Nonfiction: Academics - where we're going, we don't need sleep. http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845 AltoidsAddict Are you using NaNo to muscle through your dissertation or thesis? Are you a faculty member who needs to publish or perish (and you might wind up doing both)? Does any of this sound like you? I'm a faculty member at Metropolitan State College and I am shamelessly using NaNo to progress on my book about the Sand Creek Massacre. I'm a historian by trade, and while my project is definitely in the NaNo rebel box, I find the constant need for discipline and the atmosphere of a write-in are perfect to get me past the initial research phase and into writing. My department is holding weekly write-ins this year, so this will also be a perfect opportunity for me to take a break from curriculum design and all the other things I allow to completely usurp my research and writing schedule. Is anyone else doing some academic writing? Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:17:59 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_46174 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_46174 adbeau I did this two years ago to get my first draft of Chapters 1-3 of my dissertation. I'm now done with my coursework and in dissertation phase, BUT I think I'm going to do a novel this year. Procrastination. :) It IS a a great way to get a lot of words on paper. I might have to mix my genres. this year. Hmmmm. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:10:54 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_47704 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_47704 cindik I'm going to try to rough out my constructive theology paper for next year. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:28:26 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_47908 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_47908 AKBK My only rule in NaNoing thus far has been to always break the rules. Year one I wrote a travelogue, year two I worked on something that I'd started years earlier and never got to finishing, and this year, I'm going for the NaNo thesis. Historian as well, working on Chinese 1950's propaganda. I'm only a masters student, so I don't even need 50,000 words to finish, so I'm planning to spit out 50k in a month long panic to just put ideas and words to paper, then spend the next few months polishing it into something readable. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:28:52 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_93319 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_93319 Rhyddid I'm writing a NaNo thesis, too. I'm a German Business student and need to write 70 pages for my Bachelor thesis on Corporate Social Responsibility. I want to finish it this year, so NaNo should be perfect to get most of the writing done. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:32:04 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97394 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97394 Carlos I'd love to do this. How much time do you spend researching BEFORE Nov 1? Tons? or Tonnes? ;-) Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:42:32 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_131798 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_131798 ecogrrl I'm working on finishing my first draft of my PhD thesis in anthropology ("Legacies: kinship and change in Kumasi, Ghana"). I live in a different town from my university, and I really miss having people to connect with. I was really excited to discover the rebels thread! I'm about 100 pages in, but there's a lot of descriptive stuff and interview transcripts, so there's quite a bit left to do for the next 150-200 pages (I'd like to keep it to about 250 pages total, in consideration of my committee. I've heard of 650 page theses in anth, but that just seems rude to me). I'm also a mom of a 15-month-old, so I have limited time to write. I'm getting a babysitter 3 days a week in November, and hoping that'll be enough. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:00:43 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_147606 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_147606 AltoidsAddict I'm just thinking of being able to put my bibliography in as content if I get desperate.... (Okay, not. That's 30,000 words without annotations by itself.) Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:22:05 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_166877 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_166877 garanoica Oh, I should have known better than to think I was the only one. Master thesis... I don't even know if it will reach the word goal, but if I even manage to write most of my thesis it will feel like a victory already. I feel jealous of my family and friends who are planning their plots and characters, though :( Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:04:04 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_167856 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_167856 Aalynia I want to use NaNoWriMo to put a flame under my butt for my PhD thesis on C18 satire, but I know I can't hit the 50k mark because I need to do more research for my other chapters first! I hope to hit 20k for my first chapter, plus have an annotated bibliography to boot. Since I'm in the UK, I need a chapter completed for 'upgrade', and what better way to get on with it than this?! :-) Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:42:48 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_199824 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_199824 lumpenweiblin Always makes me happy to know there's other people with the same half thought-out crazy ideas as me. My plan for NaNo this year is to get a good chunk of my undergrad senior thesis written - I'm a bio major, though, so that should prove VERY interesting. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:52:27 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_202818 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_202818 mickey77 I'm also working on finishing the first draph of my PhD thesis (chemistry). So, I am breaking a few rules - it's not a novel, and I've already drafted 1.5 chapters (out of 6... I think). I'm hoping NaNoing will motivate me and stop this horrible, horrible procrastination. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:46:05 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_264770 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_264770 Jaeh I am SO tempted to do this, but I don't think my thesis proposal would reach 50k. Data collection tho, may help push me in that direction. But I already have an outline for a fiction novel, so :3 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:54:49 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_269805 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_269805 SummerTulip I'm working on a book about New England history with a friend. Our publisher has given us a deadline of June 15th for this book. I'll be working on several chapters of that. I have done the research, just need the kick in the behind. June seem so far off, I keep putting it off. I don't want to wait until the final month, like we did with our first book, and then have to lock ourselves into my co-workers apartment and polish, edit and select photos all in a single weekend. :) I need to spread things out. No shame in writing academic material! :) Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:43:12 +0200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_279184 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_279184 justahappykid Same here, hoping for as much as I can write of my Master's Thesis on Culture and Social Cartography or what not... I'll be glad for every word that I have black on white :) Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:32:21 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_294356 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_294356 JStipe14 I will be drafting my Materials and Methods section, Abstract, Background, and my preliminary Results sections for my first draft of my Thesis- and writing an autobiographical fiction/memoir ish piece. If I combine the two, I'm sure I'll go over the 50k word mark. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:46:19 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_294473 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_294473 EmSaidSo I am so tempted to dump the novel (book five in a series, each written during NaNos past) and make a serious dent in my textbook for Turkish academics who write in English. I live in Turkey and have been am academic editor for 18 years so I am very familiar with the mistakes they make as Turkish speakers. I have a detailed outline and people tell me-- eagerly-- that it will sell like crazy... Tick tock tick tock Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:46:59 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_295424 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_295424 kristinegift I'm not working on a dissertation or thesis, but I have three research-based term papers due in December that I need a kick in the pants to get me to start writing them (or else I would be in the research phase forever). Between these three projects and the rewriting that will come along with each one, I'll be collecting a pretty substantial word count, even if it isn't 50k. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:43:53 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_299750 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_299750 SummerTulip [quote=justahappykid] I'll be glad for every word that I have black on white :) [/quote] EXACTLY! Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:22:26 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_319935 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_319935 bittergrrl Glad to see that there are some other academics around. I'll be working on my dissertation as well. I have three chapters in various stages of completion and two chapters plus the conclusion, which are not yet started. The goal for NANOWRIMO is to finish up the three partially finished chapters and complete one whole additional chapter. That will leave me with a chapter and a conclusion for the rest of the academic year - which would be awesome. Good luck everyone!! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:38:45 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_338027 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_338027 kristinegift [quote=justahappykid] Same here, hoping for as much as I can write of my Master's Thesis on Culture and Social Cartography or what not... I'll be glad for every word that I have black on white :) [/quote] Question! What is Social Cartography? That sounds awesome! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:13:08 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_338805 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_338805 rose_lemberg Yup, I'm going to be working on my discourse book. I am a sociolinguist by trade, and a faculty member in a Lang and Lit department. The book is going to end up closer to 70k, but I'll do my best do produce a chunk of the draft. Oh, if I hit 35k new words on the discourse book, I'm going to reward myself by drafting 15k of my novel in progress. Yes, I'm a rebel all the way, I am afraid. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:49:56 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353185 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353185 virtual.jess I have this Master's thesis I have been working on forever... I am about halfway done.... I am considering scratching it and starting over... My goal is completion of the first draft my the end of the month. I want to defend in January. I am in philosophy, writing on identity and gender in video games and gaming culture. I am keen to try out virtual write-ins, sprints or races, any sort of tasks we can do to keep us motivated. I had an idea that maybe task #1 could be No Reading Without Writing. I can read and read for months and months, feeling productive while doing nothing. So the principle is simple, whenever you read an article/chapter/manuscript, write up a precis on it. This serves two purposes- first, it gives you something to job your memory and organize your thoughts, second, it gets you in the habit of writing. And as a bonus you can possibly cut and paste paragraphs into your work if you need descriptive bits! My goal will be to do this for the whole month. Who's in? Maybe we should start an academic goals and competitions thread? Anyone interested? Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:22:02 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353886 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353886 virtual.jess I have this Master's thesis I have been working on forever... I am about halfway done.... I am considering scratching it and starting over... My goal is completion of the first draft my the end of the month. I want to defend in January. I am in philosophy, writing on identity and gender in video games and gaming culture. I am keen to try out virtual write-ins, sprints or races, any sort of tasks we can do to keep us motivated. I had an idea that maybe task #1 could be No Reading Without Writing. I can read and read for months and months, feeling productive while doing nothing. So the principle is simple, whenever you read an article/chapter/manuscript, write up a precis on it. This serves two purposes- first, it gives you something to job your memory and organize your thoughts, second, it gets you in the habit of writing. And as a bonus you can possibly cut and paste paragraphs into your work if you need descriptive bits! My goal will be to do this for the whole month. Who's in? Maybe we should start an academic goals and competitions thread? Anyone interested? Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:22:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353898 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_353898 isildur Oh Em Gee. Yesterday a friend was telling me I should be NaNo'ing my PhD thesis instead, I'm supposed to submit it by the end of the year. Oh. Now I'm torn between my desire to fictively procrastinate - and to finish my thesis in a NaNo fashion. That would be cool. So long as anti-gravity sex doesn't show up in my conclusion. Haha. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:47:43 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_354461 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_354461 justahappykid Good Luck to you, too, Summer Tulip! Hi Kristine, it feels awesome when I think about it... but writing about it I always feel like I'm an imposter... :) For me Social Cartography is the mapping of ideas in the Social Sciences. I started off just trying to find definitions of 'Culture' (as in intercultural) and next time I look I'm knee-deep in 'mapping viewpoints on Intercultural Communication' (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2885.1999.tb00160.x/abstract) and I'm in way over my head. I'm collecting my courage , I haven't had a look at my file for 5 months... Tomorrow's the day! If you want to look it up, there is this one guy called Paulston, RG from whom I picked up the term 'social cartography' (thanks to one of our teachers in the education department), but I'm still not sure how far I should go down that path... Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:48:42 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_364414 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_364414 CAL I am so relieved to find this forum. I desperately need to do some serious writing on my dissertation, but I have such a hard time moving away from research. I thought at first it was crazy to try to NaNo part of it, but at least there are others as crazy as I am! I'm planning on drafting at least one chapter, in addition to outlining/taking notes on another. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:24:53 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_367866 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_367866 SummerTulip [quote=justahappykid] Good Luck to you, too, Summer Tulip! [/quote] Thanks!!! Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:17:14 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369664 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369664 SummerTulip [quote=virtual.jess] I have this Master's thesis I have been working on forever... I am about halfway done.... I am considering scratching it and starting over... My goal is completion of the first draft my the end of the month. I want to defend in January. I am in philosophy, writing on identity and gender in video games and gaming culture. [/quote] This topic sounds absolutely FASCINATING to me, Jess! I would absolutely love to read something like that! Don't scrap it! Tweak it or take it in another direction, but don't scratch it. I think you're really onto something with that one! Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:21:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369805 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369805 SummerTulip [quote=virtual.jess] I am keen to try out virtual write-ins, sprints or races, any sort of tasks we can do to keep us motivated. I had an idea that maybe task #1 could be No Reading Without Writing. I can read and read for months and months, feeling productive while doing nothing. So the principle is simple, whenever you read an article/chapter/manuscript, write up a precis on it. This serves two purposes- first, it gives you something to job your memory and organize your thoughts, second, it gets you in the habit of writing. And as a bonus you can possibly cut and paste paragraphs into your work if you need descriptive bits! My goal will be to do this for the whole month. Who's in? Maybe we should start an academic goals and competitions thread? Anyone interested? [/quote] Love the idea. It's something a lot of our teachers have our student do while reading in class. (I'm a School Psychologist) The teachers pass out pads of post-its and the kiddos jot down questions, comments, connections to other books or their own experiences etc. and just stick them in and keep reading to not halt their fluency. Then they go back at the end of the time and review everyone's "stickies" together. It's a super idea. Not as easy for me to do on my kindle. LOL Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:24:38 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369927 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_369927 SummerTulip CAL - Just throwing this out there for you. I typically make a list of all the points I want to hit in a rough order of how I want to do it. Then I just dive in. I try not to over plan that first draft. I've always been the most sucessful, whether it was in writing my dissertain, a psych eval, or a book to just let the words flow first. I just type out everything I want to say about the topics on my list without looking at any of the data or fine points in that first draft. The big most important parts are what sticks with you. It's the "meat and potatos" part that you'd tell your friend about if he asked you what you were writing about. The big picture. It's only once I get all THAT down, that I go back into my work and add all the important details. :) Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:32:23 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_370190 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_370190 garanoica Ha. I've also been working on mine forever, and it's also about digital games (specifically speaking, Stealth Learning in WoW). Just saying. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:53:14 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_386977 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_386977 mickey77 Great idea! I'm in. Love the "no reading without writing" challenge, and I'm totally stealing. Thanks! Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:51:46 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_394962 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_394962 CAL That sounds like a great idea. I'm getting so bogged down in detail that I'm going nowhere. Thanks for the advice! Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:12:07 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_408046 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_408046 SummerTulip No problem! Let me know how it works for ya! Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:23:37 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_410764 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_410764 rose_lemberg Wow, I forgot how slowly academic writing moves. My usual daily quota is 500 words. Trying to make 2000 words a day is HARD. Spent most of the day in the library taking notes; now to convert these notes into real words. How is everyone doing? Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:35:01 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_438952 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_438952 AltoidsAddict "No reading without writing" sounds like a great mantra. I am definitely going to use that! Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:11:37 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_447748 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_447748 AltoidsAddict Not super in terms of wordcount, but I am making progress. NaNo has at the very least caused me to actually carve out a couple of hours each day to work on the book, instead of allowing myself to supplant it with "one more thing" for teaching. My department also held its first write-in tonight, and I got a lot of organization and analysis done, even if that didn't necessarily translate into wordcount. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:14:05 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_447834 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_447834 isildur About to start dissertating now; hopefully I'll drum up some wordcount. On the other hand, I DID manage to do all of 134 words - in my novel. This is a combined rebellion, although teaching duties are draining me of energy. Also, 500 words a day is pretty impressive! Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:35:21 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_451933 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_451933 bittergrrl I've been forcing myself to get writing done - some of it is obviously quotations from the works I'm writing on, but most of it has been actual new words. I have yet to count previously written words. Tomorrow I'm going to take a look at the chapter I'm working on, make some of the edits my adviser last gave me, and finish out the section I've been writing on so that I can give him a cohesive draft of the chapter. Which is awesome because I've been struggling to finish this chapter for months. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:58:07 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_452464 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_452464 Ryssa Towers I'm using NaNo to put a flame under me to get papers done for school. I won't make anywhere near 50K, probably, but......I have a conference paper due in a week and a half I need to work on, I have a midterm due in five days that I just got two days ago, and I have a massive class project due at the end of November. Yay for being a master's student in anthropology! /me pumps fist in air. /me bangs her head on the desk. *Sighs* Lots of all-nighters ahead, unfortunately. *grumbles* Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:17:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_456090 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_456090 isildur BREAKING NEWS: My Updated NaNoREBEL goal for making sure I finish my dissertation edits for submission. TWO CHAPTERS A WEEK. (this works because as soon as I send my supervisor one round, she sends me back another round of things to tweak). Is it do-able? Possibly. I'm OCD and nuts enough. Back when I was actually winning NaNo I was hitting 50k in 2 weeks. But that was before I got old, became a PhD student and was prone to wrist RSI. ANYWAY, RAHR! I AM SO IN THIS FIGHT! Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:01:26 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_456523 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_456523 Smithstorian Hey, I'm a tad late to the table but plan to catch up. THANKS to a great snippet in The Chronicle's Prof Hacker I found out about this NaNoWriMo world. My project is a bit offbeat. While working on my PhD in history I took a time-out and pitched my masters thesis to a publisher. They accepted and I spent a year (while working full-time) cleaning it up. It is a cool book (IMHO!) and won the 2009 Wyoming State Historical Society Non-fiction book award. Life took a detour and a few months ago I decided that phinishing was not for me (for so many reasons it would take 50,000 words itself!). I'm working full-time in a great job out of my home office. I'm in non-profit related to higher ed information technology. However, my passion is in history, particularly women in the American West in the 19th Century, and I loved writing and miss it terribly and I simply have to integrate it back into my life. SO - I am going to take a key character in my book and write a historical biography on her, taking enough liberty that it will be a cross between non-fiction and historical fiction. Her story is so juicy and filled with amazing historical events it simply has to be told with enough detail that including dialogue and some fictional (i.e. imagined) events will be key to its success. The closest thing to this type of writing, that I can think of off the top of my head, was done by Mari Sandoz in the 1930s-60s. Anyway, I'm going to consider myself as doing #NaNoWriMo AND #AcBoWriMo concurrently. Since it's the 4th of November I have to get going to catch up with you all. Wish me luck! Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:13:19 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_457251 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_457251 rose_lemberg Awesome. And wow, your department had a write-in? My department cares about service, but writing is not a priority for many. When/if I get tenure, I'll officiate a Rebel Nano @my university, or something like that. Good luck today! Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:22:46 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_460198 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_460198 rose_lemberg Best of luck. And 500 a day would get me very far indeed, only I am not doing that every day; some days are fiction days. My department doesn't know about my literary antics, nor would they appreciate it. Oh well. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:23:49 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_460222 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_460222 cakeofdoom What a great thread. I love the "no reading without writing" idea too. Yoink! I'm a pathologist, writing a book for trainees (there's a big gap in the market, I can tell you). So I'm writing my notes into logical order for others to read (instead of full of abbreviations and vague notes). It will take a good couple of years to have enough focussed and correct information in, but I have enough notes now that 50,000 words is doable. I'm unsure how doable it is in *November* alone, but I'll try! I'm hoping I'm starting slow but building up momentum :) Good luck everyone! Anyone else doing sciency things? I'd love to have some writing buddies! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:14:46 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_473944 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_473944 Norinetta Oh, I wasn't aware that people used NaNoWriMo to write academic stuff!! I'm writing a novel (duh) but perhaps next year I can use it to write an academic book? I could do all the archival research during the last 12 months, and then during November 2012 just write non-stop! Now that I think of it, I sort of organized small academic NaNos for myself when writing my PhD thesis - basically, I would force myself to write 10,000 - 12,000 words chapters in one week... Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:20:47 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_474103 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_474103 WritnGypsy I am writng a NonFiction Non Academic book.... can I come with you... lol I have done research for more then 20 years and tried desperately to interest an academic in my subject. Now, that I have become a Great Gradmother, efen if at a young age, I am feeling driven to get the story out of my file cabinets and to people to enjoy. So far I am doing pretty wello, but done a lto of rewriting of previous attempts. Now it is time to get to the nitty gritty and do parts that are harder to track down in my mounds of data. Good luck to all of us. Reasearching is great fun, but don't let it languish pass along the knowledge is my new motto. Oh boy, easier said then done, I am widing up somewhere between Creative Nonfiction and Historical Fiction.Since it is all not Non Fiction, I know it means it's fiction, but I am still following the story as I know it as much as I can. I am babbling now - Time to get some sleep Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:56:24 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_479477 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_479477 JStipe14 starting my academic thesis outline... wish me luck! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 07:10:26 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_484338 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_484338 cakeofdoom Good luck! :D Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:58:11 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_486872 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_486872 SummerTulip I'm having a hard time keeping word count up too. Research is a continual piece and I'm feeling like that is slowing me down a bit. Where I have an actual deadline with my publisher of June 15th, it's hard not to move slower and more methodically through this. It doesn't seem like the pressure of the word count is worth rushing things. It seems like I'll just end up with a longer editing process later. The book will be longer than 50K words, it just might not be done this month. I just wanted to get that boost. I do have to admit, I hate looking at that data and my projected "end date"! I write psych evals all day long. Sometimes all I have time to do (beyond caring for my 5 year old and husband who was recently diagnosed with cancer) is reading/researching/organizing/planning. I've only successfully met my "goal" one day this month, yet have worked on the book every day this month. I'm trying to be "OK" with that! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:50:21 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487884 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487884 SummerTulip Best of luck! You can do it! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:50:43 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487894 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487894 SummerTulip YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:52:09 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487908 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487908 SummerTulip I'm a School Psychologist, so I hear you about the teaching piece. Once the end of the day hits .... the planning hits ..... then you through NaNo on top. EEP! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:53:34 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487921 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_487921 Ryssa Towers Okay......looked through my midterm....it's on museum compliance with NAGPRA. (bangs head on desk many many many times.) Looks like 1000 words per question is entirely doable....at least one question will have less than that. That makes 3000 words for the entire midterm (maybe 15 pages). Yay for instant coffee! Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:38:04 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_490177 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_490177 cowgirlprof Yes. Trying to finish up a book on the history of a theological school. Fortunately not publish or perish but I want it done. I hope to write a historical novel after this is done. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:49:45 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_540480 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_540480 rose_lemberg Hello academic writers, how are you all doing? I have fallen a bit behind, but since I am happy with the words I produced so far, I have decided not to beat myself up for it. I think I probably will not be able to finish with 50k, but if I manage to produce over 30k of this manuscript, this will be major. A depressing thing I discovered: academic books have more words per page than novels; about 350-400 words per page (fiction has about 250 words per page). This shouldn't have surprised me, but it does mean that, for a standard 250 page length, I'll have to churn out close to 90k words It's actually going to be less for me, since linguistic examples take up a lot of space and are not word-heavy; but still, not exactly a cheerful realization. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:26:37 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_598479 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_598479 Herotodus I'm in it too, but on five different projects. I've done three so far (yay for book reviews), now I've got two papers to focus on. The first is an analysis of fighter pilot training methods in World War II, and the second is a comparison of jet technology development and corresponding strategic deployment considerations. Dunno if I will need 50k words to get them both done, but we will see! There are a few advocates for an Academic Novel Writing Month for next year, but I've since lost the link.... Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:40:38 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_598717 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_598717 JStipe14 got the thesis outline done! and surprised myself by writing a draft of the thesis that goes with it! I am so happy. time to start the giant paper for psychology. 5 sources, minimum of 10 pages, max of 20! I can do it! Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:25:21 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_721403 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_721403 Frances-MacDonagh After reading everything here I have decided to own up to what I have actually found myself writing - as opposed to the Nano novel I intended to write!! I am fascinated by the Catholic writer Tolkien, and especially with his great, overarching myth of world history from its creation up to the imaginary 'present' experienced in Lord of the Rings. Throughout all his writings there is an exploration of a number of philosophical themes e.g that History is not random, but that it has a direction and purpose; that there is an ongoing battle between Good and Evil; the importance of even the most important individual whose actions and decisions can 'change the course of history'; and so on. This will be a recording of my thoughts and ideas as I study Tolkien's works. Ultimately, perhaps [one can dream] I would like to write a Study Guide which is a mixture of detailed analysis of Lord of the Rings combined with a series of 'spiritual meditations' on the general themes. As I say - one can dream - but in the short term, I shall really enjoy this Nano project, and luxuriate in the excuse to submerge myself 24/7 in a wonderful parallel universe! Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:35:06 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_755044 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_755044 JStipe14 Got all the background research done for my psychology paper... Five journal articles ranging from 5- 20 pages long, digging about on Medline plus, searching on PubMed, and poking around on PsychInfo has given me a lot of data to work with, and a ton of background on co- morbid depression and anxiety. I also found two great books in my college's library! Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:10:21 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_846589 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_846589 ysmalan That's interesting! I had to write something like a seminar paper on a topic to graduate from high school, and my topic was "Landscapes of Good and Evil in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings", lol. Well, it was my first try at academic writing and at least it managed to get me hooked...! ;-) Good luck with your project! Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:09:50 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_851968 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_851968 luizamm YES. I do academic research and study Literature and Linguistics at a prestigious university in Brazil. My wordcount is basically divided in half between my novel and academic work (papers, tests, articles, essays and so on). I am writing a fictional novel as well, but I thought that unless I got flexible and counted my works for college, I'd end up neglecting/failing one or the other (or both!) Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:42:07 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_869350 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=1#forum_thread_comment_869350 ecogrrl JStipe14, you are an inspiration :) Glad it's worked out so well for you. I've managed to put together the bulk of my first draft, although it's lacking a coherent intro or conclusion, and the last chapters a bit of a mess. Sigh. Handing it in on Monday, though, no matter what. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:30:09 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_891844 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels/threads/3845?page=2#forum_thread_comment_891844