Comments on: NaNoArghMo

By: Deborah Blake

Deborah Blake — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:28:48 +0000

I’m late chiming in because my desktop computer imploded and died, taking three writing days with it. (Sigh.) But I am doing NANO for the first time this year, and I’m up to almost 15,000 words on the new WIP. I might not have done it, but I was already aiming at starting work on this ms–just made myself hold off until I had my 25 page outline (its an urban fantasy, 3rd person POV) done. Good luck keeping up with both books!
The Chocolate Stalker

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:39 +0000

This is my first NaNo too! Two of my friends talked me into it – one telling me I needed a hobby and the other saying – “do this…” I decided to create a blog to go along side it (should be up this weekend). I am writing every morning before work (I get to campus about 2 hours before I start – I find a quiet place – preferably without sleeping students – and I type away). My friend, who has done NaNo for years now – told me the key is to just keep writing and worry about editing (or if you have 5 different books started) in December. By the way – because of the 5 different books thing – I have decided to do a collage to help focus me – I borrowed that from one of your earlier blogs. Have fun writing this month! I always look forward to your new novels!

By: lady t

lady t — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:48:28 +0000

Meredith, Yup, I love that strike through!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:30:35 +0000

Bob? As in Mayer?

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:58:35 +0000

Well, I hadn’t planned on doing it, but coincidence is that I started writing my new WIP on 1 Nov after a lot of time researching and outlining. So far in four days, up to 13k, so that’s looking good and still working away today as have not hit my goal for the day.

By: Brussel Sprout

Brussel Sprout — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:06:24 +0000

I’m a Nanogurl this year, 3 days behind, so this is a short post. Did it 3 years ago and it was a blast, and I hit 60,000. Yeah, it needed work…but it found an e-publisher, so hurray!

By: Melissa Blue

Melissa Blue — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:55:17 +0000

Minds are strange. I made the mistake of going back to the first pages and reading them. Horrible, horrible dreck, but then I got to a page where the writer in me said, “There, that’s where it begins.” Now I’m fine, because I know there ARE some good pieces buried in the craptastic prose. It’s waiting for me to find it during revisions. All I have to do is keeping writing.

By: Meredith B.

Meredith B. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:24:20 +0000

Oh, well, I’ll be okay. Really, I will. I always have bookselling– I’m so darned good at it that anybody I’ve worked for before usually wants me to come back, as long as they aren’t on a hiring freeze. What kills me is that I had just gotten to the point that my boss didn’t own my nights and weekends, the way they do when you’re working retail. Now I’m going back to working retail to pay my bills, and I have to tell you that giving up the nights and weekends is almost as painful as the cut in pay. *sigh*.

By: Meredith B.

Meredith B. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:18:16 +0000

Ohmigosh, Lady T, I can tell already that the “strike through” idea is going to be a salvation to me. Just the very thought of crossing out those lines made a weight lift off of my mind and my lungs expand! Put a line through it and move on… What strange things our minds are.

By: lady t

lady t — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:47:53 +0000

Go Jenny. Good luck! This is my third Nano. I made it to 50K both years, but it was tough. Best tip I have is plan to write at least 2000 or more words/day…and don’t miss any days. Or get ahead of your word count early. I did not do this and the last week of November was crazy!
Other tips include: Read ‘No Plot, No Problem’ by Chris Baty, (Nano God). It has week by week tips and is very funny and helpful!
I have struggled with the no editing piece. Here’s a weird but valuable tip: I have learned to highlight the paragraph I can’t stand, go to the menu bar in Word to Format. Click on Font, and then check the box called Strikethrough. This draws a line through the stuff you don’t want, but doesn’t reduce your word count. And finally, those 15 minute sprints that Judy M mentioned are amazing! They just get me in my chair when I really want to clean the kitchen one more time!
I love meeting other regional Nanoers as well!
Good luck everyone. Happy writing.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:20:20 +0000

I just reread the comments and realized people are talking about being able to NaNo because they’ve been laid off. I’m so, so sorry. Fingers crossed for you and toes, too. And good luck on NaNo, too!

By: Reb

Reb — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:13:07 +0000

Maybe you could do a 30 Days of NaNo blog series, Jenny? That’s prob a bit hopeful of me, unless it’d help keep you on track.

My commiserations to Meredith and AlienEeeter about your jobs. That must be really hard. I hope things work out well for both of both of you.

By: Sure thing

Sure thing — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:19:30 +0000

Oh, good vibes to both of you. Hope Great things comes of this NaNo.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:11:27 +0000

So it’s day three. How is your word count coming?
Just fulfilling my nag duties.

By: Meredith B.

Meredith B. — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:26 +0000

So we’re in similar boats, then. We’ll write our woes away! I’m still in the shaky, emotionally fragile stage, but it helps to have a massive project to lose myself in, and problems to solve that are entirely fictional. Don’t you think?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:47:25 +0000

I’m also a NaNo-ing fool. I tried last year, when I first heard about it, but it was midway through November and right in the middle of finals for me. So I basically ended up with 10,000 words of backstory for the book I’m writing this year. This time, I’m going in armed with a timeline to help keep me on track. So far I’m on pace, but it’s only day 3. Wish me luck. I’ll do the same for you guys. BTW, I’m NaNo-ing under the name JamieD in South Carolina if anyone wants to add me as a NaNo buddy.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:08:29 +0000

I’m loving it. No worries about rewriting or editing yet, just typing away like a happy little chimp in a room full of other happy little chimps (well virtual room). It really does take the angst out, although I do go back and rewrite it once because I HAVE to. But not more than once because then tomorrow is upon me and I have to produce again. Over 5000 words in two days so that’s good. At least it’s good until I go back and look at it all again.

By: JudyM

JudyM — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:12:42 +0000

I’m an old hand at NaNo. I’ve won a few and sputtered out on a few. This year, I’m geared up for it! My best tip for first-timers: try some 5-minute, 10-minute and 15-minute sprints, where you set a timer, put your head down, and FLY through the words. Also, if you hit a snag, identify the snag in brackets [like this] (for example: “…then Evelyn whipped out her [type of gun] and shot the lock off the door.” (grin) Good luck! Jump in! Enjoy!

By: AlienEeeter

AlienEeeter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:10:22 +0000

I’ve been doing it since I think 2003, but I’ve only won once. My advice is don’t forget to eat real food! Over thanksgiving I wrote 18,000 words in 4 days subsisting only on turkey and oreos and by the end of it I was so sick….

This year I figure I have to finish, since my boss had the good graces to lay me off last week. Plenty of time to write.

By: McB

McB — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:45:16 +0000

I vaguely remember Jenny talking about Liz Danger before. There was a post about mystery novel cover art, I think, in which she talked about using some of the older ones as inspiration for a series.