National Novel Writing Month

Faerunner · 10-31-2009, 08:13 PM

Raegan: No worries, I'm prepping by installing OpenOffice, trying to find a good place to set out all my notes on my already-messy desk (why didn't I clean it earlier?) and downloading a ton of wallpapers from the NaNo forums... 3.75 hours to start!

If I get my desk organized in time I might sit down with some tea and figure out the rest of my characters before I start writing...

Xeph · 10-31-2009, 08:57 PM

I've had characters in my head for YEARS! Just too lazy to write them down LOL!

Aran · 11-01-2009, 12:28 AM

Nope. Too tired of even hearing about it this year.

Faerunner · 11-01-2009, 01:04 AM

2170 words - off to a good start!

Anyone else write at midnight, or are you guys starting in the morning?

Xeph · 11-01-2009, 01:48 AM

Starting now..only at 770

ShadowSky · 11-01-2009, 01:42 AM

Still have an hour and some odd minutes till midnight here.

Xeph · 11-01-2009, 03:00 AM

1468 words in and I already want to shoot myself for writing this crap.

Less than two thousand words and I have no idea how to proceed!? AAGHAHGHHGHGHGH!!!!!!

What's really annoying is knowing WHERE you want to go and NOT knowing how to get there!

*Dives through plot hole #1*

Ayanla · 11-01-2009, 10:46 AM

2,338

A decent start. I have no idea where this story is going yet. My MC was going to be a youngish female. Now it's a middle aged man. This should be fun.

Faerunner · 11-01-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeph

1468 words in and I already want to shoot myself for writing this crap.

Less than two thousand words and I have no idea how to proceed!? AAGHAHGHHGHGHGH!!!!!!

What's really annoying is knowing WHERE you want to go and NOT knowing how to get there!

*Dives through plot hole #1*

Oh, I know the feeling... I have holes the size of Great Danes in the second half of my novel! I figure I'll have them filled in by the time I get around to writing those bits...
When in doubt: add falling toast, penguins, or rocks (the running joke in NaNo chat is "rocks fall, everyone dies" is a great way to turn your novel around!).

Alternatively, the NaNo forums have an annual dares thread (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3300262), some prompt threads (one here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3273459), a whole forum of helpful sites (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/forum/185) and here are some other "idea" links with writing prompts or thought-provoking statements:
The 36 Dramatic Situations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thi...tic_Situations
The Book of Tim (A NaNo tradition!): http://chatnano.net/Tim/index.html
Oblique Strategies: http://www.joshharrison.net/oblique-strategies/
Random Photos: http://www.pbase.com/photos/random.html

Use them to help out with a stuck setting, a character who can't figure out what to do next (the Oblique Strategies work well - open the page, let it load one and use it - no matter how strangely it seems to fit at first!), or a weird but verbose way to fill that plot hole

I use them liberally when I'm bored and/or stuck, and they do seem to help if you can avoid being distracted by flipping through all of them! XD

Good luck, guys! ^_^

Xeph · 11-01-2009, 08:42 PM

I've found myself already using dream sequences.

I'm so disappointed in myself, lol.

ShadowSky · 11-01-2009, 10:20 PM

Finally managed to get started, that's always the hardest part. It should get easier from here on in X_X

Xeph · 11-02-2009, 12:04 AM

I finally managed to feel less like a novel writing failure. Now I just feel like an idiot! LOL!

They say you should log at least 1667 words/day to stay on track. I've written 2412. Why did I feel like such an idiot?

Because I did not realize that (for me) it is still November freaking first.

I am not behind, I'm doing just fine.

Even though what I'm writing is complete drivel.

ShadowSky · 11-02-2009, 01:17 AM

Okay, I officially LOVE Write or Die. I decided to try it out, and jumped my wordcount from 674 to 1204 in 15 minutes. And completely bypassed my goal of three hundred word in 15 minutes, so I'll be setting the count higher next time. It provides motivation for sure!

If anyone's interested:

http://writeordie.drwicked.com/

I will be using it a LOT.

Sonn84 · 11-02-2009, 01:34 AM

I am up to 2013 words even though the storyline is all out of whack.

Xeph · 11-02-2009, 01:45 AM

I don't understand write or die x.x What happens if you don't make your goal?

ShadowSky · 11-02-2009, 01:50 AM

It give a consequence... It helps me because it gives a conequence for not writing; I do better under short term time constraints anyways.

Taken off their 'about write or die' page:

"Consequences:

* Gentle Mode: A certain amount of time after you stop writing, a box will pop up, gently reminding you to continue writing.
* Normal Mode: If you persistently avoid writing, you will be played a most unpleasant sound. The sound will stop if and only if you continue to write.
* Kamikaze Mode: Keep Writing or Your Work Will Unwrite Itself"

It doesn't say what happens if you don't meet your goal...

Xeph · 11-02-2009, 01:51 AM

Well...that sounds more obnoxious than motivating xD At least for me. LOL. Glad it works for you though ^_^

Aran · 11-02-2009, 02:18 AM

That's the point, to be obnoxious.

As in, if you don't do what you're supposed it, it will annoy you.

RaeganW · 11-02-2009, 02:23 AM

1116 words, every one of them pure drivel. Spastic, nonlinear drivel.

Xeph · 11-02-2009, 02:38 AM

Quote:

As in, if you don't do what you're supposed it, it will annoy you.

It's not hard to close an obnoxious window

Quote:

1116 words, every one of them pure drivel. Spastic, nonlinear drivel.

All in favor of "drivel" being the word of the month raise your hand and say "Aye!"

*raises hand* AYE!

Isn't the freedom liberating.

And maddening xD