NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month: 50,000 words, 30 days. Can you do it?
317 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Svinnik;51292010]so what's a good way to pace yourself then?[/QUOTE]
The way the website suggests. 1660-1700 words per day is the best
[QUOTE=Svinnik;51292010]so what's a good way to pace yourself then?[/QUOTE]
Whatever answer I give you would be some arbitrary number that likely isn't relevant to you because you write at a different pace than I do. My personal goal is NaNoWriMo's set pace of ~1700 words per day (will get you to 50,000 by the end of November). I'll probably end up writing a tad more than that depending on where I stop in the chapter so I don't stop mid-thought / mid-scene.
By bursting through a fifth/sixth/etc of your novel in one day your brain is going to be reluctant to go back and have to do all of that again five/six/etc. more times. By breaking it down into more manageable chunks, you'll be more inclined to return to write more of the novel and not abandon it because of how much work you tried to do the first time and you don't want to have to do that much again in several more sittings.
The goal of NaNoWriMo is that it's /supposed/ to be spread out over the month. It's to help people give them the best chance of actually finishing a novel without abandoning it half way through. Of course if you want to set a slightly higher pace and finish on like the third week then more power to you, but trying to burst through it all at once is an almost guaranteed way to lose any interest in your novel.
It begins.
[QUOTE]
--- Siegfried’s confusion grew exponentially as, with wide eyes and a look of surprise coloring his face, he saw the young prince of Alamaer, Tenebris, exit form one of the doors behind Redain’s throne. Tenebris, a prince of only nineteen years, was wearing his signature, peculiar garb. He worse dyed, hardened black leather from head to toe, the raven darkness of his garb matching that of his short, black hair. Siegfried’s shock was palpable. He had hardly stammered out a few words before Tenebris spoke.
--- “Knight Siegfried, a pleasure to see you. I was just making my way to one of the local inns, did you wish to join me?”
Siegfried was rather dumbfounded at the situation. Tenebris had spoken calmly and in such a matter-of-fact manner than Siegfried was convinced that he knew he would see Siegfried, even though Siegfried was summoned to Melandria in silence. Returning his focus to King Redain, Siegfried noticed the King make a lazy, dismissive gesture, beckoning guards to escort to the two men out. Siegfried quickly made a half-bow and jogged towards Tenebris’ side as he exited the castle.
--- “Prince Tenebris!” exclaimed Siegfried, “I did not know you were here, at Lotheith no less! Why did you come? I was summoned to this land alone to send a message to King Redain and ask for aid, I do not understand why you are also here. It’s too dangerous for such a high profile figure to travel in these lands alone.”
--- “I can handle myself, Knight. You know this,” replied Tenebris calmly. “I was sent out before you were, to deliver the message and come to a solution with Melandria regarding these current affairs we find ourselves in. You were lied to, Knight. You were not sent to deliver a message. I imagine father sent you because he was worried about me, and wanted to ensure my safety. He always was one to worry.”
--- Siegfried was surprised. He slightly nodded to himself as he processed this information, it sounded reasonable and make enough sense. He did not appreciate being lied to, but he knew there must have been a good reason for the secrecy. He put it out of his mind.
[/QUOTE]
2,500 words in. Good fun.
Okay, Day One and I'm stoned and listening to music "brainstorming" should I start now? I have a bit of time until I need to go.
[QUOTE=matt000024;51292499]Okay, Day One and I'm stoned and listening to music "brainstorming" should I start now? I have a bit of time until I need to go.[/QUOTE]
Just remember the longer you delay the harder it will be to actually start or catch up.
What is the best formatting for this?
Hmm, the last two times I did this I took a whole day off and used to burn through like 7k words on the first day. Somehow I don't think I'll be able to do that this year.
On the bright side, today's challenge is complete! (Currently at 1733.) Just going to get it up to 2500 words I think before I call it a day. God it's been so long since I've written, my spelling has gone to complete shite.
I think my favorite part about this time around is I know exactly how everything is going to go so I just have to write out everything, fill in blanks and then start working on the news articles.
Remember, even if you don't complete your goal, great novels can be short too. Of Mice and Men is only 29,160 words.
Well I'm toxxed so I better hit 50,000.
I developed my idea a bit so I started writing some this morning. Currently at 714 words. I'm definitely not gonna be able to make 50K in 30 days but I'll stick with this, it's more fun than I thought.
Also, how do you all come up with good names for you characters? Right now I only have 1 character so I'm calling him MC for now (MC=Main Character).
As of today, Hunter's Moon: Rising is at 1812 words. Think I'll take a break for the moment, before I dive back in to this scene.
But here's a short excerpt from Chapter 1: Ben's Awakening.
[QUOTE]This made more than enough sense to Ben. He himself was not a full-blown Hunter, unlike most of his peers back at Tintagel Castle, but he had learned over the years to turn his mystical talents toward the hunt.
While he lacked the affinity for guns typical of the vast majority of Hunters, his affinity for the emergent field of thermaturgy brought fire and ice to whatever fight he found himself embroiled in. Even when being shaken down for his allowance as a young squire, he was not above setting someone's hair on fire, or freezing their tongue to a lamp-post.
But in spite of what everyone else said, it wasn't [B]his[/B] fault that the dean's beard kept bursting into flames. If the man stopped using so many products on it, maybe the occasional errant cinder [B]wouldn't[/B] set it off like a tar-coated badger.[/QUOTE]
Now at 3006 words
Terran Commonwealth completed for now.
1289 words and I finished my prologue. Gonna have to call it a day.
Once i finish this novel, i bet my productivity and overall motivation will sky rocket, since in the back of my head i can remind myself that i wrote a book.
I wasn't able to break through my inability to think of a decent plot or develop a proper setting in time and had to pass which I'm not very happy about, but good luck to all of the people participating.
Just hit 1667. God, that was absolutely exhausting.
[QUOTE=Swebonny;51291777]Haven't started yet. Will do after dinner![/QUOTE]
Clearly, you need better motivation if you're not eating while writing. Join Discord.
I think my plan of being stuck on one thing so move to another is working. There's no need to be trying to write something if you can't.
I'm going really slow, 832 words
Have only just started writing; been really busy packing to go home from the boyfriend's today.
Oh well. At least my time on the trains will be spent on writing!
So I read a lot of excerpts and I have some advice for everyone
When you write your story, ease people in with the fantasy names. Your first chapter shouldn't read "Adam talked to the High-Kaladar of Azaramai, Ajar Duvakas, about the attack from the Esgren of Vorgun Ter. The Warpknights had assembled around him in a protective circle as the High-Kaladar rubbed his pet Kessel-Dragon, the small tan skinned, emerald eyed beast breathing out a small flame as it rested. The Kozian throne sat empty on its dais."
I used to make this mistake. My idea was I had all this world building so I'll throw all of it in so people know how deep the world building was and so they get used to the names fast. But when I read your opening paragraphs and see four words I don't recognize then I'm going to be too lost trying to figure what everything is and what the fuck a Esgren or whatever is to enjoy your story.
Nowadays, when I write a story, I slowly introduce the terms over chapters, and only those that are exceptionally relevant. My introduction chapter only has around three foreign words in all 2,000 or so words of it, not counting names (which I intentionally make close to real ones for less confusion). The name of the city they're in, the name of the Kingdom it's in, and the name of the magical device the main character uses. Over the next few chapters I gradually introduce more and more words.
Brandon Sanderson talks about it in his lessons. Your first chapter should be easy to read for literally everyone, but then by the middle / end of your book most people will think it's absolute gibberish. You slowly add these terms so that people don't have to play a guessing game to find out what everything is and so they don't get scared off, and then when they're immersed in the story and in for the long haul (after a few chapters) you can start ramping up the stuff you drop on them, because at that point they'll see a pile of new words less as "Wow all these fucking words I need to figure out great" and more as "Awesome I love this world and now I know more about it!"
Just something I've noticed here.
[QUOTE=TheBloodyNine;51295131]So I read a lot of excerpts and I have some advice for everyone
When you write your story, ease people in with the fantasy names. Your first chapter shouldn't read "Adam talked to the High-Kaladar of Azaramai, Ajar Duvakas, about the attack from the Esgren of Vorgun Ter. The Warpknights had assembled around him in a protective circle as the High-Kaladar rubbed his pet Kessel-Dragon, the small tan skinned, emerald eyed beast breathing out a small flame as it rested. The Kozian throne sat empty on its dais."
I used to make this mistake. My idea was I had all this world building so I'll throw all of it in so people know how deep the world building was and so they get used to the names fast. But when I read your opening paragraphs and see four words I don't recognize then I'm going to be too lost trying to figure what everything is and what the fuck a Esgren or whatever is to enjoy your story.
Nowadays, when I write a story, I slowly introduce the terms over chapters, and only those that are exceptionally relevant. My introduction chapter only has around three foreign words in all 2,000 or so words of it, not counting names (which I intentionally make close to real ones for less confusion). The name of the city they're in, the name of the Kingdom it's in, and the name of the magical device the main character uses. Over the next few chapters I gradually introduce more and more words.
Brandon Sanderson talks about it in his lessons. Your first chapter should be easy to read for literally everyone, but then by the middle / end of your book most people will think it's absolute gibberish. You slowly add these terms so that people don't have to play a guessing game to find out what everything is and so they don't get scared off, and then when they're immersed in the story and in for the long haul (after a few chapters) you can start ramping up the stuff you drop on them, because at that point they'll see a pile of new words less as "Wow all these fucking words I need to figure out great" and more as "Awesome I love this world and now I know more about it!"
Just something I've noticed here.[/QUOTE]
Excerpts are just that though. You aren't meant to get the full scope or context of what is written in such a short example of the writings. Trust that the writers will explain things well, and over the course of their novel.
In all my works I've always eased the audience into the plot and setting. Give them real, tangible objects and emotions. Color as you go, and there is no confusion.
Fallen behind already, stupid uni work :suicide:
7,242 words written. It's easy when you don't have a solid plan, just make shit up as you go along... like real life.
[QUOTE=Novangel;51296313]Fallen behind already, stupid uni work :suicide:[/QUOTE]
No excuses! Get yourself into the Discord server and catch yourself up to speed!
[QUOTE=Linkuya;51296105]Excerpts are just that though. You aren't meant to get the full scope or context of what is written in such a short example of the writings. Trust that the writers will explain things well, and over the course of their novel.
In all my works I've always eased the audience into the plot and setting. Give them real, tangible objects and emotions. Color as you go, and there is no confusion.[/QUOTE]
Of course, but most people's excerpts are "hey guys here's my first chapter!" or something along those lines, especially since we just started. It's also a bit of an argument towards not showing off your work to everyone even though you're really proud of Chapter 44 paragaph 5 because nobody is going to understand it.
[editline]2nd November 2016[/editline]
If I do not complete this 50,000 word novel by November 30th, 2016, permaban me until I finish my novel
[QUOTE=TheBloodyNine;51297237]Of course, but most people's excerpts are "hey guys here's my first chapter!" or something along those lines, especially since we just started. It's also a bit of an argument towards not showing off your work to everyone even though you're really proud of Chapter 44 paragaph 5 because nobody is going to understand it.
[editline]2nd November 2016[/editline]
If I do not complete this 50,000 word novel by November 30th, 2016, permaban me[/QUOTE]
:toxx: logged. That makes three!
2375 words and working. This is fun!
Chapter 2 complete
Words written since last update: 2810
Words written in total: 5780
Read Chapter 2 here: [url]https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vPeqVsrQzv6i2xNXXYB43Sa5uJFE0jCpqTAa8u1nwSQ/edit?usp=sharing[/url]
Read chapter 1 here: [url]https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SeWDaNjQLolNHf4lqxwvsc149jDdJi8ZyGtRrHbug_g/edit?usp=sharing[/url]
Hope y'all are having as much fun as I am
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.