Final Hours of Prep http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877 such_heights How's everyone feeling? I'm watching the clock tick by until I can go home and start going through my outline one more time. Are you excited? Nervous? Confident? Done as much planning as you were hoping to? Going to start writing at midnight or planning on banking some sleep hours while you can? I feel like I've spent so long thinking about some of the beginning scenes of my novel that it's going to be something of a relief to actually start writing them down and move onto the next bit in the story. Eeeeeek! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:15:21 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237610 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237610 vixenoflight Terrified, I am terrified and thinking this is not a good idea since i have a Proper Day Job as well...!! Agh my story sounds really cliche in my head as well...I don't think I've done a good job of (mentally) presenting them whatsoever... Stupid last minute nerves! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:19:40 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237689 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237689 holly6000 I am nowhere near in the rght frame of mind. I have family visiting until Sunday so I'm at a loss as to when I'm going to get some writing done! Hopefully it'll all work out in the end.... Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:22:00 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237738 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237738 DanGrover Very excited! I'm happy with my plot, though there are a few things I still need to worry about much later on in the story. That said, I might be going to watch Question Time on thursday night, which'll be a pain. Also, Friday is my last day at work - this bodes well generally for my spare time in November, but poorly for my productivity on Friday and Saturday, as I expect I'll be either drunk or hungover for most of those two days. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:27:41 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237838 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2237838 feath I'm all ready - researched, plotted and watching the clock. It's a story I've already started, but not even finished chapter 1 yet, and I'll only be counting new words. I expect to be doing about 2.5 words a night, give or take. I'm looking forward to writing with other writers! Cheers! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:39:38 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238074 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238074 darklily Excited. Very excited. I am counting down the minutes and will have fingers poised over the keyboard at midnight. (I've always found it best to get words down as soon as possible, so I have something to build on the next morning. Even if it's only one line, it beats the heck out of waking up to a blank page.) The plan is... mostly there. Right now it feels a bit like a big group photograph with some of the figures blacked out: I know most of what happens and where the missing bits need to slot in, but am not sure what those missing bits actually *are*... Reckon I'm good to go up to the end of chapter three, though, so that buys me some time! Of course, a bit of me is terrified that the whole plot will evaporate, Cinderella-pumpkin-style, on the stroke of November. But so far, the confidence is winning! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:41:39 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238109 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238109 SJ Carey I'm terrified. In fact, I think I've lost my mind - I am not the slightest bit ready. I have school to think about. Got a weekend away from home this weekend. I'm going to need all the time I can get - not to forget muse. I'm lacking that as of late. Don't even mention my plot! I've got the basics down but it's sure to fall apart somewhere in the middle... Oh well, let's hope it works out eventually! Best of luck to every one participating! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:41:34 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238112 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238112 sumerianhaze It's all falling apart nicely. I've decided against the plot that I thought I had, and the second plot that I thought I had, so now I'm floundering in open waters without a third plot, and the sharks are circling. Exciting! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:52:46 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238312 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238312 NickMB Will definitely be starting that plan soon. Probably have enough in my head to get me through at least the first day or two, but yeah. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:01:45 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238478 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238478 miss_hellfire Contrary to my usual methods I've drawn up a six-page plan with beginning, middle, end, characters, events, motivations... and for some reason this has made me more nervous than I've ever been to start a NaNo. Argh! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:11:57 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238664 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238664 JoeyMacGuffin I'm really excited. I want to start writing already! I'll probably be counting the minutes until midnight to start sprinting. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:17:11 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238767 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2238767 EmeraldWrz Dear everyone, I am really excited about the challenge of writing a novel this November, but i am also extremely nervous because it is my first time at NaNoWriMo and my first time at attempting to write something this huge. My concerns are if i will actually be able to sit down in the morning with my plan and write something! What if i can't - scary thought. Also, i only hope that other daily things do not get in the way of writing, although i have written a schedule which i hope will help with this. I am petrified to be honest, but that is only because i have put so much pressure on myself; as i am my most severe critic. I don't want to let myself down and others, for i have really tried hard to plan this. (How can you all be so calm?!). Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:30:07 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239013 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239013 holly6000 [quote=EmeraldWrz] (How can you all be so calm?!). [/quote] Who said anything about calm? Though being relaxed will certainly help with the word count! The one thing to remember is just to let yourself write. Don't read back more than a sentence at a time. You can worry about clunky dialogue and horrible prose later. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:34:32 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239077 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239077 GWis Ambivalently excited and terrified. I even had a dream last night that it was the end of November and I hadn't started yet. I haven't had a dream like that since Uni exams! On the plus side it means I'm taking it very seriously. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:00:08 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239597 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239597 S Kavanagh I'm excited! I don't even have a plot yet, but I've spent the last year with this opening line in my head so I'm actually pretty glad that NaNoWriMo is going to force me to do something with it at last. I'm also a teacher with a NaNo club at school, so I'm also really looking forward to seeing what my kids can produce (probably a lot better than me!) Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:07:19 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239748 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239748 Liesmith THIS. Very much this. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:10:27 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239828 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2239828 JoeyMacGuffin Well, for me writing is fun, so while I'm not exactly calm (I'm vibrating with anticipation), I'm not particularly anxious. You can't fail at fun. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:41:27 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240516 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240516 Elyzab I'm looking up Norfolk birds to add detail to chapter one. The whole novel is set in Norfolk. I have never been there. This might be a problem. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:42:14 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240529 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240529 katekatekoala Excited and nervous and all those FEELS! Still have no effin clue what I'm doing. Oh well. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:45:34 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240609 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240609 EmeraldWrz Thank you. I will try my best. x Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:52:00 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240714 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2240714 tony stark I'm from Norfolk! And now you've made me curious because I've been feeling really homesick lately :3 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:07:24 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241053 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241053 bagbag No point getting nervous, as I see it – it's only a first draft anyway, and the situation is basically hopeless from the go! Found out about this only a few days ago, and have only the most general outline in my head (I was originally toying with the idea as a short story). Given that, in 10 years of trying to write, I've only ever completed about five pieces of prose (along with probably about 200 unfinished pieces), I don't really hold much hope, but am going to try my best. Holding fast to the idea that Haruki Murakami never plots, ditto Stephen King. Next stop: bestseller (funny how, deep down, there's the foolish but unquenchable hope that everything will turn out briliantly). Good luck everyone. See you out there in no man's land. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:26:02 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241463 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241463 Squidshire I'm not as nervous as I probably should be. I think I'll only realise what I've gotten into in a few days, at which point I will become totally unhinged. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:45:22 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241626 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2241626 Ranyia Generally excited with a side order of mild terror. Done enough plotting to feel nervous about turning it into a vaguely coherent story but not enough to actually come up with any character names beyond 'bad guy' and 'dodgy neighbour'. Maybe I could bribe trick or treaters for some ideas... 'you're not getting any candy until you give me at least 3 useable character names'. Think I'm going to swipe darklily's excellent idea about getting a few sentences down at midnight, I do, at least, have the opening line so might as well put it to good use. Good luck all, have fun! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:11:43 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2243185 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2243185 Henry J. Lyons Owing to the cataclysmic delays experinced by Central Line travellers today, I found myself sitting down on the bare pavement of the Mile End platforms, jotting down my final throughts before I start tomorrow morning. In the process of running through my final preparations, I caught the attention of two young girls, and spent the rest of my journey discussing my plotline with them, their mother and grandmother, and most of the rest of the carriage. I got so carried away that I stayed on the train until the end of the line, a good seven stops past my usual alighting point, to chat about my upcoming NaNo project. That journey has really helped put me in a positive mood for the beginning of the month. Having said that, though, I bet that no other Central Line passenger travelling today enjoyed their journey nearly as much as I did! Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:29:14 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2243433 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2243433 Silme Betty Going to watch Captain America: The First Avenger while eating pizza. Somehow I have become the statue of calmness. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:39:07 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2243581 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2243581 CarlieD Hear, hear! Traipsing around London like madcap tourists, moving to Mitcham from Earls Court over the weekend, too, getting work-related things sorted out this week and next... I hate my sense of timing. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:01:34 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2246060 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2246060 CarlieD I am planning on sprinting wildly at the stroke of midnight, sleeping a few hours, waking up nice and early to get started on getting my NI number set up and bank account sorted, possibly either sleep a few hours, sprint again or go trot around a museum in the afternoon, then along to a write-in in the evening. Set up a meeting time with my father for Friday morning at some point in the late evening tomorrow when he arrives at Heathrow... Oy vey. I'm exhausted already. After that, probably won't write a word for the next four days while Dad is here. Hence the wild first day sprints. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:05:53 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246177 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246177 CarlieD Oh, and I've got time to finish one last episode of True Blood before midnight. *trots off* Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:07:08 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246195 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246195 Jazz.Coffee.Love Crazy how excited I am right now. Come on, midnight! No idea what I'm writing but let's go! Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:11:37 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246318 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246318 DanGrover [quote=CarlieD] Hear, hear! Traipsing around London like madcap tourists, moving to Mitcham from Earls Court over the weekend, too, getting work-related things sorted out this week and next... I hate my sense of timing. [/quote] You ended up in Mitcham, eh?! Jewel of CS7, they call it... Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:16:51 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2246419 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=1#forum_thread_comment_2246419 katekatekoala There is always time for Captain America: The First Avenger. Unf. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:23:34 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246570 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246570 katekatekoala LESS THAN AN HOUR I CAN'T HANDLE IT Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:23:25 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246577 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246577 lorenamp I also have no idea what i'm going to write. But I want to start at midnight too hehe. Meanwhile, i'm watching Law & order with subtitles to learn english. Boy this serie is fun. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:27:48 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246683 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246683 Synthetic Man I'm calmer than with previous NaNos. I'm sure I'll soon be realising the madness of the task ahead of me! Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:28:29 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246701 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246701 tony stark I spent the past few hours reading the new Walking Dead novel and now I really want to change my idea again. Something's telling me that all that time I spent planning was a waste. That or it would be a really terrible idea to switch ideas now. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:35:19 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246869 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246869 Omega1989 I felt really ready until about a hour ago, and now I don't feel ready at all. I have a nicely worked out plot outline, but I'm still not totally sure how my novel is actually going to start. This is maybe not the optimal position to be in 20 minutes before I begin writing. Oh well, what's the worst that can happen? Also, I have decided I don't like the name of my main character, so if someone can offer something better than 'Simon Pearce', it would be appreciated. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:39:54 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246983 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2246983 S22K I felt ready and now I'm all jittery and losing my head! Aaaahhh I feel so unready in terms of EVERYTHING, like grammar and STUFF. I still need NAMES!! ;_; Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:44:22 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247087 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247087 seantheprawn this is my first year of doing NaNoWriMo and already it feels like one long panic attack. good luck everyone! Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:55:23 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247369 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247369 Jazz.Coffee.Love ... oh, and there's the flash of panic as I realise I really don't know what I'm writing or how I'm going to do it... Good luck and happy Nanoing, everybody : ) Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:03:06 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247577 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247577 technothrillerben I *think* I now have enough outline to write 50k. So I'm perfectly calm. Absolutely calm. Calm, calm, calm. Calm thoughts. All is calm here. Why are you looking at me like that? Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:07:48 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247683 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2247683 lorenamp Oh man, and here we have the word-count-thingy below the avatar. I'm going to bed. Perhaps tonight I'll dream a plot. Happy NaNo everybody :) Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:23:13 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2248047 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/europe-england-london/threads/79877?page=2#forum_thread_comment_2248047