# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/141 "2005-11-02T04:32:35Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Make it a whole chapter and we’ll be impressed 😉 [del]Simpsons[/del] James Joyce did it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/142 "2005-11-02T05:02:57Z")
2288 words today. If I’ve learned anything from my failed attempt before it’s this: stop while you still have something to write about. Elsewise, you might not have any idea how to start the next day, and maybe you just won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/143 "2005-11-02T05:07:51Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > I sure hope my muse makes an appearance soon… Don’t bother waiting. I don’t say that in the NaNo spirit of things, I just find that it’s a waste. I don’t write fiction for a living, but I’ve heard enough comedy writers and other writers make the same point. When you have to do it, you just make yourself do it. So screw the muse crap, find a path of attack and get to it. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/144 "2005-11-02T10:10:37Z")
I am so mad! I meant to register and forgot, and 10/31 has passed! Grrr!!! I may try writing anyway, just for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/145 "2005-11-02T10:23:25Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I am so mad! I meant to register and forgot, and 10/31 has passed! Grrr!!! > > I may try writing anyway, just for the hell of it. According to the [the FAQ](http://www.nanowrimo.org/modules/xoopsfaq/index.php?cat_id=1): > [@](#): > > When can I sign up? > October 1, 2005 > > When is the cut-off date for sign-ups? > November 25, 2005 (hope springs eternal). So you can still give it a shot. (You’d probably even have a head-start on me, because I’ve been too busy today not working). ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/146 "2005-11-02T16:08:13Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > Can’t you still register? I don’t think registration closed at midnight Hallowe’en. Or did it? I guess I just don’t type loudly enough. Or, maybe it’s that whole no-cite thing. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/147 "2005-11-02T17:25:22Z")
Alright, I’ve got an awesome workflow going on that does _not_ require me to bind and gag my inner editor. My job has been slow lately. Because we sell things that people might like to buy each other for Christmakwaanzukah, I expect things to get very busy around the middle of the month. But for now, I have a bunch of time on my hands, and I should at least _look_ busy. Behold, the Coveted Editing Time. I can dash off a few thousand words every night, e-mail my work to myself, and then spend my downtime the next day editing, clarifying and padding where needed. I finished last night with just shy of 3,500 words. I’m up over 4K after a morning spent rereading, and I didn’t even actually write anything new. So, my new Battle Plan: bare bones “this then this then this and this results” at night, flowery prose and descriptive blather during the day. If anybody else has a boring job, I highly recommend it. ---
**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 2, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/148 "2005-11-02T17:33:08Z")
Nooooooo! My first NaNo casualty. I deleted the wrong thing and lost 500 words. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/149 "2005-11-02T17:53:20Z")
I got up to 6458 yesterday but hated it (it was really awful), so I deleted almost 2000 words. I added another 1500 or so before stopping. I like this direction a lot better. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/150 "2005-11-02T22:43:24Z")
I just came across a great sigline in the NaNo forum, heh: _Writing is nothing to be ashamed of, just do it in private and wash your hands after._ In my story I’m trying to make everything normal so things can be weird later. Only I’m stuck in normal and can’t find my way out and I’m bored to death. (Maybe I’ll go find some dares). ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/151 "2005-11-02T22:47:54Z")
I didn’t write at all yesterday, which wasn’t an auspicious start. But today I’ve managed about 3500 words to get back on pace, and I might write some more tonight. I’m trying not to go back and actually read what I wrote, because I’m sure I’d cringe at half of it. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/152 "2005-11-03T11:40:44Z")
I’m glad I don’t have an internal editor right now. Writing nothing but blather is good for my soul, I think. 4616 words. I’m going to hit 5000 before bed! ---
**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, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/153 "2005-11-03T13:47:04Z")
> [@lel](#): > > I’m going to hit 5000 before bed! What did 5000 ever do to you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/154 "2005-11-03T14:04:35Z")
6,249 by the time I went to bed last night. Unfortunately, I believe I’m going to discover upon rereading today that it is all crap. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/155 "2005-11-03T14:35:53Z")
4463 this morning. And is anyone else having problems getting anywhere interesting on the nanowrimo website?? Session confirmation just blips to a blank white page?? ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/156 "2005-11-03T14:55:14Z")
Just over 6,100, but the site ain’t letting me update. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/157 "2005-11-03T15:03:02Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > 6,249 by the time I went to bed last night. Unfortunately, I believe I’m going to discover upon rereading today that it is all crap. No, No!!! Don’t do it! Don’t re-read! It’s crap, you already know that, so just don’t. Never re-read more than the last couple paragraphs to get you back on track. Re-reading is death. Don’t look back, just keep writing! You can reread in December. ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/158 "2005-11-03T15:25:21Z")
Yes, the official NANO site seems to be down, and just when I have a plot question that I need to ask. I guess I could ask it here in GQ, but, you know, I’m not sure I want it on my permanent record here that I’m asking about a sort of torture… …oh, what the heck, I might as well go ahead, for all I know, it will only inspire more respect. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/159 "2005-11-03T15:35:38Z")
I have to admit, I’m very impressed with anyone who even attempts to write 50,000 words in a month. I had to write 20,000 words in three weeks once, to prove I knew what I was doing (which, fortunately, turned into a finished print product), and it about killed me. To take on 1 1/2 times that with only one more week is just amazing. I wish everyone the best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099/160 "2005-11-03T16:04:52Z")
You know that moment when you freak completely out because you had emailed your story to yourself and then opened it to find you weren’t looking at everything you’d written _last_ night, and you were missing about two thousand words you _know_ you wrote? Yeah, I just had that moment. _relieved sigh_ Stupid temp folders and their tricksome ways. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-novel-writing-month-2005-whos-in/327099.md?page=9)