It’s about three weeks to November. So, who’s doing NaNo this year? I am planning for it, and watching the story-idea I had change genres while doing so.
Any other writers up to the challenge this year?
I’m pretty sure that I write 50K words every month. Maybe I’ll keep track this year.
I’m going to give it a try this year, I think. I haven’t written a novel before, and it’s been decades since I even wrote a short story (most of my writing has been screenplays, and not very successfully) so it will be a monumental challenge.
I do have a story idea that may or may not be a good one. But really I’m trying to use it as an exercise and for my own personal discipline.
Thanks to hearing about this via the Dope, I’m using the NaNoWriMo curriculum for kids in my classroom - my students are incredibly nervous and excited about writing a whole novel (they’re nine.) We are preparing our characters and plot in October and then moving to the actual writing November 1. My hope is that the authentic purpose for writing will motivate them to use and learn the skills I will teach along the way.
That is pretty neat. I hope your students will have a good time in doing this.
Are they going to go for the full 50K, or are you setting an adjusted goal for them? It seems high for nine-year-olds.
Either they will set their own word count goals, or we will set one as a class. Haven’t decided yet.
Well, I have no specific plans for my own writing, but I will be hanging out the sign for my cracked crystal orb, the Ball of Bad Plotz. All Dopers get a coupon for a free McGuffin, with a side of lore. 
Chiming in with a resounding maybe. 
I did it and “won” in 2006 - even went to quite a few of my local write-ins. It was great fun, I proved I could do it even though I ended up with 50k words of dreck, basically. But it was amusing dreck.
Tried last year but gave up in the first week because I was not at all prepared.
If I can quit mentally flailing around and settle on an outline and plot by November first, I’m in. I’d like to do it again, just for the mental exercise and discipline.
IRT a NANOWRIMO for kids, they do have a young writers program.
The idea I had has been beaten into submission, and I am more or less prepared for NaNo. Two weeks from now, and it all starts again.
I’ve done this since 2006, but so far I’ve only finished 3 times. I’m hoping this year will also be one of those.
Domestic Samurai, as an official NaNo sponsor, that’s great to hear!!
This will be my 6th year writing a novel in November. Completed four, abandoned one.
The last two have been unreadable drivel because I tried to stretch myself and change genres. Not this time. Back to basics. I have my characters and my plot. Like Weaver of Nightmares, I can’t wait to see what totally different novel I end up with from the one I have planned.
Plug for Scrivener, it has built-in Nanowrimo features that make word counts and goal setting easy and encouraging. I am not affiliated.
Yeah, I’m in again. Been participating since 2008 but only finished twice. Hopefully I can avoid the crash-and-burn again this year.
Definitely. I’m ML-ing (local cheerleader and event organizer) again here in Hamilton.
I’ve got two novel ideas for this year, neither of which I intend to finish–because I want to pick whichever I’m more excited about and submit that for Kij Johnson’s Young Gunns workshop next year, and she wants people to apply with novels that haven’t been completely drafted out yet.
First NaNoWriMo in 2012- completed it.
Missed it last year- dont want to miss this year but im struggling for an idea that I havent already started on.
I’m planning to do it for the first time this year. I’ve wanted to write something for a while now, hopefully this will get me to actually get started.
I’ve apparently had an account on the Nanowrimo website for 8 years. I don’t recall trying EVERY year, but I have at least begun something during most of them. I’ve never won. I hit 24K words last year. That’s a little better than I remembered. Of course, I didn’t have a job last November…
I wonder if there’s anyone else out there as unwinning as me?
sigh
I guess I’m in again.
Our ML is being very active this year, so we’ve got a group of about eight that is meeting for prep work. We’ve been trying out different locations, to see what works. So far the plan is to meet Wednesdays and Saturdays and to have a kickoff at IHOP on Halloween. We’ve requested the back room and everything.
Waffles and Writing. I’m looking forward to it.
The NaNo folks have announced that it’s OK to work on things that you’ve already begun. I think I’ll be doing that. I’ve narrowed it down to two particular Beginnings and may even trade back and forth between them. If I can get one finished, no matter how many words get written, I’ll consider it a success.
Yay for waffles and writing! Our local favorite coffeeshop makes some tasty Belgian waffles, so we have a Wafflepalooza tradition on November 30th; once you meet your final word count goal, you can order a celebratory waffle!
It’s November 1st here in the antipodes, so I have begun!
Well, sort of.
Only done character descriptions right now, but that’s made me think about the plot a bit more solidly, so that’s a good thing, right?
Yes and no. I’ve signed up, but I’m just going to use it to keep me honest for the novel I’m working on already. The wordcount goal is 85-95,000 words, and I’m already up to 60 so I don’t have 50K left to go.
If I finish that novel before November’s up I might start on the next one in my original series (of which there are five right now–the 60K one isn’t one of them)
I love their little wordcount widget. It’s like magic for me, and I’ve never found another one online that works as well. I wish the NaNo people would let us use it all year, and not just during official NaNo months.
I’m sort of in the same boat. Rather than start Yet Another book I won’t finish, I’ve gone back to the one I ‘won’ with in 2010. I think there’s about 30k words left to go in the plot, but I do have a rough idea for the sequel so if need be…