NaNoWriMo

[Xortberg]

(This might belong in the Creative Work board, but I figured since I'm not posting any actual work, The Lounge would be better.)

Anywho, anyone every hear of this? November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. It's a competition of sorts, although you're only competing with yourself. The idea is to write 50,000 words during the month of November - that's 1,667 words a day. I took part last year, but failed miserably. I plan on succeeding this year, though.

So, thoughts? Anyone already plan on doing it, or want to check it out? Anyone done it before? I know November's still about a month away, but the earlier the planning begins, the better. I've been up all night outlining my plot and browsing the forums on the website.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

They offer any rewards or something like that?

[Xortberg]

They offer any rewards or something like that?

If you reach the 50,000 mark, you get a free paperback copy of your book, 50 percent off some word processor for Mac, and something else. The main reward is just getting a novel done, though, since actually writing the thing is the hardest part. Having a reasonably difficult challenge with a deadline like this really helps you get something done, as opposed to sitting around and taking all the time you like to go back as you write and keep editing. The goal is quantity over quality, since you can always go back and edit once you're finished.

[Milkyway64]

I'd so be in on this if the only decent story idea I've had in a while was not turned into a roleplay.

[Robert Monroe]

Creative writing does not necessitate writing spam.

[Fluxy]

This is actually pretty cool! I will do this as a self challenge, but not turn in anything. I just will do it for the fun. Writing is a fun hobby of mine, and this gives some reason to it, so why not?! =]

[Xortberg]

Creative writing does not necessitate writing spam.

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to say here. Are you saying the competition is bad because it encourages you to write quickly? Because it isn't just an excuse to spam like hell. The goal is to write a novel. This means that, regardless of how rushed it is, it needs to follow a coherent plot, flow well and have good characters. The whole "quantity over quality" thing is important, though. If I was left to my own devices to write an entire novel, I would waste endless amounts of time going back, editing, revising, changing little bits of the plot, etc. I would never finish.

If you mean something else, my bad. I've not slept, so I'm not braining at my full capacity.

This is actually pretty cool! I will do this as a self challenge, but not turn in anything. I just will do it for the fun. Writing is a fun hobby of mine, and this gives some reason to it, so why not?!=]

Sounds great. If we get enough people in on it, maybe we could make a little forum-wide group to encourage each other.

[Robert Monroe]

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to say here. Are you saying the competition is bad because it encourages you to write quickly? Because it isn't just an excuse to spam like hell. The goal is to write a novel. This means that, regardless of how rushed it is, it needs to follow a coherent plot, flow well and have good characters. The whole "quantity over quality" thing is important, though. If I was left to my own devices to write an entire novel, I would waste endless amounts of time going back, editing, revising, changing little bits of the plot, etc. I would never finish.

That's exactly what I mean. I'm not dissing the notion entirely, but pfffft shelling out a 50 000 word story in a month can be nothing but rushed (unless you are really, REALLY good). As a writer I've been working on merely 3 major stories for the past 4 or 5 years to fine tune all the details and perfect the delivery, characterization, and what have you. So yeah, one month for a 50 000 word story? Thats crazy. I could spend an entire month just brainstorming ideas.

[Xortberg]

That's exactly what I mean. I'm not dissing the notion entirely, but pfffft shelling out a 50 000 word story in a month can be nothing but rushed (unless you are really, REALLY good). As a writer I've been working on merely 3 major stories for the past 4 or 5 years to fine tune all the details and perfect the delivery, characterization, and what have you. So yeah, one month for a 50 000 word story? Thats crazy. I could spend an entire month just brainstorming ideas.

I think your problem here is that you're assuming the 50,000 words you have at the end of the month is the finished product. The goal of this is to finish something. After November, that's the time to edit and rewrite and make sure everything makes sense. Yes, the first draft of everything will be rushed. Yes, it will be a mess and contain lots of crap. That's what revision is for.

And for the record, I've been brainstorming ideas for several months now.

[Robert Monroe]

I think your problem here is that you're assuming the 50,000 words you have at the end of the month is the finished product. The goal of this is to finish something. After November, that's the time to edit and rewrite and make sure everything makes sense. Yes, the first draft of everything will be rushed. Yes, it will be a mess and contain lots of crap. That's what revision is for.

And for the record, I've been brainstorming ideas for several months now.

Perhaps. But for me at least, unless I took "creative" to its fullmost and literal defintion, I could not create "creative" writing in a month, not even a shitty rough drat, unless it was a brain vomit. Which are admittedly fun.

[Xortberg]

Perhaps. But for me at least, unless I took "creative" to its fullmost and literal defintion, I could not create "creative" writing in a month, not even a shitty rough drat, unless it was a brain vomit. Which are admittedly fun.

Well, we'll see when I actually get finished, I suppose.

[Fira-Astrali]

isn't it only 40k?

[Xortberg]

Nah, 50. Which is awesome, since I got 4700 words in the first hour. I plan on trying to make 10K today.

[Fira-Astrali]

Nah, 50. Which is awesome, since I got 4700 words in the first hour. I plan on trying to make 10K today.

Aw shit, you're right! the hell?! >.<

Im hopefully getting a guinea pig today, so I'll write while im getting him used to my room I've only got 500 words to start. I've never been able to break 5000 words for a WriMo -_-;

[Xortberg]

My first ever one was last year. I didn't plan at all, and I ended up getting about 3000 before I realized I had no idea what I was doing. It fell apart from there.

So what's your account name? We'll be writing buddies!

[Fira-Astrali]

My first ever one was last year. I didn't plan at all, and I ended up getting about 3000 before I realized I had no idea what I was doing. It fell apart from there.

So what's your account name? We'll be writing buddies!

Hmn, pretty sure im also Fira there, but I could be wrong ^^;

[Xortberg]

Since I'm a shameless self-promoting attention whore:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/581453

My account, in case anyone wants to follow my progress.

[Fira-Astrali]

Since I'm a shameless self-promoting attention whore:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/581453

My account, in case anyone wants to follow my progress.

hehehe, i actually found mine too ^^

http://www.nanowrimo.org//eng/user/458197

Got some good sleep last night, so I'm hoping to get the jump on that pesky wordcount! :D