Write a book in November

GWC Community GWC Book Club
#1

As an alternative to reading something in November, here’s something I’ve always wanted to do:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

This website is for people who have always wanted to write a book, but never find the time, imspiration, and push to actually do it. The goals is to simply get 50,000 words down during the month of November to have something to make sense of later…

Having had one book published, I can tell you the hardest part is looking at a blank screen. It’s so much more interesting and fun to edit something that you’ve already done a once through with then to actually type the first word on the screen.

Anybody wanna do it with me?

— Dismal the published author (a Cisco CCIE study guide several years ago)

#2

Where do you want to go in writing next month?

#3

I’ve always thought a Captain Blood type story in space… pirates, spaceships, swords and rayguns… can’t beat it.

— D

#4

It was a good experience although not my best work, I wouldn’t mind trying it again, with different approach this time, just have to see what my schedule will be like in November

but i’ll try :slight_smile:

#5

Funny you should ask, I’ve been thinking about it for the past two weeks that this year I should really give it a go.

#6

Man, I wish I had time to write a book. It’s hard enough to write music these days!

#7

I did this last year here’s my advice:

  1. You MUST have an hour free per day. It is very hard to pound out 1,000 words or more in a day just in 30 minutes increments.

  2. Planning to do “make up” time on weekends usually doesn’t work.

  3. This is a Marathon. Treat it like one. Train for it. Plan for it. Expect at times to wonder why you thought it was a good idea.

  4. Have something to help yourself keep the story going. It is SO easy to get going and then realize you don’t know where you want the story to go and suddenly you’re struggling to keep it interesting.

All that said, I had a great time, but as you can tell I didn’t finish. I did get through about 22,000 words when I had to toss in the towel. I was behind my pace, was not going to 50k done by the end of the month and even revising my goal to be 40k words. I did really enjoy it up till the last week when it became a “job” tacked onto my already nutty schedule.

I would do it this year but we’re expecting our first baby 11/24 and I’m not sure I’ll have the time to work it all through and be a good father to a newborn trying to finish my novel.

If I did do it though, I’d be torn between the following stories:

a) Another take at my romance/suspense novel that I started last year. It’s about a woman who plays an MMO and meets someone from game… then the suspense starts.

b) A Harry Potter fanfic set in 1939. Nothing quite like the wizarding world debating if they should get involved.

c) A modern action/ suspsense centered on a JAG officer who is sent to Iraq to investigate a “routine” accidental shooting only to find that things are not as they seem (duh, are they ever?) However, this one is slated to actually be pretty pro-military unlike the current fare of “war movies”.

I’ll see if I can find last year’s work. Maybe I’ll use the first few weeks of the month as an excuse to finish the book. It’s cheating I know but it might be neat to actually make myself finish it.

Rorlins

#8

This will be my second year doing nanowrimo. Last year I got 40,000 words and just couldn’t belt out the last 10,000. This year I’m planning on doing a fantasy piece. I’m also trying to get 3 short BSG stories posted to Fanfiction.net before the end of October.
I think my mistake last year was that I was too emotionally attached to the subject matter. This year I want to do something just for fun. Anyway, I would love to have some writing buddies. My user name is on the nanowrimo site is the same as it is here.

#9

For the last several years I’ve said I’m going to do it, but always find some reason to be too busy when the time comes. This year I’ve got an unbelievable pile of projects, but I’m game for one more…

I’ll create my account and start thinking about my topic today.

— Dismal thinking to himself, “wow, somebody else has actually heard of this… what a smart bunch of folks”

#10

Firewing, I’ve added you as my writing buddie! My user name is the same as here as well.

Hoping to see D.i.D. as well.

#11

Yay! What are you planning to write about? I’ll and you to my buddy list too.

#12

Dismal, this sounds like an awesome idea! I’ve been involved in something similar called the 48-Hour Film Project, where you have a weekend to write, shoot, and edit a short film (my team did a 7-minute fantasy about…well, never mind, it kind of sucked). I, too, think I’d have to pick something fun but nothing I was too emotionally attached to, like Firewing suggested. Plus, though I’m not having a baby like everyone else around here seems to be, I’m busy enough that this may be pure insanity for me to tackle right now.

But I’m thinkin’ about it…

#13

Hey everyone!

I just found this thread today. I already wrote my book (finished in June) but my girlfriend and I are in revision hell so we’re doing ReWrite My Novel month now.

Anyway, I cheer everyone who is writing, it is a lonely business. Perhaps we could have a writers’ thread to encourage each other. Good luck to everyone on getting to their 50,000 words!

#14

Ha! I was just posting/grumbling how I’m 17449 words behind schedule.

#15

I’ve been so busy with the reality show that I haven’t really done any standup or writing, but just today I starting putting together a new 5-minute set, which I think counts as writing. The show wraps on Sunday, so I’ll start having some time then…

— Dismal the spotlight hog