# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/121 "2004-11-02T07:34:10Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > And for anyone who’s obsessive about how well they are doing [NaNoWriMo Report Card](http://erikbenson.com/nanowrimo-report-card.xls) It’s for excel and figures how much you’ve done and how much you have to go as well as other nifty things like that 🙂 Oh, they have that? I’ve been doing it mentally (and putting it in my AIM profile). Words done, words remaining, and words remaining/days remaining for Necessary Daily Average or “Panic Figure.” ---
**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:** [November 2, 2004, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/122 "2004-11-02T08:37:28Z")
2178 words. If you enter your word total daily at the NaNoWriMo site, there’s a little bar chart in your profile that fills in. It’s kinda cute. It shows when you enter a comment on their boards. I definitely need to start writing sooner tomorrow. Need sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/123 "2004-11-02T12:39:35Z")
Thanks for the tip, **Yllaria**. I didn’t sleep at a normal time tonight, but I got a good chapter going and I crossed the 5,000-word mark. More than 10% of the way there! Actually, nearly 11%. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/124 "2004-11-02T12:49:17Z")
Hah! Fools! I haven’t started yet. I work best under extreme pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/125 "2004-11-02T13:16:39Z")
As an improvement over yesterday, I now have a germ of an idea. I have a feeling that I will have no mental peace in which to write until…well, let’s just say until tomorrow, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/126 "2004-11-02T13:51:52Z")
3,371 words, and I actually went to bed before 11 last night. I’m afraid I’m skipping over some exposition in order to get to the meat of the story, but I think maybe it’s best if my main character has a little mystery about her. The story is primarily about reincarnation, and I guess we don’t really need to know where she is now until we know where she’s been. At least, that’s what I will continue to think until I decide I hate myself, my characters, my computer, and possibly the written word itself. 🙂 ---
**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, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/127 "2004-11-02T15:27:06Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > At least, that’s what I will continue to think until I decide I hate myself, my characters, my computer, and possibly the written word itself. 🙂 You mean you don’t already? I knew I wasn’t coming at this from a good place! Wah! ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/128 "2004-11-02T15:50:10Z")
1704 words when I completed the opening scene last night. I thought the only named character so far was going to be my main character, but he ended up being eaten by a zombie. Goddamn zombies! ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/129 "2004-11-02T17:03:47Z")
A warning for you all–Do **not** think about your story at work. I am distracted, and I have discovered that the story is growing out of my control, there’s a mountain of research to do, everything’s getting more complicated, and I am slowly realizing that I already want to die. **jsgoddess** , are you happy now? 🙂 ---
**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, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/130 "2004-11-02T18:55:28Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > A warning for you all–Do **not** think about your story at work. I am distracted, and I have discovered that the story is growing out of my control, there’s a mountain of research to do, everything’s getting more complicated, and I am slowly realizing that I already want to die. **jsgoddess** , are you happy now? 🙂 Misery loves company, so I love you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/131 "2004-11-02T19:13:52Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > A warning for you all–Do **not** think about your story at work. I am distracted, and I have discovered that the story is growing out of my control, there’s a mountain of research to do, everything’s getting more complicated, and I am slowly realizing that I already want to die. **jsgoddess** , are you happy now? 🙂 I write at work. Of course, I work in a college bookstore. I sell one candy bar every half hour which is when I count my words (I’m doing mine longhand). ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/132 "2004-11-02T19:30:47Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Misery loves company, so I love you. 😃 Then my life is now complete. 🙂 ---
**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, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/133 "2004-11-02T20:06:15Z")
Because I can’t concentratrate, I’m thinking about titles. It’s going to be a mystery set in the oil filed. I was thinking _Crude Awakening_, but someone at NaNoWriMo suggested _The Slick and the Dead_. For those who think about these things early, have you figured out a title? (The only other novel I’ve ever written remains untitled to this day.) ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/134 "2004-11-02T20:11:19Z")
_sigh_ I’m totally not working much today. 🙂 I have five or six titles, actually. My story is about reincarnation, and the same two people finding each other in life after life. I had originally thought it would just be _'Til Death_, but I decided that’s awful. Then it was simply _Full Circle_, which is even worse. I thought of a bunch more, and each is worse than the last. Personally, I’m partial to _The Slick And The Dead_. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/135 "2004-11-02T20:27:51Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > _sigh_ I’m totally not working much today. 🙂 > > I have five or six titles, actually. My story is about reincarnation, and the same two people finding each other in life after life. I had originally thought it would just be _'Til Death_, but I decided that’s awful. Then it was simply _Full Circle_, which is even worse. I thought of a bunch more, and each is worse than the last. > > Personally, I’m partial to _The Slick And The Dead_. Ooh. Titles. I’m good at titles. Especially punny titles. Sometimes not-punny titles. For a tale of reincarnated lovers, may I humbly suggest _When Last We Met…_? If you’d share a description of the tone of the story, I’d be happy to suggest other titles. (You may have already, I haven’t read this entire thread) As for \*\*jsgoddess’s \*\* - Hmmm. _The Dawn Petrol_? _Motley Crude_? _Oil’s Well That Ends Well_? (that one’s probably a Bugs Bunny cartoon I’ve forgotten.) I love puns. They’re such a gas. A barrel of laughs. Even if they’re a little unrefined. I’ll stop now. 😃 ---
**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, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/136 "2004-11-02T20:38:09Z")
Oil **field**. Oil **field**. Can’t write! Can’t spell! Work? What is this thing you call work? > [@Draelin](#): > > I have five or six titles, actually. My story is about reincarnation, and the same two people finding each other in life after life. I had originally thought it would just be _'Til Death_, but I decided that’s awful. Then it was simply _Full Circle_, which is even worse. I thought of a bunch more, and each is worse than the last. Is there a secondary genre? Is it pretty much a romance-type novel that just happens to span multiple lives? Brainstorming: You Must Remember This Deja Vous Fugue Retrograde Time After Time Long Time No See ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/137 "2004-11-02T20:46:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Brainstorming: > > You Must Remember This > Deja Vous > Fugue > Retrograde > Time After Time > Long Time No See Fugue and Retrograde are good if it’s scifi-ish; You Must Remember This - as long as you don’t mind invoking the Casablanca; Deja Vous is awesome; Time After Time is good, but the title of a movie, I believe; Long Time, No See would be allright. Maybe _99 Lives_, \*Lessons of History \* (for the obfuscated reference to the old chestnut about those who fail to learn from history being doomed to repeat it), or maybe the Philip K. Dickish _This Life is Made From Recycled Material_. ---
**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, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/138 "2004-11-02T20:56:31Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Long Time No See Even in brainstorming I reveal I have no brain to storm. That was supposed to be: Long Time Know, See I’m not as punny as **CG** , but who is? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/139 "2004-11-02T21:05:28Z")
Nuts, I was thinking of Deja Who?, but Vous is better. My title was Emanance, as a place holder. It’s been upgraded to Assembly of God, but that might give too much away too soon. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081/140 "2004-11-02T21:22:14Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m not as punny as **CG** , but who is? Nobody, but nobody, sister. 😃 How about _Stalled Karma_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nanowrimo-support-group-for-novice-novel-writers-with-too-much-time-thread/268081.md?page=8)