You’re ankle-deep in your NaNoWriMo novel, I’m guessing, by now.
So, this seems like a good time to ask: how goes it? It’s still early. How’s the energy? The vibe? Is it working for you? Anything not working? Be in terms of schedule, story, character, plot, theme, caffeine levels, general pantslessness, heinous fuckery, and the likes?
Give us an update. How goes NaNoWriMo for you so far?
Anything anyone can help with?
Robin says:
Not too bad. I’ve hit 10000. It needs massive edits but I don’t mind. If I keep writing at least there will be something to edit.
November 4, 2013 — 8:09 AM
pacwhim says:
I’m ignoring the whole goddamned thing for now. The problem with writing for a living (I’m a nonfiction ghost and have 3 books going right now, all due in January) is that taking on another deadline sucks ass. So I’m waiting for the panic/love of story to set in. Whichever sets in first shall become my mojo, and I will love it and pet it and name it George.
November 4, 2013 — 8:17 AM
Justine Spencer says:
CHUCK! Hi! Guess what . . I’ve written 21,000 words so far. On October 29th I was still searching for a new idea. By November 1 I had two. The hardest part was choosing which one to work on. Now I am almost halfway to 50K. Guess what else . . . I have your cute little graphic that says “Write Till Your Fingers Bleed” hanging in front of me as I write. My eyes are bleeding now too(you might want to put that in as a disclaimer), but that’s cool. Love you Chuck. How’s your Nanowrimo going so far? (P.S. I swear I fed the kids three meals a day and did laundry this weekend too.)
November 4, 2013 — 8:20 AM
Maren Smith says:
Wow, I’m envious of Justine Spencer! I’ve done exactly 3012 words. It’s day 4 and I’m already a little behind. Well, my husband would say I’m “a little behind” on most occasions, but it’s early yet and I think I’ve got this. Time to hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign around my neck and get to work!
November 4, 2013 — 8:31 AM
Ely says:
That’s funny, I actually do have a DND sign around my neck 🙂 Good luck on your Nano Novel!
November 4, 2013 — 9:37 AM
MB Partlow says:
So far, so good. A little behind, but weekends tend to be crazy busy (and there might have a beer festival involved). I have more time to write on weekdays, so expect to catch back up in no time.
November 4, 2013 — 8:39 AM
Rabbit Richards (@RabbitRichards) says:
900 words I’m proud of and no time. I’m competing in the poetry slam at the Canadian festival of spoken word this week here in Montreal, and I feel like i’ll never get to sit still and write again. But the spine of the thing is strong and I cant wait to discover its quirks.
November 4, 2013 — 8:41 AM
Anthony Laffan says:
The weekend was a wash for me. Too many people over and too much going on. I knew that would be the case going in, but it still happened.
Aside from that I have one key issue. Everytime I sit down to write I want to write a different story than the one I plotted/prepped for. It isn’t like I don’t want to write that story either, but the other one keeps trying to butt its way to the front when it really isn’t ready yet. This is the first time that’s happened to me before I was at least 15k into a story so not really sure if I should switch to it or try to box it or what.
November 4, 2013 — 8:43 AM
Sara Crow says:
The “rules” were made to be broken, man. 😉 It will take some extra calculator time, but go ahead and work on BOTH as they strike you and simply add your totals to get your word count. The GOAL is to get you to one novel by the end of the month, and you will probably find by the end of the week that you’re most committed to one plot and can leave the other by the wayside for the time being, but dude, the Muse is such a fickle bitch sometimes that you really should pursue what your passions dictate. No sense in trying to beat out inspiration in one story when the other’s knocking on your door.
That being said, unlike what seem to be Chuck’s proclivities, I’m pretty decent about coming back to old material (from what I’ve seen in his advice, he’s kinda sucky at it). If you’re bad about it, make a point of keeping track of your orphans so that work doesn’t get wasted. After November, try to build up a portfolio of ideas and return to them every once in a while to see what strikes you. Some great material might return to the desk after it’s been put aside due to new thoughts or inspiration later on.
November 4, 2013 — 8:58 AM
thelizwithzombies says:
I have struggled with this for the last few months. It’s seriously been a huge issue. I get all prepped and ready to write one book, and then I lose all interest and work on something else. Lather, rinse, repeat. I’m not even over outlining, we’re talking basic character sketches, skeleton outline, vague feel for setting here.
I didn’t get anywhere with this, but it’s really hard to write when you feel like it’s the suckiest suck of them all. Despair. Wallow. Make excuses. Nano rolls around and I decide I’ll pick one and stick with it. I change my mind three times the week prior to NaNo. I even switched projects the second day.
But, Project X, the one I’ve gotten the most actual words written on, (Pre NaNo, but I started over for word count reasons) kept calling to me. Whispering in my ear. I went back to Project X, and I’ve worked on it ever since.
Here’s the thing. Words have weight, in the immortal words of Holly Lisle. The longer you spend writing one book, the more it gets into your head, sneaking into your subconscious until it’s leeching all your creative juice. Or whatever it is that books do. Try not to freak out, focus on working on what books feels right, and maybe give it a day or two to push past the suck. Sometimes it’s just the fear or something else that’s stealing your thunder.
I can’t tell you what will work best for you, because we’re all different people. Maybe you need to force yourself to work on one thing, at least for a week. Maybe that’s the worst thing you could do, and you just need to keep messing around with your ideas until something clicks. Try different things and see what happens.
Good luck!
November 4, 2013 — 1:55 PM
Jenna Bird (@jbird_writing) says:
I don’t go by the “write a novel” rule. In fact, my goal this year is 5-7 completed first draft short stories. Potentially interconnected, but not necessary. So… I am absolutely an encourager of breakin’ the rules! (Even in comments – where spellcheck says “encourager” isn’t a word! Pfft!)
November 4, 2013 — 4:29 PM
Sara Crow says:
I’m further at this point in the month than I’ve ever been for NaNo (and still feeling like there’s a lot more in me, which is a new and wonderful feeling)–I’m about two days ahead on word count at this point. @NaNoWordSprints on Twitter has been EXTREMELY helpful in this process, as is the fact that I partially plotted the book ahead of time. Seriously, guys–do the word sprints! Especially if you don’t have a home region and the benefit of write-ins!
The only drawback to using the word sprints is that I now have a significant chunk of a chapter dedicated to food due to a theme they were running in word sprints the other night. Oh, and talk about a banana that happened to slide into the novel (no pun intended?) because I was craving a banana. Interestingly, though, each foodie intrusion managed to say a lot about the characters in the scene, so they might not even end up being cut come December.
November 4, 2013 — 8:51 AM
Curtis Edmonds (@Curtis_Edmonds) says:
I am not, repeat NOT doing NaNoWriMo (quick summary: I am in the midst of my current work-in-progress and don’t wish to put added word-count pressure on myself). Having said that, the writing is going spectacularly well at the moment. I had been avoiding and dreading a particular scene (involving a hot sexytimes fantasy), finally sat down and made myself write it, and that made the next scene and the scene after that so much easier, and am now back in the familiar territory of exposition. So, like 2500 words in two days, which is not going to get you anywhere in NaNoWriMo but is quite satisfying from where I sit (by which I mean, next to my wife, who is talking to herself while looking at toddler sheet sets online).
November 4, 2013 — 8:51 AM
katie says:
4663 for the first 3 days. I though I was doing well, until I realized that was still not fast enough! UGH. Happily, I like my idea finally, now that I changed some significant things so it finally works. Also, I really *love* some of the writing I did. I re-read it (NO, DON’T DO THAT) and loved it so much I now feel like I could never write that well so I should give up. Which is, of course, stupid. Because I DID write it.
Back to the word mines…
November 4, 2013 — 8:52 AM
Jason says:
You describe my experience almost exactly! I’ve been slowed by over-thinking the outline I should have developed during the month of October, but I really like what’s happening in the story inside my head. I completely surprised myself on Day One with some brilliant writing (if I may say so) and worried that I couldn’t match that, so wondered if I should stop there. The reasons I come up with for NOT writing are so damn creative.
I’m at 4734 and I’m starting Day Four with excitement, but I need to PUT OUT, and stop worrying about perfection.
November 4, 2013 — 12:45 PM
Leah says:
I’m not so worried about the wordcount as I am about the story. I had an outline, but I also left space for pantsing, and now I almost have a real damsel in distress. I hate that, that was the last thing I wanted, and I have Chuck’s words echoing in my brain about an active MC. Sure, she can get into trouble all right… I have some re-writing to do. Jet-pack, robotic stun gun arm, pet Kangaroo…
November 4, 2013 — 8:55 AM
Sara Crow says:
There’s a point at which the MC can get fed up with being the damsel and take things into her own hands. An opening can arise. Try the word sprints (@NaNoWordSprints) on Twitter and see if they help. I managed to un-damsel a character using them yesterday.
November 4, 2013 — 9:00 AM
Leah says:
Thanks for the tip! I will definitely look into that since the pet Kangaroo-idea didn’t really work out. Hm. I’m surprised at my MC, I thought she was really a tough cookie when I started. But as you say, an opening can arise. That’s actually a nice growing experience for my MC. And “un-damsel” is now my Word of the Day. 🙂
Thanks again, and good luck with NaNo.
November 4, 2013 — 3:25 PM
Denise Drespling says:
Energy, good. Story, good. Had to travel this weekend, so I started behind, but I will catch up!
November 4, 2013 — 9:02 AM
Brenda says:
My best friend and I decided to write in tandem on the same story. So far we’re just ahead of where we should be at 10,000 words together. I’m responsible for the chapters from one character’s POV and he’s responsible for the chapters from the other character’s POV. We’ve been keeping each other on task, roleplaying out some of our dialog, and helping each other with blocks. My favorite from last night was “Going to the drunk-tank for answers to a criminal investigation was like going to a supermarket tabloid for your daily news.”
We’ve roughly outlined this story, though we’re realizing that we may have to go into the second story for these characters for the full 100,000 words. I tend to write more in the mornings and he tends to write more in the evenings, so it’s worked out thus far. Not sure how my work, his school, and our social commitments are going to affect us this week.
Thus far the hardest thing has been not going back to edit and not editing what the other person is writing. We know we’re going to go back in December, but it’s still hard sometimes.
November 4, 2013 — 9:07 AM
Jesse says:
Not doing so hot. I’m having issues picking a story. Part of me wants to redo the novel I did the first year of nano, because as much as I love what I WANT to do with it, what I’ve done with it needs to be put in the trash and lit on fire. That being said I have a much better idea of where I’m going with it at least.
On the other hand, I want to start something new. However what I did start on friday, out of desperation is bad, like really bad. One of those things where the writing just chases its own tail, so I’m thinking of shelving that until I have a better idea of what the plot wants to do beyond stagnate. Which I guess is fine because I have another idea all cued up that I think will do well because I find it’s super interesting being a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy hinging on a few oracles, including one who realizes that the apocalypse was only the begining.
In the end I think what I’m going to do is do what was suggested here earlier and work on two ideas for a bit adding the totals and then see which story line catches my attention and do the other one later.
To top it all off I have University to contend with. When did I get so busy?!
November 4, 2013 — 9:12 AM
Tia Kalla (@tiakall) says:
Dave Higgins: The solution, of course, is to finish whatever you start within the month. There’s your new writing challenge 😉
I crawled in last night at just over 33,000 words before bedtime last night. Which sounds great, but it’s not where I wanted to be. Go ahead and laugh me out of the thread >_>
I think my bigger accomplishments of Nano so far are recruiting a total stranger to Nano and actually liking what I’ve written (so far I’ve had two attacks of ALL THE FEELS).
November 4, 2013 — 9:12 AM
Dave Higgins says:
That would work if I could finish my current novel almost immediately then come up with a good idea and catch up on however many days I was behind.
November 4, 2013 — 12:26 PM
Marsha Blevins, Author says:
I’m on pace with the suggested 1667 per day word count. I tried planning this year instead of pantsing. I hoped to be a little ahead of the game and was well on my way until a compatibility issue between Word 2010 and Word 2013 chewed up 1200 of my words and crapped them out into the big stinky pile of “you lost your shit” documents orphaned somewhere in the bytes and circuits of cyberspace. Thankfully I had the outline so I was able to re-write the lost work and maybe it is my brain trying to make my earlier screw up OK, but I think the re-write is a little better. Lessons learned this year: 1. Outline. Always. 2. Check compatibility settings if you use 2 different software versions. 3. Save often and in multiple locations.
Coffee, tequila, chocolate, and candy nerds are my best friends…
November 4, 2013 — 9:17 AM
Joan Griffin says:
First big NaNo accomplishment – actually started on November 1 this year – a first.
Second big NaNo accomplishment – not stressing about it – just writing.
I’m at 4000 words – which is behind if it’s figured on evenly spreading out the writing over 30 days – but I know with a 3-day weekend coming up – and Thanksgiving week off – I have plenty of time to catch up.
Thanks for asking! And thanks for the encouragement!
November 4, 2013 — 9:41 AM
conniecockrell says:
I’m reaching my daily goals of 2K+ but the story is a struggle. I’m burning through my scene cards, not enough words per scene so I’ll end up pantsing by the end. I only go back to read the last scene the next day when I sit down to write so I can get back into the story. Otherwise i don’t go back. I almost always hate my story until it’s had time to cool off.
November 4, 2013 — 9:49 AM
22pamela says:
Have stuff written down…afraid to post…help? Need someone to bolster my courage…or just kick my ass? Need to edit stuff, ‘fix’ stuff and write more. Hanging on with both hands as the trailer park twirls.
November 4, 2013 — 9:56 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Close your eyes and keep moving forward!
November 4, 2013 — 10:17 AM
Sara Crow says:
Hang in there, Pamela!
One thing that can help is to join a local group and get encouragement from your fellow crazy writers at write-ins and other events. Second best is to join the forums in general and latch onto some buddies, either who are struggling the same way you are or who are experienced old sods who can talk you down from the ledge (or both!). There’s strength in numbers, and there are lots of numbers available to you! Seek out help from the outlets the NaNo folks have provided. You’re welcome to add me as a “buddy” (The.Bride) at the NaNo website and write me whenever you need a shove, too.
And remember the most important thing: HAVE FUN! You’ll do fine! 🙂
November 4, 2013 — 10:33 AM
Charles Harvey says:
Anything written during nano is supposed to be bad and unedited. Basically you produce a long 50,000 word rambling outline that you tweak and edit later into a gem. I love it for those qualities. I’m using it to finish all the little bits and pieces I started throughout the year.
November 4, 2013 — 10:00 AM
A Citizen of the World says:
Not taking part in NaNoWriMo as am already neck-deep planning, world-building and writing my first novel. It’s plodding along because I can only work on it during evenings and weekends and I’m not a naturally fast writer anyway and am putting your suggestion of spitting out 350 words per day for a whole year to the test.
A couple of my writing group buddies are taking part (one of them for the first time) and they are making good time.
November 4, 2013 — 10:02 AM
Martin Cahill says:
Hey Chuck and Wordfriends!
It’s going well, hitting about 2k a day. I’m cheating a slight bit, as I’m adding the 50,000 onto a project I started a few months ago. But, it’s moving at a good pace and I’m pumped to keep moving! Looking at what a beast this project is, I’ll hopefully get a first draft out by Januaryish? Fingers crossed.
November 4, 2013 — 10:06 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Doing well so far–averaged 2500 words over the first 3days. But I’m having some serious wrist pain that could limit me to about that much, even though as long as I sit there the words will come (a touch of ADHD may be all that’s saving my wrist, as I can seldom sit anywhere for more than an hour at a stretch).
November 4, 2013 — 10:20 AM
Aerin says:
This is my first year plotting, and it’s going swimmingly. There’s less of the anarchic “throw it to the wall and see what sticks,” but I’m also way ahead of schedule (just crossed 10K) and feeling pretty confident. I think NaNo tends to work best as either an extended free-writing exercise where you can pull in all the random prompts and not worry about things, or if you’ve done the groundwork and are looking to just blaze through the words themselves to get something out the door faster.
November 4, 2013 — 10:37 AM
mtdecker says:
I managed to end Sunday with 5012 words ( whopping 11 word head start on this morning) . I’m still winding into the story and hoping to start really rolling later on in the week. It’s getting there, and I’m discovering just how much the social aspect keeps me excited about the project – now I just need to make sure that I write, and not let the social aspect take over.
I wish you all luck!
November 4, 2013 — 10:40 AM
Beth N. says:
I’m at 7k and have no real-life excuses to bring to bear. Feel like I’m trying to stretch 10k-word novel(ette?) into a 50k one. Feels good while I’m doing it, awful in retrospect. Looking forward to getting over the hump and for the fingers to start flying of their own volition. Who cares if I use the same word seven times in 500 words? Keep going!
November 4, 2013 — 10:42 AM
Liss Thomas says:
Hit about 20k last night. Working through a scene in my head. This is a fresh new storyline and not one of a dozen I have outlined to do. Feels Gooooood!
November 4, 2013 — 10:48 AM
morag donnachie says:
I’m totally pantsing it, but it seems to be working for me, so far. I’m at 5984 and that’s with a birthday party and a stray dog that I found – now returned to it’s owner – to deal with on top of all the usual day to day stuff. It’s my first year and I’m loving it; husband, kids and dog…not so much!
November 4, 2013 — 10:52 AM
Sami-Jo Cairns says:
As this is my first NaNoWriMo experience, schedule is an issue. On shift work I have to use free hours like life and limb hang in the balance. So far, that means the 11, 000+ words I have will need to simmer for the next 2 days until my 12-hour day shifts are over, since at the end of the day, my brain is better served as baby gruel than creative engine grease pumping out anything worthwhile.
I’m on a Facebook group that is very encouraging and we have “sprint writes” at the top of an hour to knock out chunks of word count, which is helpful and testing of under pressure.
November 4, 2013 — 11:02 AM
CJane says:
I’m using NaNo to finish a novel I’ve been working on most of the year. I enjoy the community aspect of NaNo, knowing we’re all out there writing. I’ve been using the “just write a shitty first draft” approach to this novel and notice that my writing muscles are stronger. The more I write, the easier it is to write! Thanks for asking.
November 4, 2013 — 11:04 AM
Vickie Knob says:
This is my first time and I’m right at 3000 words over the first three days. I’ve had some life interrupttions and I feel like I’m just vomiting words, but I’m actually enjoying it. The hardest part for me is not going back and self-editing and re-writing everything I already wrote. Great exercise, I can’t wait to see if there’s anything worth saving at the end.
November 4, 2013 — 11:04 AM
Laylah says:
I’m hideously behind on Actual NaNo Word Count (TM) — just over 3k words so far — but I expected that. The writing honestly sucks right now and it’s hard and I’m fighting for every sentence, and I have a whole nest of brainweasels going NONE OF THIS IS ANY GOOD, YOU SUCK, EVERYTHING YOU WRITE SUCKS. But I have an externally imposed reason to sit down and force those words out anyway, and I’m trying to trust that I’ll be grateful for that eventually.
Clinging to the mantra “a shitty first draft can be edited; a blank page is still nothing.”
November 4, 2013 — 11:22 AM
tyrovogel says:
To write 50k words of short stories. Met a bunch of local participants on the 31st @ a Coffee Shop, they were predominately high school girls, yeikes. Biggest obstacle: I’m re-writing a book I wrote a few months ago, and that has to be ready in the next 10-15 days tops. So a bit crazy, bit crazy. But fun. Better print some business cards… A good thing to have if you’re a writer and want pplz to check out your site / stuff IMO. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Peace.
November 4, 2013 — 11:28 AM
adelinekay says:
I was behind, but then I started the first chapter – an action scene – and I wrote myself back into the game. I haven’t written a real crazy-town action scene before, but have decided that my novel is going to be nothing but MASSIVE ACTION. Because, fun.
November 4, 2013 — 11:56 AM
Tim Niederriter says:
Every time I sit down to write I’m less happy than the last time. It’s not that I’m writing too slowly. I’m just not feeling this story opening.
November 4, 2013 — 11:56 AM
Miranda says:
The first three days went really well! I have 6,300 words even considering the fact that I spent most of the weekend hanging out with my dad. Yesterday’s writing was excellent – most of it was a scene between two characters whose interactions I’m familiar with (the story I’m writing is a sequel) and I was amazed at how easy it was. Now, though, I think it might benefit me to do a bit of outlining before I continue, because I’m not sure EXACTLY what needs to happen next.
November 4, 2013 — 11:57 AM
Sara Crow says:
Hey, outlining counts as words! Once you get the first chapters done, sometimes you have a better idea about where the core of your story will go, so I definitely think that’s a good plan.
November 4, 2013 — 12:12 PM
M T McGuire says:
NaNo is always tricky for me. Half term often falls in it and then Im busy being a mum. I’m using it to finish as much of the w.i.p. as I can. If I do that I’ll be dead chuffed. So I’ve done my first day and I have 1500 words which isn’t bad.
Cheers
MTM
November 4, 2013 — 12:11 PM
Wesley D. Gray says:
Just under 7k but it’s roughly 95% fluff. Wondering when the story is gonna kick in. Better happen soon though because there’s lots to go before I sleep, lots to go before I sleep…
November 4, 2013 — 12:13 PM
itsfamilyjules says:
It baffles me how something can change to drastically from inception to outline to practice. My protag is already SO different from how I envisioned her and when I try to force her back into the mold I thought I made for her, well, it just doesn’t work. I find it strange, but decided to just go with it for now.
I’m at 4,671 but haven’t done my writing for the day yet, so I feel pretty good. Of course, in two weeks I’ll be driving cross-country to Florida, so I’m not sure how much work I’ll get done during the road trip. [cold sweat] I should type ahead.
Yes, I think that’s best. Excuse me…
November 4, 2013 — 12:55 PM
Todd Lucas says:
Hope to be over 10k today, so word count is good. Energy is just so so, but that’s mainly real life being all up in my grill suddenly, just as the month gets started, but my group are at least still keeping the chatter up,even if everyone has fallen off pace already. Think quality is good here, so far, but that and the word count seem to be leaning heavily on massive amounts of pre-NaNo dev work that will dry up somewhere between 20k and 30k, I imagine, so I’m spending at least a little time every day working out new scenes and placing them, even if I’m only dropping a title and a note and moving along. The plan is to get at least a couple hundred words that are completely out of the blue each day to sorta stretch the ones that will be easy to write due to preparation, as well as leaving myself a set of bread crumbs to follow and rough edges to latch onto, once the GIVEN stuff dries up. I don’t just want to win this year, or even win big. I want to win with such a margin that if you add my two closest writing buds in with my work, we would win 3 times. That could easily mean I’d need like 80k, but I’m still on track for that. Figure if I aim that high, even if I fall well short, I’ll probably still break the real goal with a few days to spare, just like always ;-p
November 4, 2013 — 1:04 PM
Jason Arnett says:
A shade over 10K and the story is picking up. I’ve established the main characters and the problems they’re facing. I’m aiming at writing 2K words a day and so far have exceeded that. Targeting the novel itself to be in the neighborhood of 100K words so I’m going to be writing into December and truthfully it’s feeling really, really good. I know the big beats and the ending, too.
November 4, 2013 — 1:26 PM
Rebecca B. says:
I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what I’m doing! Inspired while blow drying my hair I wrote like a demon for quite some time yesterday morning. I was like “WOAH I RULE at this!” This was my second try at an opening for the story and I liked it. A lot. It needs some fleshing out but wow! I was starting to feel like I could actually write something fun!
Then I started thinking. This is a dangerous pasttime. Thinking about what exactly I was going to do to make my MC special. Magic? Create fantastical technology? I started doubting the whole point of the book – wait, what? Okay scratch that I didn’t even have a point in mind to begin with. I just thought it would be “neat” to write something sort-of-kinda-not-really like Harry Potter. But not a kid in school. An adult. Who is bored. And MAGICAL WORLDS SPARKLES MAYBE PONIES!! Okay in all seriousness I love the idea of there being some society hidden within society that can do awesome stuff. I really want to write about that. But I am asking myself – why? And how? Why do they do what they do? HOW do they do what they do? What are the costs? Limitations?
ARGH! It feels like too much and now I’m stuck and don’t know what I want to write next. I can’t believe this endevour has gotten this stressful for me already. Then again I AM the queen of stressing myself out sssooooooo
November 4, 2013 — 1:56 PM
Wulfie says:
21 words. Yeah. Awesome. I should be tossing handfuls of dirt over my head and keening at the top of my lungs but I always start slow then pick up. Not flipping out. Not. Flipping. Out. *sucks thumb dunked in mocha beer valium latte*
Seriously though, I think I did two things wrong so far this year. I decided to try working from a plot/outline and I have an MC with a split personality in my head which is Wulfish for: I have two lead characters having a wrestling match in my head. Each would result in a different story. My solution so far has been to divide the territory up, sort out which ideas go with which character voice, and now I’m sitting back with that latte deciding which one I’m going to kill…I mean shelve and which one I’m going to let speak. Once that’s sorted out I’m going to go get hammered then write.
November 4, 2013 — 1:57 PM
g.r.dresme says:
Hit about 15k today, am really pleased with the work so far. But… most of all I have learned that I should write everyday. It doesn’t matter how many words, but if I write every day, I feel so much more connected to the story.
November 4, 2013 — 2:33 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Amen. That’s what I’m really after with the whole NaNo thing.
November 4, 2013 — 2:55 PM
Alex Callahan (@_AlexCallahan_) says:
I am on track with the wordcount, though not without the whip of writeordie. There are segments that made me text my friend saying “I’m a terrible writer, it’ll take a miracle to make this shit readable”, but other parts flow like an effing masterpeace. SO I suppose my experience with NaNo so far could be described as confusing and slightly bi-polar. But I keep writing. That’s what’s important right?
November 4, 2013 — 2:40 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Yes. Write. Write some more. Didn’t some wise guy tell us to write til our fingers bleed?
November 4, 2013 — 2:56 PM
Samantha says:
I’m at a little over 3,000 on day 4, and I’m starting to just relax into it and not stress. I realized after the first few days that this is totally a distraction to distance myself from my previous NaNo novel that I am planning on going back to as soon as November is over. However, I will have two 8-hour car drives next weekend to take full advantage of my iPad mini-keyboard combo, put in headphones and type until my fingers catch on fire. I might work on both novels. Anything to keep writing. I also find it funny that the first sentence I wrote was about my main character staring at a blank screen. Because she’s a journalist. Haha…more coffee is needed.
November 4, 2013 — 3:13 PM
Dita (HarryPotterAddict) says:
Doing good. I’ve got 8506 words, even thoguh i’ve gotten a bit away from the way i started writing this story, bt am working n getting back to concentrating on the main character instead o the other characters who could be mc’s but aren’t.
November 4, 2013 — 3:19 PM
jacksonkaos says:
I could try. My best time for creative thinking is around 10 am, but unfortunately I have to work during the day.
An early morning might be the next best thing though.
November 4, 2013 — 3:21 PM
Wulfie says:
Pardon me, where could I get a copy of the Art Harder wallpaper, Mr. Wendig? Are any of your others still available?
November 4, 2013 — 3:28 PM
Stephanie Scott says:
I got a good start on Friday with about 5k, knowing I needed my weekend to finish revising my summer project and send it off to Important People. I was able to write my allotted Nano amount last night so I’m still ahead.
I hate outlining but I do very rough outlines that focus more on character backgrounds, setting, major plot points, etc. So I’m mostly past the drafted stuff and into open land where the story needs to develop. It’s so, so, so difficult for me not to edit. I allow myself a quick read of the previous scene/chapter with some minor tweaks, then I’m off to the next. What’s helped so far is to roughly plan out the scene before I start writing. I left off here, would like x to happen, or this character to be on stage, etc. Then I go from there.
November 4, 2013 — 3:31 PM