This week: no flash fiction challenge.
(Don’t worry — next week, we’ll be back!)
This time around, feel free to use this post as a general one-stop shop for discussing NaNoWriMo — and, even better, if you’re so willing, to link us to your wordsmithy in the first week. Show us what you’re writing! Doesn’t start till tomorrow, of course, but you can still use this as a crossroads for sharing conversation, content, difficulties and progress reports.
If you’re in — say hi!
Go forth and rock.
Irene says:
My goal this November is to finish adding about 20k words to my novel that I worked on this summer. I’m taking the GRE 11/20, so I’ll only have the end of the month to bump up my word count! Go Team!
October 31, 2014 — 12:45 PM
Pandora says:
I’m using NaNo to finish my novel (about halfway through as it stands.) Might have to start taking my laptop to work with me to do it though!
October 31, 2014 — 12:48 PM
Lucciana Costa says:
Bahhhh I am in! For the first time! And I am unreasonably nervous! But also stoked.
October 31, 2014 — 12:48 PM
Jenn Collins (@JennyKnox13) says:
I am torn between two ideas:
1. A dark humor piece about a socially awkward serial killer. Think Jeffrey Dahmer meets 40 Year Old Virgin, or
2. A fantasy piece about a society where a caste of women warriors train their whole lives to do arena-style battle against fantastic monsters to win a generations-long bet to save their caste from oppression.
I have both outlined pretty well. I’m about ready to flip a coin to decide.
October 31, 2014 — 12:50 PM
Ryan says:
Can I vote? (I’mma vote!) Go for #2!
I think most serial killers are socially awkward, so that doesn’t sound as remarkable to me. Some people found American Psycho hilarious, I certainly didn’t the first time I saw it. I think that’s the risk you run, and it could make for a trickier protagonist that’s less fun to write.
Story two sounds like a far more palpable opportunity to sink your teeth into character, an ensemble, powerful women, back stabbing, surreal monster stabbing, supernatural events, fantastic fight sequences, bewildering nightmares… Ah I’m excited! It could be adapted into a movie, graphic novel, video game…
I’m biased since the second genre appeals to me more, but as someone who used to write plays, the first idea feels like it would make a great play or TV show, the second feels more like a rich novel. You don’t have the handcuffs of production, so you might as well re-arrange the cosmos with your fingertips!
October 31, 2014 — 1:18 PM
Jenn Collins (@JennyKnox13) says:
Your comments are exactly what my concerns are about the first one. I think it would be fun to write, maybe. The second one though has so much more potential. I have a 900 word flash fiction piece that spawned the idea and it nearly wrote itself.
Ok. Your input has tipped the scales on this for me. I appreciate that.
October 31, 2014 — 1:32 PM
marylholden says:
In either, I challenge you to write in a fairy.
October 31, 2014 — 1:19 PM
Jenn Collins (@JennyKnox13) says:
Interesting challenge. I will take you up on that. I penned it in to my outline.
October 31, 2014 — 1:38 PM
Pavowski says:
I think if you really focus on the comedy, the first idea would be a lot more fun to write.
October 31, 2014 — 5:24 PM
Ryan says:
A novel I’ve been working on for a while now has become a bit of a white whale for me. It’s pretty long already, but I suspect I’ll need another 30,000 words to finish the story.
By the end of November, I’ll finish the book or pen-monkey 30,000 words; whichever comes first. Bring it! If anyone needs support, let me know!
October 31, 2014 — 12:55 PM
Von Jocks says:
I’m tackling a white whale too — I have at least 4 different first hundred pages, and keep getting stuck, so for NaNo, I hope to jump ahead and start writing (& keeping word count) at a scene past the block. I’ve only finished NaNo once, and know the extra dangers of trying a work I’m already attached to, but IF it works, it could be legen… (wait for it)….
October 31, 2014 — 2:05 PM
Lynn Johnston says:
I’m using NaNoWriMo to finish my novel too…a space opera wherein a courier and a bounty hunter get involved in a race to free a newly-sentient life form before it can be enslaved by ruthless aliens with an anti-Terran bent. I’m 30k in, shooting for 90k. NaNo resources: I’ve got links to some up on my blog (including a couple of my favorite Wendig posts), some articles on character development, and am planning to do a series of video blogs on story structure as the month progresses.
October 31, 2014 — 12:56 PM
Robert Sadler says:
I actually have a question relating to NaNoWriMo, and I’m hoping I can get a few opinions.
I’m in the last stages of finishing a novel that I’ve been working on for about a year and three months. I will be ready to try my hand at querying agents around the end of November. I’m sure you can guess my problem. I imagine agents are flooded with queries of half-baked novels in the days following NaNoWriMo, and I am afraid mine will be lost in the mix. Should I hold out sending it? Should I have faith that mine will stand out because of the time taken to craft and edit it?
Any feedback is appreciated.
October 31, 2014 — 12:59 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
My opinion is don’t cage your work against the possibility of others out there clogging the pipeline. Do not let others hold you back from doing what you want to do. Period.
October 31, 2014 — 1:08 PM
marylholden says:
Self-publish! The dark and scary world of self-publishing is worth it! It will give you the stuff for your next tome!
October 31, 2014 — 1:18 PM
Ryan says:
I agree with Shelton. It’s safe to say no matter when you submit, you’re always facing a stack so having a killer headline is crucial for grabbing a publisher’s attention.
It’s also a numbers game. Lord of the Flies was rejected (I wish I knew the exact number, but it was a lot!) over and over again until someone finally was willing to publish it and now it’s a classic.
If other people are cranking out first drafts this month, you’ve already got a leg up on them in that you’re in the final stretch of your work. Get it finished, get it out there and get to work on your next one!
October 31, 2014 — 1:28 PM
Robert Sadler says:
Thank you (and Shelton) for the feedback. I agree with both of you that I should put my best out there and have faith that it’ll rise to the top of the heap.
I just hate the thought that agents may have a certain fatigued attitude toward queries at that time, since I’m sure they get an abundance of unedited, unfinished manuscripts. I imagine the time after NaNoWriMo is a kind of dreaded period for the industry.
October 31, 2014 — 1:37 PM
Wendy Bolm says:
Most of the NaNo queries are going to be books that were written in 30 days with no crafting. No revising, editing, critiquing, etc. I would say that agents and editors would be so happy to see something that was actually worked on with love and time and commitment that they’d start crying after reading your query.
October 31, 2014 — 1:40 PM
pmillhouse says:
Word on the street is the agents don’t even want to take queries in December. Why not think about sending the query now? You’ll get a head start on the madness, and who knows – you might get a request.
October 31, 2014 — 2:40 PM
Robert Sadler says:
That’s a pretty damn good idea. It’s not 100% ready, but will be very soon.
October 31, 2014 — 2:45 PM
Michelle R. Lane says:
I just finished writing my thesis novel, a supernatural slave narrative, and I passed! So, what am I doing to celebrate? Writing my second novel during NaNoWriMo. It’s a dark fantasy/paranormal romance called Date with the Devil. I’ll happily share what I write during the first week. So excited!
October 31, 2014 — 1:01 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
Like the title
November 1, 2014 — 12:46 PM
Nellie says:
I’ve been bouncing back and forth about two different ones, they’re both talking to me equal amounts of time.
Looking forward to seeing your pep talk.
October 31, 2014 — 1:03 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
I’m rethinking my entry. I’ve a plot outlined and a solid backstory, but I can’t seem to articulate the synopsis in a way that isn’t a five-year-old’s book report “So this character does this action and whoa! chaos! and…and…” It’s like knowing the masterpiece you want to paint and in the end all you’ve sketched out is stick figures. Grr!
October 31, 2014 — 1:06 PM
ChelseaIRL says:
I can NEVER articulate my synopsis until I’ve got at least half the book done. And technically you won’t need to hammer that out until your ready to start querying and shopping it around. For now, all you need to worry about is writing it. Everything else can go on the “after-novel” to-do list.
October 31, 2014 — 1:18 PM
marylholden says:
Pretend writing is like taking a drug. Just let it come out. Go get something to drink while writing. Write it into the story. Remember that “no” is part of “synopsis” and so is “sigh.” Writing is fun, even when it seems difficult. It’s not NaNoWRONGMo.
October 31, 2014 — 1:26 PM
Ryan says:
I agree with Chelsea here. If I wrote the synopsis after writing just the first 3rd of the book I’m writing, It would be completely different than it is today. Especially since the intro evolved after making more progress.
When you do finish, I’d suggest thinking of your synopsis like writing an ad. You’re trying to sell someone on reading your story, so imagine your prospective reader is asking, “what’s in it for me?”
It’s the difference between,
“Bennet is a 13 year old boy who wants to be a sky pirate on an airship.”
Vs.
“Escape to a world without gravity where pirates rule the skies.”
Remember, your reader cares more about themselves than they care about your characters, your story, or your book. Some mystery is good too. The synopsis should make me want to learn more, not spell everything out for me.
October 31, 2014 — 2:13 PM
Brenda (sleepingseeker) says:
Great advice, Ryan. I find it very hard to write a synopsis before I’ve actually started to write my story. But I guess it’s a very good way to discover the underlying concept you are hoping to pen.
October 31, 2014 — 2:57 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
Thanks everyone for the much need kick in the confidence! You’re all absolutely right. I’m sticking with the program, and I’ll deal with what comes later…later.
November 1, 2014 — 12:51 PM
mlhe says:
Yes, editing is for later.
November 1, 2014 — 4:47 PM
Katherine G says:
I’m in.
I’m working on a second draft during November, which might be a terrible plan during a month that is supposed to encourage free-flowing and potentially crappy *first* drafts, but this project’s gotta get done sometime.
October 31, 2014 — 1:16 PM
ChelseaIRL says:
I am SO excited about NaNo this year! I don’t know why. It’s not my first time. But I plan to do the social things this year (write-ins and parties) and I’m just really excited about my story and WRITING! And I can’t wait till the end of November when I’ve written 50K and I have a STORY to edit and polish!
SO EXCITED!!!!
October 31, 2014 — 1:22 PM
marylholden says:
Finishing the NaNoWriMo novel I wrote 50,000 words for in 2009. There are four chapters left and I have just finished the research for them. Then starting another book, but one of short stories. I love the discipline of NaNoWriMo. During my first in 2009, I endured my first root canal (the novel gave me plenty of things to think about while strapped into the dentist’s chair) and cooked Thanksgiving dinner for 12. I hate math but I love the math of NaNoWriMo. 50,000 words divided by 30 days = 1666.6666 words per day (unedited). For edited, solve for X.
October 31, 2014 — 1:24 PM
itsfamilyjules says:
I…want to be in. I was planning on it, but now I don’t know. I’m so close to finishing my current WiP (The Suicide Faerie, the first draft of which is currently available for download on Authonomy.com–not sure I’m allowed to say that but lookie there, there it is) and I’ve been concentrating so completely on it that I haven’t done any planning for my NaNo beyond a few basic ideas. Add job hunting and working uber-part-time and…yeah. I don’t know. Will see how today goes on TSF, and will think about it tomorrow.
That was a bit Scarlett O’Hara of me, wasn’t it?
October 31, 2014 — 1:41 PM
Wendy Bolm says:
I’m writing something for fun while I do the not-so-fun querying and editing business of other novels.
My idea:
A young woman finds out she’s basically breeding stock for werewolves. She sees the scary battles two warring religious factions are having with one another. To her knowledge, her parents don’t know werewolves even exist.
The dilemma: She’s in love with a young woman, who’s a werewolf. However, the young werewolf’s cousin has his eyes on the MC. She thinks he’s okay, but she wants to explore her feelings for her love interest without losing the protection of the “good werewolves;” she’s unsure that they would accept her feelings for her friend because of their emphasis on breeding and continuing their species.
October 31, 2014 — 1:44 PM
cajetane says:
Cool 🙂 ‘Breeding stock for werewolves’! Love it. Interesting love triangle, I think this WOULD be fun. Go for it!
November 1, 2014 — 4:03 AM
epbeaumont says:
This is my seventh NaNo. After a nearly-thirty-year hiatus from writing novels, I got back in the game in 2008 and applied my day-job project management skills to long-form fiction. I’ve ‘won’ (50,000 words or more in November with a new project) and since 2010 that’s been completed story arcs.
This year’s project is a SF novel called ‘The Fourth Prime.’ It’s the third book of a trilogy; I am writing book 1 alongside. This has been a rough year for my health-wise but I am feeling more enthusiastic as I approach the by-now-traditional time of year for Getting Serious Stuff Done at a Breakneck Pace.
My local writing buds have also recruited me as a Municipal Liaison, so I organize write-ins. That includes on-line writing buds, so feel free to drop by my website or message me on the NaNo site. (I’m aurora17 on the NaNo boards).
October 31, 2014 — 1:52 PM
Aly says:
I’m so in! You can find me on NaNoWriMo: Go.Zeki – my story synopsis is posted there 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 1:55 PM
diverjanny says:
In! Scratching furiously at my little notebook and waiting for the opening bell to ring so I can officially begin to pound away at the keyboard.
October 31, 2014 — 2:00 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
My second NaNo. I just finished a word race on Skype with NaNo buddies from my region. It’s already November here so we got off to a great start. I’m hungry, tired and sleepy and if I get another error after I click send to this message, that’s gonna be it for today.
Good luck everyone. Type. Don’t look back.
October 31, 2014 — 2:03 PM
David Wilson says:
I hope to finish the first draft of the novel I started on last NaNo, so I can focus on the new NaNo, which is going to be a novelization of a video game from my youth.
October 31, 2014 — 2:13 PM
tedra says:
I’m using Nano to finish the book I’ve been working on. If its cool I’ll send out the blurb later today. Its dark, its real, its fantasy, mostly like what I’ve been writing here lately.
http://www.diginhappy.blogspot.com/
Can’t wait to Nano with you guys.
October 31, 2014 — 2:20 PM
Anthony says:
I am doing NaNo this year as well. I recently threw out the idea I’d been working on for November as it needs more time to percolate in my brain. Instead I’m going for a monster story where the MC survives an attack from a werewolf, changes, and finds she likes the new sense of power and confidence.
I’m giving it a try because the core themes in my head for this are power and dominance, and frankly those ideas in a work scare me as they are hard to handle right. Hopefully it’ll work out, and if not…whatever, it goes in the trunk and I move on to the next idea with the experience gained.
October 31, 2014 — 2:20 PM
Wendy Bolm says:
It sounds good to me. I like that you’re working on a deeper meaning for the story. I also think we need new, kickass women characters.
October 31, 2014 — 2:26 PM
itsfamilyjules says:
Oh…screw it, you all inspired me. Went ahead and created my novel on the site. I’m “itsjules” there, if anyone wants to buddy up or just chat.
October 31, 2014 — 2:23 PM
~ Sadie ~ says:
I’m gonna try again this year, too 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 2:31 PM
Dan Schwent says:
This will be my seventh attempt and hopefully my fifth win. I’m basing it on a real life unsolved murder. I figure it worked for James Ellroy so…
October 31, 2014 — 2:37 PM
Lyra Marlowe says:
I’m in. I still haven’t decided which of two books to blast on — one’s a contemporary mystery and the other’s a fantasy with magic — and both are pretty clear in my head, and both want to get written right now. Gah!
October 31, 2014 — 2:37 PM
pmillhouse says:
I’m in for 2014!
Angst-ridden October is behind me and I’m cracking my knuckles over the keyboard while I watch the clock for midnight.
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Premise: FBI agent must partner with Syndicate Hit Man to take down escaped convict before he kills them both.
Should make for some interesting scenes.
Good luck, everyone!!
Oh, and Happy Halloween!!
October 31, 2014 — 2:37 PM
smkay70 says:
I’m doing it. Haven’t done much prep because I was trying to finish another wip. Didn’t happen but oh well. This is my first NaNo, I’m pretty excited.
October 31, 2014 — 2:54 PM
ChelseaIRL says:
congrats! it’s gonna be fun, then it’s gonna be torture, and then it’s going to be amazing! it’s my fifth year, so i’m familiar with the highs and lows. 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 3:23 PM
Brenda (sleepingseeker) says:
God help me, I’m doing it again this year. I tried it last year for the first time at the urging from an online bud and I somehow managed to complete it. Now, I feel like it’s a story that needs so much work I can barely call it a rough draft BUT! It did have a beginning, middle and end and even half-way decent dialogue, so what the hell, I’m gonna try again!
My genre is Mainstream and the story this year will be a about 3 brothers – a coming of age story, mainly about facing the challenges of accepting oneself in spite of the stigmatization of severe disfigurement and the tragic mistakes made from trying to be someone you’re not.
I already hate it ((SHUT UP voices in my head)) Good Luck, everyone! Shut those negative voices out and plunge onward!
October 31, 2014 — 2:54 PM
M T McGuire says:
Weeeee! Look at everyone! I’m in. I hope to rework an idea I came up with a while back. It needs rewriting from scratch but at the same time I pretty much know where it goes so I’m hoping to get the main scenes done over NaNo.
Good luck everyone.
Cheers
MTM
October 31, 2014 — 3:25 PM
Dusty Layne says:
Despite watching NaNoWriMos come and go for several years, I never felt the need to participate until now. I am almost two years out of college with no direction and no clue what I even wanted to do there in the first place, but, by golly, I can write somethin’ at least!
Maybe I’ll find some answers!
Or maybe I’ll just end up with 50k words.
–And a cool T-shirt with a DRAGON on it, cuz Rawr.
October 31, 2014 — 3:50 PM
Dell says:
Hello. I’m going to be taking the challenge this year. I will link my stuff once I start tomorrow. I look forward to reading everyones stories and great ideas. Good luck everyone.
October 31, 2014 — 4:29 PM
Jenni Cornell says:
Doing sequel to last years which still stands at 50k. Hoping this will get me going for sequel and revision of first. I love the camaraderie of Nano. It inspires me.
October 31, 2014 — 4:30 PM
Maggie Maxwell says:
NaNo NaNo NaNo! The most wonderful time of the year (I say that today. Give me two weeks.) Good luck to everyone, especially all of you trying it for the first time! You’re going to have a great time.
October 31, 2014 — 4:32 PM
Mickey Platko says:
Using NANO to finish my WIP as well. Murder mystery: Severed fingers found in a coffee canister start our intrepid hero down the path of danger and excitement leading to scattered bodies, shattered relationships, and clues to the most important case of his life – his wife’s murder.
October 31, 2014 — 4:49 PM
hearts_longing says:
Wow!
I want to read that when it’s done.
October 31, 2014 — 5:02 PM
sshawley says:
“in” for the first time—-have no idea what to expect, but dove in to see what all the fuss is about. Using NANO to write sequel to a book that was recently finished and editing. Menopause, ghosts, and murders to solve.
October 31, 2014 — 4:55 PM
bassplyr5150 says:
I’m in, but I’m calling it NaWwriMo, because I just want to write and see where it takes me. I don’t want the “box” of it having to be a novel. I’m gonna follow Chuck’s 350 words a day guide (although if there are more, so be it), and see what happens.
October 31, 2014 — 4:57 PM
melorajohnson says:
I am so totally in, I’m co-hosting the kick-off for my region at my library. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
October 31, 2014 — 4:58 PM
hearts_longing says:
I’m going to throw my hat into the ring and give it my best shot.
To be honest, however, I’m using NaNo as an excuse to go out and have a bit of a social life. We just moved to a new city, and it’s been nice to get out of the house and meet other local NaNo-ers at the kickoff parties.
Given the move, and frantically sewing two very complicated Halloween costumes (the dual curses of Disney’s Frozen and having two girls of Impressionable Princess Age) means that I have done very little in the way of planning. I know that it’s going to be in a fantasy setting, with two major characters that must put aside their distrust of each other and jointly use a forbidden magic to rid their world of nasty evil things.
Or something like that. Pardon me whilst I go caffeinate myself…..
October 31, 2014 — 5:01 PM
Beth Turnage says:
I’m in and I’m ready to rock, (that includes writing too.)
October 31, 2014 — 5:09 PM
johncullinan says:
I’m using NaNoWriMo to revise my current novel. Finished the first draft in August, now I’m ready to tear it into shreds and put it back together again.
October 31, 2014 — 5:17 PM
Scott A. Bullard (@writingbull) says:
I’ll be there writing up my first YA modern fantasy novel. Look for me under ralosravenclaw, named after my Skyrim fanfiction at fanfiction.net.
October 31, 2014 — 5:44 PM
dangerdean says:
I’ll be taking part. Sort of. I’ll be working on something I’ve already started, just because I want to see what happens with it. I won’t be doing any of the write-ins because babies, but I enjoy the camaraderie of the forums, and word sprints on IRC.
I feel like I’m cheating, not because I’m working on pre-existing stuff, but because I’m not putting any pressure on myself to hit 50,000 words. If I do, great, but my victory conditions are simply to write every day and hack more of this story out of the rock.
October 31, 2014 — 6:37 PM
lisao79 says:
I will be working on two books this challenge – one of them is a story I did for another group that has to be finished, and I also want to complete a novel this challenge – Book 5 in my Cloverleah Pack series. So I am working with known characters and an idea of what I want to write, but I am also hoping for 5K a day which might be a little unrealistic. But I’m excited, starting today and hopefully things will pan out 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 7:08 PM
iriel says:
My goal this year is just to write a bit or a lot every day and create the habit. Last year I failed epically, so I’m not gonna pressure myself with crazy milestones; I get discouraged easily. Good thing I’ve bought 30 Days In The Word Mines to help me keep going! I have an idea that excites me greatly and it’s important to me 🙂 It’s going to be difficult, though, I have final exams in November and December, that was a big problem last year. Let’s see how I manage this time!
October 31, 2014 — 7:37 PM
Melinda Davis says:
Ready and raring to go. And I have gained at least one convert to the cult of Nano. (Cue thunder and maniacal laughter)
October 31, 2014 — 7:41 PM
miramichelleday says:
Oh, the eve before NaNo! Getting everything in order (scheduling, outlining, warning the loved ones of my house…)
This is my third one and I’m starting this one from scratch. Good luck everyone! I’m TTPie1983 if you want to buddy up with me 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 7:55 PM
lpstribling says:
I’ve done it four times; not this year. I feel like it’s mostly used for people feeling like they are writers once a year and put a lot down. Not that that’s a bad thing, but in many cases, it’s more providing of a feeling that you’re writing, but when it’s over, so is the ‘writer.’ A writer is someone who writes day in and day out in my opinion.
I think it sort of can be a good thing and a not so good thing. I’m not doing it this year. All the NaNos I’ve done in the past I haven’t done anything with them. They’re just there. So, I’m not trying to disparage those who do it. Best to you.
October 31, 2014 — 9:15 PM
Bagatell says:
I go all, ‘Oh, oh!’ reading these comments. Lots of good ideas cooking.
This is my second year participating (and it’s a year since I discovered this blog in a week too!), and I’m going for connected short stories featuring an inquisitive boy and his talking cat, dead men’s tea parties, and twists on Scandinavian folklore. Growing up believing wholeheartedly in these stories, and having a 4 year old yelling, ‘Mister Ghost, you can come in now’ out the door every night before she goes to bed may have something to do with this choice.
Good luck everyone!
October 31, 2014 — 9:42 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
Love it.
November 1, 2014 — 1:05 PM
percykerry923 says:
Hi. I’m writing a 60K word novel- a historical horror- about a bloodthirsty 17th century Hungarian countess. Any suggestions to this ignoramus writer making her first foray into the world of horror? All the best to the rest of you NaNoers! May the muse be with you 🙂
October 31, 2014 — 10:48 PM
storyteller5 says:
Don’t get too far behind…you don’t want to be stuck writing 12K on the last day, like I was. It’s good to have NaNo buddies, but it can also be discouraging if one of them writes 50K in four days (this happened to me). So keep your eyes on your own project.
If you get stuck, write through it. You can fix it later, but this month goes by FAST. It’s not the time for extensive research breaks or a pause to craft an elaborate outline.
As for horror, don’t show the monster (or whatever stands for evil in your book). What your readers will imagine is much scarier.
Good luck! You can DO this.
November 1, 2014 — 1:56 PM
ellenbest24 says:
Thank you.
November 1, 2014 — 2:28 PM
percykerry923 says:
Thank you, and same to you 🙂
November 1, 2014 — 10:38 PM