Write a novel in one month.
4 weeks ago
I saw this on someone else’s profile and I think this would be an interesting thing to do. I certainly would love to try it.
People who have done this
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How to do NaNoWriMo
It made me
absurdly pleased
 "I sat at my kitchen counter, right over there, on my butt most of the day, most days of the month, and imagined my characters messing up their lives""
How I did it: I broke my ankle, and I couldn't walk. That meant I couldn't go to work. This writing project was a perfect fit for the situation. I began with a plot outline, after I thought of a title, and wrote about my characters. I did all this in preparation for the main event. On November 1, I began writing. The story changed shape a bit as I went, and inevitably I came back and dumped the first chapter and wrote three more beginnings before I was satisfied. That is the biggest part next to just doing it - getting the first chapter to be an enticing grabber with all the nuance and flirtation you can build in there to make your reader stick around. Lessons & tips: It's OK to prepare. It's less daunting once you have your title and story line in mind. Resources: Go onto the NaNoWriMo site and read what's there. The forums can also be helpful, especially if you find your energy waning or your story lagging. Drink water and juice. Remember to move around. You don't want to finish NaNo 10 pounds heavier.
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More "How I Did It" stories
germander finds herself rearranging the furniture.
It made me
thrilled!
How I did it: I bought a laptop so I could write at meetups, and I figured out how many pages I would need to write every day to keep up. I kept up with how much I had written as I went so I could stay on track. I wrote every day, and I followed my own interest in choosing what to write about. This was never about the needs of others, though eventually, I'll turn that back on again when I do some editing. Read how I did it…
It made me
amazing!
How I did it: Just by working hard and loving the characters whose story I was telling and not wanting to disapoint them! It got to the point where these characters were real people telling their story to me and i couldn't wait to hear how it ended. I had no clue how the first or second or even third book would end and they always surprised me. I got angry with them, cried with them and everything in between. So I had to finish their stories and that m… Read how I did it…
It made me
How I did it: Stick-to-it-ivness, using the suggestions sent to me weekly by the site. Passing up social events to focus on writing. Everyone I started it with dropped out by the end but me. Read how I did it…
JodieSparkes is a loner, Dottie, a rebel
It made me
pleased as punch
How I did it: Simply by writing every day for a month: pretty much doing what it said on the tin! Working it in around college was difficult and resulted in a few very late nights, but I work best at 4am anyway :] Read how I did it…
It made me
ECSTATIC!
How I did it: Sheer force of the mind.It's you against everything that stands in your way.The question is, really, do you want to write a book in 30 days? If you're strong enough, you'll make it. But be willing to sacrifice some sleep and social interactions. Read how I did it…
→ See all 30 "How I did it" stories
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
Mmmber glad she wasn't drunk cheering last night.
I'm SO going to do this!!
1 month ago
I used to fancy myself a writer. Psssh. Now I can barely ramble out a 43T entry. What happened??
I have made myself do more writing since the beginning of the year. I even created a blog though I’ve yet to have an idea worthy enough of writing about there yet. Secretly, I’ve always wanted to write a novel, though, so… here’s my chance to get over whatever hump developed after high school and do it! I’m already brainstorming ideas and I hope to spend the summer developing my characters and making an outline. Then… come what may in November!
froglivers has to buckle up and go get'em.
Do NaNo every year!
2 months ago
Best thing from all of 2008.
heart_beat is hopeful.
waiting, waiting.
2 months ago
Although we still have a few monthes of waiting, I am really really looking forward to this.
RiverKeeper feels like soon, yes, soon, he may type something for the proposal.
Not yet...
3 months ago
...but when my dissertation is finished it’s on, baby. Actually, that’s a great motivator: get my dissertation done by November and then rock the NaNoWriMo. At the same time, I’m sure I’m going to never want to type another word for many months after dissertation is completed. But if that sucker can get done by the end of September…I’ll happier than a puppy with two peeters.
Marc Ambit is preparing his summer trip to Japan
strange word for a strange goal
3 months ago
Why not?
I always wanted to write something and even if I do it very often (almost every day) I never do it in a long term, to write a novel or something like that.
So, it’s time to put myself to the test. Can I write 50.000 words in one month?
You bet! :-)
Bohoangel is thinking this going to be my year
Signed Up
3 months ago
I’m signed up and ready to go, thinking up lots of ideas. Counting down till November.
SlayneB she flew from peak to peak with the freedom of an eagle...
I'm moving this to the 'I give up' list
3 months ago
because I will be in school this Nov, and probably won’t have time, and want to clean up my list here now.
jennybobenny is thinking about her goals
Now that I know what the hell it is...
3 months ago
It sounds like fun, so on the list it goes! I’ve made a note to myself to find out more about it. I think this exercise could help me write assignments faster and squash my internal nit-picking editor. Or not. I’ll have a bash at it and see what happens.
opblaaskrokodil is writing her novel
Untitled
4 months ago
I signed up the other day. I am pretty excited by this even though November is still so far away :)
→ See all 1433 entries
Ask for advice: Get help from people who've accomplished this goal
 Poulsbo
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Cheryl asks,
“How can I update word count? I know that the NaNoWriMo site is slow right now with everyone getting started, but the place where I can update word count is greyed out, when I can even reach that place without the site timing out. Any advice?”
— 8 months ago |
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flutter is full of wonder asks,
“do we really need to scramble your manuscript before uploading it for a word count, because the "way simple way" they have for us to do this, just isn't that simple for me”
— 19 months ago |
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 Volcano
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mahinui asks,
“Can anyone tell me how to submit what I've written to NaNo? I know it should be obvious, but no... And as shweffy says, the site is oh so slow...”
— 20 months ago |
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 Europe
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{Turandot} asks,
“Do you have prejudices against some words? There are words I would never use. They are not vulgar, just words that describe an attitude to life that I don't like, like "posh". Do you have taboo words? And what are they?”
— 20 months ago |
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 Second Star To The Right And Straight On Till Morning
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Katie's running as if she has a choice. asks,
“*Ahem* Do we start just in November or can we get a head start in October too? Because i'm really confused... can I start now? Or is that cheating? Even if there's really no basis of "cheating" I want to know when most people start. When should I????”
— 21 months ago |
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 Illinois
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cafegroundzero asks,
“I intend to start today, because I was participating in elections campaigning and family before (I know, excuses, excuses!). Will NaNoWriMo let me start today, and try to catch up?”
— 2 years ago |
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 Portland
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Alana Post asks,
“how do you fit NaNoWriMo into your extremely busy schedule?”
— 3 years ago |
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