I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Off-Topic => Off-Topic: Talk about anything you want. => Topic started by: Riki on October 18, 2011, 10:56:18 PM

Title: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on October 18, 2011, 10:56:18 PM
I've done it a couple of years.  I didn't last year, cuz I wasn't really in the mood.  I'm not sure if I will this year or not.  I'm still thinking about it.

What Nanowrimo is, if you don't know, is short for National Novel Writing Month, and what you're trying to do is write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.  It's done over the month of November, and it can be quite a challenge.  Those who do make it to 50,000 words in the 30 days do get some neat prizes.  I haven't done it myself yet.  The most I've gotten in 30 days is 10,000 words.

I'm thinking that, if I do it, it'll be a way to get out of the house, because I've found that I write more in high traffic areas, like coffee shops.  It's also a great place to get fodder for stories, because you get little whiffs of conversation that you can weave in.

I was thinking that if there were a few of us participating, then maybe we could form our own little support group.  Writing 50,000 words is hard, but trying to do it at a marathon's pace in a month, is much harder.  It's also a bit of fun, and more fun if you have a group of fellow writers to lean on for support when you get stuck.

Oh, the website, if you'd like to participate... www.nanowrimo.org

It has a lot of neat stuff, widgets, web badges, forums, and it will keep track of your word count for you as well.
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: rsudock on October 22, 2011, 11:47:57 PM
I signed up...I love to write....more then happy to join forces!

xo,
R
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on October 22, 2011, 11:52:24 PM
Awesome.  I haven't got any ideas yet.  Tonight, I just finished all the little details on a story I wrote for a Writer's Union of Canada contest.  They ask for it to be double spaced, and have page numbers and stuff like that, although I wrote the story itself a couple of months ago.  I just need to print it and mail it in.
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: cariad on October 23, 2011, 11:17:25 AM
I think this challenge is so cool, just wish it were not in November. Although, not sure I could think of a better month, there always seems to be some major event on the horizon.

I am only interested in writing stageplays, and I don't think there is a play in existence that has ever reached 50,000 words. (Maybe The Iceman Cometh?) I certainly wouldn't want to sit through such a work. Wow, I just did the math, and assuming a typical 250 words/page, that is averaging 6-7 pages per day!

Anyhow, I hope you'll both update us on your progress. I'll be on the sidelines cheerleading, but could not possibly keep up such a pace myself. Riki, 10,000 words is still spectacular.

Good luck to you both!  :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on October 23, 2011, 06:31:33 PM
The novel that I've been working on is only at around 12,000 words, and that took me a year and a half to get there.  Before I started Nanowrimo, more than 2000 words was huge.

I think the website says that it works out to 1667 words per day, which can be easy or hard to hit, depending on where the creative juices appear to be flowing that day.

I will say that the writing of stage plays does intrigue me, considering that my best friend has been trying to make a name for herself in theatre since probably about the time I was born. *L*  I'd love to write something specific for her
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Poppylicious on October 24, 2011, 05:18:12 AM
I've thought about it.  I attempted it a couple of years ago but gave up after Day 2.  However, as I'm not working this year maybe I should give it a bash.  I might surprise myself.

 ;D
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on October 24, 2011, 07:23:29 AM
The only thing I can think of that would get in the way of writing this November is Twilight, and the night that I want to go is not a dialysis day, so that leaves the day for writing.

I didn't do it last year, I didn't have it in me, but the year before I did, and I had fistula surgery AND a wedding, in the same week, that November.
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: rsudock on October 25, 2011, 10:47:19 AM
The only thing I can think of that would get in the way of writing this November is Twilight, and the night that I want to go is not a dialysis day, so that leaves the day for writing.

I didn't do it last year, I didn't have it in me, but the year before I did, and I had fistula surgery AND a wedding, in the same week, that November.


I can't wait to see Twilight!! :) Right there with ya!

I've thought about it.  I attempted it a couple of years ago but gave up after Day 2.  However, as I'm not working this year maybe I should give it a bash.  I might surprise myself.

 ;D

Hope you can join in Poppy!!

Awesome.  I haven't got any ideas yet.  Tonight, I just finished all the little details on a story I wrote for a Writer's Union of Canada contest.  They ask for it to be double spaced, and have page numbers and stuff like that, although I wrote the story itself a couple of months ago.  I just need to print it and mail it in.


I can't think of any ideas either...I want something original, but I am not that creative I guess! ha!

xo,
R
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on October 25, 2011, 07:57:09 PM
In Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg says that, and I'm paraphrasing, when writing, you should let your arm and the pen (or in my case, fingers and keyboard) become one, and just let everything inside flow from it.  She also says to leave editing until you are finished.  That's actually a Nanowrimo rule as well.  They say that on December 1st, to set your novel aside until March, when they have National Novel Editing Month.

With the novel that I've been writing, I know that there's some editing that needs to be done, but I refuse to do it until I've finished the novel itself
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on November 01, 2011, 12:35:08 PM
It's started, and today I've written 2703 words.  I think I may be cheating, though, since I'm writing the same story twice.  It's from two different viewpoints
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: rsudock on November 04, 2011, 10:39:41 AM
It's started, and today I've written 2703 words.  I think I may be cheating, though, since I'm writing the same story twice.  It's from two different viewpoints


Great work!!
Title: Re: Anyone thinking of doing Nanowrimo?
Post by: Riki on November 05, 2011, 10:37:30 AM
I've cracked 6000 words as of yesterday.  I took the computer with me to dialysis, but typing wasn't so easy.  I got about 500 done there.  I was using the on screen keyboard that comes with windows vista to type, which made it a bit slow going