meandering and interuptions. On the site there are threads for 'word wars', which is where you write like mad for fiften or twenty minutes. You can usually get a tonne of words in that time. I'd look for your nearest group/ home region. They may have a facebook page or chatroom or something. There's one in the next city from me and we do weekly meets during November. In fact, a core group of us are still meeting several times a month even now. And have expanded to include other social events.

50k isn't that much. I think the novel Jekyll and Hyde is about 50k.

Original poster
TunipTheUnconquerable · 30/09/2014 21:04

Yay, lots of people!

Hello Ninah - didn't know you had namechanged Smile

I probably won't sign up to the official site because there already too many websites in my life.

OP posts:
punygod · 30/09/2014 21:05

Count me in. I start 'em and then my stamina runs out by about 20k.

Have to finish one, one day.

Guilianna · 30/09/2014 23:00

Hi tunip, yes I had to when the site made everyone re-password, it ate my name! I should see if I can get it back, really.
Are you starting on a new ms? i really need to. Been revising the last one til blue in face, and ready to move on now. Didn't we used to have a kind of mn nano on here? I'd be up for that, from tomorrow! (just have to fit in job, dc, MA and I'm ready to write! 500 words a day is my modest/realistic aim)

fuzzpig · 01/10/2014 07:43

Thanks for the advice :)

I think I'll give this a go. I've been unwell (again) lately and so have physically needed to rest a lot but I've spent far too much time stagnating in front of DVDs!

Original poster
TunipTheUnconquerable · 01/10/2014 08:45

Guilianna - I'm finishing off the first draft of one book through October, then for NaNo I hope to be doing the sequel to my 2012 NaNo.

The current book has dragged on because we moved house to a 'project' in the middle of it. I'm now on a 'sit down at my computer and don't move till I've done 1000 words' regime because there's so much else I should be doing it's easy for writing to slip down the list.

Fuzzpig - sorry to hear you've been having health trouble.

OP posts:
GrendelsMinim · 01/10/2014 09:23

I'm definitely up for it - I've found that Write Or Die is the tool I need to get me writing without self-criticising or self-editing as I go.

Depending on how I go throughout October (I'm planning to sit down and write for at least 10 mins every day), I may find myself doing a slightly alternative version of NaNoWriMo such as 30 days of editing or 30 days of finishing off a first draft.

Badcrumbles · 01/10/2014 12:44

Just logged on to start a similar thread :)

I'm doing my first NaNo for about 7 years, unless you count the 50,000 word research project I cobbled together last year (I write historical fiction), and will be using November to finish the first draft of a novel I started whilst on maternity leave (back in the halycon days when DS actually slept!). It's...erm, based on a novel that is now in the public domain. I was trying to be all clever and metafictional but I've just ended up with very niche fanfiction. Ah, well. I'm having fun!

Is anyone on the lookout for a writing buddy? In addition to the tiny human I also work fulltime, so won't be able to make it to many RL write-ins...

Here's me: nanowrimo.org/participants/badcrumbles

fuzzpig · 01/10/2014 14:37

Thanks Tunip :) it's a long term thing so I'm used to it now, but actually this project is really timely - I have finished my occupational therapy, but I am sure that my OT would think this was perfect for me as it's pushing me a bit and making me spend time on something for myself, but without huge pressure.

Ooh I'm excited :o I've not written anything since I was a teenager, it's scary too! The idea of actually getting the words out. I'm glad there's a group thread :)

Badcrumbles · 01/10/2014 14:53

Fuzzbig I've heard that the forums aren't being wiped (as they traditionally are every October) until next week, and then only threads that haven't been updated since August 1st will be gone... so if you fancy getting involved in the community over there in the lead-up to November then the All Ages Coffee House is a good place to start: nanowrimo.org/forums/all-ages-coffee-house

I spent a lot of time there last year as DS was tiny and I found maternity leave quite isolating. It was good to have somewhere to let offsteam, creatively speaking.

There are forums for all age groups and genres if you want something more tailored :)

Cherrypi · 01/10/2014 15:15

Ooh I'm up for this. Done it a couple of times. My maternity leave starts November 1st and my son starts pre school. Just need an idea now hmm.

schmalex · 02/10/2014 10:30

If I can get the first draft of my current wip finished this month then I might give it a go.

Do you all do lots of prep or just dive right in with a blank sheet of paper?

Original poster
TunipTheUnconquerable · 02/10/2014 11:36

I research but then I have to because I do historical.

For my 2012 one I didn't have much sense of the shape of the book but this time I will probably plan a little more. I also have quite a few key incidents and characters lined up already.

OP posts:
FeliciaHardy · 07/10/2014 10:03

Have just logged onto MN for first time in ages to see if there was a Nano thread yet!

This will be my fifth year doing Nano, but it's my first year not trying to get uni assignments done at the same time so I'm taking it a bit more seriously this year and want to have a first draft done so I can redraft and edit after. I've started planning as had an idea for a story last week that I can already think of a beginning, middle and end for (this is very unusual for me!).

I've tried doing it with either outlines or diving straight in before and for me I need a loose outline to guide me through story or it loses its way. If I have too much of an outline I find I come up with other ideas as story progresses and don't stick to it anyway. I just think on my main characters to get a sense of who they are and what I want them to achieve through the story and how they will achieve it. I don't think of lots of scenes or anything, if I plan too much I'm bored of the story before I write it.

ElleMcFearsome · 08/10/2014 09:33

Thank goodness - I was hoping there'd be a NaNo thread on here somewhere!

I've never got beyond the 30k mark (like Felicia my uni courses were requiring attention!) but am determined that this year will be my year and not just because I've finished my degree and I'll finish. To that end I'm doing some prep now as before I've just sat down and written but I always run out of steam.

I have a vague notion of the world I'm setting it in, and am writing notes re factions, terrain, social structures etc to keep me on track. I might have a play with some notable characters at some point before Nov 1 too!

Dobble · 12/10/2014 16:30

This is my first year attempting it. I only heard about it a few months ago, and I thought of giving it a go. I only need 30K though as it's a children's book, so it feels like cheating a bit!

Notabar · 13/10/2014 21:47

I've signed up

Not sure how much I'll use the actual NanoWriMo site, but am going to soend the next couple of weeks knocking an idea I've had for a few months into shape, and plough on with it in November.

Great timing for me as am out of a job

Might as well turn my hand to something useful!

Original poster
TunipTheUnconquerable · 16/10/2014 16:22

Finished the first draft of my other book, so I'm all set for NaNo - even have a little bit of spare time for research

OP posts:
redmapleleaves · 18/10/2014 20:01

oh great, logged on to see if there were other MNetters on nano, and here you all are! I'm in, - did it a few years ago and found it such fun. But life is busier now.... I'm writing non fiction, and have started it, but need more structure to maybe finish a first draft.

EatingMyWords · 20/10/2014 16:50

I'm about to finish a first draft of a YA novel but might use November as a target to get it re-written. Not sure whether to register or not.

If anyone needs help motivating themselves I can recommend write-track. I've done about 50K words in 6 weeks. I've only done chapter books before so this is a whole new ball game!

elfycat · 21/10/2014 14:14

Hi.

I thought there would be a thread by now.

I'm back for novel 11. This year I'm the ML of my newly created area which is causing some tension headaches (arranging babysitters is the actual cause of the headaches)

I'm a pantser. I have an idea. There need to be 3 MC and an assortment of family. No-one has a name yet. Some have jobs as it's relevant to the plot. There's still over a week to come up with minor things like that, the antagonists etc.

Felicia Me too on the study thing. I've been with the OU since 2008 but got my shiny degree cert last week. Mind you my characters won't have 'random hobby', which have included 'ethics in nursing', 'human biology', 'perspectives on complemetary therapies', 'ancient civilisations', 'art history', 'James Joyce's miserable short stories' and 'Shakespeare'.