NaNoWriMo 2012

[MysticMoon]

Context for anyone who isn't aware of this: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month) challenges writers to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. More details at their website: http://nanowrimo.org

I've been meaning to do this for years. The few times I've started I've never gotten more than a couple thousand words in and usually give up within the first week.

I've also been pretty dry lately as far as writing goes and I suspect that I'm second guessing myself way too much. I think this is just the kind of challenge I need to shake myself up by throwing myself into the pit of creative chaos.

Rather than think of it as a single 50,000 word challenge, I'm going to work on this as a progression of smaller challenges:

• 2,000
• 5,000
• 10,000
• 15,000
• 25,000
• 35,000
• 50,000

Anyone else care to join the challenge?

[Dozus]

Ooh, I've been wanting to do this a while too. I'll try my hand at it, see how long I last. As a devout worshipper of Mathom, my record in such matters is suspect, but I'm still game.

If I write 1300~ words on weekdays and 2500 on weekend days, I might could get to 50k. No more Zelda for me after tomorrow night, then.

[Dossta]

I've wanted to do NaNoWriMo for years now, but kept finding reasons each November to not start.  Screw it.  I'll throw in this year and see what comes of it.

[Dozus]

Day 1

Got a late start and only managed to get 438 words down before exhaustion set in. Tomorrow being a Friday, hopefully I can make some coffee and knock some more out later into the night.

The story itself is, well, only just beginning. I'm trying extremely hard to not do what I usually do and nitpick every sentence until it's perfect. Maybe that'll increase my output in the long term.

[Strolen]

I was thinking about it this year too. I have promotion testing the first week of December so I always have to dedicate November to hardcore studying.

Good luck to you all! Should be a fun challenge!!

[Dossta]

Day 1

Got my 1700 words in, but it was more challenging than I thought.  The first time I looked at the word count I was only 600 in.  I've definitely got to start earlier tonight.

Like my story premise so far, but the characters need work.

[MysticMoon]

My first day was a big flop. I had a bunch of narrative rolling around in my head, my fingers were all set to go... and then I was hit from several directions by Mathom's agents. Social obligations, meetings, blah, blah, blah. By the end of it all I gave up and went to bed. I plan on being unavailable today. I think I need to find a hidey-hole where no one can find me. And maybe start leaving offerings to Othamm.

[MysticMoon]

Day 7 and 292 words...

Not the most impressive beginning but it's more than I've written in months, so I'll take it. I doubt I'll make it anywhere near the 50,000 word mark but I'm still going to see how far I can get.

[Dozus]

I kept going back to my 400-some-odd words and realized I had a strong distaste for what I was writing. It just wasn't very interesting to me, and wasn't going anywhere. I'd write a different story, but I keep drawing blanks.

I think I may redirect my writing efforts into some subs. I've been chewing on a setting idea (Siogal) for some time, and I've got 4700 words about it already written in the past few days. So I think I may declare November to be CiSuWriMo (Citadellian Submission Writing Month) and head in that direction.

[MysticMoon]

CiSuWriMo sounds like a great idea. Like an annual quest where Strolenites attempt to hit a word and/or submission count within a month.

[Dossta]

I've surprised myself.  Yesterday was Day 8 and I was still on target, getting in the magic 1667 words a day.  I'd had the idea for a couple of months now, and had already done a little outlining before it started, and that made a difference I think.  You still in this one Moon?

[MysticMoon]

I've surprised myself.  Yesterday was Day 8 and I was still on target, getting in the magic 1667 words a day.

That is excellent! Good job!

I'm still trying, but not getting far. I haven't given up, though, and I'll post as I make progress. I've had elements of this story rattling around in my head for years and I'm doing my best to make something semi-coherent out of it. Unfortunately, I'm mostly coming up dry when it comes to the actual writing.

[Scrasamax]

I don't get excited about NaNoWriMo because without fail, real life sees fit to kick my teeth down my throat.

No one fights like family

[Dossta]

I'm 35K words in now.  Beginning to think I may finish this thing.  Anyway, that's why I've been gone for the whole month, in case you were wonderin'

[Dossta]

Wrote "THE END" on my 51K manuscript last night.  I'm going to sleep for two days, then start the rewrite.  Maybe try to squeeze in a Citadel article or two, as well.

[MysticMoon]

That is awesome, Dossta! Congratulations.

[Dozus]

Bravo! Do share when you're done.

[Dossta]

Bravo! Do share when you're done.

We'll see.  Right now, I have no idea if what I've got will ever be fit for public consumption.  I'll need to go through several revisions before I make up my mind.  Thanks for asking, though!

[Strolen]

Awesomeness!!