You couldn't know what I meant! Don't say sorry. Now I feel bad... On the bright side, I discovered I can write in greek in nanowrimo. Is anyone participating in another language, other than english? Are you going to prepare, outline etc? Some advice from those who have done it before?
Pea: CazP has been added! I have glazed over the forums a few times; there are many things hidden within. I saw some amazing links for character building if you are interested. Fivvle: You can always become a NaNo Rebel! Then you can work on whatever you choose as a goal for yourself and still have the incredible support network to assist you. Pinelopikappa: It's like the survival instinct kicks in all at once which increases your heart rate, blood pressure, and supplies increased amopunts of oxygen to your brain. This allows us to think faster, more accurately, and in depth! I love when that happens. Eunoia: Love you attitude! Pheonix: I believe you will do well with the goal you set. Success is in the goal maker's eyes. I'm excited to see another "long time participant" Steph4136: I do like that slogan though!! JessWrite: Another newcomer! Yay! Hmm... well, is there one in particular that you feel the most attachment to, or the most emotions or thoughts about?
Thanks, happy to know a newcomer too! There is one story in particular with characters that have been nagging me for two years. I had even gone through some of my folders the other day to find that I had some character outlines and a few synopsis' for this story. I think that it's meant to be told. I write short stories and haven't tried writing a lengthy work. But, I'm really excited to see how many words I can get out of my brain. Should be fun! I'm wondering...do you all set a specific scheduled time to write during NaNo? Or, do you write whenever you can during your freetime in the day? I may try writing in the early mornings or evenings because I work in the afternoons. And, I'm JessWrite over on NaNo. I feel like I just signed up for a running marathon.
I'm probably going to work on either a project that I haven't ever really started and it has always just been in the outline phase, called the Masterful Eyes. Or work on a new project, psychological horror. Though the Masterful Eyes is both part supernatural and psychological.
Yeah? I'll have to take a closer look. I'm happy with how the plot is summarised now (not really in-depth, more a rough guide so I don't forget that important mid-book conflict or send the characters to a completely different continent by accident) but I honestly have no idea about the characters in this book. I keep doing that late-night brainstorming and forgetting it all the next day... hopefully it's fermenting in my unconscious and will be ready to use come November, Added you as well.
Last year was my first year and I "won". It was lots and lots of fun. I do plan on doing it again this year (= I definitely recommend everyone to try it sometime in life because it really does help as a writer because it teaches you to just let go and write. (= Definitely a fun experience.
I'm glad you chose one to work with! Getting the ideas running around out on paper will be amazing I'm sure. At the very least, a nice area to fill with more. haha. I will be working on my project in my spare time. I work, go to school, and I'm a single mother, so I will find my extra time in many different places. I'm glad to have you as a writing buddy on the site!
lachesis77: Great to have you working with us! Wow! Third time! Any tips for us newbies?! Leaka: I love books that make my brain hurt (haha). Psychological thrillers that is. The title The Masterful Eyes just en-captures me, makes me want to find out more. Pea: I am bad for brainstorming without a pen handy... usually when I don't want to take a step onto the cold floor from my warm bed. LOL. I hope you are right about the thoughts fermenting. I like looking at it in that light. Jayyy1014: It's so nice to hear such optimistic thoughts! Thank you very much. I hope you will also keep us updated throughout the next month! Congratulations on your win!!!
I think I have the material I need to make it to at least 20k words in a month- it's an unfinished ~10k short story that just came out of nowhere. I didn't even realize that the character was basically me until several days after I wrote it. Behold, the power of the subconscious.
Tips, huh? Well, 50,000 words in 30 days sounds really daunting, and in many ways it is. But think of it this way: if you write 1,667 words every day, you'll finish by November 30. 1,667 words a day sounds less scary than 50,000 words a month. It is completely doable. The key is to write a little bit every day. Of course, everyone's got other commitments, such as studies, work, family and friends, and these should still remain your top priority in November. However, if you write every day, even for an hour or 30 minutes if that's all you can spare on a given day, you'll be one step closer to your goal. And if you just can't write some days, don't worry about it; there's always a chance to catch up. Last year, I was so sick with a flu and throat infection that I didn't have the strength to write for three full days. But once I felt better, I picked myself up and worked even harder to catch up, and I made it just in time. The thing about NaNoWriMo is that it really does force you to let go and just write. Don't worry about polishing what you've written, and don't fret if a phrase doesn't come out exactly the way you wanted it; it's on the page already, and it'll still be there in December once NaNoWriMo is over, so you can go over it then. Just keep on writing and worry about the rest later. Over the course of the month, many wrimos will experience a roller coaster ride of sorts. You may find yourself super excited on Week 1, with your shiny new plot, shiny new characters, and a shiny new writing adventure. However, in Week 2 you may start to feel the excitement wearing off, and in Week 3 you may be thinking that your plot is stupid, your characters are idiots, and you were insane to even sign up for this in the first place. Whatever you do, don't let it get to you. This has happened to me twice before, and both times I bounced right back. In Week 4, you'll see the glorious light at the end of the 50,000-word tunnel, so go for it with all you've got. If you've officially signed up, you'll receive weekly pep talks from published authors encouraging you to continue and reassuring you that everything you're going through is completely normal. Just don't listen to the voice inside your head that's telling you to stop, and you'll succeed. Finally, the most important thing is to just have fun in November. If you don't think you can do 50,000 words, just set a personal goal for yourself. Regardless of how much you've written in one month, you've got a great start on a first draft, so now you can continue and polish it at your own pace. There's no shame in not "winning" NaNoWriMo: if you've learned anything at all about the writing process and yourself as a writer, then you've won.
lachesis77: Amazing tips! Thank you so much for sharing them! I think letting go and just writing will be my most difficult aspect. I have major issues with fixing errors. haha!! Fivvle: The brain is such an incredible part of the body. Now that you have realized it is basically you, do you think it should be easier to write about, or do you find it to be more difficult?
My God, it's that time of the year again, isn't it? Ugh! This will be another November in which I can devote ZERO time to NaNoWriMo I'm bogged down with my classes. Although, NaNoWriMo would be a useful diversion. Maybe I'll jump in.
I'm the same way when it comes to fixing errors. I have to force myself... to stop... editing... as I go... And to answer your question, it was so effortless to transcribe a soul-twin of myself onto paper that I wrote it faster than I had ever written anything before. Even with the revelation of who my character actually is, I don't think it will change the pace at which I can write this particular story. I bet I could easily make it novella length. And you know what I just realized? Part of the reason I wrote so fast was because I didn't bother to fix any big errors - and boy, were there quite a few. It felt great to just not care.
The dawn is nearly upon us, good friends! Just want to say good luck to everyone - I hope you all find stories worth keeping in your efforts!
Can't believe only three more days, I'm really excited! I went to my local NaNo kick-off party today and it was a lot of fun.
I registered a few weeks ago with the intention of doing this, then decided I probably wouldn't have time. I've changed my mind again. I've chosen November to be the start of my period of "change" in my life so I figure adding this into my schedule might help. I think I'll try set aside a couple of hours every night to write and I have a pretty solid plot outline to work from at the moment.
A group of my friends and I are all participating this year. I'm pretty pumped for some of the meet-ups and write-ins. I've been working on an outline, characters, maps, etc. I'm much more a planner than the type of person who wings it when it comes to writing novels. Best of luck to everyone who participates this year.
Eeep, I'm so excited! My fingers have been itching to write some scenes these past few days, I've had to control myself. Also, my t-shirt came in the mail today and I'm wearing it now. Yay!
I've already started panicking. It isn't even November yet and I'm behind schedule already. Sure wish I had Superman's liver - I'd be more comfortable, I think, if I could drink impossible amounts of booze next month.
I could panic myself, but I'm trying real hard to give myself positive talk, pushing away the negative. Though, my family is planning on taking a trip in the middle of November, so that makes me a bit nervous. I may have to type a lot in the car. I'm not too sure about Thanksgiving either, that will be c-r-a-z-y! But, I'm excited to see how far I can get otherwise.
