Discussion: NaNoWriMo
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Photo credit: jeff_golden / Foter / CC BY-SA
There are less than two weeks until November, which means,
of course, that NaNoWriMo is coming. Can’t you just hear the muffled roar of
thousands of anguished writers deep in their preparations for this mighty
challenge? Some of those agonised screams may be mine as I attempt to finish
editing one book while plotting a second and failing at both. But, regardless
of my inadequacies in preparation, I for one am highly excited that the start
of NaNoWriMo is so close. A whole month dedicated to writing and books and hot
beverages? Yes please!
I’ve done NaNoWriMo quite a few times in the past. 4 to be
exact, plus 8 Camp NaNos, so I have my system for the month pretty much worked
out. But I want to know all about your NaNoWriMo experiences and preparation.
So, tell me, are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? If so, what are you
writing? If not, why not? How are your preparations going? Are you sitting back
all smug and finished, or struggling on like me? And how many times have you
done NaNoWriMo before? What’s your biggest tip for anyone going into NaNoWriMo?
Or, ask me some questions! I absolutely love NaNoWriMo, and
I’d love to discuss plotters versus pantsers, mid-month slump reversal
techniques, automated tea preparation systems, or the overwhelming problems of
trying to prepare for this massive challenge. Let’s have ourselves a
discussion!
If you're still preparing for NaNoWriMo, or you'd like some extra tips on tackling this mammoth event, you might like to check out my NaNoPrep series to help you get ahead of the game!
If you're still preparing for NaNoWriMo, or you'd like some extra tips on tackling this mammoth event, you might like to check out my NaNoPrep series to help you get ahead of the game!
16 comments
I'm screaming more in excitement than anguish, but the anguish will come soon enough. :D
ReplyDeleteThe excitement is real *nods*. I think the real screams begin in Week Two. Ugh, the dreaded week two blues. Do you have any strategies for combating those?
DeleteI'm really excited!! :D I have my plot all written out and today I'm going to tack it onto my wall and fling my handwritten notes over it and then I shall be 100% prepared. *beams* Although I'm like a teeny tiny bit worried that I don't have a good grasp on my narrator's personality...to make him different from others I've written. bUT WE SHALL SEE. I plain to make him exceedingly self-deprecating and clumsy so it should be fun. xD
ReplyDeleteYour plot sounds absolutely fabulous. And your narrator sounds like heaps of fun. I always love your characters. They're such quirky little beings. My biggest wonder is, a) how come you're so prepared, b) how can I be more like you, and c) how on earth do you manage to write such hilariously entertaining books every time? (That's more than one wonder I know. I'm a writer, not the Count.)
DeleteI'm not doing it this year. I did it for the first time last year, plus I did camp in April. But this year I'm about to finish a novel and I want to for us more on editing. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGood idea, focusing on editing. NaNoWriMo definitely doesn't always come at the right point in the writing process for everyone. Good luck with finishing and editing your novel. Maybe we'll see you during NaNoWriMo next year?
DeleteYES! I am doing NaNo! This is my fifth NaNoWriMo and this year, I am determined to write a 50K novel in a month!
ReplyDeleteI am instinctively a pantser who likes having a general plot and main characters figured out. I also like having ideas for scenes. Story-wise, I am pretty much ready! *gives you tea to help you with your preparation*
Are you a pantser or a plotter? :)
Yay! This is my fifth NaNoWriMo too. How many times have you won in the past? Good luck with your book. What's it going to be about, or are you making most of it up while you write? You sound so organised! I wish I was as ready as everyone else, but this editing is taking a lot longer than I initially thought it would.
DeleteMe, I'm a pantser through and through. I like nothing so much as jumping into a book with absolutely no idea what's happening other than a general concept. But I'm trying to plan a bit for this book because it has a complicated storyworld set-up and there's no way I can pants that. Besides, there's a little part of me that keeps thinking I should be more organised as a writer. We'll see how well that goes.
I have never written 50K during NaNo before. Just over 30K is my record. :D
DeleteOrganized? Me? Nope. :) I am a notorious plot bunny chaser. My organization is just me having random ideas for a story and writing them down so I don't forget them and I also roleplay some scenes. I also panic. At some point I will panic. If I don't panic or get discouraged about this story at least once during NaNo, it will be nothing short of a miracle. XD
I don't usually say much about my WIPs before I get most of a first draft done, sorry. I lose interest and momentum if I say too much. :) But I do know what the plot is (not like scene by scene, though, just the "what's this book about" plot) and I have characters kinda figured out (except the villain which I just realized I haven't thought about much. Oops.).
Good luck to you, too! And it does sound like a good idea to plot a complex storyworld.
I wish you all the motivation and inspirational tea for this November then. I'm sure you can make it to 50k words this year. Judging by your plans you mentioned on your blog, it sounds like you've worked out pretty well how to make sure you have enough time.
DeleteNaNoWriMo is all about panic, I'm sure. I swear they organise it during one of the busiest months in the whole year just to make us panic. I'm panicking and it hasn't even begun yet! You're organised enough to write down the plot bunnies, which is pretty good.
I can totally understand not wanting to talk about your WIP. As long as you know what it's about then that's perfectly fine. Maybe you'll share more about it on your blog after NaNo (hint hint) and then I'll learn all about it then.
IT'S A CONSPIRACY TO MAKE US BUY MORE TEA, COFFEE, AND CHOCOLATE. Of course, it could be worse. They could've chose December.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly the plan! Write it fast then proclaim it to the world! :) (If you want a teaser, though, I have the title and a teasing synopsis up on the NaNo website... http://nanowrimo.org/participants/robyn-hoode/novels/the-best-worst-courtship-ever-working-title)
Agreed! Oh my goodness, can you imagine NaNoWriMo in December? If there is one month in the year worse than November, it's December. *shudders* I don't think I could handle that.
DeleteThat is such an awesome comparison. You compare your book to Dr Who. I approve of it already. Can't wait for you to finish it so we can hear all about it in great detail. It looks like it's going to be good.
*shudders too* I don't think I could handle it, either. I can barely handle November.
DeleteWhy, thank you! I am very excited. :)
I'm one of the smug ones this year. XD Last year I was struggling. I did most of my planning in September and I've basically outlined the book and I know most of the characters since this is a third book of a series. The ones I don't know well I've been doing exercises with or I'll just wait and see what they do while I write them. I plan on drinking lots and lots of tea and I've participated in one NaNo and two Camp NaNos. ^ ^
ReplyDeletestoritorigrace.blogspot.com
You sound super prepared! Writing a third book helps so much with the characters, doesn't it? I did that for last NaNo, and it was such a relief not having to get to know an entirely new cast. Goodness, you have quite the NaNo record behind you already. No wonder you're so on top of things. Good luck with your novel!
DeleteI myself am not doing Nano (like, I never do Nano, tbh...) But, as always, I do wish everyone the best of luck! :D Write on, everyone!
ReplyDelete