So here we are, my friends. Another year has passed and in a couple of days, many of us will be throwing ourselves headlong into writing a 50,000 word novel for National Novel Writing Month. We’ll accept all your well wishes, prayers, and baked goods.
Over the last couple of weeks, @Bryn Donavan has provided a series of guides to help structure your novel. They are truly helpful, especially if you’re struggling with your concept for the coming month. You can find them here: Simple Plotting, Who Are You? and What’s Your Story About?
Again this year, we’ll have weekly check in posts every Friday for commiseration and accountability. I know these checks ins helped me stay on pace last year if only because otherwise I’d have to admit in my post I’d been slacking off. Our NaNo writing group is also active for questions and tips and the occasional roar of frustration.
If you are looking for some meatspace write ins, don’t forget to sign up for the NaNoWriMo website, which has regional forums. Which also means more people who are in the same boat, feeling the same feels. You’re not alone, even if sometimes it feels that way when it’s just you, your computer, and your word count.
So who is already ready and who is already feeling behind? I’ve got to clean up my office, unsubscribe from some internet activity, and set my dvr for the coming month. Oh, and decide which of the two competing stories I’m going to go with.
26 replies on “Sunday Night Writing: NaNoWriMo is Upon Us”
I had to choose between two ideas and I think I’ve done that. I have some article writing to do today so tomorrow will be all about NaNo prep. Just need to get these two main characters and the plot outline out of my head and onto paper, then I’ll be ready come November 1st.
Well, I have three characters whose stories need telling. (These stories intersect.) So long as I can find time to dash off the character/plot outlines Bryn posted for each, I think I’ll be in business.
Of course, I’m also doing this without abundant homework, so I might actually get past 10k this time.
Today is a hell of a time to decide that I’m going to participate but…I guess I am? I’ve had a novel idea floating around in my head for a few years now, and it would kill me if I never did it.
So…why not, I guess?
I’ve never really prepped much before writing but…I have some ideas, although vague. I think I might be spending a lot of the next couple days in a flurry of prep work.
Accomplishing something like this, if I can manage to do it, sounds like an awesome thing to make me feel like I can, you know, accomplish things again. :)
I was just thinking about how unprepared I am. In previous years I’ve had super detailed outlines and character sketches but this year all I have is a half-baked idea and 30 minutes of internet research. I don’t even have a name for my main character. And since I haven’t had time to do an outline (or even get beyond a 1 sentence idea for the plot) I don’t know if it’s a good idea or if it’s going to fall apart halfway through.
I do really like my half-baked idea.
A good idea will carry you far. Did you ‘win’ when you had more prep?
I’m ‘ready’ insofar as I’ve got a concept, characters, and a basic outline, but I’m not as passionately eager about this year’s idea as I was about 2011’s. Wondering if last year was an anomaly or if it means my story idea is broken already.
I don’t think it means your story idea is broken. Just maybe you’re a little more realistic about what Nano means. Its all fun and games until you get behind on your word count.
I’ve had to work at not writing my first scene early because I know just how I want my book to start. I do however need to make a list of scenes that come after the first scene so I don’t loose steam.
Every once in a while I’m struck by a scene that absolutely needs to be written. Its not usually the first one, but it’s something to build on, which it sounds like you have too.
As with everything else in my life, NaNo pretty much just snuck up on me. I think I’m going to just be a pantser and do some serious editing when I’m done.
I suck at preparation.
November is for writing. December is for editing. I never worry too much about ‘good’ this month, but a lot about ‘done’.
I think I’m ready for this. I need to do some more prep, but the fact that it’s just around the corner is enough to get me REALLY excited about this! :)
That’s awesome!
Fuck, I’m already trying to convince myself there’s no way, I’m not ready and in way over my head … but sometimes you do just have to say what the fuck. I’m going to go for it and hope life doesn’t fuck with me too badly. At this point even starting will be an accomplishment. Everything else will be gravy.
I totally feel you. I expected to feel really ready to write this year — I’ve been thinking about it for months and with three days to go, I feel very out of sorts. I’m just gonna start writing and do it every day. We’ll see what I have at the end of the month.
Second-guessing is the devil with things like this! Even if you’re not happy with your results, do it just to get it done and worry about repairs later.
I’m half tempted to print these out and hang them around my monitor
I like the terrifying motivation.
High five for who cares if we don’t feel 100% ready, LET’S DO THIS!
Good luck, all! I’ll be Pseudo Nanoing with you!
Pseudo-Nanoers for the win!
I’m a pants-er, and I’m nervous but oddly looking forward to it. I need external discipline to keep writing. I have a list of scenes I want to write and plot questions I need to answer, and I also have an Evernote folder full of inspiration stuff for days when I’m feeling uninspired – hopefully that will be enough.
I’ll also be lacking internet at home from Tuesday for a few weeks, which may help… eep.
Plot questions to answer. That’s brilliant! I’m totally stealing that for my organizing.
Oh, thanks! For me it’s ‘I know he does that, but why on earth would he’ and try to make things happen that make ‘that’ seem more plausible. I don’t write in chronological order either, which makes it easier, I think.
Oh dear, I’m getting just a little bit nervous. I didn’t do any prep yet and I kinda want to finish a story from the same story collection before starting NaNo. This is probably not going to end well.
I have faith in you, Freckle. I know I’ll see you on the other side of the finish line.