NaNoWriMo 2004 - Sign Ups!

[Guest]

Fellow NaNoWriMo's, novelists and nutters, November is fast approaching!

Sign ups for this year's epics begins on 1st October, a mere 3 weeks ago. So, kick your muse into shape and get your thinking caps on. Will you be ready for the off?

For those of you thinking, WTF is NaNoWriMo? Here's a potted history, told with the aid of links to other threads...

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and takes place from the 1st to 30th of November each year. The challenge, should you choose to accept, is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Sound like madness? A tall order? A piece of piss? Then read on...

I took part in NaNoWriMo last year, for the first time, aided and abetted by a NaNo veteran. I also did some arm twisting here and got about 25 other AH'ers to participate. We all, every single one of us, got something out of taking part. Most of all, for me, it was the feeling that I had accomplished something I never really believed I could do, before that point.

Here's a link to the official NaNoWriMo site: NaNoWriMo.org

A link to thread I started here last year, to get others involved: NaNoWriMo 2003

And a link to the support thread: LitWridoNaWriMo - The Support Thread

Also, here's a link to a thread Perdita started the other day, which is about an interview with Chris Baty - the founder of NaNoWriMo: Attn. Loulou: Article on Chris Baty

Have fun reading through that lot and let me know if you sign up! I plan to do the dreaded table again this year.

Lou

 

[doormouse]

But but but... my Halloween story was going to be my first novel.

Will it still count?

 

[Guest]

But but but... my Halloween story was going to be my first novel.

Will it still count?

Whaddya mean?

Do you mean this is a novel you are already writing, in time for Halloween?

In which case, definitely not. The 50,000 words have to be written between the 1st and 30th of November, that's the whole point of NaNoWriMo. It's not a competition, or anything like that. It is to be thought of as a personal challenge, which it is. Very much so!

Why not finish your Halloween novel and write your second one for NaNo?

Lou

 

[cloudy]

I'm still planning on participating, but haven't the faintest glimmer of an idea yet.

 

[Violette]

Geez, it's that time of year already?!

 

[fogbank]

The challenge, should you choose to accept, is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Sound like madness? A tall order? A piece of piss? Then read on...

50,000 words in 30 days? Pah, that's child's play. I just finished the 3 day novel contest (http://www.3daynovel.com) Where the standard is writing 25,000 or so over a long weekend.

Actually, I think this is a great idea, and I'd happily participate if I didn't have a lot of other projects to work on. From my own experiences in this sort of event, I highly recommend doing this as a way of sparking your creative drive. If you have a problem with getting things finished--like I do--the best way to get through it is to give yourself a deadline that's so intense that there's not even a temptation to procrastinate or do anything else.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

As with last year, I volunteer to help the writers in anyway I can. Best of luck to you all

-Colly

 

[GingerV]

This sounds brilliant, but intimidating as hell. I'm a compulsive rewriter, I don't know if I could get through it. And I haven't even got a ghost of an idea in my head.

Hmmmm, ghosts...

G

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

How can it be checked that you only worked from 1st to 30th?

 

[GingerV]

As far as I can tell, it can't. But since there are no prizes, and the only reward is knowing that you've accomplished something, why would anyone bother to cheat?

Reading their site, it's obvious that they occasionally do get wackos who take joy in defeating the purpose of the exercise. But honestly, if they want that little tick by their name (or whatever you get to indicate completion) so very much...I say give it to them. They obviously have little else in their lives.

G (who's still toying with the idea)

 

[Alex De Kok]

I'm in. Again. Despite the fact that I still haven't finished last year's! I will, I will, just don't ask me when . . .

Alex

 

[Green_Gem]

Lou,

Thanks for the explanation and link. Last year I saw all the hype about this NaNoWriMo and didn't have a clue what all the excitement was about. Now that I've gone to the site and had a look, I'm getting those butterflies in my stomach...

I have a very good friend here who has been encouraging me to try and write a novel and in fact, in his last mail to me he said emphatically he's not going to stop nagging, so maybe Steve, this IS going to be it. I think I need the push and the pressure of an impending deadline to get my ass into gear and it will help to know that others are plowing and agonizing through as well.

I'm terrified, but I think... I'm IN!!


Green_Gem

 

[Guest]

I'm still planning on participating, but haven't the faintest glimmer of an idea yet.

I didn't for last year's NaNo. In fact, I had no idea what to write the whole way through, I did it completely on the fly and loved every minute of it! Didn't turn out too bad, either.

 

[Guest]

Geez, it's that time of year already?!

Yup! Gotta agree, 'tis a bit of a shocker!

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: NaNoWriMo 2004 - Sign Ups!

50,000 words in 30 days? Pah, that's child's play. I just finished the 3 day novel contest (http://www.3daynovel.com) Where the standard is writing 25,000 or so over a long weekend.

Actually, I think this is a great idea, and I'd happily participate if I didn't have a lot of other projects to work on. From my own experiences in this sort of event, I highly recommend doing this as a way of sparking your creative drive. If you have a problem with getting things finished--like I do--the best way to get through it is to give yourself a deadline that's so intense that there's not even a temptation to procrastinate or do anything else.

I've heard about that novel writing weekend. I've heard Wrimos call them nutters.

Seriously, it's very cool! Good to hear you took part!

You've summed up very well there exactly what the spirit of NaNoWriMo is for most. Thank you!

Lou

 

[Guest]

As with last year, I volunteer to help the writers in anyway I can. Best of luck to you all

-Colly

Thanks, Colly!

 

[Guest]

This sounds brilliant, but intimidating as hell. I'm a compulsive rewriter, I don't know if I could get through it. And I haven't even got a ghost of an idea in my head.

Hmmmm, ghosts...

G

There's only one way to find out if you can do it.

Go for it!!!

Lou

 

[Guest]

How can it be checked that you only worked from 1st to 30th?

As far as I can tell, it can't. But since there are no prizes, and the only reward is knowing that you've accomplished something, why would anyone bother to cheat?

Reading their site, it's obvious that they occasionally do get wackos who take joy in defeating the purpose of the exercise. But honestly, if they want that little tick by their name (or whatever you get to indicate completion) so very much...I say give it to them. They obviously have little else in their lives.

G (who's still toying with the idea)

Precisely!

As I said earlier, NaNoWriMo is a very personal challenge, and, at the end of the day, if somebody does cheat, in whatever way, the only person they are cheating is themself. What a hollow "victory" reaching 50,000 words during November would be if you knew you hadn't really done it in the spirit of NaNo.

Lou

 

[Guest]

I'm in. Again. Despite the fact that I still haven't finished last year's! I will, I will, just don't ask me when . . .

Alex

Very cool, it will be great to do this with you again, Alex!

I know what you mean. I did "finish" mine back in January, ie. I wrote it to a conclusion, coming in at around 80,000 words, but I've still got to get into properly editing it.

Lou

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Hey...

Count me in again, and hopefully, the outcome will be more productive than last year. Though I guess starting over witha week to go wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done...

 

[Guest]

Lou,

Thanks for the explanation and link. Last year I saw all the hype about this NaNoWriMo and didn't have a clue what all the excitement was about. Now that I've gone to the site and had a look, I'm getting those butterflies in my stomach...

I have a very good friend here who has been encouraging me to try and write a novel and in fact, in his last mail to me he said emphatically he's not going to stop nagging, so maybe Steve, this IS going to be it. I think I need the push and the pressure of an impending deadline to get my ass into gear and it will help to know that others are plowing and agonizing through as well.

I'm terrified, but I think... I'm IN!!


Green_Gem

That's awesome, Green Gem! The excitement really is infectious. I hope you get out of this as much as I know I will again this year. I didn't want the month to end, I had so much fun!

Lou

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Thanks, Colly!

My pleasure. Was fun to see you all doing so well last year i would like to try, but I don't think I would do well. I don't write too well under pressure.

-Colly

 

[Guest]

Re: Hey...

Count me in again, and hopefully, the outcome will be more productive than last year. Though I guess starting over witha week to go wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done...

Excellent!

Hmmm, yes, I remember that. At least you gave it a shot, eh?

Lou

 

[Just-Legal]

Count me in

I might actually get past 1000 words this time

And Lou? That av REALLY makes me want to spank you. Bitch.

 

[Guest]

Count me in

I might actually get past 1000 words this time

And Lou? That av REALLY makes me want to spank you. Bitch.

So glad you're doing it again, Helen!

Oh, and feel free.

Lou