# 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:** 2
**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:** [October 9, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/21 "2004-10-09T22:35:19Z")
NaNo writers with too much time on their hands? There’s no such thing! (Succeeded last year … might give it a go this. I have no idea what to write about, but that may not be enough to stop me.) ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/22 "2004-10-12T09:01:50Z")
Yay! Nanowrimo’s almost here! I did this the past two years, and won both times. I haven’t taken a second look at my 2002 novel, but my 2003 novel is now my graduate thesis (I’m in an M.A. writing program) and I’ve worked on it a lot. I’m doing Nano this year as well. Like last year, I’m writing contemporary science fiction. Think _Donnie Darko_ crossed with _They Live_ but set in a Wal-Mart and you’ve just about got it. I’m definitely planning on putting some revision time into this novel too, though that might have to wait until I finish the 2003 novel. About submitting the writing… you just input your wordcount whenever you feel like updating it. I would refresh my wordcount every day. At the end of the month (or when you hit 50k) you send the novel to them as a text file, and their program scans it to make sure it’s 50k or over and sends you a little winner’s button and certificate. The page you access to send your novel isn’t up yet, since nobody has written their novel yet, but it will be up soon. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/23 "2004-10-12T17:59:49Z")
I’m not good at planning. I’d have to do it off the top of my head. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/24 "2004-10-12T19:01:03Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > I’m not good at planning. I’d have to do it off the top of my head. I’m the same way. If I wrote out an outline or something I’d be sick of the story before I even really started. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/25 "2004-10-12T19:07:38Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > If I wrote out an outline or something I’d be sick of the story before I even really started. I’d end up having an outline that dictates each, individual word. It’s like…once I break it down a little, I have to break it down a little more, then more, then more. I never learned how to clean my room because I cannot mentally group items—I’ve got ten-thousand individual items, each of which is its own category deserving its own shelf. I gave up a long, long time ago. Now, I can’t even get started on most things because I know that I’ll never get them done. It can be very depressing. ---
**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 12, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/26 "2004-10-12T19:32:12Z")
I’m in! Actually, I’ve had some practice. I once took a 50,000 word novel and turned it into an 85,000 word novel in three days. I can do this! ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/27 "2004-10-12T19:42:53Z")
The NaNoWriMo forums have some interesting topics already. Anyone else reading them? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/28 "2004-10-12T19:50:12Z")
Signed up, joined the forums, ready to roll. If anyone else lives in the Nashville area, be sure to join us at our Saturday meetings. ---
**Author:** ![xenonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de0a6/32.png) [@xenonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenonymous)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/29 "2004-10-12T21:34:53Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > Signed up, joined the forums, ready to roll. I signed up last week but I don’t think I’m mentally up to the challenge. I looked at the forums and thought, “…what’s the deal, no-one has posted anything for at least a year!!!”. Two days later I realised we are still in 2004, somehow I thought it was 2005… alas I’m not a traveler from the not too distant future otherwise I would know how my novel will end… ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/30 "2004-10-12T21:37:34Z")
I had almost forgotten about NaNoWriMo this year, after participating the last two. I never did finish, crashing and burning both years. This year, maybe I’ll pretend I’m a chimp and just type words at random to get to the goal. It can’t be any worse than what I’ve produced before. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/31 "2004-10-12T22:08:29Z")
To answer **Shirley Ujest**'s question, the forums will get livelier in the next couple of weeks. I’m signed on as Suseblues, and you can usually find me in the geezer thread in the off-topic forum, or in the “I Hate Myself and Want To Die” forum, since that is how I often feel during a NaNoWriMo November. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/32 "2004-10-12T23:09:07Z")
I have been hedging about this since _Kythereia_ first posted about it last week. When the heck am I going to get time to do this? I barely have time for housework and sleep as it is. So, naturally, I just signed up :smack: ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/33 "2004-10-12T23:30:07Z")
I’ve got mine outlined. How sick is that? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/34 "2004-10-12T23:42:19Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > I’m not good at planning. I’d have to do it off the top of my head. So do it. I did that last year, and I got my 50,000 words out. Some of those words didn’t even suck! Seriously, I’m so excited to do this again. I always love writing, and I’ve done a lot since last year, but there’s something about all those people working together at once. All the sleep deprivation, all the caffeine, all the wordcount competition… It’s a beautiful thing. Join, ye fence-sitters! Join the madness! **continuity error** : After reading your description, I so want to swap with you when this is over. Mine’s a little bit **Secretary** crossed with **Schindler’s List** with lots of **Willlard** for spice. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/35 "2004-10-12T23:57:21Z")
psst: it’s continuity _eror_. Not error. 😃 Mine is a little bit X Files crossed with a little bit Bridget Jones Diary and a smidgen of Spiderman. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/36 "2004-10-13T03:05:43Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > psst: it’s continuity _eror_. Not error. 😃 Well golly gee. Welcome to the boards, **continuity eror** - prepare to have your name spelled wrong for a long, long time. **FilmGeek** - Let’s all swap! Novels for everyone! ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/37 "2004-10-13T03:53:16Z")
Oh, I’m another “off the top of my head” from last year. I think I named the characters before starting last year, but they all changed as soon as I began writing anyway. In my writing, the story belongs to the characters anyway; who am I to make them do what I want them to do? As for my story, nobody will ever see it…not even me, hopefully… Also, I’m on the NaNo fora as lel, although I post very little there. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/38 "2004-10-13T14:45:57Z")
> [@look!ninjas](#): > > So do it. I did that last year, and I got my 50,000 words out. Some of those words didn’t even suck! Words such as “blow,” “spew,” “exude,” and “eject”? ---
**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 13, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/39 "2004-10-13T14:58:06Z")
Mine that I am going to work on ( maybe, depending on my mood) is a Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum Series meets The Rock and Something Else that I can’t put a finger on. Loads of one liners, sex, guns, beating down the bad guys with minimal descriptions. Breezey pool side read. I like it, YMMV. Then again, come November first, I’ll probably just start something else from scratch because…why not? It’s not like I have finished anything else in the last 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/40 "2004-10-13T17:11:00Z")
I signed up. I’ve had a story idea bouncing around in my head for a while now. Just don’t know how to write it without it basically being a bunch of repetitive short stories. Maybe I should just write a short story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=3)