My first NaNoWriMo

I've sat on the sidelines during the previous NaNoWriMo because I was already working on another project. I was planning on sitting out this year, too, because I wrapped up the first draft of my second novel this year in October. Needless to say, I had quite a bit of editing in my future (two novels and a couple of short stories).

A friend of mine (who normally writes very little due to lack of motivation and much procrastination) said he was thinking of participating. Well, peer pressure is certainly a bitch! I considered joining and came up with an idea, that was all it took for me to sign up and begin participating.

It's only six days in and I'm already wondering if I will do this again next year. So far, that answer is NO. While I'm supportive of NaNoWriMo and its participants, I don't think this is really for me.

I like to outline my novels before I begin the first draft as it gives me time to know who the main players are and what will happen in the story. I had five days to do this before beginning and I got a couple of chapters mapped out. Also, I always commit myself to a thousand words a day and usually meet my goal, except for Saturday and Sunday, when I take those days to relax from writing. Occasionally, I might find myself writing on one of those days too.

With NaNo though, I MUST write more words (1667 ideally) everyday and I MUST write that amount EVERY day in order to cross the finish line on the 30th. So far, I've been diligent about this and have managed to stay on target or just above it with 2000 words a day. I'm finding it hard to maintain this pace though and keep a reasonably well-written draft. In addition to the actual novel, I'm having to take time to map out the rest of the chapters in my outline as I move forward.

So, to get to my point, I guess. Is anyone else here participating this year experiencing the same feelings about this marathon? Or are you not participating because of the stringent writing regimen?

BTW, I've become writing buddies with a few people (even the aforementioned friend) and see that some are kicking my ass while others (including said friend) haven't entered any word counts. The motivation of "beating" others to the finish line is nice, but not when your main competition has already thrown in the towel. If you're participating and want to be my "writing buddy" my username is mxlemore.
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Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

I like how it makes me write.

Usually I just sit around talking about writing, or just thinking about it. Last year I put out complete garbage because of how quickly I had to go to keep up. This year is a bit easier and I hope it makes it to the "Meh" pile and out of the garbage one.

I will keep participating in hopes it will one day get me motivated enough to put out something in the Okay pile.

By the way, I am Writing_Duck on there, we should be buddies.

I added you as a NaNo buddy, CarbonFragments.

I must admit, I probably came on a bit strong with my first impressions of NaNoWriMo. I guess it's because I feel rushed by it. Also, I only outlined my story over two days (and not even full days), so I had a couple of chapters loosely outlined. I'm outlining each day now when I finish writing the chapters I mapped the previous day.

Everything is going well. I'm ahead of schedule with my word count and I think I've managed to actually keep some of the quality in my writing (as much as I can muster for a first draft anyway).

The only problem I foresee at this point is that I'm almost to the halfway point and it seems like my story is ready to come to an end. I find myself thinking of ways to drag out the story and keep the end at bay while I push toward the 50k mark, but I don't want to pad it and drag down the pace just to get to a specified word count. Now I'm frustrated.

I decided to just let it unfold as naturally as I can without resorting to outlandish plot lines to prolong the story for the sake of the contest. If I make it, great! If not (and I think I won't), then so be it. Anyway, I'll see how it goes this year and give it more consideration and more planning time IF I participate next year.

Good luck to you, CF!
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

I think I could get into this if it wasn't novels or November- fall sucks-
maybe journaling in January or poetry in February?

Just a thought, feel free to ignore...

Actually, zendao42, I have a writer friend who also is turned off by NaNoWriMo, but for other reasons. He said that if it were longer (say 2 months instead of 1) with a more reasonable word count (say 1,000 a day instead of 1,667), he would embrace it more.

I tend to agree with him as I've written other novels in the past at my own pace, of course. I'm just the type of person who, when I put my mind to do something, doesn't want to give up or quit. Now, I'm saddled with NaNoWriMo and I feel compelled to finish it. He, on the other hand, threw in the towel near the starting gate.

I mentioned to him that we should start our own writing contest. Just between the two of us though. I don't want to try to compete with the popularity of NaNoWriMo. Our contest could be set during any two months we felt appropriate and we could write at a leisurely 1,000 words a day for a total of 60k words.

To me, that sounds more reasonable. Currently, I am approaching the halfway mark in the NaNoWriMo word count and my story wants to end. By that, I mean, I've said just about everything that needs to be said and I'm trying to drag it out just so I can get the word count to win the competition. I don't like doing this. I like my story and feel it's strong and entertaining. I think that to pad it with crap will make it lose the enjoyment that it holds. Therefore, I might just surrender and bow out of NaNo gracefully. I still have two other novels waiting for me to edit them.
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

The Dahlonega Literary Festival is hostinga NaNoWriMo writing Marathon on Saturday from 9pm-11pm. I know know where in GA you hail from (though I do remember seeing you at the last signing in atlanta), but if you make the trek north to the Literary Festival this weekend, you should stop by
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"The First Annual Boobathon Queen. "

http://www.upnorthgeorgia.org

Ah, good old Dahlonega! I enjoy passing through Dahlonega on my way to Helen. Although it has been a long time since I've gotten to that side of the state since I am living in Rome now.

Where in Dahloenga is this marathon to take place, Vahlee? I doubt I'll make it, but I'm still curious. I'm going out on a limb here to guess it's at the library. Will you be there? If so, it would be worth it to make a friend from the boardello.

Also, your recollection about seeing me at the last signing in Atlanta is funny. Sorry to correct you, but I've never attended any book signing (although, I'd really like to and wished I had been at that one). I must admit, I'm lame and spend most of my time at home when I'm not at the day job. I think I should create a picture book of myself like the Where's Waldo books. From what I've been told, I was spotted skiing in Vail, CO; in Aruba; and I've been seen in Canada. People have sworn to it, but I just laugh because I've never stepped foot outside of the U.S. (unfortunately) nor have I ever donned a ski (snow or otherwise).
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

Ah, you have an evil twin out there!


BTW, if you've run out of story, there's always room for backstory...


Maybe folks could get behind a short-story week or something like that-
hey, anything to distract from Xmas crap...

whoops, must have been some other guys with a beard. My bad, heheh.

Anyhoo, the Marathon is going to be at the Corkscrew Cafe. I will be there acting as a writing coach.
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"The First Annual Boobathon Queen. "

http://www.upnorthgeorgia.org

You may be onto something there, zen. A short story week would be great. Perhaps its brevity is what's so appealing. And, yes, apparently I have multiple evil twins running around out there. Doppelgangers! Now there's something for me to write about.

Vahlee, no problem. Like I said, I've gotten several times before. I guess I have a "typical" appearance or something. I hope the marathon is enjoyable. I, unfortunately, will not be able to make it. My wife just informed me that I have more "chores" to take care of tomorrow besides the ones I just told her I had planned.
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

So now all we gotta do is pick a week- anybody?

Yeah, I should probably just get back to reading for now...

I vote for a week in the Summer when we can sit out by the pool with a nice cold beverage...preferably one with alcohol.

Of course, I may do that even if no one else wants to join in.
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

Kayso, we're 2-4 weeks away from summer, depending on how y'all count these things-
anybody wanna try it & if so, when?

Currently, I don't have any short story ideas. I've got two novel-length ideas though. I'm close to starting one and mapping out the other. The second, I'd like to save for NaNoWriMo.

If I were to do a short story week this summer, I couldn't participate until after July 4th. My schedule is going to be too hectic prior to that holiday. Maybe that time will give me some inspiration for a short story.

Also, I'm working on self-publishing an anthology within the next few days. After that, I have a novel that needs editing, because I'd like to try releasing it the first of July. Busy, busy, busy!
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My website: http://www.jrmclemore.com

Hush, Hush, My Love is now available for Kindle, Nook, and other formats from Smashwords for free! You can view it here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50564

So, maybe sometime in August?

If you've looked at the summer movie releases & think about comic book tie-ins,
you'll know why I'm gonna be busy for a while-
plus, I'd like to get a vacation in by the end of next month, probably the last weekend...


Not that I have any ideas right now anyway (at least not story-related)
& I passed on the local contest cuz I wasn't interested in the prize...