# National Novel Writing Month 2005--Who's In? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099 "2005-10-20T16:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/41 "2005-10-22T17:55:47Z")
I’m in. It’s my first year, so I’m writing the story that’s been in my head for, oh, about 30 years or so. My outline is 3 pages and growing everyday. For a warm-up, I did some fanfic, and it went to 27,000 words, so I think I can do it. I’m dying to get started, but I’m going to keep to the letter of the law, and I’m being very careful that the outline doesn’t get too detailed. Several people where I work are also doing it. Last year, I gave the guy who introduced me to the idea a Nano Rhino, as a reward for his finishing. My guess for \*\*Priceguy’s \*\* first sentence: “Sorry!” ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/42 "2005-10-22T19:14:43Z")
Okay. I’ve decided to do this daring, extravagant thing! This is the best possible time in my life to see where this leads. I knew, I just knew, that something wonderful like this would come my way, totally out of the blue. This community has brought me so many gifts in such a short time. I’m so grateful to be a small part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/43 "2005-10-22T19:48:24Z")
> [@merrily](#): > > My guess for \*\*Priceguy’s \*\* first sentence: “Sorry!” Um… not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/44 "2005-10-22T20:52:43Z")
I am giving it a try too, it’s my first year so it should be fun 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/45 "2005-10-22T21:13:23Z")
Would it be completely cheating to work on a story that 2 pages of already exist? :o (Say if I made my goal 50,500 instead of 50,000?) I don’t think I could come up with something brand new between now and then that I’d care to attempt to devote 50,000 words to. And I do mean _attempt_: I tried in 2003 and got to 20,000 words before running out of steam. sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/46 "2005-10-22T22:01:35Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Would it be completely cheating to work on a story that 2 pages of already exist? :o I think (and hope) nobody cares about that stuff. Last year, I started writing my story a week early. I already had the ideas, what was the point of waiting til the stroke of midnight on November 1? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/47 "2005-10-22T23:59:59Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Would it be completely cheating to work on a story that 2 pages of already exist? :o (Say if I made my goal 50,500 instead of 50,000?) I don’t think I could come up with something brand new between now and then that I’d care to attempt to devote 50,000 words to. And I do mean _attempt_: I tried in 2003 and got to 20,000 words before running out of steam. sigh. As far as I know, it isn’t. The whole point is to get you to write. Also,all the site checks is your word count. Anything else is up to you. ---
**Author:** ![Pyroette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90db22/32.png) [@Pyroette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyroette)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/48 "2005-10-23T00:38:18Z")
I don’t have the time to do this. I have a full course load (mostly math), a job, and I try to occasionally see my boyfriend and my family… So of course I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/49 "2005-10-23T05:10:36Z")
Have you ever put on your favorite music and danced alone in the house? Are you a professional dancer? Do you sing in the shower or in the car? Are you a professional singer? I think NaNoWriMo has the same spirit. By removing the internal critic, we’re given the chance to write wild and free, and experience the joy and surprise of it all. I have no aspirations of becoming a professional novelist, but I do appreciate the kick in the ass to try something I’ve always believed I had no right to attempt. It’s like running a marathon to experience the dedication required and the exhiliration of pushing oneself to the limit - even if you walk to the finish line or leave the race due to a twisted knee. I have no plot or outline or characters in mind. I’ve decided not to use myself up in these October days by stressing or worrying or outlining. I see the value in free association and accessing secret corners of my mind. On November 1 I will start completely from scratch, and test the limits of my imagination, humor, and carpal tunnels. Plus, it’s a damn good excuse to buy the PowerBook I’ve been craving (defecting to the Other Side, no less). ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/50 "2005-10-23T17:13:40Z")
I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/51 "2005-10-24T11:56:04Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > Plus, it’s a damn good excuse to buy the PowerBook I’ve been craving (defecting to the Other Side, no less). I bought a laptop a couple months ago just because of NaNo. I have no shame. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/52 "2005-10-24T12:08:11Z")
Moderator speaketh: There was a similar thread in Cafe Society, but it only had a couple of posts. Arguably, this topic could fit either forum, and I’ve decided to leave it here and close the other one. (I’m primarily posting this so we don’t have another moderator coming along later and moving it.) ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/53 "2005-10-24T14:01:05Z")
What the heck, I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/54 "2005-10-24T16:43:19Z")
Yeah, I will give it a shot this year. I already have a few pages written, but since I’m not going to have access to a computer over Thanksgiving weekend, that will make up for it. Mine’s going to be about a cattle rancher who’s immortal. He defends his stock against Hercules, runs away from Roman Creditors, becomes one of the settlers of the American wild west, and so on. It won’t make sense but I’m just going to have fun with it. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/55 "2005-10-24T18:23:21Z")
I’m giving it another go after my wretched showing two years ago. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/56 "2005-10-24T18:52:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Would it be completely cheating to work on a story that 2 pages of already exist? :o (Say if I made my goal 50,500 instead of 50,000?) I don’t think I could come up with something brand new between now and then that I’d care to attempt to devote 50,000 words to. And I do mean _attempt_: I tried in 2003 and got to 20,000 words before running out of steam. sigh. From the Nano [FAQ](http://www.nanowrimo.org/modules/xoopsfaq/index.php?cat_id=1): > [@](#): > > _ **I have a lot to do in November. Can I start in October and end early?** _ > No. One of the best things about NaNoWriMo is the way it spreads the agony of creation throughout a large community of co-sufferers. For the pain to be properly distributed (and thereby diminished), all participants must be working on the same deadline. > > _ **Do I have to start my novel from scratch on November 1?** _ > Yes. > > This sounds like a dumb, arbitrary rule, we know. But bringing a half-finished manuscript into NaNoWriMo all but guarantees a miserable month. You’ll simply care about the characters and story too much to write with the gleeful, anything-goes approach that makes NaNoWriMo such a creative rush. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate, and you’ll tap into realms of imagination and intuition that are out-of-reach when working on pre-existing manuscripts. I’m not calling it cheating, just relaying what the Nano folks have to say about the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/57 "2005-10-24T21:16:06Z")
I’m playing. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/58 "2005-10-24T21:36:25Z")
I’m in. I did it last year. This year, I’ll probably be writing the second book in the mystery series I started last time. Woo! ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/59 "2005-10-25T22:51:44Z")
I’m in. I’m a NaNoWriMo virgin. It looks like fun. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/60 "2005-10-26T00:13:41Z")
I’m in, for the third time. And there’s a Doper thread over on the NaNoWriMo forums, in case anyone hasn’t seen it yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099.md?page=4)