# NaNoWriMo 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267 "2008-10-16T20:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/81 "2008-11-01T22:04:50Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > First day of Nano - cleaned out the garage, bought (yet another) old set of drawers to restore, moved the kayak to it’s new home and scrubbed the stove top. Word count = 0. > > Good start. If last year and the year before are anything to go by, the house will be pristine by week 2. I know the feeling. And yet I’ve signed up again too. Oh, NaNo, harshest of mistresses, why do you haunt us so? ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/82 "2008-11-01T23:00:10Z")
Well, I can’t get the Nanowrimo site to work too well on this libary connection- but I had to share that I made 960 words today in one hour (SO is a WoW addict, we have one computer, need I say more?) at the library. YEAH! ---
**Author:** ![jkusters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jkusters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkusters)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/83 "2008-11-01T23:28:46Z")
Taking a break from my writing today to get out, catch up on net stuff, get some lunch, yada yada. I’m doing okay so far, though the words are NOT coming as easliy as they have in years past. I got a little over 1K done at the “first minute write-in” we had in my local region, and another 2K done today. Tonight I hope for another 2K then another 4K tomorrow. The hope is that I get enough done this weekend that my busy work schedule in the next few weeks doesn’t impact me too badly. So far, my strangest moment came when I realized that one of my characters must have been some kind of secret agent in a past career. It’s amazing what you come up with when you’re mid-scene and have no idea how to move forward… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/84 "2008-11-01T23:31:05Z")
Not coming easy. Not at all. I’ve got about 2000 words so far, and I am seriously considering starting over. ---
**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 2, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/85 "2008-11-02T00:08:07Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > Not coming easy. Not at all. I’ve got about 2000 words so far, and I am seriously considering starting over. Don’t do it! If you really hate your story, here’s what you write instead: The alarm clock jolted [main character’s name] awake. “Wow, what a crazy dream,” he/she said. “I thought I was a [Ninja Princess], imagine that!” And then you carry on, starting your new story. This way you don’t lose your word count. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/86 "2008-11-02T06:14:24Z")
The Nanowrimo site is timing out when I try to access my account. Not a good start. I will see if I can sign up tomorrow for it, but I’m starting already. For sure it will be better than last year when I only had time on the weekends. ---
**Author:** ![jkusters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jkusters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkusters)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/87 "2008-11-02T06:37:45Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > The Nanowrimo site is timing out when I try to access my account. Not a good start. It always does that the first few days. Once the people who signed up but don’t have the stamina to make it past the first few days drop out, the site usually becomes much more usable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jkusters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jkusters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkusters)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/88 "2008-11-02T06:40:14Z")
Tried a new tactic for my second session today. I set a fifteen minute timer on my computer and challenged myself to write five hundred words before the timer went off. At the end of fifteen minutes, I’d turn my wireless back on and give myself a five minute internet break. And I promised myself that if I actually had written five hundred words I could have a dark chocolate Hershey kiss. At the end of four writing sprints, I had two thousand more words in my novel and four delicious chocolate morsels. I’m going to have to keep using that method! ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/89 "2008-11-02T07:53:06Z")
First day (+ an hour), three and a half hours spent, 1850 words. The quality is fairly bad but still better than any prose I’ve written in the past year or so. Maybe I’ll make it this year 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/90 "2008-11-02T12:03:14Z")
I wrote just under 6k words yesterday, and surprisingly some of it is actually not too bad. I’m going to try for at least 2k more today. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/91 "2008-11-03T02:22:51Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > I wrote just under 6k words yesterday, and surprisingly some of it is actually not too bad. I’m going to try for at least 2k more today. I’m sorry, but I hate you. I’m already behind and it’ll be Friday before I get any spare time. It’s all coming out as rubbish anyway. The only thing I can think of to do is to have one of my characters explain in one great expository lump, everything she knows about psychology (mainly cribbed from wiki and _Opening Skinner’s Box_). Then, when I have a plot, I can cut and paste snippets as appropriate. This is the hardest start I’ve had - probably because it’s the second run at the same story. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/92 "2008-11-03T03:37:39Z")
I finally got started tonight. ☹ But I like my opening paragraph: > [@](#): > > It is said in the legends of our people, that the moon of Raylan was formed from the remnants of a great meteor. A huge mass rich in Phosofinum Ore that had been tumbling through space since the Great Beginning. Like many agents of change that you will encounter in life, my children, the collision of that meteor with the planet Hale so long ago was fate, put into motion by the hand of God. But such is not the only nature of power in this universe. Like all Raylanians who have come before you, you must learn to recognize when God’s hand is not present. To make the most of every opportunity given to you when you alone control fate. To train and persevere until you master your mind and your body so that you can decide what will come to pass when destiny has forsaken you. And forsake you, it will. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/93 "2008-11-03T03:53:05Z")
Almost 2k words written, I’m pretty sure I can’t get 50k out of this idea, so I’m abandoning it, and starting fresh tomorrow. Adds less than a hundred words a day, so it should no problem catching up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/94 "2008-11-03T04:08:32Z")
This weekend I spent 2 afternoons up on the roof helping to replace flashing, and stacked firewood. But I still got out 3,400 words of a story I’m still not satified has horror (rather than urban fantasy) potential. We shall see where the story takes me. Right now teenagers Ezra and Kylie, and their respective younger brothers (Eli and Chris) have just gone to famed archaeologist Booker Chase’s home to drop off a package and have discovered him on the floor. Tomorrow they’ll be sucked into the dimension that Chase has been plundering for his famed finds. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/95 "2008-11-03T04:16:26Z")
I’ve managed to soldier on from my slow start and am now at 4,153 words. Now, I’ve actually managed to get to a point in the story where something will actually happen. ---
**Author:** ![Rosie\_is\_Tired](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Rosie\_is\_Tired](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosie_is_Tired)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/96 "2008-11-03T04:35:49Z")
Huh, I kinda wanted to try this year, after hearing about it halfway through the month last year. I forgot until today, but I suppose better late than never! What the heck, I’ll see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/97 "2008-11-03T10:35:18Z")
I’m on 4807 words, says MSWord. Some of it is the disclaimer and chapter titles, tho. And I only really have 15 days. I probably won’t finish, but what the heck, it’s something to do while it’s cold outside and I don’t have 'net at home… Haven’t signed up on the site, due to the aforementioned lack of 'net (yes, I’m posting this from work). Need to whip about 3K words/day. Uhmph. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/98 "2008-11-03T12:34:43Z")
I’ve hit 10046. 20% of the way! With less time for writing over the next few days I think I’m going to try a strategy of padding revision. I’ve got plenty of room for thickening things up and it’ll be less stressful than writing from scratch. I’m not sure how effective it will be, though. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/99 "2008-11-03T14:19:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m on 4807 words, says MSWord. Some of it is the disclaimer and chapter titles, tho. And I only really have 15 days. I probably won’t finish, but what the heck, it’s something to do while it’s cold outside and I don’t have 'net at home… > > Haven’t signed up on the site, due to the aforementioned lack of 'net (yes, I’m posting this from work). > > Need to whip about 3K words/day. Uhmph. I don’t know about everyone else, but their site has been largely unavailable to me over the weekend, and (imho) it is not very intuitive as far to how to actually use it… ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267/100 "2008-11-03T14:23:12Z")
> [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](#): > > I don’t know about everyone else, but their site has been largely unavailable to me over the weekend It always is, for the first part of the month. ScriptFrenzy’s site was the same way this year…I assume it’s last-minute sign-ups and sign-ins, since it gets better after a few days, and even when the verification system comes on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanowrimo-2008/468267.md?page=6)