Complaints for those who are aiming high baby!

I'm shooting for 150k+ by the end of the month, and I took a day off today, so I'm about 2k behind today. And since I'm aiming for 6k a day, that means 8k that I have to write tomorrow.

On the upside, I have some wonderful new characters who are just completely awesome. But. I have 8k to write tomorrow.

Or I could just write that extra 2k tonight before I go to bed....

----------
NaNo '07 - Mythfits - WON
NaNo '08 - Sea and Sky - WON

Only half as much of an overacheiver, but I'm shooting for around 100K! And I'm well ahead of my NaNo daily goal, but about 2K behind my daily goal.

...which is better than yesterday, when I was around 4K behind! I still feel bad angsting about my lack of wordcount when I'm technically on top of things, though.

no worries: i feel kind of the same way. but you know what, we're officially behind in our personal goals, so dangit, we have a right to angst about it!

update: so i made it to 20k (obviously) and it's about 1 in the morning, so i'm off to bed. since this where i should have been on the 4th, and it is now the 6th, i'm annoyed, but not enough to so to stay up later. on the other hand, if i'm lucky, i'll still have enough writing adenaline coursing through my homework to get up at five tomorrow morning to write. or do my french homework. -sigh-

I'm also slightly overachieving. Aiming for 100k. I should be at 16,670 words by the end of the day, and as you can see I'm getting quite a bit behind. If I can just try and catch up a bit for the next two days hopefully I'll have the weekend to get properly back on track.

NaNo 09: House of Cards

I'm with you!! I'm shooting for 200k, and actually on track, but I'm going camping this weekend, and will come home to a lagging wordcount! Ahh!!

I get really frustrated at the people who assume that our novels are crappier because we're writing them so quickly, or that we'll be done in the first week or two and not really fully participate. Is my novel crap? Sure! But no crappier than the 50K ones I wrote more slowly. And obviously we're still here, participating in the community.

Sorry, just had to vent! :)

I think I can consider myself an overachiever... I'm aiming for 100k (I don't think 50k would be enough for my particular novel) but more importantly I'm aiming to get from the beginning to the middle to the end of my novel. For some reason always get to the first third of my storyline and freeze. I know what I need to write. I just cant... seem... to get... past that... point ARGHHHHHH

So now I'm pushing everything aside and just writing... I'm going to stop worrying about how my MC is going to get from point A to point B and I'm letting him get there on his own.

Unfortunately (and this is my vent) he seems to be going from point A to point K then back to D then onto R... he really has a mind of his own!

How does everyone else cope? Do you have plots and subplots all pre planned? (I do but I end up throwing out the window in frustration - literally my downstairs neighbour complained!)

"When life snatches your dreams, screws them up into unrecognizable balls of mush and spits them back in your face I just give life the finger and keep going. I'll be damned if I'm going to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me give up."
- Azrael

I feel the same way. I've never done this much this fast in a NaNo before, but I'm so far behind where I want/need to be (I'm aiming for over 100,000k words). I look at the stuff I've written, and I'm wondering why I wanted to write at all? I'm no good, it's all crap, and I should just give up.

It's just, you know. *shrug* NaNo has always been hard for me (I've never managed to make it all the way to 50k before), but this year it's been really hard. I can write fast, I have a story, but... I just feel so uninspired. And I feel guilty complaining about it here because I know there are others who look at my word count and wonder why I'm whining.

I promised myself I would get this story written by the end of the month, no matter how terrible the first draft would be. And... well... that's going to be the hard part, keeping that promise to myself.

THANK YOU for this thread. I'm always scared of being eaten alive in this subforum.

Anyway. I'm stuck. Blocked. :( Gods dammit. Not even write or die has helped much, it's like beating my head against a wall.

So I'm going slowly.

Nanoing with the zombie muse, Daramor!

2005: Musical Scales (53K)
2006: Myra (50K)
2007: Dark of Day (50K)
2008: TKH, SS, FW & CaP (200K total)
2009: Lucidity, ??, DaC & ?? (Going for 200K again! \o/)

Yes, thank you for this. I think what a lot of people don't realize in these forums is that there's a lot of Nanoers who write the other 11 months of the year. When you regularly write 3000 + words a day, writing 1667 isn't such a challenge. I do find a challenge in writing straight through on one topic each and every day.

That being said, I was really hoping to be at 14000 by the end of yesterday and I'm just barely at 12000. That puts me 2000 behind. It seems like as soon as Nano started I started having trouble writing my usual word count, much less above it. Its so frustrating! * Bashes head on wall * Not to mention I'm coming down with a cold. That should be interesting once it starts really bothering me.

[Untitled] 2009 (2.3k)
November 2009 essays for school (4/60pgs)

*rolls eyes* I think it's safe to say that a lot of people write whenever they have the time and chance. Just because you have a higher word count or are used to writing a lot every day doesn't mean that someone who has a hard time coming up with 1667 words per day is not a real writer or somehow wouldn't make it in the real world.

If 1667 is not a challenge for you, why don't you start your own website, make a new challenge, or work on making your 1667 words perfect--because I bet they're not.

If you want to re-define something, fine, just remember not to belittle the efforts of those who are actually sticking to the original definition.

There's always someone left to fight.

I agree 100%. To me nanowrimo is about being challenged to write 50,000 words. For MOST people, that challenge is hard enough without reading about people trying to write 100k, 200k etc.

I'm not belittling anyone, and it doesn't make them any less real of a writer. Everyone has many other commitments and hobbies to attend to, which often puts writing to the back burner. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have a lot of respect for anyone who tries to challenge themselves beyond what they're used to writing.

However, I was writing in response to Tamara_the_muse's observation that people with high word counts get a lot of snarky and often rude comments over our word counts.

I had been under the impression that NanoWrimo was about challenging ourselves to writing more than we'd normally feel comfortable with. For many people this is 50,000 words, which is great. It has been for me in past years. For others it might be 100,000 words, or even higher.

I think that in such a large set of forums, we should all be able to find the support to meet whatever goal we set for ourselves without getting rude or snarky comments from each other. This isn't some sort of competition. Personally, I'd love to see a 100% win rate, with a 'win' defined as each person's personal goal.

And if this can't be appreciated, people with word counts under the daily limit should stay out of the majority of posts in this subforum, while people who don't want to see people whining about high word counts shouldn't view a board labeled "Complaints for Overachievers"

[Untitled] 2009 (2.3k)
November 2009 essays for school (4/60pgs)

ORRRRRRRR people who are overachievers can go to the overacheivers thread made just for you on the "This is going better than I hoped!" forum, rather than COMPLAINING about doing better than everyone else here who's bummed b/c they can't get where they need to be to reach 50,000 by 11/30.

I see no problem with complaints from people who set themselves higher goals. I'm considering going for 100K this year. Does having a decent start mean I won't get stuck in the future? Of course not.

And believe me, if I've got writer's block , things certainly won't be going 'better than expected'.

2008 - Winner! - Pot Committed - 50,853 words
2009 - The Viv Kinei Hypothesis - ???

It's never been about me vs. everyone else. It's been about me vs. my own goals, and trying to find the support to reach them - just like everyone else in this forum. I'm very sorry if you're hurt by this, but I won't give up trying to challenge myself, because someone tells me it's wrong to do so, any more than you should give up because you aren't the most prolific writer at Nano, or because people have told you it's impossible to write 50,000 in one month. And while on the topic of how prolific people are, there's something said about quality as well, which is completely erased by the system of measurement being based on pure word count.

[Untitled] 2009 (2.3k)
November 2009 essays for school (4/60pgs)

I didn't see anyone complaining that they were doing better than anyone else. And I imagine this is exactly the sort of comment the OP was hoping to avoid. This isn't a thread that belongs in the "this is going better than I hoped" forum since it's obviously people aiming for higher word goals and struggling to make their goal. So what if that goal is more than the 50k? Those who are struggling to reach their word count goal are struggling regardless of what that goal is.

Sorry, I just don't see why someone aiming for 100k isn't allowed to complain that they're not making their daily word count goal.

Sarah

"The first draft of anything is shit." - Hemingway.

Sarah

"The first draft of anything is shit." - Hemingway.

"people with high word counts get a lot of snarky and often rude comments over our word counts."

I haven't seen too much of this, unless the word count truly does beggar belief and defy physical possibility. But really, I think most people with average/normal word counts have stayed out of the overachievers thread on the other forum that was just mentioned, letting you guys with the higher goals have your fun there. Also, most of the shoutout threads have been hugely positive with most people only mentioning that those with high word counts are an inspiration to them.

I'm not saying you don't have the right to whine if you aren't meeting your personal goals, but I am saying that, considering that probably 90% of people doing Nano ARE sticking to the same goal of 50,000 (are there stats on that somewhere?) you just might consider where you're posting about it.

If a man making $100,000 a year walks into a pub where the rest of the people are pulling in $50,000, and complains because he feels he should be making more, he is not going to have too many sympathetic listeners, is he? When there is a pub just down the road for high rollers like himself?

Moreover, we should probably try to avoid the "if you don't like it you shouldn't have clicked on the thread" type of statements; that's not very helpful to someone who obviously HAS clicked on the thread.

There's always someone left to fight.

I feel bad about having a high wordcount sometimes, because I feel like the people who are doing Nano alongside me will feel discouraged because of it... is that stupid? XD

"Books and movies don't need plots just emotion and passion" - ~Her-Dark Prince (some idiot on deviantART)
http://ohsosqueamish.wordpress.com/ --- my writing/art/etc blog!

NaNo 08: Sleep -- 63,820 words (won!)
NaNo 09: Written in Stone -- we'll see.

I actually see nothing wrong with this thread, and I believe that it is in exactly the right forum.

These are people who are having trouble hitting the word counts they are aiming for, just like anyone who is behind for the day or the week. These are people who are probably having the same problems with plot, writer's block, stuttering drive and feelings of inadequacy as any other person who comes to this forum.

Whether their word count is 200 or 20,000 is immaterial. They are behind their goal. They are in distress. Obviously, this means they belong here.

If a participant of NaNoWriMo is really so upset that someone with a high word count would DARE to enter this forum...well, I find that childish. I've avoided posting in this forum in the past because I've always been slightly ahead of the official daily word count. It doesn't mean I don't have problems when I'm writing. It doesn't mean I don't get blocked, or hate my characters, or find it changed to a genre I don't like. All of those things happened to me.

But, sadly, I didn't have anywhere to go and talk to people who would be sympathetic. Any time I tried, the only sympathy or support I got was "Well, you're so far ahead on your word count!" "You shouldn't be complaining--look how far ahead you already are!"

These forums are for support and aid, not to make other participants feel like they don't have a place to share their own woes. We're all trying to do something "impossible" here.

From the "About" page:
What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

a.k.a. Nanowrimo = 50,000 words. If the overachievers want to write 100k+ in November, maybe ya'll should start your own website with a higher word count goal

If I remember correctly, we had a similar discussion last year on this same subject. This may have been one the moderators waded in - but I don't remember exactly. I do remember that the group consensus came to that this forum was for anyone who was having troubles, regardless of their word count. The forums were to be about supporting each other on this insane adventure. Those with a higher word count, I don't think you are flaunting it. You aren't saying the rest of us suck for going for 50,000.

Writing is a love/hate relationship. It isn't an easy task. If it was, we would have a lot more of published authors in the world. (For those who wish to say differently, please don't say it in front of me right now for my pathetic start is going to be my archery target this Sunday. Hence why I am avoiding a certain board right now.) IMHO, we all need a place to rant and know we aren't alone. Regardless of why we are here or what our goal is, we are all cussing our stories right now ,and things could be going more smoothly. That is something in common and that we all can related to. It doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the other board. :)

As for what NaNo is suppose to be about that . . . the only one who can truly speak for that would be the creator of this adventure. Please do not think I am speaking for him for I am not. :) But the impression I am getting as a user is that anything goes. I know the About page says something, but you have to put an initial goal to get people to challenge themselves. (I know I would have only chosen 10,000 words as my first goal, but I am a lazy writer. :P) But there is nothing in the rules that I have found so far that prohibits high word goals and so on. It seems to be about challenging yourself to make writing a priority and well, to write. I have seen plenty of people who don't reach 50,000 words but still call themselves a winner. This one of the few writing communities I have seen that is welcoming to poetry, to nonfiction, to fan fiction and so forth. (If you know of good ones, let me know because I seem to have a knack for finding the terrible ones.) But again, that is a single user's observations.

So in short . . . to all, regardless of your word count, I sincerely wish you the best of luck and may your story be more cooperative than mine. Meanwhile, I am going to look for a plot bat to beat up my muse. *grins* Time to go "Office Space" on it.

2005: Phoenix's Equilibrium (Fin! Won!)- historical fiction
2006: Thorns of a Child's Rose (Fin! Won!)- crime drama
2007: Slipping Through the Cracks (Fin!-Barely Won!)- fantasy
2008: Magic's Shadow (Fin! Won!)
2009: Enemy of My Enemy -Cyberpunk/F

I'm feeling exactly the same way. I've posted a thread of my own since I have other problems as well. But I'm just feeling that people won't let me complain about my word count just because it's higher than theirs! It's making me feel crap about my word count and actually afraid to complain. I don't know what to do.

Dragonchilde is a moderator in every area here, so if you think that's how it should be handled then maybe you want to pass that idea on to her. Oh, and she's going for the 100K this year too, just so you know.

Then don't read it. Because as tired as you are of hearing our whining, we're equally as tired of being constantly accused of belittling people and making them feel bad, like that's what we're attempting to do. We're not, obviously, and that's why there are threads like these... So there's a bit of a separation between the two groups because no one wants to make anyone feel like crap, but the overachievers would like to be able to actually use the forums without getting attacked.

Anyway, Anne, I'm terribly sorry to say that I'm happy to see you're behind, since we're racing and all... but all out of love, of course. I know you know that, but it looks awful mean of me to say it in text... And, it will give you pleasure to know that I'm behind as well. IM me later [I'm likely invisible if you don't see me on] or pop into chat and we'll war. [:

http://erinfoster.webs.com
Purchase the AugNo 2009 Anthology or my 2007 NaNo

im 13k in, and ive just gotten to the part where the plot might, just maybe, come in. i didnt realize that it would end up being this long :( and im doing this for my culminating project as well, *sigh*

You're trying to compare a broken toenail to a full-body cast. The goal of nanowrimo is to write 50,000 words, it says it right there in the FAQ that I took an exact quote from. If you don't wanna see people calling you out for complaining about not getting up to your goal of 200K on a site that is for challenging people to write - again - 50,000 words, then maybe you should take your own advice & don't read it!!!!!

Good for her. But unlike the rest of you, she's not in here going on & on about it

If you don't think this thread should be in this area there's a Report button right next to the Reply button under every post. One of the moderators will get it and if they feel it should be moved they'll do so.

Moving beyond the bickering, if anyone at all is having plot problems and want to talk about it/ bounce ideas, feel free to send me a message. I could use someone to bounce ideas off of too, my plot isn't developing as planned.

[Untitled] 2009 (2.3k)
November 2009 essays for school (4/60pgs)

NaNoWriMo Ate My Soul does not have a "this is only for people who have lower word counts" rule... so I suggest that those of you coming in here and raining on these people's parades just because they still need to vent about trouble they're having, get a reality check and GROW UP!!! The way I see it, no matter how many words you are able to write in X amount of days, you're going to have things that frustrate you, especially as the days pass on. Quit making them feel like crap for having the word counts they do, they still go through the same things during writing sessions that the rest of us do.

"Angst: it's what's for dinner." - Crispini

2 liters of cola killed: I lost count, too many to remember
cups of tea consumed: 5 (cola is more enjoyable and cheaper too!)