# Gimme a Na! Gimme a No! Gimme a Wri! Gimme a Mo! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375 "2007-10-28T22:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/61 "2007-11-03T02:24:40Z")
Up to a little over 5500 words. ---
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/62 "2007-11-03T15:20:07Z")
So, questions on your methods for all who care to answer- are you writing in order? Or does a random thought pop into your head and you throw in an awesome car chase in the middle of questioning a suspect about their alibi? Do you have any sort of plan, outlined, flow-charted, or otherwise? I don’t know where I’m going. I have a character, I have a journey, but I haven’t even decided things like will there be other main characters, or just people she meets in passing. Will there be romance, mystery, suspense, ghosts, or strange cults? All of those? Basic story- quarter-life crisis followed by a road trip across the US to visit Catholic churches. In search of a good Latin mass and a priest who can chant on-key. There’s no chance of finding faith or losing faith or anything like that. It’s based on my real-life experience with Catholicism, and how I find the rituals to be very comforting, but I don’t put much stock in them. Like, have you ever been upset and found yourself wanting to and/or actually calling your mom, but realize that she can’t do anything and you’re sort of embarassed about talking to her, but it’s just a habit because as a kid she made everything better? It’s like that. I only ask because I actually want to end up with a novel that I’m proud of, instead of one that makes me cringe. Maybe spend next month doing a personal NaNoEdMo and maybe actually sending it off to a publisher or two. Just to feel like I’ve accomplished something. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/63 "2007-11-03T16:34:12Z")
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe] So, questions on your methods for all who care to answer- are you writing in order? Or does a random thought pop into your head and you throw in an awesome car chase in the middle of questioning a suspect about their alibi? Do you have any sort of plan, outlined, flow-charted, or otherwise? [/QUOTE] I write in order, though I will occasionally go back and insert a scene or paragraph somewhere earlier. I don’t have an outline. I’m writing a mystery, so there’s something of a plan, but it’s vague. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/64 "2007-11-03T17:34:03Z")
I’ve got no formal plan, and it’s going surprisingly well. I’ve only taken on this project to get me in the writing habit again, so I don’t really care about the quality. I do have an idea now where the story is going to go now that I’ve got my main characters established, but it’s all in my head and could change at a moment’s notice. Now I find out my mother-in-law is in town…I think I’m going to have to do a big catch-up session late tonight or tomorrow when I was planning to work on it this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/65 "2007-11-03T20:29:17Z")
7268 words. **Roses** , I’ve got the basic outline in my head, but one or two bits have already popped up and asked to be included, and I don’t fight it when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/66 "2007-11-03T23:35:55Z")
I’ve got an outline of sorts, but it’s just a list of key scenes for the “A” plot. This lets me jump around and write the scene that appeals at the moment, while leaving plenty of space open for those lusty-busty-ninas to attack when they want. And I just crossed 7k! yay for rainy Saturdays. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/67 "2007-11-03T23:57:40Z")
I thought I was sitting pretty here at 4300 words, but clearly I’ve got some catching up to do. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/68 "2007-11-04T04:21:42Z")
Just under 2000 words, but at least twice that in notes. I have the general theme, a bit of an outline that could change without notice and about a dozen key scenes that won’t change very much (unless they have to). It’s worked twice in a year, (Nano and SoCNoC) I see no reason why it can’t work again … despite all the distractions. I’m hoping the slow start will get swallowed up in the week’s holiday I’ve taken. I’m hoping I don’t procrastinate too much because I’ve got a week’s holiday coming up. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/69 "2007-11-04T05:05:29Z")
Oh dear. Only 1650 words. I have the attention span of a noodle today. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/70 "2007-11-04T11:21:16Z")
I’m up to 5006. I’m 1/10th of the way done! I didn’t get a single word written yesterday due to the mother-in-law kerfuffle and my husband and daughter needing my laptop so they could play World of Warcraft. :mad: I woke up at 3:30 this morning, though, and got some good words in–thank goodness for the end of Daylight Savings Time. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/71 "2007-11-04T13:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=Tamex] I woke up at 3:30 this morning, though, and got some good words in–thank goodness for the end of Daylight Savings Time. [/QUOTE] Woo Hoo! I’d forgotten about that, so an extra hour to write this morning! (Or, equally likely, and extra hour to piffle away on the net…) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/72 "2007-11-04T15:13:27Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] Woo Hoo! I’d forgotten about that, so an extra hour to write this morning! (Or, equally likely, and extra hour to piffle away on the net…) [/QUOTE] I could have written that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/73 "2007-11-04T19:40:48Z")
I’m up to 7000, and I’ve only just started writing for today. I think I’m a bit further along then I thought I would be, which is good. I _still_ haven’t gotten to the point in the book that I thought I would originally start at which is even better since I kind of know how it goes from there. At least I think I do. ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/74 "2007-11-05T00:42:59Z")
I’m procrastinating on a paper for German and I’m stuck at 100 words. You people are animals. ---
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/75 "2007-11-05T00:49:49Z")
Ok, I haven’t written a word all weekend, but I’m gonna do it tonight. After I make dinner and straighten up the living room, I will be writing non-stop. I was really hoping to manage about 3K words a day, figuring that would give me a little more than a week to go back, review, revise, rewrite, or add bits as needed. That shouldn’t be too hard, as long as I do it every day instead of procrastinating. The 500 words I already had I wrote in about half an hour by forcing myself not to edit and to write as much in a stream-of-consciousness fashion as possible (this works for me, with my character and POV, probably not so well for others). So, tonight in my apartment, there will be a personal, 4 hour write-a-thon! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/76 "2007-11-05T01:06:41Z")
Somewhere around 6600 words. I am keeping pretty close to the timetable of 1667 words a day, I am just a couple of hundred words over it right now. I figure if I follow it, less chance of getting burned out midway through. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/77 "2007-11-05T03:26:53Z")
1. I’m falling waaaay behind, but that’s been fairly normal for me. Of course, I’ve fairly normally not finished the last couple of years. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/78 "2007-11-05T09:05:04Z")
Something like 7844 words. I had the exact figure last night, but the board was playing silly sods. I aim to be done by the 25th or thereabouts, to leave me some wiggle room. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/79 "2007-11-05T15:37:27Z")
Fuck. There’s a whole section gone missing from where I was saving it all on Google Docs. No wonder the last word count was looking a little low. Fuckity fuck. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375/80 "2007-11-05T17:41:37Z")
5787 on Saturday and didn’t to anything Sunday (and this morning) but transcribe from handwriting to the computer. So I’m a little behind, but I’ve taken vacation days for later in the month to give me some slack. For those of you talking about outlines and things, that’s what October (translation - the rest of the year) is for. At least I’d like to say that. I got a good first scene mostly done and then backtracked to document the backstory. Mine is literary genre this year, so I can start in the middle deliberately and call it style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-na-gimme-a-no-gimme-a-wri-gimme-a-mo/424375.md?page=5)