Thank you for this initiative. I didn't answer anymore in the previous newsletter, but this is exactly what I was looking for, a support to participate and be kept accountable throughout the month of November. I am looking so much forward to this, thank you for organising!
LOVE NaNo! I did my first in 2018 and it was a game changer. Completed the month with 54,000 words and by mid-Feb has finished my first draft at 89,000. Sure it’s been nearly five years, four drafts, one promising season followed by a dismal season of querying that same book (that I’m currently revising... again) but I don’t regret a second of it.
Completed my send NaNo last year with a project that kept me busy and happy while queries were out. First draft still hasn’t been finished, but I may use some of that NaNo energy to get it done. We’ll see!
oh that’s great! I’m just now finishing up the final draft on my NaNoWrMo novel from 2016. I have other drafts in various stages. Slowly but surely several of the others are coming together. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
Good luck to everyone doing Nano. I tried it once and my brain decided it would be hilarious if I wrote no words all of November. I have never felt such an overwhelming lack of desire to write than when I signed up for Nano. It was something. My brain is a jerk.
I get that. It’s like how my brain shuts down when somebody tells me I have to read something, even if it’s something that I would absolutely enjoy. As soon as you make it a requirement, I’m like, nope.
I think I started NaNoWriMo in 2009 as well! That one was the first part of a trilogy, and the only one that actually made it out into the world as it were, but it was super fun, and I met other writers and made friends as well. I actually created a weapon for a character, Mlrning (the Shovel of Thor!) based a typo on a thread in one of the NaNo forums. I've done it a couple years properly, but life events got in the way and for a while I've been using it to finish up drafts I've been working on through the year.
Having that endpoint of 50K words is really useful, at least for me; I like having a daily word count and a set benchmark helps so much. Also, it lends perspective; the Hitchhiker's Guide is something like 46K, so if you can get near there, well, you're set at least length-wise. (Quality is for December, as they say).
It's my first year doing it. More than getting a novel out of it, I'm hoping to get a sustainable, daily writing practice figured out. I plan to keep a log of writing practice variations (got the idea from the book, DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira), tracking my word count, where I wrote, when I wrote, and who I wrote with. I'm hoping the data will help me craft a daily schedule I can stick to for years. Here's to a successful November for all of us!
The NaNo first draft I completed in 2013 was for a novel that took me MUCH longer to finish. I never published it, but I learned a whole lot about writing in the process.
After awhile you just don’t care what it looks like, as long as it’s done, which is the point. It can be fun but it’s challenging.
Definitely plan to participate. Have about 9000 words from a recent undergrad fiction class, but I've graduated since, moved states, and started a masters, so I haven't had time to add a word. This will be a great occasion to jump back in.
Hi Jackie, for the last Fictionistas Office Hours of the year in November (I plan to take December off), it would be cool to do something NaNoWriMo focused. It will fall on the 28th, only a few days before it all finishes. I'm open to any ideas or changes we can make to have it be a NaNoWriMo extravaganza!
I’m just starting( late into Oct I know) I’ve written about 4500 words but so far not using any sort of outline or format. Just trying to feel my way around Nono, overwhelmed for sure
Hi! I completed NaNo twice (2017 and 2018) and 3nded up with two drafts which haven't gone anywhere, but I learnt a lot about my own writing and how to solidify my writing practice. I'm doing it again this year!
Thank you for this initiative. I didn't answer anymore in the previous newsletter, but this is exactly what I was looking for, a support to participate and be kept accountable throughout the month of November. I am looking so much forward to this, thank you for organising!
awesome! I’m glad this will be helpful. Be sure to use the discussion threads and really dig in if you have questions or issues.
I will! Curious to know how many people will join. It's a good opportunity to concentrate on writing for a whole month. 🥳
LOVE NaNo! I did my first in 2018 and it was a game changer. Completed the month with 54,000 words and by mid-Feb has finished my first draft at 89,000. Sure it’s been nearly five years, four drafts, one promising season followed by a dismal season of querying that same book (that I’m currently revising... again) but I don’t regret a second of it.
Completed my send NaNo last year with a project that kept me busy and happy while queries were out. First draft still hasn’t been finished, but I may use some of that NaNo energy to get it done. We’ll see!
oh that’s great! I’m just now finishing up the final draft on my NaNoWrMo novel from 2016. I have other drafts in various stages. Slowly but surely several of the others are coming together. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
Good luck to everyone doing Nano. I tried it once and my brain decided it would be hilarious if I wrote no words all of November. I have never felt such an overwhelming lack of desire to write than when I signed up for Nano. It was something. My brain is a jerk.
I get that. It’s like how my brain shuts down when somebody tells me I have to read something, even if it’s something that I would absolutely enjoy. As soon as you make it a requirement, I’m like, nope.
Yup. I can't really do review requests either because that causes an instant loss of interest.
NaNoWriMo is so fun! I’m seriously considering signing up this year to work on the sequel to Over the Top Secret. 🤔
Do it!
I think I started NaNoWriMo in 2009 as well! That one was the first part of a trilogy, and the only one that actually made it out into the world as it were, but it was super fun, and I met other writers and made friends as well. I actually created a weapon for a character, Mlrning (the Shovel of Thor!) based a typo on a thread in one of the NaNo forums. I've done it a couple years properly, but life events got in the way and for a while I've been using it to finish up drafts I've been working on through the year.
Having that endpoint of 50K words is really useful, at least for me; I like having a daily word count and a set benchmark helps so much. Also, it lends perspective; the Hitchhiker's Guide is something like 46K, so if you can get near there, well, you're set at least length-wise. (Quality is for December, as they say).
thanks for sharing. Your character sounds hilarious!
It's my first year doing it. More than getting a novel out of it, I'm hoping to get a sustainable, daily writing practice figured out. I plan to keep a log of writing practice variations (got the idea from the book, DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira), tracking my word count, where I wrote, when I wrote, and who I wrote with. I'm hoping the data will help me craft a daily schedule I can stick to for years. Here's to a successful November for all of us!
Laura, author Sarra Cannon has a great preptober workbook for Nano. All you have to do to get it is sign up for her newsletter.
Thanks! I'll go check her out now!
A little overwhelmed but very ready.... ✌️
The NaNo first draft I completed in 2013 was for a novel that took me MUCH longer to finish. I never published it, but I learned a whole lot about writing in the process.
After awhile you just don’t care what it looks like, as long as it’s done, which is the point. It can be fun but it’s challenging.
Definitely plan to participate. Have about 9000 words from a recent undergrad fiction class, but I've graduated since, moved states, and started a masters, so I haven't had time to add a word. This will be a great occasion to jump back in.
Hi Jackie, for the last Fictionistas Office Hours of the year in November (I plan to take December off), it would be cool to do something NaNoWriMo focused. It will fall on the 28th, only a few days before it all finishes. I'm open to any ideas or changes we can make to have it be a NaNoWriMo extravaganza!
I'm ready for my next novel after a summer of editing and short stories. See you in there, with coffee.
I’m just starting( late into Oct I know) I’ve written about 4500 words but so far not using any sort of outline or format. Just trying to feel my way around Nono, overwhelmed for sure
Hi! I completed NaNo twice (2017 and 2018) and 3nded up with two drafts which haven't gone anywhere, but I learnt a lot about my own writing and how to solidify my writing practice. I'm doing it again this year!