tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post2752670483593316371..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: NaNoWriMo—Should You Join in the Silliness? 9 Reasons to Consider it.Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-87286707466352772382012-10-17T09:44:19.828-07:002012-10-17T09:44:19.828-07:00Meghan--NaNo definitly isn't for everybody. An...Meghan--NaNo definitly isn't for everybody. And if you're a professional who already has a good writing routine and regular access to your muse, it's probably not going to do anything but annoy you. But for beginning writers who have a book in their heads and can reserve the time, it's great for hacking through those blocks. But as Nina B says above, you have to have a plot firmly outlined in your brain, or you'll be wasting your time. Just writing X number of words a day can be pointless if your story isn't there. <br /><br />BTW, I can't comment on your blog today. (Great post) A window comes up telling me I'm not logged in, but WordPress says I AM logged in. And I can't figure out how to get more logged-in-er. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-53845636742937212162012-10-17T09:08:24.402-07:002012-10-17T09:08:24.402-07:00I've never been a big NaNoWriMo fan. I did it ...I've never been a big NaNoWriMo fan. I did it in 2001 and really wrote 50,000 words of total crap. There were days that I was so pressed for time and writer-blocked, that I just wrote journal entries, things like, "I don't know what to write today" to make my word count. If I were at a writer's retreat for the month, I bet I could bang out a decent first draft of a novel, but combined with my already hectic lifestyle, I don't see much coming out of it. THAT SAID, people like me could modify it and say, "I'm going to write 500 words a day on whatever I'm working on." Or 200 words a day, or 300. It's a great time to set a writing goal and go for it.Meghan Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773598501857799104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-55354626504794846192012-10-16T13:56:15.496-07:002012-10-16T13:56:15.496-07:00Nina--This is such a good point. I think many firs...Nina--This is such a good point. I think many first novelists don't have a plot. I sure didn't for my first novel. (Which is how it got to be 1000 pages long. I should have called it "Characters in search of a Plot") An idea isn't the same as a plot. I'll bet a lot of WriMos will find this out. But how much better for them to find it out in a month instead of the decade or so I spent on my big, plotless mess! Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-67413549079034450692012-10-16T13:28:40.047-07:002012-10-16T13:28:40.047-07:00I actually want to do it, but don't have a com...I actually want to do it, but don't have a compelling story idea. I've already written two 80,000 books with crap stories. I don't even want to spend a month writing something without a good plot in mind. Toying with this though!Nina Bhttp://ninabadzin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-50232549152607026822012-10-13T10:52:07.537-07:002012-10-13T10:52:07.537-07:00Heather--That's the way I feel. Even though I ...Heather--That's the way I feel. Even though I can't do it personally because I'll be madly doing edits, I'm so energized by all the people doing it--the enthusiasm is catching!Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-67312676956274768602012-10-12T03:54:30.480-07:002012-10-12T03:54:30.480-07:00I LOVE the energy of NaNo. Even if I am not in the...I LOVE the energy of NaNo. Even if I am not in the place to start a novel in November, I ALWAYS make use of the awesome excitement that permeates the contest. It's such a wonderful community! <br /><br />Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-68059215188864194822012-10-11T10:55:37.514-07:002012-10-11T10:55:37.514-07:00Kelly--It sounds as if you've been really adve...Kelly--It sounds as if you've been really adventurous in your NaNo-ing. Trying a different genre is a great reason to do it. Interesting that you keep coming back to YA. This is probably a good way to find out what your "core" genre really is. Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, I'll be doing revisions on my current WIP in November. <br /><br />MJ--Congrats on winning NaNo and best of luck on producing more crap this year. :-)<br /><br />Mikki--Congrats to you, too. And oh, my! You cooked a turkey dinner too? Amazing. <br /><br /><br /><br />Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-62311311162735461262012-10-11T10:36:26.373-07:002012-10-11T10:36:26.373-07:00Hi Anne,
A great and funny post that I'm goin...Hi Anne,<br /><br />A great and funny post that I'm going to recommend to fellow writer friends! I did NaNo in 2010,<br />and the novel that came out of it is now being sent out to publishers. It went through too many edits and revisions to count, but the story was an idea clomping around in my head for over a year, and NaNo gave me the excuse to write it. Finished 56,000 words by Nov.26th, and that included taking time for for Thanksgiving baking as well as Turkey Day. Haven't done it since, and can't this year as I'm in the big middle of a Paranormal/historical mystery, but I encourage everyone to do it at least once.Mikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371767512022913349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-14079604199349383312012-10-11T07:01:55.833-07:002012-10-11T07:01:55.833-07:00This will be my second year participating in Nanow...This will be my second year participating in Nanowrimo. I am also a "slow writer" and the best part of last year's Nano was in discovering a whole new side to myself as a writer. I finished at just over 55,000 words - yes, it was crap, but it was crap with potential.<br />Can't wait to do it again.MJ Donneryhttp://www.mjdonnery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3203524104304584532012-10-11T03:19:58.478-07:002012-10-11T03:19:58.478-07:00I have "won" NaNo several times, includi...I have "won" NaNo several times, including the summer Camp Nanowrimo. I use the month to try out odd ideas or different genre. Although I usually write YA fantasy, my Nano projects have included chick lit, sci fi, political satire and this November, I think I will try Mystery. Some of my first drafts have been truly and unsalvagably awful, filed in my I-can't-believe-I-wrote-this-crap folder. Others have been pretty good and only needed a few months of revising and editing. If you are doing Nano, Feel free to add me as a Writing Buddy. Kelly The Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-44652598530501098072012-10-10T11:58:19.759-07:002012-10-10T11:58:19.759-07:00Tracy--Scheduling is key, and sometimes you can...Tracy--Scheduling is key, and sometimes you can't reasonably work it in. Janice Hardy says we need a February NaNo--post holidays--and I think that's a great idea. <br /><br />Rinelle--I love to hear NaNo success stories. And yes, it's all about getting that inner critic to shut up until you're ready to revise. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-253112061680126312012-10-09T03:06:51.402-07:002012-10-09T03:06:51.402-07:00I love NaNo, and will definatly be participating a...I love NaNo, and will definatly be participating again this year. Not sure what I'll be writing yet, but I'm sure it will be fun.<br /><br />NaNo got me back into writing, and I love the format of writing as much as you can as quickly as you can, helps me silence my inner editor.Rinelle Greyhttp://www.rinellegrey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79386403295787663812012-10-08T19:05:19.900-07:002012-10-08T19:05:19.900-07:00You've definitely given me something to think ...You've definitely given me something to think about. If my schedule clears, I'll give it a whirl. <br />Thanks for the 9 tips as well.<br />Tracy Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829493307148654507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-27906880587879697802012-10-08T15:50:42.639-07:002012-10-08T15:50:42.639-07:00Florence "Write-a-Thin?" That has hilari...Florence "Write-a-Thin?" That has hilarious implications. You're right that writing challenges of any kind force you to push out of your comfort zone and learn to be a better writer. I like the concept of a writer being "shy" of the page.<br /><br />Cathryn--I think the NaNo support groups are one of the best reasons to join. Great to have a bunch of people as crazy as you to hang with. <br /><br />Everybody--I do want to emphasize that you should finish work that's been previously promised before you think of doing NaNo. It's not an excuse to procrastinate other obligations. This is true no matter what business you're in. I'm not a fan of doing NaNo if it means letting people down who are counting on you professionally. These days, our professional selves are tied to our private selves via social media, and you want your "brand" to be reliable. <br /><br />Casey--You live on the Central Coast? This is awesome! You're one of my favorite bloggers. Danielle Smith, of "There's a Book" is in SLO too. I was blown away when I found out because I thought she was in Ireland. We should start a Central Coast Book Blogger Club and meet up in Pismo Beach or someplace fun sometime.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-36320103013978802962012-10-08T11:07:23.885-07:002012-10-08T11:07:23.885-07:00Anne, great post on NaNo. I've tried it a few ...Anne, great post on NaNo. I've tried it a few times with mixed results. The key thing, for me, is that I always write more than I would have if I didn't participate.<br /><br />I didn't realize you live in SLO. I'm in Santa Maria!!<br /><br />Casey McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02787815672519189433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34737633945515933272012-10-08T10:37:20.138-07:002012-10-08T10:37:20.138-07:00The first time I did NaNo was a year after I’d hea...The first time I did NaNo was a year after I’d heard about it. I got roped in with a friend by another friend and had something of a luke warm response to it, even though I did win. Yet, the very next year I was at it again and came out glowing. So of course I’m going back for a third year.<br /><br />I agree it seems impossible to find the time, or to write that fast, but amazingly it happens. I juggle a full time job, two young kids a husband, and Thanksgiving with family (though I might be the only one without the whole opinionated things going on...). And still, thanks to the support of my family and my regional WriMos, it happens.<br /><br />If I didn’t have NaNo I would be a slow writer (as it is I’m a slow editor). It’s the time when I say – okay other responsibilities, move over I’m writing this month! It’s also a great strategy for building up a ‘back log’ so that when I have more free time for editing, I’ll never run out of stuff to edit. And eventually I’ll start putting some of it through the publication process. (and then I won’t run out of final drafts to circulate...)<br /><br />At least that’s my plan.<br /><br />Besides, I’ve fallen into a wonderfully awesome regional group here in Maryland. Typing with them during a write-in is like taking one of those imaginary drugs. :}<br />Cathryn Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14816869021658935999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3482951581339401212012-10-08T09:56:14.520-07:002012-10-08T09:56:14.520-07:00Ann, a day late, but never short of awe at your ti...Ann, a day late, but never short of awe at your timely posts. Okay, I don't, I won't ... but did a small sample of the same type with my RWA on line WF's chapter last month ... Write-a-Thin ... a typo that took on a life of its own :) <br /><br />I think writing challenges are a great way for the terminally shy to overcome their resistance ... to practice writing under a deadline ... and to puch their skills beyond what they thought they could do !!fOIS In The Cityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06347958777030988677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-32358011729108359162012-10-08T09:35:08.981-07:002012-10-08T09:35:08.981-07:00Char—31K words in 6 weeks, while working a full ti...Char—31K words in 6 weeks, while working a full time job is a pretty big achievement. They should give tee-shirts for that, too. :-) <br /><br />T.L.—My condolences on the loss of those chapters to a hard drive crash. That is the definition of tragedy for a writer. But congrats on doing NaNo twice and living to tell the tale. I have one of those—a book I worked on for ten years. I love those characters like family, but the story was too episodic and didn't have an overall story arc. I'd have to rewrite from scratch. I hope to do it someday.<br /><br />Susan—I hope to do it someday too—just to see if I can increase my writing speed. But I might have to do the NaNo "Summer camp" version. November is always a bear for me. <br /><br />Deborah—I spent years on research—literally—before I realized the novel's premise didn't work and all that time was wasted. I finally learned to write first and do the research for the second draft. Then you know what you really need.<br /><br />Jeremy—These days fictitious drugs are the only kind I take :-) You may be right. Some of us have muses that work slower than others.<br /><br />Ken—It sounds as if the Universe is lining up for you, so why not go for it?<br /><br />Emily—NaNo is definitely not for people with other writing obligations, like a doctoral thesis. :-)<br />Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-5154437064065196232012-10-08T07:38:12.895-07:002012-10-08T07:38:12.895-07:00I'm a slow writer too (when it comes to fictio...I'm a slow writer too (when it comes to fiction) - as I just get obsessive with trying to make it perfect so NaNo would be perfect for me. Alas I'll be trying to write 50,000+ words of a different sort from November on lol. . . <br /><br />Great post as always :)Emily Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01707967073095394090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-30510928255280461542012-10-08T06:30:49.011-07:002012-10-08T06:30:49.011-07:00I am also a sloooow writer (who's still workin...I am also a sloooow writer (who's still working on his first story after 3 years), so I've never bothered with NaNoWriMo before. I didn't have the time and I assumed about 95% of it would be crap that would be tossed anyway. But it turns out I'm going to have lots of free time this November and I'm in the process of outlining my second book, so I may just go for it this year. I may not reach the 50K mark, but I'm sure it'll give me a good headstart on a story I'm going to be writing anyway. <br /><br />Thanks for the encouragement.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-40946055236332179832012-10-08T03:26:39.442-07:002012-10-08T03:26:39.442-07:00Have you ever tried Slo-Mo? lol If you didn't ...Have you ever tried Slo-Mo? lol If you didn't know, that's the fictitious drug in the new Judge Dredd movie. Bad stuff.<br /><br />Hey, you write how you have to, what makes you comfortable is what works best. Don't sweat it, let it.<br /><br />Cheers.Jeremy Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00877532315856151843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-6135340857853341282012-10-07T23:00:30.204-07:002012-10-07T23:00:30.204-07:00"You’ll have a great excuse for skipping the ..."You’ll have a great excuse for skipping the family Thanksgiving with all those relatives whose politics make you despair for the future of the human race." So I'm not the only woman with wacky, opinionated family? <br /><br />I am a fast writer, but wallow, wallow, wallow in research. You've encouraged me, Anne. Thank you kindly for such heartfelt, personal advice.Deborah Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07681456264047358861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-28854958772354704742012-10-07T20:51:19.990-07:002012-10-07T20:51:19.990-07:00I'm a horribly slow writer who can spend a ful...I'm a horribly slow writer who can spend a full day agonizing over a single scene, so writing an entire book in a month's time sounds beyond me. On the other hand, making the effort to write under that kind of word count deadline could be a very helpful exercise. I'll have to give it some thought.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-25670458511800280412012-10-07T20:14:05.733-07:002012-10-07T20:14:05.733-07:00I've officially done Nano twice. The first ti...I've officially done Nano twice. The first time was the very first draft of Tagestraum (which, several years later, is making the rounds with agents). I got to 50k but hadn't finished the book by that point, then lost several chapters of it in a harddrive crash, so it took a while to recover. <br /><br />The second time I did "win" with the completed rough draft of Nezumi's Children, which I set aside for a year and am editing now. It's in shockingly good shape for a nano-novel. <br /><br />I'm not sure if I want to do it this year or not. I have an old trunk novel that I want to completely strip down and rewrite -- same characters, totally new premise and plot. I might do that if I finish the short story anthology I'm working on first. tlbodinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334888426768433724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-76439214237787795082012-10-07T20:04:58.465-07:002012-10-07T20:04:58.465-07:00No NaNo for me. I cannot write that fast. The most...No NaNo for me. I cannot write that fast. The most I've written in 1 month was 29K and that's when I wasn't working 5 days a week. I have been following the 'spill your guts first draft method' on my current novella. That netted me about 31K in 6 weeks (while working fulltime). It's grown during revisions as I've fleshed out the storyline. My critique group is enjoying it, so that keeps me going.<br />Good luck to all NaNo participants.<br /> Char Newcombhttp://charlenenewcomb.comnoreply@blogger.com