Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Writing Group => Topic started by: origamikaren on October 13, 2007, 05:52:36 PM
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So I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2007. Is anybody else here going to be participating this year? I'd like to add people to my buddy list and compare wordcounts, suggestions, etc. I'll be using the name origamikaren there, too
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/204954
Good luck!
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We'll do a forum award for anyone that completes NaNoWriMo this year just like last year.
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I'll be doing it again this year. Hopefully I won't quit when I'm three fifths of the way there again. My username over there is FMP.
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I'll try again this year. My name over there is MasterArchon30.
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I really want to do this, but I'm wondering if it's even possible with two little boys, not to mention health problems. About how much do you usually have to write in a day?
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I have a chart for it, actually. Daily count depends on if you write sunday's too (or take some other day off each week). If you write 6 days a week, I think the number is 1667 words. A good goal is 2k per day. That way you have a coushion if you have a bad day.
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Going to try and do this. Will be my first stab at it, but I'm in the middle of a novel and will be picking up where I previously left off. So, I hope it's possible. Unfortunately, 2000 words will typically take me like 3 hours to pound out unless I'm really on a roll. I feel the kids thing too. Have 3 myself. 9-12 each night. Sheesh, I must be out of my mind.
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I'm thinking about doing this. I've figure I need a good outline, so I'm made a rough of a 25 chapter book. So if each chapter is at least 2k and I write a chapter a day then I've got it easy. Course some chapters look like they may be longer. Right now I'm planning on going back over the outline, fixing errors, filling in setting details, fleshing out character details, and outlining individual chapters. I'm accepting that this "novel" is going to include a lot of fluff and probably a lot of bad writing. I'm not worrying about how generic my plot-line is. My time is limited, so I can't waste time wondering what to write. I'm also hoping to get up earlier each morning so I can write before my creativity gets used up by my job. It takes me about 2 hours to write 2k words, so I'll probably have to have a make-up session later in the day.
So it a lot of pre-writing before I even begin writing, but from my work experiences over this last year, great results don't just happen spontaneously.
So is anyone else obsessivley planning for this?
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Oh yeah. I'm actually working on the sequel to my Nanowrimo from a couple years ago, but I have been reworking a lot of my ideas from the first novel, and adding in a lot more. Unfortunately, most of this is worldbuilding, and doesn't actually help that much when it comes to my story for the next one. I have about the first quarter of it pretty well planned, but after that it gets sketchy. I know what has to happen, but I don't know how it's going to work out.
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Sigh. I've decided I can't do this this year. Maybe next year, when my boys are a little older. Anyway, I'm almost finished with my story I'm writing for my writing group, and I don't want to take a month off from it to do another project since it's so close to being done. Excuses, excuses.
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I'm doing it.
Username: hauf
I can't see any way to add a buddy. Where is that feature?
I won't be starting the writing until Nov. 7. Starting a week late. But last year I did about 6oK so I hope that missing the first week won't kill my effort.
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I'm going to try this thing out, my sister and brother are both doing it and talked me into it... Had to run it by the spouse though, didn't want him wondering why the kids were in pajamas at 4PM or why they were eating cereal for lunch. :-\
(I've got a 6y/o kindergartener, 5 y/o movie maniac, and an 8 month old explorer)
my username over there is charityann (unique, I know, but I forget these things so easily, it's for the best)
has anyone read through the dares thread in the fantasy section? pretty funny...
good luck.
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In order to add someone as a buddy, you need to be logged in at the NaNoWriMo site and then go to the person profile page. Because their servers seem to be inadequate, they've apparently disabled the function that lets you search for someone based on their username, so in order to add someone as a buddy, you pretty much need them to give you a link to their profile page, like this:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/144874
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Like this: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/225089
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thanks, Eric.
does this look right? http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/128744
your link includes /eng/ Hope mine works if anyone wants to add me.
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Ugh. NaNoWriMo.org has this problem every fricking year.
When the heck are they going to get another server? It always takes me decades to load anything on their site.
anyway, http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/36896
Since their site is kind of lame, I'd rather you show up on my buddy list and harrass me:
MSN: [email protected]
AOL: SaintEhlers or SaintEhlersWork (depending on where I am, duh)
YIM: arturiuspendragon
ICQ: 27359778
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http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/230922
Good luck everyone.
what's your word count? I'm at 8,063 or something.... I think my brain is sprained.
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Sweet! I'm so exited about this. Haha, I don't think I even knew what this was a year ago, how sad.
I'm starting a little late (had some date confusions), but I decided to try ir none-the-less.
Anyway, good luck to everyone!
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/250300
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As I've said before, I think this is a very worthy exercise, and I wish everyone the best of luck. Push forward and write! One of my fondest memories from my unpublished days was trying to finish THE WAY OF KINGS during the Thanksgiving holiday at my mother's house. Did 16k in 24 hours, not to win NaNo, but because I was so invested in the story and wanted to finish the climax.
About five months later, I got a call from an editor in New York wanting to buy ELANTRIS. KINGS would be the last novel I would finish before knowing that I was going to break in. I still feel an occasional nip of longing as I remember those carefree days, when I could simply WRITE and not worry about reviews, deadlines, or revisions which were due.
Interestingly, despite four or five years being involved in NaNo, I've never actually 'won' it. I write 50k often, but I'm always in the middle of a project when November arrives, and don't want to start something new--so I just write on my current project. Still, I'm with you in spirit.
Try to beat me, if you can. I'm at 10k words as of midnight, but may have to stop to do the Mistborn 3 copy edit next week. ;)
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HA! I'm at 11738, but... I have been slowing down... ugh, I was going at about 4,000 words a day. Then daughter got sick, Sunday rolled along, my husband went out of town, now today I have two childrens doctors appointments that both include shots.... my first real test 8)
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I'm no race horse. I'm just passing the 10k mark. I've been writing just over 2k a day. It seems to be a good balance. I've made the mistake of trying to edit here and there.
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I have been resisting... barely. The other day when I was showering I started thinking about it and pretty soon I was all stressed out and wanting to jump out and go run to my computer and edit. MUST.... NOT.... EDIT.
I actually dreamed about it last night too, the editing *blush*
but I haven't yet, I've been the model of self control.
Oh, incidentally I am at 14029 as of an hour or so ago, but I did see someone on there that was at 16K :o I should go-- wouldn't want them ahead of me. ;)
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I'm so jealous! I'm not even at the 4k yet. I'm so slow! I guess I've got to buckle down and really hop to it. I congradulate those who are keeping strong and NOT editing! Of which I am guilty, but it was the only thing that kept me from scrapping it alltogether (it was the first day, please don't sue me). I hated the story when I first started, but now I think I'm growing to love it.
P.S Charity, I hope your daughter's doing better!
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Thanks, Shi!
She is doing better, and convinced going to school is better than staying at home, in bed, all day! ;)
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So I need to know. I see a lot of zeros on the NaNo site from people that visit this site. Is this because you really haven't started writing yet or because the it takes a small eternity for the NaNo site to load anything?
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I've been informed by my #1 supporter that to be on track you need to be at 17,000 by Saturday.
OOOH... no pressure, guys!
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Almost there. About 1k to go.
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I've had a mixed experience with NaNoWriMo the last couple of years. In 2005 I tried it (unofficially since I didn't sign up). About 1.5 weeks into it I was way behind on my word count so I indulged a bit. After realizing I was spending 3 very long paragraphs to describe the exact color or gray of the stones along a path I couldn't take it any more. I didn't want to write words now that I knew I was going to have to take out later.
In 2006 I had had eye surgery in October and I thought I would be fine so I signed up (official this time) and started writing. I was doing well and keeping everything under control and not too many excessive descriptions. But after 2 weeks my eyes couldn't take it any more because they hurt so bad. I decided to take a break for a day or two. That turned into a week and then I just couldn't get back in the flow of it. I think ended up with about 19,000-20,000 words.
This year my whole family knows about it and they have been encouraging me to give it a try. I didn't know if I had it in me this year . . . but I'm doing it anyway. My eyes are fine and family will support me so why not?
I'm a little slow starting but I'm not worried . . . yet.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/166911
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I didn't get started until Tuesday the sixth, because I had a huge convention to run for work on the weekend, but I'm finally started and up to 3151 words after two days--nothing to cheer about, but not unrecoverably behind. I'm still at the point where I can do 2500 a day and make it in time, so we'll see how it goes.
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*beats Dan*
I started on the 6th too, because I was sick at home and wanted something to do.
I'm at 8700ish. Didn't write as much yesterday as I wanted
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I fell behind yesterday too. I was about 500 words short of my goal. Course, if I keep with my normal rate of 2k per day, I'll be fine. I just have to keep my 2 hours of writing a day going.
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So, I am going to have to bow out of any races for first, at least until tuesday... My mother in law has come for a surprise visit :-\ there should be some rule against doing that.
I will catch up though ;) so don't write me off entirely, I'm still ahead of schedule.
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Well, I'm gonna drop out of the Nanowrimo. I truly hated my story in every which, way, and form, and even if I got to my 50k I still wouldn't be happy, because that fact wouldn't change. I just can't bring myself to sacrifice so much time for something I hate, when I could be doing something I actually enjoy, like working on the story I had to put on hold for the Wrimo. So that, and stress, finally made me decide. Anyway, I'm still rooting for everyone! Keep up the good work!
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Alright, I'm back *Cracking my knuckles* I managed to do a little writing (like real writing, you know... pen and paper) when they were here, but that only put me over the 25,000 mark.... oh, so far to go. And I notice that EUOL is at 38K
grrr. ;)
So what's everyone at?
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Just passing 22k.
Sadly, having to work a full-time hectic job and go to school and attempt to maintain my sanity takes its toll on my writing.
Yet, I haven't fallen behind. Having an outline of the story has helped immensely.
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I was thinking about the same thing... minus the paid job and my own schooling. I spent my entire day running around, drop daughter off at school, run home give the baby a nap, go to nearby town for lunch with husband, go to Walmart, try to find 5 year old in Wal-Mart three times (he kept hiding from me... it wasn't so funny), get home in time to pick up daughter, go home, start homework, go to ballet, go to another store, get home, dinner, baths, bed...... and I didn't get half of what I needed to be accomplished done... I could give you that list if you want ;)
The only time I got to write was during the babies naptime, and some more just now. I am about to fall asleep on my laptop though so I decided to stop.
I just passed 28K
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I passed the halfway point--25k.
Now I must go help crazy people for the day.
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that's an interesting way to put it... I hope you're not helping me with anything. ;)
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he actually works with people who have mental problems they're trying to help.
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Well, more specifically adults with long-term mental illnesses, and illiterate children, and just about anyone in poverty.
It makes good fodder for writing. Though yesterday one of the paranoid schizophrenics went off on me with a delusional rant. Oh happy day.
Almost at 27.5K
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Yes, I figured that was what you did. I just thought it was, you know, against your code of ethics to call them crazy.
course, now that I said that I know, it makes me sound like I'm crazy too, which I'm not.
Shh! Quiet, He can't hear you... No! I'm not going to type that... I said No! ;)
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Hehe, I actually got here from the NaNo site. (Brandon has/had a big "Ask a Pro" thread on the Fantasy forums and it's been the most useful thing I found there so far. Kudos! I can't find it anymore right now, though... the mods must've moved it... again...) Basically, NaNo is my first contact with the author world and it's been an eye-opener, let me tell you :P
It took me from my "it'll be fine, you'll get published some day" attitude to changing my word goal for this month to 90k. 50k for every following month. And I'm planning to edit those too. Right now I'm some thousand words behind the 90k goal. Well, at least there's no doubt I'll be making the NaNo goal :P
You guys seem like a nice lot, so I hope you won't mind if I "hang out" here a bit from now on. I'll try and keep myself from posting solely on his board and sucking up to Brandon to get writing tips, but I make no promises. ;)
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Right now I'm some thousand words behind the 90k goal.
:P
golly, make us all feel second rate! ;)
I'm fairly new around here too, they seem like a nice lot though. They tolerate me.
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Hooray, I just typed myself past Brandon! Though he's been stagnant for a while now because his thing is already finished... mine will take me somewhere in the 90'000 range and that's still a long way off. Good luck to you all, see you on the other end of the magical 50k!
Edit: Aaaand! I win! Hooray me! Go me! Go me! ^^
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Haha! Conrates FTH! Man, I don't know how people like you pump out so many words so quickly! It puts me in awe and makes me sick at the same time (in a good way, of course!)
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It's pretty simple: No more computer games or social life. Now if I could get rid of the internet and school, I'd be at 80k already :P
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I think I burnt out for a little while there, but I back on track just passing 41K.
I don't particularly like the novel, but I've decided that's okay. I thought of some things I'd like to work on with my writing which gives me direction as to where I should go next.
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43K here, that Thanksgiving holiday is a killer....
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Well, I've passed EUOL. Just under 5k to go.
Course, this close to the end, my life has decided to become hectic again.
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I'm at 47K and am suffering from a possible case of appendicitis... we'll see what the blood tests say. So I've drugged myself up with advil and am typing away in case I have to go to the hospital. Hopefully I'm okay so I can finish!
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Wow, that must suck... I hope all goes well!
Interesting tidbit of trivia: Did you know that the Swiss actually have their own (lame, watered down) version of NaNoWriMo? It's called "Novemberschreiben", which translates roughly to "November writing". Beginners only have to do 25'000 words, which is way too easy. Even if you're not a beginner, you still get a silver medal for 25k and a bronze medal for 10k. NaNoWriMo is so much more hardcore, don't you think? ;D
Mmmh... gonna break the 80'000 mark today, woohoo!
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phew! So apparently it's not appendicitis but a cyst on my innards (sorry if that's TMI) the doctor says take lots of pain killer and wait it out. :-\ always nice when that's the cure. so on a scale of 1-10 (ten being delivering babies) I'm at about a 6. BUT I WILL PREVAIL.
Nothing will keep me from my 50K...
well, except maybe sitting here writing to you guys!
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woo hoo! I am finite!
Now where's that book I wanted to read....
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So even though I decided to do this just a couple weeks before it started and had more on my plate than I thought I could handle to begin with...
I am now done!
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Woo Hoo! Congratulations all around! We are FREEEEEE! (sound familiar anyone?)
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So did only 2 people complete NaNo? 42 and Charity?
I'm going to make the award this week, probably today if I remember, so if anyone else made it let me know.
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I get an award here too! :o
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ya, the little symbols next to 42 and my name are our forum awards. Hauf has a nano 2006 award (being the only person that won that year) and so I'm going to make a 2007 one for you guys.
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cool, but I think you need to add FTH as well, I think he won, if I'm not mistaken.
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Award given.
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I'm so happy to have this award. :)
There are so many people I need to thank for getting me this award.
First I need to thank the people at NaNoWriMo for inventing this project. Then I need to thank Spriggan for creating the forum award. And I need to thank my mom because that's obligatory. And I need to thank my ferret for being a ferret. And I'd thank my lawyer, if I had one, for pressing charges against people who might have also gotten this award. And I should thank those people who supported me. And I'd like to thank my alarm clock. And all the people who said I could do it, because that just ticked me off. And I'd like to thank the people at Dell for making my computer. And ...
Music starts playing to end this post.
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So...It's not even November, and it actually took me 2+ years instead of 30 days, and it did ramble for significantly more that 50K...but I finally finished a novel. And I have to say, it feels pretty damn good.