NaNoWriMo 2009

[ajcastle]

I don't know...I'm not doing the official NaNoWriMo, but I did an unofficial one last month with a group of QT'ers and I am happy to say it worked for me. I cranked out over 50,000 words in one month and honestly, it ended up being pretty darn good (IMO)! My goal was to complete my WIP with a target WC of 70,000 words total. I started on Oct 1 with about 18,000 and ended with just over 71,000 on Oct 31 -- PLUS 10,000 words written on my NEXT WIP.

Just because someone writes quickly does not mean that that piece of work is not good. I had 2 betas reading as I wrote, helping me to smooth as I went and making sure the plot stayed on course. Sure, it still needs editing and I plan to afford it that, but it's actually not as much as I expected having written it so quickly. I think it's entirely possible to write a good -- even great novel quickly. That may be just my opinion, but I think it's true.

[MaryL]

Different strokes, Aiala.  I write commercial fiction.

I get that, Mary, but don't you think "commercial" fiction (isn't it telling how that's become a pejorative!) deserves to be written with care and precison, too?

I mean, even a gourmet hamburger patty takes longer than three seconds to slap together.

~A~

Perhaps it's because I have the luxury of spending all day every day for a month on it that it doesn't feel slapped together.  I suppose if I worked full time and could only devote a few hours a day to it, that would be another story.  Because of the lack of time constraint, I'll devote 250-300 hours to this rough draft. The revisions will take much longer.  Most writers average 3 hours a day total writing time.  That's 5 months of writing I'm squeezing into one.  

Gourmet burger, anyone?  

[cheermom]

For the same reason people run marathons? 

People run marathons not merely for the "because it's there" satisfaction of doing so, but for the training, which necessitates a remarkable level of physical fitness and can therefore help extend their lifespans.

Otherwise, my next finished manuscript may be in another 35 years.

Possibly, but odds are you'd emerge with a vastly more polished first draft than the lickety-split NaNo version. 

~A~

I never said, nor agree with, the "because it's there" theory on anything.  My brain is getting a mental workout, seeing if I can achieve this.  A mental workout can be just as important as a physical workout.

A "vastly more polished first draft" is still that, a first draft.  It's something that I will have to continue to polish until it meets my expectations.

Honest question for you, what is the difference between me saying I want to write 50,000 number of words this month and me saying I want to write 50,000 words this month with the moral support of others who are going to attempt it too?

[MaryL]

Honest question for you, what is the difference between me saying I want to write 50,000 number of words this month and me saying I want to write 50,000 words this month with the moral support of others who are going to attempt it too?

I love the NaNoWriMo energy and support.   

[Aiala]

Honest question for you, what is the difference between me saying I want to write 50,000 number of words this month and me saying I want to write 50,000 words this month with the moral support of others who are going to attempt it too?

None whatsoever. But moral support or no, it's still speed-manufacturing 1.666K words a day for thirty straight days; a process which --in my doubtless antediluvian opinion-- is simply not compatible with well-thought-out writing.   

~A~

[cheermom]

None whatsoever. But moral support or no, it's still speed-manufacturing 1.666K words a day for thirty straight days; a process which --in my doubtless antediluvian opinion-- is simply not compatible with well-thought-out writing.   

~A~

When I'm on a roll, I write notes, as opposed to writing the entire dialogue because my fingers can't keep up with my brain.  So, when I'm actually writing my first draft, I'm still not getting well-thought-out writing.  I'm getting the information I need written down so when I start polishing, I can stop and think at those points to make them as articulate as I want.

Your opinion is not outdated.  It's yours and only you can determine what is right for you.

[luctari]

Honest question for you, what is the difference between me saying I want to write 50,000 number of words this month and me saying I want to write 50,000 words this month with the moral support of others who are going to attempt it too?

None whatsoever. But moral support or no, it's still speed-manufacturing 1.666K words a day for thirty straight days; a process which --in my doubtless antediluvian opinion-- is simply not compatible with well-thought-out writing.   

~A~

I suppose it's different with everybody, but I've found that my writing ability is pretty much constant -- It's not like I can do it some days and can't others.  Just don't feel like it some days.  So anything that forces me to get my lazy ass in a chair and behind a keyboard is a good thing.

Dan

[eallen99]

Writing for me is like playing hookey from my day job. If I can sneak in one hundred words here or there, I'm giddy. 

[Aiala]

Your opinion is not outdated. 

Well, thanks and Karma for the thought, but it is outdated, and very intentionally so. I take great pains to be a cultural atavist, especially when it comes to writing. In fact, I wish I'd been a Victorian lady author, but alas, t'wasn't meant to be.   


~A~

[eallen99]

Your opinion is not outdated. 

Well, thanks and Karma for the thought, but it is outdated, and very intentionally so. I take great pains to be a cultural atavist, especially when it comes to writing. In fact, I wish I'd been a Victorian lady author, but alas, t'wasn't meant to be.   


~A~

It t'wasn't? Me thinks the lady doth ...oh whatever... I love your feisty contra-positioning. 

[Aiala]

Writing for me is like playing hookey from my day job. If I can sneak in one hundred words here or there, I'm giddy. 

Not only that, but since you're quite a good writer, those hundred words are likely to have a high literary specific gravity.  


~A~

[violet]

Violet,

I believe some people signed up at the main site, but I'm staying off the books so to say There's nothing official that I KNOW of for NaNoWriMoLi...I think I heard it called that awhile ago and it just kinda stuck?? Not sure. Basically, just set a goal less than 50,000 and go for that. No rules

Thanks, Gypsygurl! 

[G-Woman]

All I've got is GO TEAM QT!!! 

Done Nano before and I do think it's worthwhile.  It showed me that I could write something longer than a short story.  This year: not a good place for a new book.

However, I'm rooting for you guys that are doing it.  Hey, if I could get 50K when I'd only written shorts before, then you all can do it, too!

[karaokecrush]

Im on it and i'm already behind .. haha.  but never fear .. I WILLL make my 50K.  OH yes, it will be done! 

[MaryL]

Go, KC!  Haven't seen ya much. Glad you are back.