The most magical time of year is coming....

[podperson]

Anyone else doing NaNoWriMo this year?

If you are, have you started planning yet? Or are you a complete pantser and you won't know what you're writing until you start on Nov. 1?

Remember, the time to plan is sloooowly running down.

Comments

[st_aurafina]

Yes, but because I've just moved house, I'm pantsing this year. Hope it goes well!!

[podperson]

Good luck. I hope you can get a good writing spot set up.

[silverflight8]

First year ever that I'm not. Going to travel for about the first third of the month, and I've been ridiculously busy with everything else, which really makes me sad.

[podperson]

I'm sorry to hear you're going to miss out on the fun. I hope you enjoy your trip.

[musyc]

I *meant* to spend this month plotting an idea, but so far ... well. >.> On the plus side, I do have a folder of inspiration images. That's something, at least.

[podperson]

I *meant* to do the same thing this year. I'm now *trying* to take 20 minutes each day to write down something plotwise.
The folder of inspiration images sounds like a great idea. If nothing else, you can use them as daily prompts.

[lexicalcrow]

Yeah, I'll be joining the madness again. I still can't believe it's NaNo tiem already. Where has the year gone? D:

I do need to do some planning, because I'm attempting to rewrite from scratch the novel I tried and failed to finish last year, and that was partly because I totally screwed up the timelines for the other fics involved in that series, and none of it made any sense. So I do want to sit down and plot out a quick timeline at any rate, just to keep me focussed. What happens around that is up to NaNo, I think.

And if that doesn't work, I've always got thousands of short story ideas to work on. :D /all the options.

[podperson]

Good luck. I hope you can get your timeline straight. It sounds like you have a firm idea on the plot, just need to get things in order. If not, enjoy something new from the short story ideas. :)

[anaraine]

Yep! Nano is penciled in on my calendar. I might do some last minute planning, on say, October 29th-31st, and I have a couple of vague, undefined plots percolating in my brain, but I have a lot of fun writing by the seat of my pants for Nano. :D

[podperson]

Good luck and good writing!

[kay_brooke]

I haven't really done it the last couple of years (last year I kind of half-assed it to finish up a WIP), but I have an idea for a new novel this year that I'm kind of excited about. So it looks like a yes!

[podperson]

Wohoo! Good luck and good writing!

[phoenixfire12]

Several friends of mine have done this, but I have never written for NaNoWriMo. All I really know about it is you have to write x-number of words per day for a whole month. Sounds like an interesting challenge. I'm told you can write anything they want to. Does that include fancfic? Probably not. This seems like a serious thing for serious professional and near-professional writers.

[podperson]

"All I really know about it is you have to write x-number of words per day for a whole month."
The goal is to reach 50,000 words during the month of November. As long as what you write is new and at the end of the month can be saved into one doc, you're good.
Fanfic does count. The official site even has a fanfiction section in the forum.

"This seems like a serious thing for serious professional and near-professional writers."
Sure, there are some professional and near-professional writers, but I hazard to guess there are even more amateurs. There might be a fantasy while writing the novel will be published and turned into a hit, but realistically no. The 50,000 words and completed novel is the payoff.

The goal is serious, getting there often isn't. Word wars(timed writing races), silly prompts, insertion of odd characters, and desperation to break a writer's block can add absurdity to a serious goal

[phoenixfire12]

Sounds like aggravating and frustrated fun. I just might try it. I've had this story running around in my head for months now and I've been making all kinds of notes on my universe, characters, places, etc. It would be a re-write of a story I started but never finished when I was in my early 20's (I'm 52 now). I take it that would be acceptable? My writing back then was fast paced and not very well detailed. I've gotten better over the decades and I know I can do better with it.

[podperson]

From what I understand re-writing is perfectly acceptable. You're making changes and typing anew.
For example, it's frowned upon to simply cut/paste 30,000 old words, add 20,000 to it and call it winning the challenge. Adding 50,000 to the 30,000 would be winning. Then again the only person who would know the words are old would be the writer, so it's up to the person to be honest to themselves.
I see the challenge as a great way to make progress with an idea (even if it doesn't reach the goal) and to have a sense of community while doing it. If you have the time, it's a productive way to release some plot bunnies.

[phoenixfire12]

I think some of my plot bunnies have mated with Tribbles. They are evil. They lull me to sleep with their purring, whisper whole scenes in my ears and generally have their way with me. It's embarrassing to say this, but... I LIKE it!

Is there any place in particular we post our daily work or do we keep it on our own computers? I made a community for my writing some months ago and I thought I'd post each day's works there, thought I'm still a little certain about that. Advice from those who have done this before is greatly appreciated. Tips, helpful hints, etc.?

[podperson]

You can sign up at Nanowrimo website to have your final word count verified, and become an official winner. Sign up was free the last time I checked.

As for posting, do what you feel comfortable. I've seen fanfic writers post links to their project on the appropriate fandom comms. My writing is very rough at times so I keep it on my computer. If you have plans to publish the work, don't post it. No plans, and want to share then go for it.

[phoenixfire12]

I've been reading the NaNoWriMo page over on Facebook and even thought it seems imtimmidating I have until tomorrow to decide if I am going to commit myself. I guess this one will be seat of the pants writing even though I have worked with the fandom and story idea before. It's just been re-writing itself in my head and has taken on a life of it's own the past couple of months. The Plotbunny Demons are howling to get out. I might be a wreck half way though this, I may even need a straight jacket. Then again, insanity kinda sounds like fun.

[proseac]

I'm in, for the first time in 4 years. I'll be writing a fanfic that I've had mostly plotted out for over a year. The canon has evolved a great deal since then, so I'm reworking it with a major character change. Very excited about it, and I'm just putting the finishing touches on my outline and OC bios.

[podperson]

Good luck, I hope the story goes well. It sounds like your fanfic is crying out to be written.

[darkicedragon]

I'm in! And I've got at least the main points of my fic mapped out, though not as in detail as usual. XD;; I should be able to fill in the spaces though. After I've written some OTHER fanfic, pfft.

The biggest thing I need to develop is my antagonist, since I tend to develop the main characters but then forget about the antagonists, whoops.

[podperson]

Good luck and may all your plot bunnies be good ones.

[juliet]

I wasn't going to -- I am working on the edits to the novel I've been writing this year, and I *may* have a big work project that would knock it out altogether. But I'm now wondering... I've been clearing the decks for the work project, so if that doesn't come off, and if I get the current set of novel-edits done and dusted by the end of the month...

If I do, it'll be as an exercise in plot and planning, I think. I'm more of a pantser by nature and would like to experiment with more structured planning.

[podperson]

I wish you luck in completing what you need to get done.

[nikkiscarlet]

I'm a bit late replying to this, but my plan for NaNo this year is to commit all 50,000 words to Yuletide: my own assignment, pinch hits, and treats. I'm calling it NaYuWriMo. :3

Unfortunately, since Yuletide assignments will be going out right on Nov. 1, it means I won't be able to plan out my main assignment in advance: I'll either have to pants it entirely or do the outline as soon as I get the assignment. But I will at least be able to scour Yuletide letters in the days leading up to November and find some requests that might make for fun treats, and maybe outline a few ideas for those. :D

[podperson]

Good luck. That sounds like a fun and productive way to spend the month.
Yet another reason to look forward to Yuletide.

[azurelunatic]

Mostly pants, although I've got a running series which tends to swallow everything.