# The NaNoWriMo Support Group for Novice Novel Writers with Too Much Time Thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 7, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081 "2004-10-07T19:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/1 "2004-10-07T19:41:28Z")
In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279382) Kythereia laments that she has just signed up for the NaNoWriMo novel writing contest. More info about NaNoWriMo can be found [here.](http://www.nanowrimo.org) So, this is the support group thread. Got story ideas to share? Do it here. Stuck with where to go next? Brainstorm here. Burnt out? Get support here. Need time away from your story or a kick in the butt to get started? It’s all here!!! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/2 "2004-10-07T20:02:38Z")
Everytime I hear of this, I think I should sign up and just go for it. Maybe this year… ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/3 "2004-10-07T20:59:44Z")
I remember last year, when a few of my friends went in for this… there’s lots of work ahead for you people! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/4 "2004-10-07T21:06:39Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > More info about NaNoWriMo can be found [URL=http://www.nanowrimo.org]here. This is fantastic - I had never heard of this… But I just signed up. Wish me luck. Anyone else? - Peter Wiggen ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/5 "2004-10-07T21:09:17Z")
If I had too much time I wouldn’t need a support thread! You people are tempting me. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/6 "2004-10-07T21:31:11Z")
Come on **Yllaria** , you know you want to. Commitments be damned, this a once in a lifetime\* opportunity. Can’t you hear it? _One of Us, One of US…_ \*Well, it would be once in a lifetime is you only lived a year, right? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/7 "2004-10-07T22:24:57Z")
Well, I’ve signed up, as has **Althea**. It should be an interesting. I’m treating this as an experiment - I haven’t written in many years but I studied creative writing quite a bit in high school. I’m planning on just diving in and develop some characters and see where it takes me. I’m waffling on the genre though. Part of me wants to write a monster novel, another leans towards science fiction or fantasy. Or maybe pirates. Maybe all of them together, in an epic story of wrongs righted and planks a-walked. The trick is to totally forget about creating art, and just go with it. I’m on it. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/8 "2004-10-07T22:50:44Z")
I’ve already signed up. Now I need to come up with some earthly clue about what I want to base my story/novella on. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/9 "2004-10-07T23:41:07Z")
I’ve signed up there and here. Now let’s get cracking 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 8, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/10 "2004-10-08T02:18:00Z")
I did this 2 years ago, and put together my novel in 3 weeks. But last year I got a grand total of two and half chapters before I had to decide between failing my classes, getting no sleep and finishing the novel. And the sad thing is, I haven’t even worked on it since then. It’s just one of the many writing projects I started but never finished. Doesn’t matter. I’ve got two stories I’m working on activily right now and those are my prority besides schoolwork right now. Though, for the record, mine was an amusing fantasy novel playing with all the cliches. It’s available online as well, if anyone cares. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/11 "2004-10-08T03:31:40Z")
I know I don’t have time for this, but if I could do it while working full time last year, why not again? Anyway, I’m hoping to write a mystery novel this year, with something of a college setting or a gay/lesbian function setting, I’m not sure which (or both). So far I’m trying to get some decent character building going, but I’m infinitely more interested in reading diet books. Secretly, I hope this novel is as bad as the one last year that I never showed to a soul. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/12 "2004-10-08T03:49:10Z")
I have never heard of this place. It looks way cool. The humor in the TOS agreements were the only TOS I have ever read. Two thumbs up. I am in as me. Shirley Ujest. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/13 "2004-10-08T04:27:31Z")
Curse you. Curse you all. I just signed up. Now I’m gonna feel obligated to at least try. On top of being a full-time student at what’s been called one of the most demanding colleges in the nation. And working 10 hours a week. And karate training five hours a week. And did I mention that the two biggest papers of the semester are both due in November? Ah, well. It’ll give me something to do as I’m all alone and bored out of my skull at school over thanksgiving weekend… ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/14 "2004-10-08T05:28:38Z")
I’m in… What. have. I. done? All my staff evaluations are due in November… plus an article I am writing for work! Plus Thanksgiving! Oh, and my _regular_ 50 hour work week… And sleep… :wally …what’s that? Maybe I will sacrifice house-cleaning…hmmmmm… Yes, that should work! Great site and idea. First I have heard of it. Loved the TOS also, **Shirley Ugest…** I’m in as me… **smartini** …figured at least I should be sane about that :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/15 "2004-10-08T10:44:15Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Curse you. Curse you all. > > I just signed up. Now I’m gonna feel obligated to at least try. On top of being a full-time student at what’s been called one of the most demanding colleges in the nation. And working 10 hours a week. And karate training five hours a week. And did I mention that the two biggest papers of the semester are both due in November? > > Ah, well. It’ll give me something to do as I’m all alone and bored out of my skull at school over thanksgiving weekend… Just take an expresso-excedrin Migraine mixer along with a couple of decongestants and you will nevah sleep! However, this does not guarantee the quality of your school work or karate chops will improve. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/16 "2004-10-08T15:28:49Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Just take an expresso-excedrin Migraine mixer along with a couple of decongestants and you will nevah sleep! > > However, this does not guarantee the quality of your school work or karate chops will improve. Heh. Caffiene is my friend. Already. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/17 "2004-10-09T17:18:04Z")
I’ve got a non-doper in to the act! Ardred might be joining us in this novel endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/18 "2004-10-09T17:35:51Z")
I signed up. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/19 "2004-10-09T20:47:16Z")
This’ll be my fourth year doing NaNoWriMo, and hopefully my fourth win. It’s insane, but I can’t _not_ do it now. I’ve had my idea since July, and I can’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/20 "2004-10-09T22:10:52Z")
I posted a question andI haven’t seen an answer yet. The turn around time isn’t as swifty as this wunderbar place. Do we submit our stories to them on a regular basis? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=2)