Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Creative writing

Whether you enjoy writing sci-fi, fantasy or fiction, join our Creative Writing forum to meet others who love to write.

Original poster

NaNoWriMo - what's it all about?

471 replies

Twine88 · 29/09/2016 13:55

I know roughly the idea behind it, but I wondered if anyone had actually taken part and had any thoughts to share?

My novel is already in excess of the 50k but, is still all over the place and needs much editing.

Any thoughts appreciated, even if you considered it and decided no.

OP posts:
BiglyBadgers · 28/11/2017 21:39

I'm now on 61k and still feel like I have loads to go. Shock

MrsFionaCharming · 28/11/2017 21:46

Fancy lending me a few Bigly? I’m on 48,683!

BiglyBadgers · 28/11/2017 22:17
MrsFionaCharming · 28/11/2017 23:14

Less than a thousand words to go!

IHateYourCarpet · 29/11/2017 09:29

49,125! Nearly there. Gone back to add a scene that I'm sure will take me over.

IHateYourCarpet · 29/11/2017 09:59

DONE!

Good luck today Charming, I'm sure you're bound to hit 50k too!

I'm all good to give birth now that I'm done :)

JosBoys · 29/11/2017 10:14

Hurrah Jomaco and well done IHateYourCarpet ! I can't believe you managed to write a novel before giving birth - that's so impressive.

Bigly a writing posse would be fab. I'm currently on 53,800 and starting to think 60k isn't going to be enough.

BiglyBadgers · 29/11/2017 11:13

Hurrah for Carpet! Flowers

I am really loving the support on here Jos and I think having a goal helps me focus. I would like to set a December goal of finishing my first draft. I think I have another 30-40k to go (I don't really want to go over 100k in total), so that seems sort of possible now I am on a roll. Maybe I could just post my daily word count to you guys. Smile

MrsFionaCharming · 29/11/2017 20:47

I did it!!!!!
50,110 words, 102 pages!

JosBoys · 29/11/2017 20:57

Well done Charming ! Hurrah!

BiglyBadgers · 29/11/2017 21:14

Awesome work charming. Grin

Witchend · 29/11/2017 22:30

Well done!

BiglyBadgers · 30/11/2017 13:14

Last day today?. Is everyone on here done or is anyone still needing some encouragement?

BiglyBadgers · 30/11/2017 13:15

Whoah, random question mark there.

annandale · 30/11/2017 17:29

I've retired gracefully. I got to 36k then succumbed to a cold which went to my chest and also developed the Bloody Flux. I had to go back to work after 1 day off so have just been working and sleeping (not much eating, have lost 3kg).

No worries. I really enjoyed it, got further than I ever thought I would, and have been inspired to find a writer's group. That's a big win for me. Am also really chuffed for everyone who made it. See you in 11 months?

BiglyBadgers · 30/11/2017 17:44

36k is pretty darn awesome Anna! Do be careful with that cold and take it easy. If we still keep up the thread do come and hang out when you are able. Smile

SmilingButClueless · 30/11/2017 19:43

I still have a few thousand words to go before finishing the story, but I've just validated my official word count at 50,243. Not bad considering I had a few days where I couldn't do much.

I want to finish the novel but not sure whether I'll do anything with it. I seem to have accidentally drafted what feels like the middle book of a trilogy, so should really go back and write the first book at some point...

JosBoys · 30/11/2017 20:17

Congratulations Smiling ! Star
Annan 36k is amazing considering you've been ill. Do you think you'll finish it when you join the writers' group or will you start something new?

Jomaco · 30/11/2017 20:54

Well done everyone. StarWine

annandale · 30/11/2017 21:09

I'm really hoping to finish it but am really aware of lots of structural problems I was resolutely closing my eyes to while surging forward!

BiglyBadgers · 30/11/2017 21:46

My problems are just some really terrible writing. Seriously, at the moment I would throw this book out the window with horror if someone made me read it. I am hoping I will magically get better at it by the time I finish the first draft and can go back and rewrite all the awful cringe worthy bits Blush

Witchend · 30/11/2017 23:01

Reading through mine, I can see the points where I thought "I can never extend this to 50k, quick, pad it out" Grin Those bits need pruning as hard as roses.

I'm thinking about if I rewrote it to be a sort of sequel to my first one. It wouldn't take a lot of reworking, and the dc have been asking what happens next, so maybe I can cheat here!

JosBoys · 01/12/2017 08:21

I haven't gone back to read over it yet because I probably change tense; I definitely padded and I know there are parts where I wrote cliches (just to capture the thought) so I will need to rewrite them.
I'm currently on 57,000. I'm trying to 'just write' until I finish the first draft then I'll put it aside for a month, then edit it.

BiglyBadgers · 01/12/2017 09:23

That's pretty much my plan to Jos. I want to get the first draft done for Jan and then I have exams and my placement starts. I might end up letting it sit until end of march, when my placement ends. I feel like I'm too close to it at the moment and can only see the awful bits. I need a bit of distance again I think.

Jomaco · 01/12/2017 10:06

Mines pretty much written in scenes, there's big gaps between some of them where it would have just been plodding along and word count not moving much. So first thing I will be doing is getting rid of the scenes that didn't work.
Plus things were changing as I wrote so will have to go back over it all to make earlier changes, that will probably lead to more changes!
Then I'll work on piecing it all together.
I'm still going but at a slower pace and then I'll put it to the side for a week or to. So hopefully can start on all the editing in the New Year.