And so it begins...

[ladyseishou]

Day 1 - 29 days remaining

Starting a book you've been looking forward to writing is like opening a box of Godiva chocolates. Actually, that's not a good analogy in my case, seeing as I'd rather have a nice challenging bag of pork scratchings. And I mean the well 'ard British variety, which rate a 10 on the Mohs scale, not the softer US pork rinds. But I digress. The point is that you embark on a voyage of delicious discovery. Okay, you might lose a dental filling along the way, but the overall effect is one of diverse taste sensations and something truly satisfying to crunch down on.

- Karen Traviss (on starting a new book)



Open the box and let your characters out!

Today's quote was suggested by Nano Writer cheyinka (thanks!) and is especially appropriate: today you embark on a fantastic voyage of discovery! Leave behind the nay-sayers and critics, watch as they disappear, standing there on the ever distant shore, as a lusty wind fills the sails of the ship that will carry you through uncharted waters to a land that no one has ever seen before... the adventure begins now!

Let us know how you're doing! Comment here and tell us your word count for the day (aim for 1,667 or better) or share an excerpt of the day's writings. Say if you need an encouraging word (or two) or something stronger ;-)to keep you going...

And as always Nano Writer, keep writing!

Comments

[lea_hazel]

910! Not bad for a school night.

[ladyseishou]

Not bad! Maybe you can sneak a few words in here and there (at lunch? between classes?). Even a line or two can help keep the momentum going!

[st_aurafina]

1238 and going. (What the hell are pork scratchings?)

[angryoldhag]

Go you! And aren't pork scratchings pork rinds?

[st_aurafina]

I guess? I don't know, I've never eaten either. It's not really a big thing out here, I guess.

[angryoldhag]

I once saw them being made on one of those 'dirties jobs' shows Discovery did. I can understand why they're not a big thing!

[ladyseishou]

A great start! and Wiki says this about "pork scratchings."

[darkknightjrk]

If I remember right, it's the fried fat that's left over from the pork. I might be wrong, though.

[angryoldhag]

I got 1716 words out right after midnight and I feel awesome :D

[st_aurafina]

Wow, you are awesome. You're ahead on day one!

*slaves on to 1667*

[angryoldhag]

Not as much awesome as desperate XD There is a chance I'll have to move during November so any extra words I can hoard these weeks will help.

Good luck on reaching 1667 *gets out the pompoms and cheerleader music*

[ladyseishou]

You are awesome and smart too for planning ahead and hoarding words! *shakes some pompoms* (hmmm, I hope that comes across better than it sounds in my head).

[angryoldhag]

Just hit the 3675. It's easy when I put my headphones on and a timer next to my computer. No longer than an hour, even if I have to stop mid sentence and then You're itching to get going again. I used the same trick when I wrote my Bachelor thesis.

XD And it sounded plenty good ;)

[darkknightjrk]

Ooooh...I like that idea. Would help keep me focused, and I do have other shite I need to do today/rest of the month. Mind if I yoink that plan?

[angryoldhag]

Yoink away. I don't own the plan so take it and twist it to fit your own needs ;-)

[sonjadenise]

Starting writing at midnight and hit 1,703 words before 1 AM. I'm aiming for 3,000 words today, so I'll be back to spam this post XD

[ladyseishou]

Wow! Fantastic! Spam away I say! 3K... 3K... You can do it... 3K!

[alicia_h]

I started at midnight and had written 2267 by the time I went to bed at 4 in the morning. Not sure if I'll be able to keep up this pace for the rest of a month but it's a great start considering I'm planning to write at least another 1667 today.

[ladyseishou]

A fellow midnight owl! And what an incredible start! Go... go... go!

[dragonjournal]

I wrote about 700 words right after midnight, but then went to bed. I'll write again, after the kids go to bed tonight. If I don't fall on my face dead that is.

[ladyseishou]

It's a great start! I know first hand how tricky it can be to write around a busy household! But you've started (yeah!) and have a plan! You can do it!

[dragonjournal]

Unfortunately (fortunately?) I don't have a job, so I can write while kids are in school. That's where I really gain my word counts. So, in between job hunting, I'll write my NaNo.

[juliet]

1836! Over the day's target :) And I have the start of the next scene in my head (may even do a little more writing later if I'm in the mood).

(edit) hurrah, up to 2258. Will stop now :)

[ladyseishou]

Great progress! And stopping at the start of a scene is a good technique to use to keep the momentum!

[dragonscrawl]

1720 words thus far, and I'm probably going to snag another few bursts of writing around doing homework and studying for tests today. Especially as I'm only just kicking off the plot in the last couple hundred words.

ETA: Ended Day 1 with 3167 words. A key excerpt (and one of the less awful bits of writing):

You are hereby given the airship Infinity, outfitted as if for a mercantile venture on behalf of the Holford Trading Company, for a journey to the country of Cyprenon. Said mercantile venture will, in fact, be largely in name only. Your actual task will be to locate and extract John Porter, a man working on behalf of Linnondale’s best interests, from the borders of Cyprenon before harm befalls him.

Upon the successful completion of this mission, the Infinity will be yours in fact as well as name. The crewing of the Infinity will fall upon your shoulders. Your expertise from your work for the Holford Trading Company should serve you in good stead here. There is little time to spare in the crewing and provisioning of the Infinity, as the situation with Cyprenon may deteriorate any day now should Porter not be brought back safely.

You will, of course, serve as captain upon this voyage, for the reality of your journey cannot be shared unless the continuance or success of the journey depends upon it, and even then only as a last resort. As a royal airship, you will of course have access to any airstation friendly to ships from Linnondale, military or civilian.

Best of luck upon your venture. The Infinity awaits you and your crew at the eastern most loading station.

[ladyseishou]

Fantastic progress and I really like the excerpt - very exciting, great worldbuilding details!

[nightbird]

I'm battling a cold and wound up sleeping from 2 to 6 yesterday afternoon, which had the consequence of my being up and wired from midnight to 2 AM. 1635 words I'm really pleased with, and there's still the whole rest of Sunday to go! I've found that writing it out longhand is a great way to go -- I get about 350 words per page, and I always wind up adding more when I type it up.

[ladyseishou]

Oh no! I hope that you will feel better soon! But what a trouper! That's a great word count especially considering your cold! Keep warm and take care of yourself!

[librariana]

1417 / 50000 words. 3% done!

1417 words and that might be it for a first chapter... or a prologue?
I am struggling a lot, but also have so much fun at the forums :)

BTW: this the site with nice word count bars you can paste anywhere
http://languageisavirus.com/nanowrimo/word-meter.html

[falkner]

Thank you for the link, I was looking exactly for something like that since the Zukometer (Wrong spelling, I know) isn't online anymore.

[ladyseishou]

Yes, thank you very much for the link! The word count doesn't sound bad for a prologue! Keep up the good work!

[darkknightjrk]

Starting right...now. I'll probably keep on this comm (since the NaNo site's going to be crashing bad the next few days) on my progress. :)

[ladyseishou]

Welcome! The NaNo site's been a little slow for me too but I guess it's to be expected. Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

[cheyinka]

I got... 861 done before I went to bed, and then I didn't get much sleep at all, and then I had to teach Sunday School, and now I need to get dinner going so it'll be done by dinnertime, and then I'm going to try to write again - my goal's 2500 for today but I have my doubts.

[ladyseishou]

How did you do? It's sometimes hard to find time for writing when life gets so busy but it's surprising how many words you can get squeezed in during bits of time here and there. Good luck!

[cheyinka]

I ended up at 2241 last night before going to bed early, which, while certainly less than 2500, is also definitely more than the minimum, so I'm pleased enough with it :)

[falkner]

1700 words on the first day. This is already going better than I hoped.

[ladyseishou]

Excellent news! Hope tomorrow is good for you too!

[altopiano]

I managed 1720 on my first day of my first NaNo! It's been a bit of a struggle, tbh. But hopefully I'm in the groove now :)

[ladyseishou]

Great job! Keep up that momentum!

[twistingthetale]

Well done everyone! I didn't get started until lunchtime, but finished on 2362 just before midnight (it's just gone twenty past midnight here). Hopefully an earlier start for day two and about the same number of words.

[ladyseishou]

Good job to you as well! Yeah for early starts!

[sonjadenise]

3,025 words! I'm done for the day. Here's an excerpt (wow, that word looks funny):

That's what I do--at least, I light the candle. I don't bother picking up one of the books piled next to my bed. Don't hoarde them, she told me. I didn't listen. And I'm not hoarding. Instead, I go to the dresser and peer into the mirror. My face looks ghostly, otherworldly looking back at me in a flickering light. I half expect the reflection to start talking to me. I wish it had. It would have made a better story, the kind people want to read and not the kind that simply needs to be put on paper.

[ladyseishou]

Yeah! Fantastic progress! And a great inner voice - I can really feel your character here.

[jassanja]

So 3200 words on the first day

Now I have spent 10 hours dorking around, rather then writing or sleeping
Oh well, need to buy a few things, and then back to work!