Nanowrimo2018

[buttybuttybutthole]

Who is in?

I have my novel planned out, the whole thing is in my head, I just need to get it down. I have so many other WIP, I need to really work at this novel. I have no excuse other than my own self sabotage

How much does everyone aim to write per day? I'm thinking 2000 words. Gulp.

Present! Isn't there a set number of words to write?

No I don't think so but I really want to write my whole novel- am I being ambitious about 80k

It's write 50K to "win" but you can write more. That's 1667 words a day.
I may do it. I did last year, but I only decided the day before to do it, and I ought to be editing rather than writing another. It was fun as a group though.

Yeah go on then, I’m in.
I’ve written about 35,000 words but I’m only getting around 2000 a week done at the moment. I just need to finish the rest of the thing.
Will this be a support thread?

I'm in! Have just started a new novel.

Me! Me! I'm planning, which is exciting for me as I usually pants, but realised I need to get some sort of plan for this one as I want it to be quite tight...as opposed to the sprawling epic I did last year.

I did around 73k last year butty so 80k is possible though you'll have to really go for it. Ambitious is good though. I like ambitious.

Right right right let's do this!

Im scared guys...

I'm scared too

Ok, I have planned my story out, almost chapter by chapter with some squiffy bits in the middle , I have it all in my head, it's alive I just need the discipline to write.

I'm writing a thriller. Swinging from massive belief in it to thinking it's shit.

I'm using scrivener as the cork board is really useful. What's everyone else using?

I like how you say "its alive", that's a great way of putting it. Mine is too, there's just a fairly crucial strand of the plot that I can't quite nail down yet.

I'm using Evernote!

I use Evernote too in fact I have typed so many scenes into my phone using Evernote, I do it while I'm out walking or just at random times when parts of the book come into my head. I love how I can then log in on the computer and it's all there!

Do you just have the basic version of Evernote?

I have loads of plot issues too, mainly in the middle but I'm hoping as I write it will fall into place ?

Can I join please? I wrote four chapters four years ago (!) and would love to get it moving again, and ideally finished.

Have you all managed to complete at least one novel previously?

I just use Google docs. Every now and again I try something else but I just always come back to my good old friend Google docs. It has everything I need.

Thriller sounds fun! I'm doing a fantasy detective noir. It's keeping me amused at least.

I have never tried google docsfantasy detective noir sounds fun too,

Oops fat fingers!!

Caroline, Welcome to the thread

I'm writing speculative fiction, and the main thing I'll need to remember is to plough on to get a first draft down (I have a tendency to try and perfect each scene which I don't think is helpful for a first draft).

What do you think your strengths and problem areas are? I think my dialogue sounds good and my description is strong. What I need to work on is weaving action in with the dialogue (aka imagine a character is fishing or something whilst also talking to his mate - boring example. How do I weave the fishing in with the conversation?).

I also need to refine how I write action, I tend to go off too much on a thought process tangent for my character. Also my sentence rhythm is off I feel when it comes to action. It ends up being a bit too staccatoish.

I've also signed up for a 10-week online course that kicks off at the end of this month, which I thought was great timing for nanowrimo. It's really expensive and I spent a long time hesitating but I think it'll be worth it!

The course sounds a great idea! I think the OU do some free ones, though not sure how good they are.
The most effective tool I have found is reading widely. Sometimes I just immerse myself in fiction, reading, listening on audible. It helps writing come more naturally.

I'd say my weakness is dialogue! With the fishing example, all I would do is add small snippets after the dialogue. Ie "Look at that big fish!" he shouted, gripping his fishing rod tightly. Bill stared at the fish open mouthed, wondering how he had ended up sitting on the edge of a soggy riverbank, gawping at a wet fish.

Told you I was bad at dialogue. Hard to get my characters to speak out loud.

The aim is 50k in a month I've discovered

What’s wrong with your dialogue there @Butty? Seems fine to me.

I really want to join but I’m having a baby this week (or next week if she decides to keep us waiting) do you think it’ll be therapeutic or just pushes to the side lines? I started last year, joined all the forums but only got to 20 000.

Thanks Selina-congratulations!
I would had struggled being pregnant and with a newborn but nowadays we can write into our phones (Evernote) then it's immediately there on your computer. There's the option of writing while you feed the baby, sit at the park etc.

Sometimes I'll write 500 words while I'm making breakfast, then another 500 while waiting for school pick up, all into my iPhone!

Is that an app @Butty? I might give it a go but maybe set myself the target of 25 000 :)

Yes Evernote is an app (free) but then you can log in on the website and your notes appear! You can then copy to word/scrivener/google nots etc

Any target is good!