# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/321 "2004-11-24T21:12:04Z")
_thump_ _thump_ _thump_ _trip_ _CRASH_ _thump_ That’s the sound of me doing my “broke 50,000” happy dance … ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/322 "2004-11-24T21:17:14Z")
Congratulations, Mister Wright. I’m still at 40,036 – I suppose taking a 3-day break to celebrate a 13k weekend is long enough. ---
**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 24, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/323 "2004-11-24T23:21:59Z")
> [@lno](#): > > Congratulations, Mister Wright. > > I’m still at 40,036 – I suppose taking a 3-day break to celebrate a 13k weekend is long enough. Ditto on the Congrats – I hope the “crash” part wasn’t your computer hitting the ground. :eek: And as for you, lno: The only thing worst than someone with the effrontery to have more words done than me, is having that person boast he’d just taken three days off, and is STILL ahead of pace. :mad: As for me, I plug along. If I can manage to do 3k tonight, my word count will be EXACTLY, PRECISELY… one day behind. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/324 "2004-11-25T02:50:30Z")
Come on, guys! Get those novels done! I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line with Scooby Snacks and merlot! ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/325 "2004-11-25T04:26:09Z")
> [@look!ninjas](#): > > Come on, guys! Get those novels done! I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line with Scooby Snacks and merlot! How about tranquilizers and large pillows instead? 😛 43,215 here. I’ll finish. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/326 "2004-11-25T05:19:34Z")
Um, yeah, I sort of quit. Got over 15000 and just burned out. I had to do other writing work this month too (wrote a new short story, and am working on chapters of my “real” novel), so it just got to be too much. But I do like the parts I’ve written, and will be picking up the project at a later date; maybe it will work better without the time constraints. I still like my plot and characters a lot, I just have other writing to worry about. I’m just so mad I’m breaking my streak… :mad: ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/327 "2004-11-25T06:51:53Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > I’m just so mad I’m breaking my streak… :mad: streak? ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/328 "2004-11-25T07:06:54Z")
> [@lel](#): > > streak? I “won” twice in a row, the last two years. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/329 "2004-11-25T18:06:58Z")
> [@look!ninjas](#): > > Come on, guys! Get those novels done! I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line with Scooby Snacks and merlot! Woooooohoooo! I’m submitting tomorrow, so I’ll see you there! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/330 "2004-11-25T22:38:27Z")
Come on, now, folks. Those purple bars look really pretty! It’s worth the effort, you know it is really … ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/331 "2004-11-25T22:43:33Z")
> [@Steve Wright](#): > > Come on, now, folks. Those purple bars look really pretty! It’s worth the effort, you know it is really … Come on now, **Steve** , us slowpokes have five more days. 😛 ---
**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 26, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/332 "2004-11-26T06:47:13Z")
Well, I _finally_ broke 40,000 words – only one day behind! Which is nothing, I can make that up. Hey, jsgoddess! When I checked to see what page I was now on, it was page 56…and YOUR name was about ten lines BELOW MINE. Neener, neener, neener. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/333 "2004-11-26T07:12:47Z")
I’ve scratched and clawed my way onto page 54. However, I have good news and bad news. The good news, obviously, is that I have fewer than ten thousand words to go. The bad news is that I think I have one chapter left before my story ends. I suppose this means that I’ll have to go back and add more to the parts I’ve already written, which I hate to do because it feels like cheating… ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/334 "2004-11-26T07:53:40Z")
Say, just curious, but can this thread be used for advice/feedback for writers who aren’t submitting anything to the contest? I’m sorry I didn’t read every post in this thread to find out, but, well, I’m sitting down now to write so I don’t have much time 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/335 "2004-11-26T16:04:12Z")
Finn, how about we start a new thread just for that? ---
**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 26, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/336 "2004-11-26T17:23:34Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Hey, jsgoddess! When I checked to see what page I was now on, it was page 56…and YOUR name was about ten lines BELOW MINE. Neener, neener, neener. > 😛 Doh! Well, I uploaded yesterday’s meagre little word count and now I’m on page 51. So ha! Ha haHA! 😃 ---
**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 26, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/337 "2004-11-26T18:15:28Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > The bad news is that I think I have one chapter left before my story ends. > > I suppose this means that I’ll have to go back and add more to the parts I’ve already written, which I hate to do because it feels like cheating… Flashbacks, my friend! Your MC starts his day, and his bowl of cereal reminds him of the way he and his brother always fought to get to the prize first – easy 2k of words describing cereal brands and favorite trinkets. He starts to leave for the office, and picking up his briefcase reminds him of that doofus kid who carried the giant accordianed briedcase in fifth grade, and how he always got tormented, and guilty MC feels because he never helped the kid out – another 3k at least. And then the MC steps in a pile of dog shit which reminds… Heck, if Proust can write a novel that’s nothing but huge flashbacks, _you_ can tuck a few in for padding, somewhere. ---
**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 26, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/338 "2004-11-26T18:20:23Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Doh! > > Well, I uploaded yesterday’s meagre little word count and now I’m on page 51. > > So ha! Ha haHA! 😃 Hrumph. Well, I’d planned to spend the afternoon writing anyway… ::flexes fingers:: ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/339 "2004-11-26T19:06:15Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > Finn, how about we start a new thread just for that? No problem, that’s why I asked. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/340 "2004-11-26T21:41:20Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Hrumph. Well, I’d planned to spend the afternoon writing anyway… ::flexes fingers:: Good! Now you can join me at page 30! It’s getting lonely here, with **Steve Wright** and **Draelin** way ahead of me, and me nearing 50k but not quite there, and me getting sick of writing what’s now about 5000 words on how former humans turn into chimps and learn to climb trees. By the way, **StarvingButStrong** , I did a quick thread skim and I can’t figure out what your name is on the NaNo boards, are you willing to reveal such? (I’m lel on the NaNo boards, if anyone’s curious.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=18)