NaNoWriMo 2014

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

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?

Loving the random hobbies

I'm in! haven't done a Nano for years, but this week came up with two really good ideas (or so they seemed at the time) for novels which I now have to choose between.....

I've a story in mind and have started my planning. I've been meaning to do it every year since I first heard about it, but last year was the first time I really got into it. I didn't get asfar as I had hoped due to life generally getting in the way, but I am far more determined and prepared this year. I've got a lovely shiney tablet now as well, so I can utilise my commute as it's the only time I really get to myself these days!

Oh, I always want to do this but always end up chickening out. Are you supposed to have a rough outline of the plot or an idea of the characters etc, is it enough just to have a starting point and then write and see where they end up? Doesn't it just end up rambling around into nothingness for 50k words?

What happens when you need to research something?? I have a good idea for a starting point, but I'm not really sure where my characters are going to end up. I know what they want, but I think I'll get caught up in "hang on, is this plausible?" Or does it not matter as you can rewrite it later?

Bertie you can do either. I've started at midnight not knowing what I was writing that year. I've had plots, outlines and world building.

This year I have an idea. My characters lack names and I have no bad guys where I need them. I might go with the 'mysterious threat that would be revealed in a never gonna happen sequel.

Research? Put in what you need in red typing - that's for the editing that also never happens phase AFTER November.

Let's put it this way. A few years back I went to write a sci-fi epic. It had spaceships, colonisation, plagues, rescue missions, court-martials, death threats and the main character being shipped off on a deep space mission for her own safety.

What I ended up with was the MC and her twin sister having coffee and a shopping trip before the MC went to join the ship. 50k words of shopping trip and coffee.

I won.

This year I probably need to know about online gaming, MI5, and the set up of Scotland Yard. I'll just do the character and plot stuff and worry about the details never later.

I don't have names either for my two (or maybe three) main characters either. I can't decide whether the second should be one person or split into two.

I suppose by research I mean - I want my characters travelling around and encountering various people/places. But I don't know how realistic that is. Then again, I often get lost on forums researching stuff so I'm sure I can allow myself an hour or two of research when I need to and then I can flesh out details later if I ever get around to it as you say

I'm in! punygod, I'm exactly the same, have been doing this for years but I never win. I don't mind that really, though; for me it's still useful as an exercise in getting words down. Not entirely sure what I'm going to write this year, or how I'm going to fit it in alongside work and exam revision, but I'll have a go!

I'm Blythe on nano if anyone wants to add me.

Ooh and then consider putting them forward for this?:
www.mumsnet.com/books/janklow-nesbit-writing-competition

I'm in too! I tried twice, pre children, and didn't win, but this year I'm going to do it or die trying. I have an idea and have written 30 points of a story arc/key elements/character related ideas, but they're very loose (a word or a sentence). At least it's a prompt if I don't know where to go each day.

I seem to write 500 words without noticing it, then scrape up to 1000, then stare at the screen wondering if I can change 'can't' to 'can not' often enough to reach 1667. So I'm hoping my prompts will encourage me a little more and make that 1000 up to 1600+ struggle a little more manageable.

Bertie, wrt research I do some basic preliminary research then take the 'you can change it later' approach. Otherwise I get bogged down.
Once you know what the story is you can change the details, and it's not often you come across a detail that is wrong that causes big problems.

Okie doke

Well I've signed up. If anyone wants to add me as a buddy my name on there is foreversomeday.

I'm in.

Won in 2012,crashed and burned early in 2013 due to mc.

Currently 7 months pg and November is not great timing since is my last month at work to handover, get all marking done and reports due in my last week!

Not confidence and have no ideas yet - haven't made time to plan as am trying to get baby room ready and ML handover stuff done.

But would love to get writing again, even if I don't win this year. Still have all my planning from last year so may work from that.

I have a story in mind, involving old magic and growing up, but I can't decide whether to pitch it as YA, or for younger readers (around 9/10). Any thoughts ?

I am thinking of doing it! :)

I have a weird idea but it's in a genre I have never even read myself! I really want to write it though, and have a very clear idea of my four main characters. I am thinking of just writing, without trying to define or research the genre first.

Mad idea? I do feel that some of my previous novel efforts have been hampered by thinking too much beforehand about genre and marketing, so ended up middle-of-the-road and unoriginal.

Do it, doooooo it Pinot

Tanuk, what would be the difference? Language, sexual scenes? I think I'd keep it PG rated or with subtle metaphors around sex scenes but keep it as a YA complexity. That way it's accessible to older children who have the reading comprehension but it's also interesting for YA readers. Like Harry Potter works for both of those age groups, although admittedly the later books are more complex.

He he! It would be crazy timing. We've just moved to another country, we're busy getting the kids into schools and trying to find and set up a new house, etc. All the usual ingredients for disaster. [wibble] But perhaps I can turn that around and make it 'an ideal context for creative output' instead?

Also, it looks like I could meet some weird and wonderful people at the local NaNoWriMo write ins...

Bertie I think it would be the emotional complexity of the characters- think Narnia vs the later Harry Potters. I was a voracious reader of fantasy worlds at both ages (although not young enough to have read HP as a teen!) and live both. BUT really need to stick to a style and identify it. Perhaps a la Northern Lights, set it in a child's world with a hint of what's to come at the end. It still tackles some quite grown up themes, but emotionally it feels simpler. Am I making any sense?

Pinot there is NEVER a right time to Nano! Never!

Or identity a style and stick to it even.

there I go, attempting to edit already

I'm in too.

I've managed the 50k in the past (on trashy, badly-written fanfic that never got looked at again!) but this year I will be trying to do it with 1yr old DD... not sure I fancy my chances but I've been meaning to sit down and start writing again for several months now and something always seems to come up so I'm determined to use NaNoWriMo to give me the kick I need!

I'm also being a bit of a rebel as I plan on writing a series of (in theory, connected) children's stories.

It is a good time for me, I'm only working part time, don't have much work at the moment, DS happy in kindergarten until 2pm every day, don't have much typically going on at the weekends, and November is a nice pleasing "shape" this year - five weekends, four M-Fs. I'm taking it as a sign!

I'd love to do it this year, was all set to do it two years ago but ended up in hospital so I have always felt it is unfinished business. I have a fantasy novel in mind but it has been stubbornly vague on importsnt points so perhaps a deadline will help.

Does anyone use WriteOn on Amazon? My bil is doing an excellent novel on there a chapter at a time and has lots of friendly feedback, the community users are very nice and know their stuff. There are also writing challenges which are quite good fun!

Tanukisan, what do you read most of, YA or middle grade? I'd be inclined to write it for the age group whose literature you feel most at home with as a reader.
Also, I don't know if this is a factor for you or not, but I get the feeling agents are quite well supplied with YA and are on the look-out for good MG at the moment.

Interesting question tunip, thank you. I originally planned this novel out as YA but it ended up feeling so contrived. I do read a lot of it and I'm a bit bored of the fantasy/love triangle/required cliches etc. I've just spent the last few days replanning it as a middle grade work and it feels more comfortable. I'm drawing on quite a few beloved authors (Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, Monica Furlong, Susan Cooper etc) and pitching it at middle grade, but hopefully with characters and a world that could grow into teenage years and concerns later. Does that sound silly?

No, that sounds great :)