BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:23 AM

A little humor that turned up in my Twitter feed today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 10:48 PM

I don't know how I missed this thread all these years. This would be so much fun to do next year; I think it's a bit late for me to start this year. So I'll cheer. Great going everyone, keep the output flowing!

Did any 'catters post excerpts yet besides CapriUni? Great stuff, CU, I really enjoyed it!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 09:51 PM

Thanks, CU. I'd seen that, but not until after I'd found out something I needed to know asap. Will keep it in mind, though.

Ebbie, that sounds great!

Just got over the 20,000 words line. Still behind a tad, say 5,000 words, but I will make it, I think. Life has been throwing up some nasty curves balls, but if I can snatch an hour or two here and there, I will get it done.

Chris Baty's pep talk today was neat. I threw in a monkey wrench in my novel I didn't even know was going to happen until after I read his email.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: CapriUni
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 01:40 AM

Ebbie (and Kat and others)-- NaNoWrimo's hompage has forums, and one of the message boards is dedicated to research, for questions like: "Where did the trains run, in the 1880s?" It's a bit like mudcat, except for random facts..

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 12:56 AM

Thanks, kat. In a sense this story is something I am familiar with- I HAVE traveled with horses, have helped train them, have had them as my only means of locomtion, spent hours alone on them and with them.

What I don't know about the 1880s, especially, is where railroads ran in which regions and when, I don't know the geography, terrain or climate of the region I'm writing about.

Ha! I just realized that is somethign I can switch. I know the West Coast, especially Oregon, and I know northern Virginia and southern Michigan. Unbeknownst to them, they is goin' to move. :)

Thanks, kat!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 11:30 PM

Thanks, Ebbie. It's the deadline, I think. I work really, really well with deadlines.:-) I never did my homework at night. I'd get up at 6a, get dressed, wash my hair, then do homework, in a rush, as I ate my breakfast. Must've driven my parents nuts, but I manage decent grades, so maybe not too much.

I've never not had enough words, though I've only done this twice, successfully. (Last year, I didn't know I was so depressed when I tried to write about our ranch in WY. I had to quit because I kept crying every time I tried to write more. I made it to 20,000+ and that was it.)
This year's may even go way over the 50,000. I'm not sure. I am only into the second day and it is supposed to take a year, but I am rethinking that!

I meant to tell you, two years ago, when I did "On Garfield Creek," based on my dad's oral history, I did a lot of quick research and *met* several really neat people via the phone when I called about some salient points concerning the 1880s in Leadville, CO and elsewhere. When it gets published, I will send them each a copy with my thanks. When I am writing that way, I put in notes in CAPS to remind myself to check something, be it research, character's names form back up the novel, etc. It helps and I usually try to highlight it as I go along, so it is really noticeable. That way I am not getting bogged down with the details whilst writing on deadline. That's one of the things nanowrimo stresses...turning off the Inner Editor...December is for revisions, fact-checking, etc. It's very liberating, imo.:-)

Interestingly enough, one of my now favourite authors (new to me this year) is Paulo Coelho, who said in an interview I read, that he writes his novels in a month and then takes a couple of years to edit and fine-tune them. Made me feel good to read that!

Ebbie, I think you should write about what you know/remember/experienced. I am sure you have some great stories with unique insights. They say write what you know about...even in a novel elements of ourselves can creep in. I'd love to read any of your stuff.

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 11:02 PM

Something amazing about you, kat, is your ability to focus on it. By the way, suppose your story is told in 40,000 words - do you then go back and pad another 10,000 words into it? Not that I've ever had that problem - I always write more than I can use!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 04:56 PM

I don't think I like laptops very much. I am at work wiht Rog and just typed a long message to you, Ebbie, when it was eaten by hitting the wrong button! Arrgghhh! And, I was just telling you, CU, that I LOVE what you've put up about your novel. GREAT stuff, as always.

I mostly came to report, I did manage to write AND save the next part of my novel and have passed the 10,000 word mark, though I know I am behind overall for daily average.

I'll be back.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 01:04 AM

Well, NanoWriMO is not in my sights this year although I am writing.

One of these days I'm going to write a love story or something like that. Someday I want to write something just out of my own experience.I tend to write stories set in a specific time and place and there is always a great deal of research to be done.   Anybody else have that trouble?

Right now I'm well into a novel-length multi-faceted story set in the 1880s, set there specifically because it involves the everyday use of horses and since that is something I know a lot about (being brought up as I was) that part comes easy. However there is a lot about the 1880s I know very little about so the writing is slow going. Thank goodness for online research. I used to spend weeks in libraries.

The working title for this 'book' is 'Ny Mane is Jeo', although later that will be just one chapter heading.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: CapriUni
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 12:11 AM

Kat--

Grr. Argh. I Hate when that happens. I use OpenOffice (Share/freeware) and after I lost about 20 minutes of work, this summer, I set it up to autosave every five minutes (I still have to save it to make it permanant, but if my computer freezes, or the power goes out, the next time I load the program, it will restore up to the most recent autosave, in draft form.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 10:31 PM

I haven't decided whether I will or not, CU, but I sure did enjoy yours!! That's a great start and, as usual, superb writing.

Amergin, how ya doing?

I went to work with Rog, today, I'm driving him since he broke his foot. Took my laptop, had over another 1,000 words done, lickety-split, bumped some stupid key on the keyboard and lost them, just like that. I'm going to check for auto-save tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: CapriUni
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 02:59 PM

Is anyone here who's doing NaNo planning on posting any of their Novel Info up on their site (you do that through the "My NaNoWriMo" menu)?

Here's my profile page: CapriUni's NaNoWriMo

If you click on the "Novel Info" tab, you'll see my "blurb," an a small excerpt from the end of my Prologue.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 10:46 AM

Kewl, CU!!

I tried last year, but didn't know I was in the depths of depression until half-way through and gave up. The even numbered years have been good for me, so here's to this year!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 03:19 AM

I'm in again, this year (I skipped last year, due to burnout).

As usual, I'm doing a fantasy (though each fantasy I've done, has been a different sort -- that's the great thing about the genre).

As unusal, I've done more planning ahead then ever, and have actually come up with a list of specific plot points to cross off as my primary goal. I want to actually write a complete story, this year, instead of writing mostly a "first chapter" with a hastily-tacked-on resolution at the end.

The website is clogged to the gills at the moment, but next week or so, when things calm down, I'll post a link to my story synopsis and novel excerpt ... if I have an excerpt I'm proud of by then.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 11:20 PM

Yea! Good for you, Nathan!!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 11:10 PM

I started on it for the first time today....I'll have to see where it takes me.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 10:37 PM

Thanks...LOL...I don't think there is any danger of that. As usual, I am having to write in snippets between everything else, this year it's playing taxi, etc. I did get 1700 done, today and to succeed I think, if I remember correctly, it's an average of 1665 or so per day.

I told Morgan about it today. He wants to do it, also. They do have it for young writers, kindergarten up to 17 years of age with the kids setting their own word limits, so I guess he's going to do it. Get him on the right track!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 10:20 PM

Good luck with that, and move often enough that you don't cripple yourself hunched over the keyboard!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 01:47 AM

I must be crazy, but even years have been good ones for me on NaNoWriMo, so here goes...I have committed to the 50,000 word challenge and for once it will be a novel NOT based on my early childhood, nor my ancestors and , oddly enough, it will be in first person rather than y usual third. It will be based on a short story called Shadowhearts. As long as my Rog is laid up with a broken foot, I figure I might as well do something while he just sits here, working from home on his computer!:-) Not using the short story for a jump start, it's too compact, I've got the first 500 done...the writing officially starts at midnight for each region, will be in about 13 minutes for me..then to bed!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 09:22 PM

Write one yourself, darlin' and I would LOVE reading it! As if you have the time, I know.:-)

Made it to 7,152 words this morning...almost one-tenth.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: maeve
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 08:57 PM

Get a-writing, little dogies. Write a novel or three,
And I would read each one if 'twas up to me.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 10:44 PM

Managed a few more this evening, so I am over 5,000 and counting.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 06:49 PM

Slow going as Morgan was here most of the day. I did manage a few more words so I am just under one tenth of what I need at the end of the month.:-) More on my help thread.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:01 PM

Good for you, Ebbie! If you want to go for the whole shebang, it averages out to about 1666 words per day. I never do a set number; each day brings different opportunities of time in which to write, so I try to just roll with it.

The MAIN thing is to TURN OFF YOUR INNER EDITOR! It is liberating. Editing is for December...do not worry about tenses, punctuation, etc. just get the words down on the paper, so to speak. Add in whatever you want!:-) NOTHING happens if you don't do the whole 50,000, except you won't get a winner's certificate suitable for framing and some other little icons and such on your page at nanowrimo. It's all just a challenge for your own self-satisfaction.

You can paste in your novel in their official word counter as often as you like and the word count will show up on your page and beside your name. It's really fun to see the graph move along as you fill up the pages. You can also hook up with other participants in your area. I see there are 553 members in all of Alaska. if you join, look for "sagewalker.":-) I really appreciate your comments and support. Watch your email, darlin'! And, thanks!

SRS asked how I was doing. I am just under 4000 words..it is the third book in my series. This one tells of how I met Rog and the times we had out on the Wyoming prairie on Rog's twenty-five acre mini-ranch with a bunch of critters and the kids. I need to really light a fire and get cracking or somesuch! Thanks for asking, Maggie!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 12:05 AM

Well, I'm working on it- got over a thousand words today. I'll have to get cracking butI didn't get started until this afternoon...

Didn't sign up with NanoWriMo, though, because the story I have in mind will probably be shorter than that. Unless I bring in other's stories too, in addition to the main protagonist. May do that.

In Nana, etc, what is the outcome if you don't finish? Do you have to check in with them periodically?

kat, as you know, I loved your Prairie Child- I'd love to read anything else of yours.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 10:27 AM

Going to do it again this year, I *think*! Anyone else?

Ebbie, I did get it done last year. It's only been edited once, so much more to go, but if you'd really like to read it....*sheepish ah shucks smile* please let me know. If not, no problem. My sisters said there's enough for 2-3 books in it, i their opnion, though they did enjoy it.:-) It'sthe victionalised version of my dad's family history.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 12:15 AM

Thanks, Ebbie, I would, too!**GBG**

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 11:00 PM

You are amazing, kat. I would love to see the outcome!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 10:48 PM

Volgadon, sorry I didn't see this before! Hope you are joining in! It is a terrific boost; the deadline really gets me motivated. Having said that, though, I am about 9500 words short of the halfway mark, halfway through the month! Maybe I can catch up more tomorrow. Today was only 1650 or so. I like this year's quote:

"To achieve great things, two things are
needed: a plan, and not quite enough time."
--Leonard Bernstein

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 05:37 AM

I might give it another go. It is a terrific boost, because you get more done than you might otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 01:45 AM

CapriUni, sirepseh, either of you signed on for this year, 2008? I just decided to sign up for it, today!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 06 - 09:35 PM

Just checked my page at NaNo. CapriUni has crossed the finish line. Way to go, CU!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 30 Nov 06 - 07:56 PM

I'll start you off...

Once upon a time there were five little bunny rabbits named Hopsy Flopsy, Plopsy, Wopsy, and Fuckass.

Continue, continue...

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 09:03 PM

Congrats, Drumshanty!

I've over 14k now. Not going to make it to 50k by the end of tomorrow, but am just happy to not have 0.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 12:14 AM

Dickens would have loved this arrangement (as long as he could still get paid by the word).

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:36 PM

Whoo-hoo. Goodonya!!!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Drumshanty
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:28 PM

Done. And it has to be said, I'm mighty pleased with myself...

Now for some sleep.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Bee
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:49 PM

I've only just had a look at this thread. Interesting! I hope SueB really wrote her novel, her animal personalities would be hilarious - and a damn good way to devise a character, I would think...hmmm... ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:41 PM

LOL, McGrath! maybe that'll be my next plot!

You can do it Drumshanty! Congrats!

Donuel, the whole thing is on the honour system. I think most people who are really into it, the whole boilerplate thing, etc. do abide by the *rules*. The only one they have to answer to is themselves, really, so it's their loss if they cheat.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:34 PM

Won't most people just dust off the novels they did years ago?

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:32 PM

I never counted before. Is 50,000 a typical murder mystery paperback less than an inch thick?

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:11 PM

"bug improvement in health"...

I like that. It could make for a whole new book...

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Drumshanty
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:08 PM

Hello (waving from the back)

I didn't see this thread until today. I have about 4k words to go. Me and a friend are neck and neck and planning to paint Edinburgh red (well, a watery shade of pink) on Friday night if we both get done.

It's been a great experience. I have always hankered to write and this switching the editor off and just writing has been, as Kat says, very liberating. I have no intentions of letting anyone see what I have done, but I do intend to edit it next month and perhaps look into taking writing a bit more seriously for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 11:34 AM

SRS, sorry about the links. They tell me the NaNoWriye (NaNoWriMoYear) is where the writers help one through the whole process of editing, finding a publisher/agent, etc. I will be looking at it and see how it goes.

After the holidays, I plan to edit mine and probably publish it through my publishing company. I've got nine more ISBN numbers to use.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 10:18 AM

This begins to make sense. I visited Kat's link in the other thread and all I got was a site that had links to lots of book selling sites and book clubs. Not that I have time to write a novel in a month, let alone a year, but I wish I'd seen this thread earlier, I have a couple of folks I'd have sent the link to. I'll keep this in mind for next year (for them, not for me!)

So now that these novels are written, what will you do with them?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 10:28 PM

Good for you, hesperis! That's a good way to not get all bottled up with waht's oging on, stuffing it down. When you journal, at least you have an outlet for a lot of it.

Two years ago I was dying; there was no way I could even muster the strength to do much living, let alone writing. Things can change in wondrous ways. You hang in there and keep coming back to keep in touch, okay?

Capri-Uni, how're you doing with your NaNo, this year?

kat

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: hesperis
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 10:14 PM

Wooohooo, go kat!!!!!!!!!!!!! *does the nanocomplete dance*

I've given up on nanowrimo but am doing a lot of journaling. Well, a lot for me. Heh.

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 03:32 PM

Sorry to hear that, hesperis. I hope this coming year brings you an bug improvement in health and other circumstances; you deserve that and much more. Thansk for your support and for your initial thread about this moth, way back when.

I have finished it! 50,580 words and it is done!!

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: hesperis
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 10:16 PM

Whooo! Go kat!

I've been sick and in school, so whenever I'm not sick or at the doctor's trying to get documentation on why I'm sick... I'm doing homework.

So, nanowrimo's not going well at all. *wry grin*

Subject: RE: BS: NanoWriMo - Anyone up for it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 08:12 PM

Hope all is well for you, sirepseh.:-)

I am finding this very freeing...my inner editor is OFF and it is teaching me a new discipline, this writing when I have time, as it comes and, letting it go without thinking on whether it is a finished piece of writing or not. I love the email pep talks. Thanks for letting us know about this in earlier years.

kat@20,150wordsandcounting