IT IS ALMOST TIME.
The time when we open the gates and human and novel run through the city streets, goring the unsuspecting while crushing the cobblestone beneath their stampeding hooves and feet —
Or, uh, something like that.
It’s NaNoWriMo — or one week from it.
National Novel Writing Month, for the uninitiated.
So, my question is:
Who has done it before?
How’d it go? What are your thoughts about it?
And then:
Who’s doing it this year? What are you planning to write?
ANSWER IF YOU DARE.
*thunder of hooves*
sporkdelis says:
NaNo has become my vomit draft vacation time. I am usually really stressed about yet another year going by and my first novel hitting a wall of some sort. So I take a month or so to work on something completely different. It’s also been a time when beta readers have had my other novel.
Basically, I have a book that has taken five years to write, and a bunch of partial stuff that has a lot of potential.
I rarely finish the 50k words, but I just use it as a recharge rather than motivation
October 26, 2015 — 7:42 PM
Lee says:
I’ve participated five times but succeeded only twice. I won’t be doing it this year as I know for certain I will not have the time to put into it. When I have participated, though, even when I’ve failed, I’ve managed to put out quite a bit more writing than my norm. For anyone who can put in even 30 minutes a day, I’d say go for it.
October 26, 2015 — 8:22 PM
Vania says:
This is my first year at NaNo, I’m preparing to finish (and that means I actually plan to start it). Because I’m the kind of person who seeks the opportunity to get distracted, but I think this can motivate me to write 1,700 words a day. I brought along some friends interested in writing for fun, but not daring to try it seriously “in case it sucks”. So it’ll be a good experiment.
I decided to do it because I’ve had a project for almost 5 years and still incomplete, so this year is THE year, or the story goes away, no matter how much I like it.
October 26, 2015 — 8:46 PM
W.R.Gingell says:
Never done it before, but I’m diving in with a novella, THE FIRST CHILL OF AUTUMN. Should be about 50,000 words there, though by the time I edit it’ll probly lose a few words. I’m getting close to finishing up the 2nd novella in the series (this’ll be the 3rd), so I’m really excited to see if I can do this 🙂
October 26, 2015 — 9:06 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Geez, a lot of comments on here already! Yes, I’ve done it, 2 years ago. I drafted the second book in my mystery series (took until mid-December to finish, because a novel is more like 80,000 words). I’m planning to do it again this year, with book 3. My plan isn’t as together as I’d like, but I’m getting there. Definitely need a plan and an outline and a pretty good idea of the characters to work at that pace.
October 26, 2015 — 9:15 PM
kevinlute says:
Two years ago I completed NaNo with a Romeo &Juliet in space tale. Last year I did a collection of short stories, but I’m not sure that really counts. This year I’m writing about an alt-history where America lost the war for independence and England is still a colonial empire.
October 26, 2015 — 9:24 PM
brucearthurs says:
I have plenty of stress and time constraints in my life already, so NaNo has always seemed rather intimidating and doomed to failure for me. Maybe after I fully retire in a few more years and have 40 hours broken loose from the current obligations.
But I’m going to try, this year, to do the “write every day” thing during November, even if just a single 25-minute Pomodoro session. (I usually only manage one night a week to use for writing.)
October 26, 2015 — 9:56 PM
totiltwithwindmills says:
I’ve done NaNo before, forget how many times though want to say more than 5 times, but haven’t won yet. Inevitably life happened and was extra demanding around that time. I didn’t have any issues with NaNo itself. I’m planning to do it this year. . . once I figure out what I’m writing. Only got five days to figure it out though. *tugs hair*
October 26, 2015 — 10:02 PM
Matt B. Perkins says:
Tried this first back in ’09 with success, though the results of that are now in a box in the basement (whether I resurface that work at some point we’ll see). I’ve been back and forth on this over the years, whether or not it was worth committing to, and then I realized that, if anything, NaNo it is a fantastic way to show you that you can find/make the time to write despite what you may think and despite a chaotic life/schedule. Last year I went off the reservation a bit and tried writing an interconnected series of short stories, but failed that round, though that work I do plan on revisiting. I’ve got significantly less time now, but I’ve also been working on a new schedule and I think actually blindly committing might help me get rooted in that routine once again. I’m not one to rely on outlines when writing, but do tend to take notes longhand along the way. If I decide in the next few days to commit again it will most likely focus on that fragmented-novel/short-stories collection format again.
October 26, 2015 — 10:39 PM
Len Berry says:
I’ve taken part in NaNoWriMo before. The books I’ve written came together well enough, though I’m still developing them all to one degree or another. Since I write science fiction / fantasy, 50,000 words didn’t cover the entire text, but it gave me a strong boost forward.
This year, I’m jumping back into it after an absence last year. My story is a space opera trying to capture the tone of Dune and A Game of Thrones and inspired by the life and reign of the Roman Emperor Elagabalus. Should prove to be a wild, crazy time.
October 26, 2015 — 10:49 PM
jpschaper says:
This is my first year taking part in NaNoWriMo. I am planning an urban fantasy novel.
October 27, 2015 — 1:15 AM
Yvonne says:
I’ve participated 6 or 7 times and only “won” twice — and neither of those “wins” produced more than a couple of usable scenes (so far). And yet I’m really excited this year to try again, because there’s a less tangible benefit to me than work to publish. (It helps that I’ve already published. A lot). Something about the sheer number of writers, and the enthusiasm, and the silliness — it helps me put some of my own creativity in happy perspective, you know? This year, I’m going to try writing much of Book 4 of a series I’m working on, which hobbles me right off — I’ve found the less I care about a project, the easier it is to vomit it out. This year I’m also serially publishing 5-6K/week (posting Sundays and Wednesdays), which will take time away from my NaNo project. Maybe I’ll count any original words on that toward my NaNo word count….
October 27, 2015 — 1:27 AM
Sophie says:
I tried before and failed. I’m doing it again. This time I have an outline and friends top keep me accountable. I’m writing a science fiction called Absent Night. Cyborgs and humans versus the androids.
October 27, 2015 — 2:59 AM
Kevin Lighton says:
I’ve participated in each of the past five years, with one win (2010), one complete disaster (2013; I’m definitely not a pantser), and three unsuccessful attempts where I at least think I’ve got a good story started.
This year, I’m doing a superhero novel where most of the heroes were lost defeating a massive crossover event.
October 27, 2015 — 3:12 AM
Michala says:
I’ve done nano successfully three times. Two of which produced stories I felt was good enough to develop more. I’ll be publishing one of those this fall. I plan on trying every year because it’s good motivation and a challenge. I think writers shouldn’t challenge themselves every so often. I leave November open for that. Lol
October 27, 2015 — 4:49 AM
Princess of Dragons says:
This’ll be my fifth year of NaNoWrMo, and I have won every year. I love this event, the community, the graphs, the support that you get to just sit down and write is fantastic. Yes, it’s hard, but I find it incredibly freeing, to be able to shut the editor in a box for a month, get something out there, and then let her back out in December. And having the competition of word wars is quite fun as well.
I am of course doing it this year, and I’ve got a book that’s been buzzing around my mind for a while (well, one of several actually, but this one decided that it is it’s year.) I wrote the first couple of chapters for it a while back, but then my motivation went on holiday (as did I) and it was hard to pick it up again. So I’m going to start fresh, re-write those chapters, and with some shiny new ideas, hopefully write the book in a month, I did it last year!
October 27, 2015 — 5:17 AM
Adan Ramie says:
I think this will be my sixth time doing NaNoWriMo, and hopefully my third win. One of those wins helped me scratch out the base for the first novel in my LGBT suspense series that I released this month. This time, I’m hoping to get a fair amount written for Book #2. And, by fair amount, I mean almost all of it. I’m aiming for 80,000 words. We’ll see how it goes!
October 27, 2015 — 5:47 AM
decayingorbits says:
I’ve done it the last few years. Never “won”, but it served it’s purpose to try and challenge me to get some writing done by meeting a defined goal. I find the whole thing rather harmless and a good way to get people interested in writing.
October 27, 2015 — 5:57 AM
entrebat says:
I participated and ‘won’ in 2009. The words are still over there, waiting for me to finish them. The novel is only about half done and needs completion.
I found it a good exercise and am participating again this year with a new novel idea.
Feel free to add me as a writing buddy. http://nanowrimo.org/participants/gary-e-weller
October 27, 2015 — 6:57 AM
cblack says:
I participated in 2013, started late (by a week) and wrote 32,000. I really like it as i think (for me) it helps to give myself a kick up the ass and to beat your own goals (or your writing buddy’s!) It gives me a bit of focus, and i will be participating this year. Bring it on :-)))
October 27, 2015 — 8:19 AM
wendyswardrobe says:
I’ve done it before. Succeeded four times. Discovered that if I start exactly one minute after midnight for the first day and get in 2000 words, I can keep up to finish out the month. That has happened every other year that I won. I will do it this year. I have three stories going. If I get stuck on one, I can go into another and not lose stride. The year before, when I won, I started with three short stories and one became novel length. This year I have an adult short story, two adult novel ideas, and a mid-grade story. I await to see which one takes off. And at some point I need to do those second drafts.
October 27, 2015 — 8:53 AM
brandil79 says:
Fourth year. Doing it again cuz it makes me write and gives me a goal. This time have a local writing buddy making it even more DO THIS.
October 27, 2015 — 9:34 AM
Stacia says:
This will be my third year. I finished both my previous years, though I only officially did it last year. The other year I participated, but not on their website. I just did it on my own. This year I have a pretty good outline. It’s kind of a fantasy that I was inspired to write after a trip to Ireland this past spring. Weird stuff kept happening, so I figured I ought to write it. I am finishing up my outline, so I have a feeling that I’ll be much more focused and pleased with the results this time. The last one I refused to share with anyone because it was completely pantsed and felt icky. I’m looking forward to this years NaNoWriMo!
October 27, 2015 — 10:28 AM
S. J. Mcquillan says:
I’ve participated before, yet November seems to be the catalyst for amalgamation: all manner of things happen right then and when I prioritize, the writing falls by the wayside. Still gear up for it every year.
This year I’m working on a fantasy that turns some folklore/myths at least 180. Kind of ‘it’s not what you’ve been lead to believe’ vibe. I have one day a week that’s devoted to writing, so I’m eager to see if I can get some rhythm going with a wee bit every day
October 27, 2015 — 10:52 AM
jakashadows says:
This would be my 9th year but I honestly don’t know if it’ll happen. Between DMing my first Pathfinder campaign, new responsibilities at work, and the humane society I volunteer my design services for having so much work for me to do they actually want to start paying me… I’m going to have very little free time.
But I’ll still try. *crosses fingers*
October 27, 2015 — 1:10 PM
Lost Carlson (@LostCarlson) says:
This unicorn has misplaced her horn. The challenge of NaNoWriMo seems a good place to start. Dusting off rabbits foot, horseshoe and wishbone (Rainbows, pink and sparkly do not apply) That Said……….
October 27, 2015 — 2:59 PM
Kari Kilgore says:
I signed up for YEARS and didn’t start, then last year I did both camps and the November one. I exceeded my goals all three times and loved every second! I definitely felt motivated and excited more than stressed. All three of those projects did require more writing, of course. The experience opened my eyes to what my word count CAN be.
This year with a bunch of family stuff, I didn’t do well with either of the camps. For next month, I’ve got to figure out what project to work on over the next few days. I unexpectedly finished a novel at a writing retreat over the weekend. Bad planning, perhaps… 😉
October 27, 2015 — 7:38 PM
The Dragon Hunter says:
I’m in again – Krynzya at NaNo http://nanowrimo.org/participants/krynzya
Last year I wrote the bones of a YA novel about dragons – just over 50K.
This year I’m working in adult horror for Hellmaw and hoping to crank out the bones of a bigger work – tentative tile: Darker than Night.
October 27, 2015 — 9:49 PM
Jana Denardo says:
I’ve been doing it for 10 years this year. I’ve ‘won’ every time and two of those novels have now been published. The others are…too messy yet.
This year I’m doing LGBT sci-fi. It’s a big story rolling around in my head now so I have high hopes for this one (in spite of the lame working title of Behind Blue Eyes.)
October 27, 2015 — 11:59 PM
Becca Shea says:
I’ve done NaNoWriMo four times before–abandoned it twice, finished 50k twice, and one of those went on to a complete first draft. I find it useful because the deadline imposes a sense of urgency and there’s a very supportive community around it. The first time I got to 50k this actually backfired a little, because once the deadline and community went away I had to rely on myself for motivation again. I guess it helped me get going as a new writer, but I’d caution others not to let it become a crutch. NaNo is now just one tool in my arsenal.
October 28, 2015 — 12:01 AM
Laura Wilson-Anderson says:
I did it last year for the first time and “won.” I was going to this year, but I still haven’t edited the one from last year. The time constraint and game-like aspects are great, but I didn’t start with an outline last year, and now it needs SO much editing… I’m not going to do it again until I have that one finished.
October 28, 2015 — 1:25 AM
Jessica says:
This is the third year I’ve done it and I hope to make it a hat trick on “winning”, as well. I’m a dyed in the wool pantser which is both exhilarating and batshit terrifying, but if i try to outline within a short period of time I get confused and panicky and end up Not Writing.
And then you have to write 30,000 words in 10 days and that really sucks and hurts, physically and mentally. #HowIWonNaNoWriMo2014
Anyway.
I was going to work on the followup to my first NNWM thingie but then I saw a thing so now it’s going to be an urban fantasy YA. Theoretically.
October 28, 2015 — 1:38 AM
dinajames says:
Did it in 2011. “Won.” Got the badge to prove it. Never going to do it again. I did it just to prove to myself I could, and because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It was frustrating at times, difficult at others, and awesome all at the same time. That said, I feel no need to repeat the experience. Someday that might change and I’ll need proof of ability again, but for the foreseeable future, I’m good thanks.
NaNoWriMo, to me, is an excellent exercise in discipline. It teaches you to show up and make with the words, even if it’s not every day. There’s an ideal daily wordcount to meet, but one day you might write considerably more than you need to stay on track, and the next considerably less. It teaches you to work with a deadline and through obstacles (hello, American Thanksgiving, I’m looking at you). These are all great things to aid one in their quest to be a better writer.
Having said that, I think it also tends to give some writers delusions of grandeur, and in their post-success high they decide their opus is magnum and submit to a slew of agents on December 1st, or they upload it to Amazon with a shitty ClipArt cover titled in Comic Sans.
I do like that it brings attention to the craft and encourages writers to develop their habits. I love the resources it offers. I’m not a fan of the “competitive” part, where you can compare yourself and how well you’re doing compared to people who have friended you (or whatever it’s called), but some people need and thrive on that kind of motivation. I don’t, but then I don’t play well with others and NaNoWriMo, at its heart, is a communal activity.
October 28, 2015 — 3:38 AM
Carolina Mac says:
Done it before and I’m doing it again. Running with the herd. Or running with the bull…headed.
October 28, 2015 — 9:39 AM
Ashleigh says:
This will be my third year and I do intend on “Winning” again. I enjoy the people and activities that spring up with the event. I only know two other folks that are writers and they are super busy. So, it’s nice to get to know others at the writing events. Plus, it forces me to work through anything to get to that word count goal. I get super happy when I win, then it moves into dread because I have to work through the drivel I wrote and begin the revising and editing (which are things I hate to do). But, writers write, so I have to suck it up and do it.
It does get better every year. My novel planning through October is refined every time and the writing flows better. Lessons are always being learned too. My goal is to get in the habit of writing all year round. Maybe not at such and intense pace, but at least continue to write.
Well, I’m off to prepare my steed for the long journey ahead.
October 28, 2015 — 11:22 AM
rzucidbm says:
Have done it it since 2012, but last year was the first year that I “won.” i am doing it again this year but trying something a bit different. I am actually going to be working with an outline. I usually am a “pantser” but I tend to get stuck half way through. So I am hoping that having an outline will help me keep moving with the story.
I am working on a fantasy novels about someone in charge of keeping alternate realities in place and separate from each other.
I am excited to for NaNoWriMo again this year. I really enjoy the challenge!
October 28, 2015 — 12:24 PM
Dae says:
I’ve very briefly attempted it before, but everything always seems to go to hell in November for me, and I’ve never even come close to winning.
This year I am going to go for it again, though. I’m deciding between two projects (both of which have most/all of the prep work done).
October 28, 2015 — 3:50 PM
Will Belacqua says:
I’ve attempted it several times, and succeeded only once – the first time I tried. I’m hoping this year will be a success, as I’ve finished school and merely have work and the SO to worry about. Work ends after I clock out and the SO just wants me to sit with him while I write, so it should all be fine…
Maybe
October 28, 2015 — 10:22 PM
V Hartman DiSanto says:
14th year. I’ve “succeeded” every year, as in writing at least 50,000 words. But did I finish? Sometimes? Was it any good? Yes and no. I have 3 1/2 volumes of a fantasy that needs to be completely rewritten: I was well into book 3 before I figured out where it was going and since have realized that it should have several subplots and many clarifications. I have one volume of a literary work that has been edited 3 times, still needs more work. I have 2 volumes of a YA series; the first is partially to where I want it to be. I have several others that will never see the light of day.
This year I’m going solar punk fantasy. It started with a short story, rejected where I submitted it but well-received. I’m expanding on the ideas I brought out there and have defined quite a bit of what exists in the setting. Perhaps with more planning, this will be the one that first makes it to completion.
October 31, 2015 — 12:44 PM
Michael Salsbury says:
I’ve done it every year since 2009, when I first learned of NaNoWriMo. I’ve also managed to “win” every year with 50,000 words or more. Only one year was there any significant trouble, and at the eleventh hour a character broke the fourth wall and began telling me why his story was terrible, what I should have done to fix it, etc. Suddenly – 50,000 words…
I learned something from each attempt. The first time, I went in with nothing more than a character and a vague idea what I wanted to happen. I hit 50,000 words but there was no story. The next few times, I went in with varying levels of detail, from “Here’s what will happen in this scene…” to just “they argue about…”
Despite the fact that we’re IN November right now, I’m trying to decide if I’ll do it or not. I know that I can write 50,000 or more words, and that I can force myself to sit down in a chair and do it.
What I need now is to raise the quality of what I’m writing. I need escalating conflict, which I struggle with every time. I also need to avoid the “white room” problem, which I frequently have. If I nail those two, there is a lot more to work on… but without those solved the stories will never be good enough to sell.
I’ve been working my way through The Weekend Novelist by Robert J. Ray and Bret Norris since October. It’s helping me develop a science-fiction story about an alien microorganism that induces a zombie-like condition in humans infected with it, and it getting aboard a somewhat dysfunctional starship. If I take part in NaNoWriMo, I’ll either do that story or a collection of short stories that tell a larger one (so I can use those sub-stories to practice the skills I’m weak on).
November 1, 2015 — 1:43 PM