Hey, Just wondering who is participating in NaNoWriMo's 50,000 word race. I am so excited, this is my first year but I love the pressure! So what can i do to prepare? Any tips on how to accomplish this goal?
2006-10-25 11:02:27 · 10 answers · asked by LLH 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I did it for the first time last year and will probably try again this year.
-I would suggest looking at your schedule and making sure you have time set aside every day to write. I was amazed at how quickly I fell behind just by skipping a day here and there.
-Get on the forums at the nanowrimo site. You can find a local group of writers and they often have meets or write-ins. The forums are also great for asking questions, getting tips. There's probably even a thread with tips for preparation
-If you know what you want to write about or know your plot, go ahead and write a story outline and character sketches. That helped me a lot.
It's great that you're excited. I didn't finish last year but it was fun and I'll be trying again this year. A few of my friends finished their novels last year and felt really accomplished for having done so. I love to know what that feels like.
Best of Luck!
2006-10-25 11:16:02 · answer #1 · answered by LBD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am also participating this year for the first time. If it's your first time writing a novel, I recommend getting a book that has exercises to help spark your creativity. It's very easy to quickly become overwhelmed.
I have and recommend "Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook" by Donald Maass. Yet, there are MANY others to choose from. This one works best for me, though.
It's also good to have an outline prepared before you begin. Even if you don't stick to it, you have something that will spur you on. I've read somewhere that you are more likely to finish a novel if you already have an outline written.
A great site to go to with great articles about writing fiction is http://www.fictionfactor.com . For specific tips about preparing to write your novel go here: http://www.fictionfactor.com/novel.html
If the forums seem too big at Nano, you can always join http://www.newbie-writers.com/forum . There's a place for Nanowrimo there. I'm a member, and it's a friendly encouraging atmosphere.
Good luck!
2006-10-27 12:22:10 · answer #2 · answered by Globetrotter 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've taken part a few times, and got down my 50,000 words once. I wish it was not scheduled for November because that is physically a busy month for me. I'm not a 'published' novel writer, though I have written some fan fic. I'm all for NaNoWriMo. 1) The discipline of putting the butt to the seat and the fingers to the keyboard and pumping out the words every day. Every reader and especially every critic should try it. They would respect their local authors more. 2) The exhilaration of actually putting down Your Own and Not Anyone Else's Story, even if you peter out in the third week. Apparently elementary and high school English classes have NaNoWriMo projects, and it stimulates their creativity, which is good for the brain and for their marks in all subjects. 3) The networking with other like-minded scribblers. 4) The fact that it's not a test of skill. You don't have to write like Hemingway or the guy next to you. You write for yourself, not anyone else. You don't have to publish it. You're not competing for a prize. Your hero could be a math teacher who is writing the ultimate textbook, so you could put in as many curious math problems as you can think up. Of course, the hero has to get it published. Who will accept his manuscript? Is there a rival math teacher competing against him? You can write about any silly or heroic experience you want.
2016-05-22 13:47:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just signed up today! I'm really excited too, I've never done anything like this before. I didn't even know about the concept until today, too.
I have a skeleton story planned out in my head but I'm not going to put too much detail into it. I'm hoping once the first day starts and I begin to write, it'll just come out naturally. Good luck!
2006-10-28 10:49:02 · answer #4 · answered by shrimpylicious 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HI, i would recommend that you practice your typing speed. The quicker you type, the sooner you finish. Now i don't mean to be depressing, but do you realise you have to write an average of 1670 words a day? That is approximately 2 and a half pages if you are using standard 12pts TNR(times new roman).
I don't mean to be discouraging, i just found last year that it was easy to do if i knew exactly how much i had to do each day. (i didn't manage it last year, but I'm trying again this year!!!)
Cheers, Deanna
2006-10-26 05:00:10 · answer #5 · answered by Deanna H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Write an outline and create your characters.
I have an employee who is on top of this. He is very excited as well. Good luck!
2006-10-25 11:16:10 · answer #6 · answered by Ralph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
quit spanking your monkey for at least a week. it will get you in the proper mindset to ripoff 50,000 words in no time.
2006-10-25 11:10:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm participating. :-)
Just write about 1.5 thousand words a day and you will doo good.
2006-10-26 15:49:50 · answer #8 · answered by joshuabigler 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just write, write, write! This is my first year doing it, too. I can't wait!
2006-10-26 01:06:55 · answer #9 · answered by writer_law 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My goodness
You ARE excited, aren't you?
I hope you haven't wet yourself again.
2006-10-25 11:04:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋