NaNoWriMo's - how's it going?

[NinjaChick]

Not that I'm procrastinating or anything. I know that a number of Dopers are doing it, and, well, how's it going?

I, for one, wasn't going to do it this year. I participated (and won!) last year, but it nearly killed me, and my classwork is taking up even more time this year than last. But I finally a whole bunch of major papers finished and turned in, and I've had this plot kicking around my skull for a while now, so...I started on Monday. Obviously I'm way behind, but I just hit 14k. I'll be satisfied if I hit 35k, but with all the free time I'm going to have over Thanksgiving, I think I might possibly make it to 50K. Average pace so far is something like 3500 words/day.

So: how goes the novelling?

[ArrMatey!]

Hit 30k yesterday, 31k today... Slacking a little, but still ahead. Most of what I have planned is done. My big problem is, I like my four main characters too much, and one of them has to die. I can't decide which one. Heck, originally it was three characters, and I intro'd a fourth just so she could be the one to die... And now she's more interresting than the other three. D'oh!

[ErinPuff]

I hit 40K last night. My sentences are getting increasingly convoluted and nonsensical and I'm caring less and less. I have a big paper to write really soon, so I want to get done in the next couple days so I can do that.

[Shadez]

Stuck at 23k. Haven't written in three days, my motivation is completely gone.

[Oregon sunshine]

23,000 words. I got my characters from a rather free-floating story where anything could happen to one where things are leading to certain conclusions and I just don't want to go there! I stalled at 23,000 last year also, darn it!

[FisherQueen]

I'm doing pretty well. I'm about 500 words shy of 40,000. Problem is, I have no idea what happens next.

[davenportavenger]

I quit. Got to 13k and just didn't write anymore. Haven't been up to it. This will be my last year doing it.

[amarinth]

Slightly behind, but well within catching up range. I just haven't felt the panic this year.
I also started out really strong, and it's tapered. So my really cool opening is having a boring middle and I don't know where it's going to end.

[RickJay]

Neat. I wish I'd known about it at the beginning of the month.

2006, I shall have my 50,000 words!

[Dunderman]

I'm a day or so behind, but I'm working at it.

[Idlewild]

Just about up to quota for yesterday which leaves me with today's lot and plenty of time... but having motivation/writing issues. I sort of know what comes next but not after that and I guess I just need to write through it.

I have a nice hotel room to hole up in today with a view of the ocean. The husband keeps sending me away for a weekend in november so I can destress from work and restress from nano

Annnnd here I am procrastinating. Sheeit.

[Silver Fire]

I stopped when I hit 57,420. It's not finished yet, but I am. I couldn't deal with that level of crap any more.

[lel]

36,825. I'm a little bit ahead of pace, but not much. I usually finish sooner, but I am doing another big project at the same time, and with work and the like, it's crazy.

[Lsura]

At last count (nearly a week ago) I was right around 33,000 words.



I like the concept I started with - but I really hate the crap I'm writing. I'm going to try to finish over Thanksgiving, but the motivation isn't there anymore.

[Feydeau]

I started out badly, and things only got worse.

I don't think I'l be finishing.

[chrisk]

Somewhere around 45,000 words. Only a little more than halfway through my plot. (sighs.) Still, not bad!

[elfkin477]

Surprisingly, I'm still on target with 33,412 words down. I didn't even make it to 19k with my earlier attempt in 2003.

[JimSox5]

I had a really cool plot idea (as discussed in the other thread), but my relationship took a real sharp downturn a week ago, and I haven't even looked at it since. I want to come back to what I'm writing, but it may be awhile before my motivation to do anything at all comes back.

Yeah, I'm pretty depressed.

[BrattiAtti]

I am pathetic, at a word count of about half of where I was at this time last year. Last year when I was writing by hand. Oh, bugger.

HOWEVER! As of tomorrow, we have ten days left. C'mon, all you other slackers out there, and join me in showing up all these people who think they're so on track. I'm absolutely certain that each of us can produce 5,000 words per day to get a book done in ten days.

At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

[Dark Side of the Floyd]

Bah. I've got a total word count of... 2,016, only bcause I'm trying desperately to make a finished product that makes a lot of sense. I've been editing and re-editing, without adding anything substantial to my story. I've got most of the storyline, but have been slacking off so much that it would make Homer Simpson blush.

How the hell can writers do it?

[Feydeau]

Originally Posted by Dark Side of the Floyd

How the hell can writers do it?

They take substantially more than 30 days to write a quality novel.

[merrily]

I'm at 65k, about 3/4 of the way through my story. This one really, really wants to be born. I work, and I had to spend the weekend before last on a presentation, or I might be done. As it is, I stay up a little too late and get up a little too early, because the story wants out.

My October outline helped--no cheating, nothing to cut and paste--and the story just became more and more alive for me as the month has gone on.

I'm not trying to rub it in, just letting you know there is another side. The point is, if I felt it was turning into crap, I'd be in the same boat as many of you. I did lose heart for a while at the beginning of the second week, wondering if it was all too self indulgent, but I read some to people who liked it, and that helped. This is my first NaNo, and it was amazingly liberating to me to not worry if my story was any good, just do the words. Now, I find that I have to keep myself from re-reading, just because I enjoy it when I do. (And I'm saving the real editing for December.)

Me? Obsessive? You say that like it's a negative thing.....