Thread: NaNoWriMo 2010!!!

That's right -- we're almost there. In response to someone's question to me about what kind of satisfaction I get, it's the same satisfaction you get when running a marathon. You're joining with a community of others pushing yourself (in this case mentally) to complete something that is very difficult to do. There is satisfaction in pushing yourself, whether it's climbing a mountain, running a 5K, or in this case, writing a novel in one month's time. Hey, it's not for everyone. But for anyone looking for that excuse to write a novel or just to resuscitate from a writing rut, it's a great exercise in perseverance. Check out NaNoWriMo's website for more information. There are also local meetings that are held around the country where people can actually meet in person to commiserate and bemoan their successes and failures. Remember, you are not alone.

I'd say, give it a shot. I haven't completed the last two years. First year I made it to 25,000, second year I made it to sentence #2, and this year... well, who knows?

Hope to see you guys on the site and on here!

Sound off! Anyone doing it this year??

(upon re-reading this post, it sure does sound like I'm a paid advertisement. Don't fret though -- I just had too much coffee!)

Cheers,
Linz

My wife is doing something similar, and I am trying to decide if I want to scrap my current (and first) 47k word work. It's starting to wander more than I want it to, and there are other connected stories rattling around in my brain that I could use NaNoWriMo to write. I also have about 2 hours per day to write in and I don't think that's quite enough time...

I found NaNo in a writing mag I just bought and I have signed up to do it. I am really looking forward to the motivation that it is going to create

Anyone in here from the UK, North Yorkshire

Graham

It's going to be hard to let go of my current work and ride the crazy nano rollercoaster. I'm quite attached to my current manuscript but am in that hellish place where cold panic sets in and you suspect you've written the worst novel in history. So I think it shall be great to just write something completley out of my comfort zone, and have FUN for thirty days.

Well, I think what you might be forgetting is that you don't have to scrap anything or give up. You're just taking a "break" by writing something completely different and sometimes horrible. See, the point isn't to have the best novel in the world completed in a month. You're going to have weird plot holes, inconsistencies, and cardboard characters -- but that's okay! For me, a big part of this is boycotting the editor that watches over my shoulder when I write. Just WRITING for the sheer ecstasy of writing and not for fame, glory, or sexual favors! It's quite freeing really to just write. To not stop, never look back, just write. Then a few months from now you could go back, look the novel over, and decide whether you've got a worthy project to edit. Or not. It's really up to you.

Western Washington peeps!

I may do it. I think it'll be a really great experience for me as a writer. Maybe I will, we'll see by the time November comes around, hmm?

I am going to give it a try, no promises though. I think it's a wonderful way to take a break from your current work and at the same time it's a great writing exercise that may help you further your current work!

Hm, I have a question for those of you who have already done NaNoWriMo. Did you learn anything through it? Or realize anything? If so, what?

Author, I learned to kick my inner editor's ass! Or at least shush it respectfully for a month. And just to get serious and set a writing schedule for myself. It is an excellent experiment even if you don't keep to it afterwards.

Hopeful,
Haha, good. I'm hoping for the same results when I do it. I'm wanting to separate the editor side of me and the writer side of me so I can pull either one out when I actually need them. :p

I might do it again. I was talking with my neighbor and we were thinking of doing it together. But she was a bit tipsy at the time so I don't know. I think that would be fun though. Have a writing group doing it. When the group is right next door there's nothing to keep her from coming over and kicking my butt because I haven't written anything. Or me taking my laptop over and having a few beers while I write pages of ridiculous dialog because I'm drunk.

Ha, that makes us sound like complete lushes. Well after dealing with three kids, one of whom is a teenage girl, there are days I REALLY need a drink.

Oh yeah, Kat. A group doing it WOULD be pretty cool. Like a collab novel. that'd be an interesting experience!

Well, I'm in! In2008 I finished with just over 50,000 word of a really awful novel. In 2009 I just couldn't get started. This year I'm gonna try again. Anybody want to be buddies? I'm Snapdragon on NaNo.

I think you are already my friend PS. My handle is Raging Prose.

I wasn't going to do it...now it looks like I'm going to try it.

Examine my head, please. Why do I do this to myself?