NaNoWriMo

[drosdelnoch]

OK not sure how many people know about this but its National Novel Writing Month in November. The place is called NaNoWriMo and theres a community there where everyone pitches in and tries to get a good kick with a project that theyre planning where in a month you get 50,000 words written. Now it doens't have to be 50K as you can set your own target but it will allow you to get advice from some others (hopefully) and be able to contribute to discussions about various problems.

Now the reason I mention it now is that it gives people chance to plan thier project as well as to have some time to put everything together in thier own mind and play with various options. Anyway, I'm signed up so hopefully there will be some others from here that will do the same.

[Sue_S]

I know a few people who've taken part in this and loved it.

50k in one month is a bit too rich for me (I have done it in the past, but it nearly killed me) but for some people it's just the kind of sprint they need. It's definitely worth checking out.

[drosdelnoch]

Its one reason why I always suggest that people aim for what they feel is a good target. I've known some aim for 10k in the month and others for 25K or even some nutters go for over 100K.

[Sue_S]

Good thinking. The important thing is to have a concrete, realistic goal - and writing buddies (I find that I'm much too undisciplined without them.)

But -100k in one month..... *faints*

[Jen]

"even some nutters go for over 100K."

I probably shouldn't mention that I managed 155,000 last year then... I totally blame the regional word wars, they get me psychotically competitive. :-)

[Sue_S]

155k?!? Wow.

The very thought makes my brains dribble out down my nose.....

[Jen]

Yeah, that's about how it felt at the end of the month... :-> Never been so brain dead...

[Liz]

I have yet to complete a Nanowrimo...I think I got to about 20k and then real life interfered and studies...and I know I should maybe try and do this this year, as I have no excuse really...so maybe, just maybe, DD, you'll buddy with me again.

[drosdelnoch]

Hey Liz, why would I not? Hopefully between us we'll get there and remember its not about having a perfect script its about getting one down in the first place, we have until the next nano to get the first one finished and polished. LOL

[Gabriele Campbell]

I love Nano. I never make the 50K (30K was my best and I usually aim for 12-15K) but it's a great way to get a feel for a new project. Since I write out of order, I get a number of scenes that way which I can later quilt into something more complete. I got three books of my Roman Empire series started that way (I work on the entire thing because the books are linked) and a standalone that is currently shelved but not abandoned.

Though I wonder if I should do it again this year. I want to because it's fun, but I don't want to start another project right now since I don't need more books in the Roman series and should not play with more plotbunnies until I got some of the current projects finished. Though some plotbunnies are already poking their ears out from under the bed where I shoved them. Damn critters.

So maybe I'll cheat and work on an old project - as long as I only count the new words I won't feel too bad about it.

[Deborah J Miller]

Thanks for reminding me guys - I would dearly love to take part in Nano sometime but I have to be realistic about the amount of work I have on right now... It sounds brilliant though & I'm going to recommend it to my Novel Group members (one of my other hats -now defunct Writer in Residence!)

Good luck to all Wonderlanders taking part - let us know how you get on!

[D L Owens]

Plotbunnies are a dangerous breed, if somewhat cute in a somwhat disturbing way. :D

[D L Owens]

I am signing up for this year. I started on a novel in 2005 but failed miserably, but since then I have managed to write 25k in a single non-Nano month, and I wasn't even trying, so I know that its achievable. I really do think it is possible if I can manage to avoid too many distractions. Even if I don't succeed I would have at least put hand to keyboard, and that's a whole sight better than usual.