NaNoWriMo Dreamwidth Writers

May 1 - afterword



From the end spring new beginnings.

— Pliny the Elder

Another Camp NaNoWriMo has come to an end, Nano Writer. Now begins the bus ride home and we can talk about our plans for our next writing project whether it’s coming back next July, plotting for November’s challenge or even moving on to other creative projects that have been kept on a back burner while we banged out a fantastic first draft or polished an older manuscript, crafting a more beautiful jewel of a story.

And whether you crossed the finish line this time Nano Writer or not, you should be proud of all that you did get done, five hundred words or a hundred thousand, because each word, each sentence, each chapter and scene makes you a better writer! And that’s something wonderful and creative and good!

So let’s hear how things went for you this month: lessons learned, samples of shiny sentences or laugh-out-loud typos - whatever you would like to share before the bus takes us home and we step out to embrace our families and friends who have waited for our return from this grand adventure.

Because it’s time to say goodbye. And until next time, keep writing!

Day 27 - 3 days remaining



While many things are too strange to be believed,
nothing is too strange to have happened.

— Thomas Hardy

This is it Camper Writers! It’s our last weekend and we only have three days and change left to wrap up our April projects! If you’re behind with your word count, it’s time now to dig deep, put the peddle to the metal and bring that story home. Lacking inspiration? Just add the improbable and mix it up! Sure it might be combustible but this time it’s okay to play with the fires of creativity and see what your imagination can bring to the party.

And NOW is the time to bring it! So challenge a friend to a little competitive word war or sign on for a 100-word (or a thousand-word) sprint. You CAN do it!

Nearly done? Well go ahead and cross that finish line, Nano Writer! Validation is live and waiting for you!

One last thing… Back Up Your Work! No matter if it’s a handful of words or 100K, take the time to copy your story to a flash drive, an e-mail account or the clouds. Better safe than sorry!

The Finish Line awaits! Keep writing!

Day 6 - 24 days remaining



Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself.
Write from your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in.

— Louise Brown

It’s the first weekend of the month, Campers! How is everyone doing? We should be a fifth of our way into our Camp NNWM challenges or about 20 percent of your word count!

Today would also be a good day to BACK UP YOUR WORK - if you haven’t already done it! Be safe! Swim with a partner and back up your novel, script, short stories, rewrite, fan fic…
And as always… keep writing!

11 months until NaNoWriMo 2013


Don’t cry because it’s over,
smile because it happened.

— Dr. Seuss






Another NaNoWriMo challenge has come to an end. And whether you crossed the 50k finish line, Nano Writer or if you found yourself mired in Real Life stuff and had to set your story aside for another day...

For now..

Take a bow! Throw your hat in air! Sound the trumpets! For today and hopefully for many days and years to come, know at least this much, that you are a writer - a story teller - and share the same history and lineage as Homer and Dickens or J. K. Rowling and E. L. James.

Yes - you! You did it! Celebrate! You did good! Celebrate your accomplishment - whether it is 50,000 words or more, maybe many more. Or less, maybe a lot less. It doesn't matter because you did it - you are a writer, the one and only creator of a brand new story! Celebrate!

And then catch up on your sleep! Welcome your family and friends back into your life! Catch up on all those things that had to be put aside to make this marvelous thing happen.

And sometime later, take a peak at what you've done - it will be a lot better than you think, I promise you - print it out, read it and then let loose your inner editor, and go at it! But until then...

As always... Write, Nano Writer, write!

Day 27 - 3 days remaining


We have to continually be jumping off cliffs
and developing our wings on the way down.

― Kurt Vonnegut






Today's word count is 45,009! Have you lost your way, Nano Writer? Not sure how your story ends? Thinking about throwing in the towel?

DON'T GIVE UP!

You've come so far and to quit now would be a very sad ending indeed. If you're feeling stuck and have nothing left to lose, go for it and jump!

Of course, not literally, but perhaps now might be a good time to go a little creative and invite a few ninja or pirates or aliens/robots/dinosaurs/singing spittoons to the party and see how a new challenge/perspective shakes things up and inspires one last push to the finish line! Take chances! Mash genres! Make something new! HAVE FUN!

Because now's the time to do it! Questions? Comments? Fly, Nano Writer, fly!

Day 25 - 5 days remaining


Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

— Audrey Hepburn






Today's word count is 41,675! And as the lady says, nothing is impossible - especially if you look at what you think is an impossible task in another way.

Think that you can't get it done because you don't have the time? Come at this from another direction and consider ways you might fit writing into five minutes of "re-purposed" time you already spend... waiting for an appointment, before class starts, during a coffee break, while the water boils for tea... Think about how many words you can write in five minutes and then multiply that by all the "five minutes" you might find in a day. It adds up.

Challenge yourself! Make it happen! And most importantly, don't give up! Because you can do it!

Questions? Comments? Today validation goes live on the NNWM site! If your word count is 50k or better, it time to run your work through the validator! For everyone else, the finish line is waiting for you... so keep writing!

Day 23 - 7 days remaining


The true alchemists do not change lead into gold;
they change the world into words.

— William H. Gass






The word count today is 38,341! Only seven days remain to complete this year's challenge - one week! But take heart! So much can happen in a week! So much is possible!

If you're on track or so close that the finish line is in sight, keep going! Now's not the time to take time off and relax, counting on making your word count at the last minute. If the way is clear, hit the gas and write out your climatic scene, let your protagonist strut his stuff and show us why he's one to get the job done.

If you're a little behind (or more), re-calculate your daily word count target and get it done! You can do it and you're the only one that can! Every story deserves an ending - good or otherwise - and this is the week to bring it!

It's also Back-It-Up Friday! Don't risk losing your hard work! Especially now as we're coming up on the finish line! Back it up!

Questions? Comments? Word counts to declare? It's all good, Nano Writer! So keep writing!

Day 21 - 9 days remaining


In art, something comes of nothing.
Out of the thin air and the ether, you
create a story.
And that is intensely satisfying.

— Yann Martel






Today's word count is 35,007! And we're coming up on the Thanksgiving holiday here in the states. People will be traveling, maybe visiting family or just taking a day or two off from school or work.

Whatever your plans - try to sneak in a little writing (or a lot) to catch up, move ahead or even finish your story. You are the only one that can bring your story "out of the thin air" whether that's done in a long 5k haul or in small, tiny writings while the kids nap, family is on the couch watching the game or on the bus/plane/train home or your home-away-from-home.

Questions? Comments? And if you're on the road (or soon will be), have a safe trip and Keep Writing!

Day 19 - 11 days remaining


No one says a novel has to be one thing. It can be
anything it wants to be, a vaudeville show, the six o’clock
news, the mumblings of wild men saddled by demons.

― Ishmael Reed






Today's word count is 31,673! By now, hopefully, you have a pretty good idea of what your story is about and what your protagonist is trying to accomplish and how it's going to get done.

But it's also possible that your story might have switched gears on you and you're heading down a different road, heading somewhere scary and unknown. Don't panic! Why not see where your story wants to go? It may surprise you.

Questions? Comments? Mr. Ian Woon sightings? It's all good - so keep writing!