NANOWRIMO — are you thinking about it?

The Writing Life
#21

The whole, lovely idea of NaNoWriMo is writing as many words as you can. They don’t have to be the best words, you don’t need to end up with a clean draft. It’s about building a habit and breaking through the fears and anxieties to get words flowing! Because you have to write FAST to write 50,000 words in 30 days.

I have found it very helpful to have a general outline of my story – if I have a list of scenes I know I want to have in the story, it’s easier to jump around and keep writing if I get stuck.

3 Likes
#22

Carrie – I’m a nearly daily writer if that helps.

2 Likes
#23

Greetings! I don’t have a group because I have been a little shy about committing, but I’d really like to. In order to do so, I have to finish up my current project by or before mid-October and I am going to really try to do that. It will mean increasing my daily word count, but I think I might be able to do it.

3 Likes
#24

Sorry! (Control return does not give me a paragraph break. Learning, learning…) Yes, I am a daily writer. I just started writing fiction this year after writing nonfiction for a while. It has been a terrific experience – like the cupboard door flew open! I am learning something new literally every day. I feel very fortunate.

4 Likes
#25

I’m thinking about it. It would fit in between my current projects quite well.

1 Like
#26

Yes, I want to do it and am hoping to. I need the distraction as it falls during the 1 year marker for when I almost didn’t make it out of the hospital alive. I’m hoping to hit no serious snags and it’ll be feasible to do. I have my plot figured out, though I might end up working on it too soon for a class starting next week. We will see, but either way I fully plan to participate again this year.

3 Likes
#27

I am thinking about it. I find the silly stickers motivating.

3 Likes
#28

Oooh! You get stickers? I had no idea. That settles it. I’m in. Seriously, I have decided to do it because it appears the current project will be far enough along where it will make sense. I’m excited!

5 Likes
#29

This great! Should we host something in this group? Or is the regular NANO site better for that?

1 Like
#30

I personally don’t know what the site is like, but I like the idea of maybe having a dedicated space here during NANO where at the end of every week we can talk about how our progress is going or give encouragement to anyone that needs it.

5 Likes
#31

And, there’s stickers . . . Yeah, having a little mud on your boots helps with the momentum.

1 Like
#32

Okay cool! Let me think about it.

1 Like
#33

Just a quick note on NANO and surrogate sites. National Novel Writing Month, their agents and organization is a registered charity who’s main purpose is to raise funds and awareness for literacy in schools and educational programs around the world. They have well-developed forums, templates, and all manner of joining for participants who may or may not write to be involved. I have supported (financially, and as a participant) this worthy cause for the last - this will be my eighth year - and whether I’m writing with the group, or simply getting the word out, I find round tables, circles, and working critiques outside the official group a dilution of the intended purpose. I am neither pro, nor con in any endeavor of any group I’ve been honored to support, join, or attend. But, I hope all will realize that loving Girl Scout cookies and their purpose may be noble, but deciding to have a bake sale while discussing these platitudes isn’t playing fair.

3 Likes
#34

That’s a powerful way of thinking about it. Thank you.

#35

NaNoWriMo does offer “Writing Groups” – a place where friends can get together on the NaNo site to chat and share stats. Sort of a private chat room feature. We could create one for this group, which would allow anyone who wanted to to have a common place to share thoughts and accomplishments. Might be more streamlined than having a separate thing on this page. Although it wouldn’t hurt to start a NaNoWriMo Venting thread here on November 1. :wink:

5 Likes
#36

Why whatever would a writer have to discuss whilst trying to get sixteen million thousand words down on day 28? I know last year I had to buy several vowels just to finish.

2 Likes
#37

Umm, moral support? Camaraderie? Shared frustrations and shared successes? To me, this would seem the whole point in doing it. If you aren’t sharing the experience, why bother doing it?

3 Likes
#38

From the “sixteen million thousand” and having to buy vowels as a reference to the game show Wheel of Fortune, I think he was just being funny. Usually prefacing with “Why whatever would…” is a clue to someone suggesting the opposite of what they are actually saying. That phrasing might be too colloquial to carry, though, to some readers.

2 Likes
#39

Gotta make sure people know you’re being funny, Daniel!

#40

I have done it every year since 2016. I have learned a lot about what NOT to do. What’s helpful to me is if I prepare an outline before November. But that is easier said than done. Last year was easier because I used dictation a lot. You can get about one thousand words in twenty minutes.

5 Likes