# NaNoNaNoNaNo... WriMo! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983 "2016-10-18T21:36:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/41 "2016-10-26T04:41:28Z")
I don’t see a way to start a buddy group but they do have a social media forum. I’ve asked if we can have our own thread in that forum. I’ll let you know what they say. We can also have group messages, I think, once we’re buddied up. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/42 "2016-10-26T12:12:28Z")
Oh, what the hell. I’m ivylass over there too. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/43 "2016-10-26T14:25:04Z")
WOOT! _One of us! One of us!_ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/44 "2016-10-26T14:45:54Z")
Can my word count be what I’ve already written? I have a synopsis and a snippet already posted. If you’ve made me your buddy I’d love your feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/45 "2016-10-26T21:11:20Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Can my word count be what I’ve already written? I have a synopsis and a snippet already posted. If you’ve made me your buddy I’d love your feedback. I mean, there are no NaNo police coming to arrest you if you include what you’ve already written. [I finally created the new novel.](http://nanowrimo.org/participants/squidscribe/novels/the-burning-1086199) And added back whoever added me ( **ivy, ddsun** and **Ryl**.) Figuring out what snippet to use takes the longest time. 😕 Especially when you don’t have much written yet. And all the, ‘‘No really, it’s a first draft, I swear!’’ caveats. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/46 "2016-10-26T21:17:35Z")
Hmm… the _Shadow Witch Chronicles._ I can see it now. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/47 "2016-10-27T15:23:27Z")
Added a bunch of people. I’m chrisk0 over there… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/48 "2016-10-27T16:35:48Z")
I keep saying I’m going to do it but never do… I think my biggest enemies for writing stories are, one, that I’m always loathe to do nasty things to my characters (but honey, when I start I make the Marquis crawl into a corner, whimpering…), and two, TV Tropes. I’m Coramendi because they think Nava is a spammer 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/49 "2016-10-27T16:37:37Z")
I am an extremely slow writer. Forget about NaNoWriMo; I might be a NaNoWri_ **Decade** _ writer… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/50 "2016-10-27T17:32:13Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I am an extremely slow writer. Forget about NaNoWriMo; I might be a NaNoWri_ **Decade** _ writer… I am too. I re-wrote a fairly large chunk of my novel _Killer_ for 2014’s NaNoWriMo, as soon as December 1st arrived I rewrote it again. I’m still working on it. I’m rewriting it again (I’m changing the genre from fantasy to sci-fi, so this is a necessary revision.) I have about 30 drafts of every chapter. Shoot me please. I can’t wait to work on something new. I’ve got a couple of chapters of _The Burning_ written but it’s all fresh and my favorite part of writing is the part where you have no idea where a story is going – knowing it can go literally anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/51 "2016-10-27T17:42:00Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I am an extremely slow writer. Forget about NaNoWriMo; I might be a NaNoWri_ **Decade** _ writer… This might make you feel better: [How long it took 30 writers to finish their famous novels.](http://mentalfloss.com/article/85752/how-long-it-took-30-writers-finish-their-famous-novels) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/52 "2016-10-30T17:46:51Z")
Found a cool site that might help some of you conquer the wordcount monster! It’s called [4thewords](http://www.4thewords.com), and it lets you gamify your writing! You battle monsters by writing words, do quests, and level up your character with XP, loot, and gear. It’s got a free one-month trial, so it’s perfect for jump-starting your NaNoWriMoing! I’m loving it so far–it’s really keeping me focused. Gotta slay that Reenu or Aracni before I can check Facebook! ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/53 "2016-10-30T19:03:22Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I have a compulsive editing problem that seems to be exacerbated by this program. Exactly why I don’t use it any more 🙂 The best word processor for me is just Google Docs – but with the text colour set to white. Yes, white on white. SO I CAN’T READ IT AS I GO. Leads to some messy typo-ridden paragraphs, but heck, they’re paragraphs! I’ve failed Nano 9? 10? times. But I have two chapters (2000ish) words of an old story that I just got reinvigorated about. I have an outline - more, I have a synopsis. I have fucking solid, REAL characters, and I know a lot about them. Watch me fall! ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/54 "2016-10-30T19:54:13Z")
I love the white text idea, thanks. I have a real problem with going back and criticizing what I’m writing as I’m writing it. I read somewhere to just write the first draft as fast as possible and not tweak it, because as the story evolves, a lot of your words and scenes are going to be cut. I think it’s good advice. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/55 "2016-10-30T20:25:42Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I love the white text idea, thanks. I have a real problem with going back and criticizing what I’m writing as I’m writing it. I read somewhere to just write the first draft as fast as possible and not tweak it, because as the story evolves, a lot of your words and scenes are going to be cut. I think it’s good advice. You’re welcome! Yes, I think it’s the whole idea behind Nano - quantity over quality 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/56 "2016-10-31T12:45:44Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I love the white text idea, thanks. I have a real problem with going back and criticizing what I’m writing as I’m writing it. I read somewhere to just write the first draft as fast as possible and not tweak it, because as the story evolves, a lot of your words and scenes are going to be cut. I think it’s good advice. I’ve tried that, and I just can’t do it. I have a system. Write a thousand words or so until I come to a good stopping point. Then I sit back, have a cigarette, and go back to make sure it made sense. It’s how I’ve always worked. I got a pretty good idea on Saturday night somewhere in my long-drive road hypnosis, but I have mostly forgotten it now, which is a shame. I’m 90% certain it was inspired by something on the radio, but since everybody else in the car had fallen asleep, I don’t think anybody will be able to jog my memory. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/57 "2016-10-31T15:28:06Z")
If there are any other Dopers doing NaNoWriMo, please PM me. **Spice Weasel,** I agree with you. I don’t want to know where the story is going. I want to surprise myself. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/58 "2016-10-31T15:49:18Z")
I’m in the exact opposite camp: I won’t write word one until I know that the story I have in mind actually HAS a satisfying ending possible. I’ve read far too many books, even professionally published ones, where the ending just sort of whimpers away. Like the author reached the contracted 180k words and then bailed as fast as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/59 "2016-10-31T16:31:09Z")
Heck, I’ve even decided I won’t fight the language demons. If dialogue in English has Spanish punctuation, whatever. And if stuff jumps from language to language, it’s not as if I’m planning on forcing the world to read the resulting mess! I’ve got a better idea about how people got to the beginning of the story than about the story. My crystal ball is saying there shall be many flashbacks and expository dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983/60 "2016-10-31T18:03:55Z")
Final preparations tonight. Scrivener has a NaNoWriMo template. I’ll post some resources tonight. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanonanonano-wrimo/768983.md?page=4)