So, I just discovered the joys of NaNoWriMo.

Not really, but I knew some people who did it so I went to check out the website. I know it doesn't start until November, but I'm really thinking of trying it. Has anyone here done it before? And if you have, would you recommend it? I love to write, but I hate losing and I think I would just get angry with myself if I couldn't make the 50,000 word count.

What's Nanowrimo?

Should I be slapped for not knowing? lol

NaNoWriMo is an acronym for National Novel Writing Month. And no, you shouldn't be slapped. :p I didn't know what it was until last November, when someone told me they were doing it. I didn't know any details about it until I went to their website and registered.

Basically what you do is try to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. The purpose is to finish, not to make a work of art. Since most prospective writers (like me) tend to go back and super-edit constantly, they find it difficult to finish a novel because they are always fixing things and never moving on. NaNoWriMo tries to get rid of all that nitpicky editing by forcing you to write constantly and not look back.

Oooh it sounds challenging ^_^ I may give it a go. Is it open to people in Ireland?? XD

Yup, it's open to everyone everywhere! It starts in November, though, so you've got quite awhile to plan what you're going to write. I would post the link here, but it's not allowed and I don't want to break the rules.

I tried to write for NaNoWriMo last November. Well, actually, I should really say I wanted to try. I had been plotting a story since September, and on November first, I kind of... neglected to start. Being the procrastinator I am, I didn't start until around the tenth, and I didn't get very far at all because of writer's block. It's really pathetic.

But there's always this year. XD

I tried and failed last year too. It's really a good thing though, so neat. I'm just too much of a nitpicker and editor to silence that impulse the first go.

And also it would have helped if I didn't pick a research extensive topic. Be wary of what you pick out for your story. ;)

Haha, thanks for the advice! I'm trying to get a lot of my friends to do it with me, so hopefully we'll be able to keep each other going, or at least have some fun, friendly competition. Right now I'm cycling through topics, thinking each one through before discarding it. I'm just not good with finishing stuff all the way through.

-raises hand- I did it! I successfully wrote a whole 50,000 words (exactly) in the month of July. I did it in July because it was the holidays and I have exams in November.

It's great! Even though my book was really crappy it's a fantastic feeling knowing I have written a whole book. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you've gotta keep going. Even though you know your book is going to be the worst thing since Hitler, unless you keep slogging on you'll never know what it's like to finish a book and know that you can do it!

It's not actually difficult to reach the word count, either. Just set yourself a daily quota (a reasonable one) and aim for that. Don't worry about editing or writing something good - just worry about writing.

If you're like me and you work best on spontaneity don't bother planning. Get a basic idea, maybe a main character or two and then get writing. Planning would've totally killed my book and unless you work best when everything's planned out, don't do it.

And good luck!

I did it, too! Reached over 50,000 words with just one day to spare. ;B

I only decided to start it in October, so I had very little time to plan. I got a basic plot idea, figured out my characters, and when November rolled around, I wrote at least 1,667 words a day. I had my bad times, but there were those miracle days where I pushed out 5,000 words or more. It was intense - but amazing.

As said just above me, the sense of pride and accomplishment you get is unbelievable. I successfully achieved one of my major life goals in one month. It's incredible.

I think I might give it a try too but definitely not in November. That's exam time.

So, I've decided I'm definitely going to do it. I have someone who is begging me to let her edit my novel once I'm finished, since she actually wants to go into the editing field. So I decided, why not?

I'm also introducing NaNoWriMo to the RPing site I admin on, and I'm trying to get the members there into it. I'm getting really pumped up about it, and I hope I don't run out of steam before November rolls around again.

Hehe... I hope I work a lot during November. It's weird, I know, but I tend to think through my writing most when I work. I do mindless dishwashing and table-bussing, so I have time to think through my plots and characters and repair any holes there might be. So if I work a lot... I should be set.

We should start a prospective NaNoWriMo group on here! Unless there is one already, in which case I feel like an idiot...

(tongue)

*raises hand and jumps up and down like a little kid*

I did it! I did it!

*points to certificate on wall*

I was really slacking for the first few weeks.

Then, I looked at the calander one day, and ran around my room screaming bloody murder.

I had eleven days left, and only 5,000 words.

So I started doing about 2,000-3,000 a night (that was a killer) and then when the last few days rolled around, the last three I think, I only had 30,000 words.

I wrote like a madwoman.

5,000 - 6,000 - even, one night, 7,000 a day from that point on. At school, at home, in the bathroom (:p), in class, at the library, watching TV, studying, on the corners of my homework.

And I did it.

A friend and I figured it out--1,667 words a night during that month every night would have put me at 50,000 easily. But I'm a sucker for procrastination. My advice? Keep a general goal for yourself every day, around 1,667 words, and you'll do just fine. And your end result will be much, much better than mine. XD

Ha you only decided to do it in October, paintingtrashGOLD? I only found out what it was in the last week of June and had about three days to plan before I started! It was great.

No, there isn't a NaNoWriMo group here, Arda. What would you propose members did?

Also, you are allowed to post links to other places here (as long as they aren't RP forums) so the link to the NaNoWriMo site is here.

I've tried, three years in a row, and failed miserably. I came up with plots, characters and all...

But the first of November came.. and nothing. November pretty much passed me by, and nothing. So instead, I'm writing now. Whatever I can, no edits, we'll see how long it takes me. :D

I don't know, maybe... talk about it and stuff? *embarassed*

And I didn't know you could post links to other places, so long as they aren't forums. Cool!

I plan to win NaNoWriMo, just because I hate losing anything. I really, really hope that I do make it, because if I don't I'll just beat myself up over it. That's the main reason I didn't want to do it, but I'm committed now. Yikes.

I find it fun, even if I never finish my story. I got into it from my fave authors site, since she talks about it on her forums. Tons of fun, and can be helpful to writers.

I heard about it last November, but I figured that what with big exams rolling around, I should just leave it until next year. The mocks for said exams start this Monday and I've not started studying yet, but all the same, I probably would have slacked more if I'd done NaNoWriMo... possibly... maybe... alright, I was blatantly making excuses for not doing it, but that's not the point.

Anyway, I have more 20-page novels that never got off the ground than I can count on two hands, so if I can be arsed to do it next year, hopefully it'll make me write a real one and stick with it. Planning-wise, I've decided nothing except that I shall toss in random sex scenes to take up space, and also not use contractions because "that is" has 100% higher word count than "that's" *whistles innocently*

_{I did it for the first time this year. I was super ahead and everything, but I kept getting sick and I didn't feel like writing so I quit and slept during my writing time. =P It was hard and I hated my plot and everything. I didn't care that much because I've written two books anyway. (NOT published. I'm not that good yet.)}