Thread: NaNoWriMo

I've just signed up for this year's NaNoWriMo. If anyone else is thinking of doing it I thought this would be a good place to exchange tips.

Anyone else done it in previous years? Was it worth the hassle?

Simon

Two things:

1. Thread moved to the NaNoWriMo section of the boards.
2. Sign up for NaNo 2008 doesn't begin until Oct. 1. You'll have to resign up when the time comes.

Originally Posted by Simon Harris

I've just signed up for this year's NaNoWriMo.

Just so you know, you'll have to sign up again beginning in Oct. They left registration enabled this year but will lock it down over the next month to get the site prepped for the next NaNo. At least you'll already have a profile in the system so if you set it up now you'll be ahead for Oct. As long as you use the same user name, the profile you just registered and the one you'll register in Oct will be synced up in their database. Just thought you should know.

Lots of us has done it and it's crazy but fun. For some people it's not worth the effort but if you love to write and you're up for a challenge then I think you'll enjoy it. Besides it pushes you, if only for 30 days, to write at a professional writer's minimum output level. If you can master 1667 words per day (or more if you want to finish early) then you're already ahead of the game.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. I've already started writing - about twenty thousand words in. Is this cheating?

Seriously, what kind of prework is acceptable? How much outline, sketching out, etc; is ok prior to 1 Nov ? I realize this isn't the Olympics, but wish to stay within the "sportsman's code" for this trial of ability!

Originally Posted by Simon Harris

Thanks for the info. I've already started writing - about twenty thousand words in. Is this cheating?

What the...?

Were you not able to understand anything on their site, or is this a really sad attempt at pulling our collective leg?

Originally Posted by candle

Seriously, what kind of prework is acceptable? How much outline, sketching out, etc; is ok prior to 1 Nov ? I realize this isn't the Olympics, but wish to stay within the "sportsman's code" for this trial of ability!

Any amount. So long as you don't start writing your actual story until Nov. 1, the sky's the limit.

Originally Posted by Simon Harris

Is this cheating?

Yes. You fail. Better luck next time.

Seriously, mate. Read the site.

Sorry!!! I signed up quickly and then sought to find out more from you. By way of an excuse, I suspect that the full guidelines for 2008 aren't available yet, but will check out. However, the conclusion is I'm not really interested in producing something substandard particularly as it would require taking a month out of a project that I'm already enthusiastic about.

Apolologies once again.

Originally Posted by Tiamat10

Yes. You fail. Better luck next time.

Seriously, mate. Read the site.

So much hate! Why can't we all just be understanding and fill the world with love?

I did feel a little harshly treated, but well . . . people is people. One of the problems of the Internet is you find out about things, they look good on the surface and you sign up. I know my questions were innocent, and many people on these forums (your good self, for example) are helpful and supportive. Others have been there, seen it and done it all before. Well, I don´t mind admitting that I haven´t. Lack of knowledge is no crime, is it? Provide you´re prepared to learn from your mistakes!!!!!

Changed my mind. Sometimes it's better to just nod and smile.

Originally Posted by Simon Harris

I did feel a little harshly treated, but well . . . people is people. One of the problems of the Internet is you find out about things, they look good on the surface and you sign up. I know my questions were innocent, and many people on these forums (your good self, for example) are helpful and supportive. Others have been there, seen it and done it all before. Well, I don´t mind admitting that I haven´t. Lack of knowledge is no crime, is it? Provide you´re prepared to learn from your mistakes!!!!!

Well, we can start out with the fact that my reply was mostly sarcastic, but I realize it is difficult to convey sarcasm over the internet without tone of voice and such.

However, while lack of knowledge is certainly not a crime, don't you think it would have been more prudent on your part to actually read what you've signed up for before posting about it? That way you wouldn't have inadvertently made yourself look like a newbie and we wouldn't have had to raise our hackles about it.

While I do agree with Tiamat10 on his sentiment, look at the bright side. You get a month of the NaNo forums at the site to enjoy and you know that you shouldn't resign up for it come Oct 1 since you've already started on a WIP.

-Cel

Actually Tiamat10,

I took what you said quite lightly - you used the word´'mate', so you you were giving me a friendly push. I have admitted ignorance, and accept that I should look before I leap. The problem is that it does´'t always work that way, does it?