It's my first time! I won't use this many exclamation marks in the manuscript!
I've got a blurb for the book I want to write and I've been a-planning and a-plotting. The rest of October is going to be frowning-and-being-serious-about-scenes time. So I won't be pantsing, just writing what I've planned. I'm Ruth Lauren (original, I know) on there if you want to find me.
So, who's done it before? Who's doing it this year? Do I need writing buddies? Do I need valium? Give me your tips, hints, seasoned advice for a newbie NaNo-er. Should I pace myself, or run at it like a demonic maniac? All advice welcome!
Heaps of good luck! See you in December :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck Ruth!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth... This will be my 3rd year doing Nano. It is crazy, but when you finally cross 50K it is exhilarating! My suggestions:
ReplyDelete1. Don't stop to wordsmith or fix plot holes. Just keep moving! Editing will be for December
2. Accept that you will write crap. Seriously. You will write crap, because you are writing FAST AND FURIOUS, and if you keep in mind #1 above, you will definitely be writing crap. And that's OK.
3. Get yourself writing buddies. I can't stress this enough. The past 2 years I had an awesome support group who dragged me kicking and screaming to the end. I couldn't have done it without them. I'm shortygirl (I just added you as a buddy).
4. Try to participate in write-athons. This worked great for me. I got a few of my twitter friends together at a time that we all agreed on. We "met" on twitter, wished each other well, then went dark for a 1 hour writing frenzy. After the 1 hour we all met back on twitter to compare progress and give each other high fives. This really helped!
So, just a few tips...hope this helps. Oh... and you should expect that no housework will be done in Nov. Better warn your family.
Buddies - check.
DeleteWrite-athons - check.
No housework? This deal keeps getting better all the time!
Nano is wonderful! I will warn you, my friends and I all say that Nano isn't actually fun in November. Around the 15th we always kind of look around and say, "Why are we doing this? Why did we think this was a good idea?"
ReplyDeleteBut it's fun once you win! And then you get bragging rights for the rest of your life!
As for advice-- have lots of tea and coffee on hand, you will need them. As Ella said above, don't worry about what you're writing, because it's guaranteed to be crap. Just remember that the point isn't to write something good, it's just to write something down.
By far the easiest and least stressful way to win is to write the 1,667 words every day. But I don't know anyone who actually does that. My friends and I always end up realizing we're going to need a couple of 5,000 word days to make it.
All in all, it's great for kicking your butt out of planning mode and into writing gear. So good luck, and have fun! (Or, at least as much fun as is possible while writing your fingers off...)
P.S-- I'm off to add you as a buddy. I'm Hannah17. Also very original :)
Thanks! Adding everyone as buddies in return. And since my maths skills are notoriously poor round these parts, thanks for the word count breakdown!
DeleteI guess I did grow a stupid ginger moustache for Movember the other year. This can't be a worse November treat than that.
ReplyDeleteCan it?
IT WILL BE PHENOMENAL!
DeleteIs your use of caps some kind of writers' blog code denoting sarcasm?
DeleteNO. THIS IS HOW I TALK NOW.
DeleteAwwwwesome. Ruth, you're going to love it! I'm a big NaNo supporter. And I love the little graph that shows your progress! (I'm such a visual person) You must keep us posted! :D
ReplyDeleteWill do!
DeleteI've done it three times now, and my best advice is to go out hard and try to get through at least 10K in the first three days or so. While you're fresh and still in love with your story. That gives you little buffer if you fall down later in the piece.
ReplyDeleteI'll be there with you in the NaNo trenches. If you want to find me, I'm Vampyr14.
Good luck!
Added you! I do like the idea of having some words in the bank for unforseen disasters. I like to be in control and ahead of the game : )
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first year of NaNoWrimo. I've NEVER done it before and not sure what to expect really. I have a synopsis and wish to write the thing in less than two years...which is what the last novel took to complete, so in desperation signed up. I really hope it will keep me in focused writing mode. I have added you my favourite list. Also would appreciate any other writer buddies who might want to add me to their lists as I'm sure I will need audience pressure to make me cross the finish line. My name on the site is Ruby Rose.
Good luck, everyone...roll on Nov 1st...
Found you. I'm excited about this!
DeleteI'm debating and debating and debating again on whether to do it this year. I've done it 3 years in a row which includes writing with a 3 month old sleeping in my arms...that was insanity! But, it's exhilarating and, in the end, awesome (but not in the middle when you think you're going to die and just really need a nap). I'm now editing/revising the first one I wrote.
ReplyDeleteI have an excel sheet that plots what your word count needs to be at the end of each day to make it to the end - either a couple days early (for the cushion) or right down to the wire. I'm willing to share if you want it!
(look for me Mrafiki19, I'll probably breakdown and be crazy again this year!)
Found you. Thanks for the offer - I have a game plan formulating, but I may call on that excel sheet if it all crumbles!
DeleteThis'll be my fourth year participating. I won my first year, but life got in the way the next two. But that's the thing about NaNo - if you don't finish, it's no big deal. You either have 50k towards a novel, or you don't. Either way, you're further along than you were before you started.
ReplyDeleteI write pretty short novels, so I'm hoping I'll get the whole thing done. Good way to look at it though.
DeleteThis will be my first year. I was excited until I heard everyone talking about how crazy it was. I'm still excited, but a little nervous too! haha
ReplyDeleteI've been on the nano boards quite a bit, though. I'm going to try to go into a local write-in.
I'm nervous too - I do not like to lose! Not sure I'll be making much use of the forums, but I'd love to go to a write-in if there's anything near me.
DeleteI'll be watching and cheering on your progress and sanity from the sidelines! Good luck!
ReplyDelete: D
DeleteGood for you!! This will be my fourth Nano and you already have lots of great advice there. Just keep writing, even if you don't want to, even if it doesn't make sense. I'm Namaste, but will look you up.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best of luck with this, Ruth. I have tried it a couple of times but never finished. I want to do it this year, but my record as a loser is giving me pause. I really hate failure. But I think I'm going to sign up (didn't know we could already do that) and see how it goes. I'd love writing buddies, so if anyone's interested, look for cordeliadinsmore.
ReplyDeleteI can't find you - search is coming up with nothing. Maybe you can find me?
DeleteI write YA, too...just buddied you. Good luck with your MS, Ruth. I'll be cheering you on in nano!
ReplyDeletenano: afirth
I'm really excited too, Ruth!
ReplyDeleteMichelleKrys for anyone who wants to buddy me :)
I've never done it but it sounds like a great way to get a first draft down! (Has your hubby found out yet?)
ReplyDeleteYes. That's him commenting above : D
DeleteI think he already purchased a new war game of some description to keep himself occupied. Just as well :P
I haven't done NaNo since 2005. Between report cards and parent conferences, I just don't have time to be serious about a NaNo project. I know that's sort of the point, but I can't get my head into the game in November.
ReplyDeleteMaybe someday when I make enough money on my writing and can quit my job...
Good luck Ruth! I haven't participated yet, but I think you will rise up to the challenge of balancing your family and your job and your writing. (:
ReplyDeleteThanks Thomas : ) I'm excited about giving it a go!
DeleteGood luck with Nano Ruth - I'll be monitoring your progress!! However I think I'll be spending November editing my WIP thatks to the fantastic feedback recieved from you-know-who ;-)
ReplyDelete: D
DeleteHow is it going??
ReplyDeleteGood! Hard work, but I've just hit 30k, so I'm on target : )
Delete