Does THIS Count as a Novel? http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598 Dragonchilde   Every year, people ask the same question: Does what I'm writing count as a novel? For the purposes of our specific, 30-day challenge, NaNoWriMo defines a novel as a "lengthy work of fiction." The short answer to your question is, <strong>if you think you're writing a novel, then so do we</strong>. As NaNoWriMo is a self challenge, only you, in the end, can decide if you're really writing a novel or not. After all, you only get out of the challenge what you put in! Still not sure? Ask, and we shall answer! From Dictionary.com - <strong>NOVEL</strong> - "a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes." <strong>FICTION</strong> - 1. the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, esp. in prose form. 2. works of this class, as novels or short stories: <em>detective fiction.</em> 3. something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: <em>We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.</em> 4. the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining. 5. an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation. 6. Law. an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law. If you want to write something that falls outside the scope of NaNoWriMo, that's just fine, it would probably just be more honest of you not to validate at the end... after all, if you didn't stick with our few rules, then you really didn't "win" the challenge. We do ask that if you use our resources, that you consider <a href="http://store.lettersandlight.org/" rel="nofollow">making a donation</a>... after all, we're entirely dependent upon your generosity to keep this thing running every year! Every little bit helps! Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:17:53 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1099 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1099 EpicFailMeiku The idea I'm working with is a kind of journal on all the races in my fantasy world. I'm not sure if it would count as connected short-stories, or if it can be called a story of any kind really. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:13:52 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_64463 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_64463 Keladryie It all depends how you write it, really. That topic could come across as a 'non-fiction', for your world. Or if you wrote it as a journal, from someone's POV as if they've researched the races all their life, then it could be more like a novel about a historian and their life. In the above post by Dragonchilde, it states: NOVEL - "a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes." Is your book going to portray characters and have scenes, action, conflict and resolution? Then it's a novel, and therefore fitting the rules of NaNoWriMo :) Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:32:19 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_64679 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_64679 Craig OK you say it would be more honest not to validate, yet you answer on two forums that state they are for nano rebels, I want to be honest and also write a novel. I am confused. Please help Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:22:13 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113726 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113726 Dragonchilde The decision to validate or not is purely a personal one. No one will give you heck for validating as a rebel; I personally don't think that it's necessarily honest to validate and say you won when you didn't follow the rules, and wouldn't validate myself if I rebelled, but many rebels can and do, and feel they've truly won the spirit of the event. :) It's not my place to tell them they haven't... NaNoWriMo is a self challenge. However, this is the rules forum, and we just give the by-the-book answers to questions. :) Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:38:17 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113970 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113970 eaubaby Is a fictionalized version of real events fiction enough to count as a novel? Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:51:08 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125389 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125389 Dragonchilde If you think it is, then so do we. We don't have a prescribed amount of fiction that must be present. When it comes to determining how much fiction is enough for a novel... it's up to you. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:53:50 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125423 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125423 eaubaby Fantastic! I'm pretty sure when I crack open my brain on November 1st, that's what's going to come out. Thanks for your quick answer! Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:11:48 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125657 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125657 sammori What about Poetry? Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:57:04 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_132025 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_132025 Keladryie Please see <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/4285" rel="nofollow">this thread</a>. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:40:55 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_134257 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_134257 KaydeeYaleni What if I take the storyline of one of my favourite roleplaying games and write it as a novel? Does that count? Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:17:07 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_143437 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_143437 Dragonchilde As long as you start writing on November 1 and not before... sure! The only rule we have for content is that it must be fiction. Beyond that, it's up to you! Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:39:06 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_149926 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_149926 Kazdragon What if I write a Graphic Novel and finish 50 pages in a month? Does that count? It's still writing a novel, and it would be just the same amount (If not more!) of work. I'm planning on doing 1.6 pages of the story in a month. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:43:26 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_152909 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_152909 Keladryie Feel ree to join up as a Rebel, but a graphic novel sadly doesn't count rules wise. In the very first line of 'NaNo in a Nutshell' in the Help section, it states: 'Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month’s time', so it clearly states 'word' novel. There's a full Rebel section in the forums though :) Many people come here to write a script and a few are probably doing graphic novels (as they have in other years) so please feel welcome! Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:51:41 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_154006 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_154006 Kazdragon I mean what? I meant 50 pages in a month. Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:21:51 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155806 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155806 Lousy Writer 13 Graphic novels are not directly part of NaNoWriMo. They are, however, part of <a href="http://www.scriptfrenzy.org" rel="nofollow">Script Frenzy</a>. NaNoWriMo is about <em>word count</em>; Script Frenzy is about page count. Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:35:39 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155947 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155947 Dragonchilde We have no way to verify or count a GRaphic novel; so even if you wrote 1,000 pages, it couldn't be validate as a winner. :) If you head down to the NaNo Rebels forum, you'll find you're not the only graphic novellist! Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:52:10 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_156711 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_156711 rjroch Could I use a song to write my novel? By this I mean a folk song that tells a story, could I use that and expand on the story to make it a full novel? Would I have to change characters names and the essential story line? Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:40:07 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_163811 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_163811 Dragonchilde We allow fanfiction of any kind, so I can't see why we would disallow fiction inspired by a song, and you wouldn't need to change anything. Now, if it's publishable, that's another story, but we don't worry about publishability for NaNoWriMo. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:42:37 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_170690 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_170690 Sabina.Fudge can other people read my novels or is it just a way to save something online and does it matter if its not the complete 50,000 words would it count as just a story if its like 10,000 words Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:51:11 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_171457 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_171457 Dragonchilde <em>can other people read my novels or is it just a way to save something online </em> We do not save your novel, nor do we display it. You can post an excerpt in your profile if you like, but it isn't required. You write on your own computer, in a word processor (or offline, even, if you want!) <em>and does it matter if its not the complete 50,000 words </em> Stories do not have to be complete at 50,000 words. The word count goal is a threshold, not a limit. <em>would it count as just a story if its like 10,000 words</em> No, your novel must be at least 50,000 words to win. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 04:03:17 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_171623 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_171623 Renelee1964 So it has to be fiction not a novel about peeople in my life? Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:24:41 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_173270 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_173270 Lousy Writer 13 Well, yes, it is supposed to be fiction. You can check out the NaNo Rebels and see that many people do non-fiction, but the event itself is officially about writing fiction. Frankly, I've considered writing about people in my life. Heck, my life lately reads like really, really bad fiction. All you'd really need to do to make this work within the strictest interpretation of the rules is fictionalize it. So, your significant other is not just Joe or Suzie or whatever... he/she is a superhero with the amazing ability to move chocolate and coffee... (or whatever). Point is, fictionalizing the truth may be easier to do, falls within the rules and, if you choose to share it with anyone who might make an appearance in the novel, it may simply be safer. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:42:47 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_173478 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_173478 Olafstar Is writing a fanfic considered legal? Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:46:08 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_179265 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_179265 faithlessone It's legal to write and post on the internet (if not for profit), but you'd probably have a very hard time publishing it. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:45:16 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_181333 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_181333 Olafstar Well, it seems that I'm not going to write a fanfic- have come up with a much better idea that has a lot more potential to become a 50,000+ word NaNo story- plus it's something completely original and something that other authors don't do much. Go to my novel bio thing for more info. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:30:58 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_183715 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_183715 Dragonchilde Not necessarily. Fanfiction is actually in a legal grey area. It's actually probably illegal, as it's usually a copyright/trwdemark violation. However, many authors turn a blind eye, or explicitly sanction it. However, the profit status of the piece is irrelevant as far as copyright law is concerned. Copyright violation is still illegal even if you're not profiting from it. For the purposes of NaNoWriMo, it's totally fine, but posting it on the internet may ot may not be illegal, depending on the fandom in question. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:03:42 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_184779 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_184779 D.Morrissey Would dictating be against the rules? (Not the whole novel just the parts my hands are too sore to type) My hands are already sore after finishing the work for my classes and I can barely type after about 2,000 or so words a day. So I was just wondering if I could do something to ease the pain. Unless the physical pain is just another part of the challenge? Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:58:36 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_195300 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_195300 Keladryie Dictating is very much acceptable. I use that Dragon program. :) Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:19:53 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_195383 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_195383 jerrygillespie I would like to write a series of ten to twelve connected short stories of three to five thousand words each and submit that. Should I be in the "rebels" category? Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:35:18 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_196874 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_196874 Dragonchilde I'll quote what we have posted in the rebels forum: <em><strong>I'm writing a collection of short stories. Am I a rebel?</strong></em> <em>Probably not. There's no actual rule on this one. We define a novel as "a lengthy work of fiction." However, we the moderators feel that since you find short story collections on the shelves alongside longer works of fiction, if they're related, they count. They need to have some common theme, or linking thread that weaves them together that makes them a single, "lengthy work of fiction." </em> In short: If you think it's a novel, we do too. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:19:29 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_197963 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_197963 DonRoche does we have to write a novel? Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:37:17 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_212390 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_212390 faithlessone As opposed to? NaNoWriMo stands for National <em>Novel</em> Writing Month. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:02:59 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_212569 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_212569 olafmoriarty If the argument against graphic novels is that it can't be validated and that it needs to have 50,000 words, how about this: Can I write a <em>script</em> for a graphic novel, or would that fall into the rebel category? Yes, I know that there's some other completely different thing called Script Frenzy, but honestly, I see no reason why a graphic novel script shouldn't be a valid NaNoWriMo novel. Is it a lengthy work of fiction? Check. Is it "a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes?" Check. Is it possible to validate it by counting the words to see if there are fifty thousand of them? Check. Okay, you may argue that as long as it's only a script and not a finished graphic novel it's not really a novel, but at the same time, the rules allow that if you start writing a novel, it counts as a win if you pass the 50,000 word mark, so logically I would assume you could do the same thing here, by doing the art part after November. So in my opinion, a fully scripted graphic novel script with 50,000 words or more would count as a novel in the NaNoWriMo meaning of the term. However, if people and admins feel that this is outside the scope of NaNoWriMo and that it would be dishonest to validate such a work, I would like to know that before I start writing this. I didn't join up here to be a rebel. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:52:06 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_251163 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_251163 Dragonchilde [quote=olafmoriarty] If the argument against graphic novels is that it can't be validated and that it needs to have 50,000 words, how about this: Can I write a <em>script</em> for a graphic novel, or would that fall into the rebel category?[/quote] It's a rebel project, yes. Scripts and Novels are two completely different beasts. [quote]Yes, I know that there's some other completely different thing called Script Frenzy, but honestly, I see no reason why a graphic novel script shouldn't be a valid NaNoWriMo novel. Is it a lengthy work of fiction? Check. Is it "a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes?" Check.[/quote] I don't think that a script counts as prose; I'm not a formatting expert, of course, so someone else may be able to clarify that. However, script and novels are completely different art forms, that serve a different purpose entirely. A script is effectively an outline; little more than a blueprint for the finished product. A novel IS the finished product. Saying a script is a novel would be like saying an outline is a novel. Scripts involve formatting rules, certain limits that are not present in novels, for example. I don't think I've honestly ever heard anyone argue that a script is a novel; They're such different art forms that we have completely different events for them. I'm a novelist at my core, and I've never been able to do a script. They are just too different. I'm going to check with the others at HQ to see if I can get someone else to explain this better than I can. [quote] Is it possible to validate it by counting the words to see if there are fifty thousand of them? Check. Okay, you may argue that as long as it's only a script and not a finished graphic novel it's not really a novel, but at the same time, the rules allow that if you start writing a novel, it counts as a win if you pass the 50,000 word mark, so logically I would assume you could do the same thing here, by doing the art part after November. So in my opinion, a fully scripted graphic novel script with 50,000 words or more would count as a novel in the NaNoWriMo meaning of the term.[/quote] At the end of the day, our rules state: "If you think it's a novel, so do we." While I disagree with you that a script is a novel (if it was a novel, it wouldn't be a script) in the end, this is a self challenge, and we don't care what you're submitting. [quote]However, if people and admins feel that this is outside the scope of NaNoWriMo and that it would be dishonest to validate such a work, I would like to know that before I start writing this. I didn't join up here to be a rebel. [/quote] Scripts really are outside of the scope of NaNoWriMo. That's why we have the <a href="http://www.scriptfrenzy.org" rel="nofollow">Script Frenzy</a> challenge separate from the NaNoWriMo challenge. Writing a script (even a graphic novel script) is rebellion, and that's where you'll find other graphic novelists. I'll see if I can't get some of our more educated staffers to take a look and see if they explain <em>why</em> a bit better than I can. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:48:07 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_253048 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_253048 Cymilla Are there different word count divisions for different ages? Is the 50000 word count only for writers over 18 or 20? Or is it for all ages? Just wondering...someone said something about this. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:09:31 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_256438 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_256438 Lousy Writer 13 [quote=Cymilla] Are there different word count divisions for different ages? Is the 50000 word count only for writers over 18 or 20? Or is it for all ages? Just wondering...someone said something about this. [/quote] Here on the main NaNoWriMo site, the 50,000 word threshold is for all of us. For anyone under the age of 18, you have the option of using the <a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org" rel="nofollow">Young Writer's Program</a> site, which will allow you to set a different threshold. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:14:25 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_256505 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_256505 olafmoriarty Thanks for the reply -- you explained it well enough for me, so you don't need to bring in others to explain it better: I understand what you mean and why you mean it. So I guess I'm scrapping my project and writing a boring old novel instead. I don't have any interest in being a rebel. I want a product I can honestly validate and be proud of, and this clearly isn't it. So thank you very much for explaining this -- it would have been a real pain to learn this November 10th when I already had 20K words done. :-) Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:40:32 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_258336 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_258336 Rick Dean Glad to see this on here. I have tons of story ideas, but none that I'm burning to write at the moment, so my plan is similar. My intention is to write a series of connected essays/short stories, some of them true, some of them entirely made up, and some of them somewhere in between, and have a bit of a connective thread to them so that there's enough overall cohesion that it can qualify. It's stretching the spirit of things a bit, but I think it'll pass. The important thing is that I'll be WRITING! Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:39:30 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_264683 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_264683 MaggieLR I have a novel that I started, I would like to continue, I have left it untouched for a while. Would it count if I continued and added a new 50,000+ words? or does it have to be a start of a new novel? Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:28:45 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_283839 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_283839 Dragonchilde [quote=MaggieLR] I have a novel that I started, I would like to continue, I have left it untouched for a while. Would it count if I continued and added a new 50,000+ words? or does it have to be a start of a new novel? [/quote] You have to start from scratch, with a new novel. From the <a href="/faq/rules#startfromscratch" rel="nofollow">FAQs</a>: <strong>Do I have to start my novel from scratch on November 1st?</strong> Yes. This sounds like a dumb, arbitrary rule, we know. But bringing a half-finished manuscript into NaNoWriMo all but guarantees a miserable month. You’ll care about the characters and story too much to write with the gleeful, anything-goes approach that makes NaNoWriMo such a creative rush. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate, and you’ll tap into realms of imagination and intuition that are out-of-reach when working on pre-existing manuscripts. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:59:03 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_284309 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_284309 MaggieLR OK new it is. It makes sense, I haven't touched the old one for months, I need a fresh start. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:20:36 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_284636 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_284636 absoluteddie If I'm planning on writing a fictitious memoir of a rock star, is this a novel? or will I have to scrap/restructure my idea? Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:20:11 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_312247 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_312247 Dragonchilde [quote=absoluteddie] If I'm planning on writing a fictitious memoir of a rock star, is this a novel? or will I have to scrap/restructure my idea? [/quote] Do you think it's a novel? If you do, so do we. It's a lengthy work of fiction, so it probably counts. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:33:28 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_312552 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_312552 blakewatson I have a novel that I planned and began before November, but I wrote only one paragraph. If I scrap that paragraph and start over with all-in-November prose, would that count or make me a NaNo Rebel? Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:53 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_339249 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_339249 Bookworm140 As long as you're starting over and don't refer to what you've already written, you're okay. You can use your notes and planning. Sounds to me like you're well within the rules. Happy novelling! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:35:26 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_339349 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_339349 Librarian Jessie I am so relieved that this thread is up and running. I work at a public library, and we are trying to spark some real interest in writing plays, novels, poetry, whatever. We even have a guy in our writers group who just writes jokes. Last year we participated in ScriptFrenzy, and had one of our writers finish. This year we are promoting NaNoWriMo. Taking baby steps. Have a blog on our library website www.messengerpl.org. Have a kick-off event today (Nov. 1). Displays. Perhaps a few more write-ins if we can get people excited. So many of our writers ask, "Does this count as a novel?" Now I have a trusted response that I can give them. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:12:43 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_350808 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_350808 Joneko What you might want to check out is NaNoMangO -- a November event specifically for graphic novel work. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=nanomango&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBsQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fnanomango.livejournal.com%2F&amp;ei=xZGxTr_FE-j30gHt7ajMAQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNG_afnt_r8TkKl8T9x8cCURBKtUDg Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:54:16 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_396921 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_396921 Joneko What you might do is write your script AS a novel, and turn it into a script itself later. I'm writing what's going to be a graphic novel, but instead of a script I'm writing it as prose and working off of that. So, if the purpose of the script was to turn it into the backbone for a different medium of finished product, I do think you can still do that, you just have to be sure that when you're writing the prose you include all the details you'd want in a script! Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:57:59 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_397020 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_397020 BKLA THis is really helping me this year - I have written forever by typing and writing by hand, then transcribing it. I am now finding that Using Dragon for part of my Writing is TRANSFORMING - how I write. I certainly cannot type as fast as I think - and I type fairly fast - ( even though I do it like I live my life ... fast and with a lot of mistakes! ) I have not been really playing around with Dragon Dictate of Mac until this week - I think I found a great new tool for at least first drafts. I still see that I have to go in and work with the words - But to get the ideas Out of my head - WOW! If you are a someone who is thinking about this - I say try it! I knocked out 4,000 words in a little over an hour! - Even if you need to use it to get through the days where the word counts are low, you may find that it is a tool you will find useful! Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:25:13 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_399975 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_399975 irrevenant Precedent says that a collection of short stories with a unified theme can be considered a single work and thus a novel for NaNoWriMo purposes. Is "stories based on the story generator at Seventh Sanctum ( http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=storygen )" enough of a unifying theme? Thanks. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:54:04 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_407370 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_407370 Chibi-Sama Ummm... Can I write a NaNoWriMo where I'm basically trying to get help from the reader writing a NaNoWriMo. Because I'm having some problems with finding inspiration. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:12:19 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_408055 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_408055 Dragonchilde [quote=Chibi-Sama] Ummm... Can I write a NaNoWriMo where I'm basically trying to get help from the reader writing a NaNoWriMo. Because I'm having some problems with finding inspiration. [/quote] IS it fiction? Then it counts. :) Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:00:22 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_412101 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_412101 Dragonchilde [quote=irrevenant] Precedent says that a collection of short stories with a unified theme can be considered a single work and thus a novel for NaNoWriMo purposes. Is "stories based on the story generator at Seventh Sanctum ( http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=storygen )" enough of a unifying theme? Thanks. [/quote] I personally wouldn't think so. However, whether or not you think it's a novel is more important than whether or not I do. :) Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:01:04 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_412117 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_412117 bestiutza i am writing a novel that includes a little real history (In order to give facts according with reality) so ..yes..i am inspired buy historical people and their works. anyway, in the final, the novel it will not be entirely about history, just at the beginning, the first 2500 words.It will be the base of my novel. it will be consider it a novel? Can I make reference to another book in my novel? for example I write: In the end, i am not a historical man, because my purpose of this book is not to write history but i strongly recommend to read "xyz" written by "dft" I would like an answer from a Nano representant Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:16:54 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_426524 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_426524 Dragonchilde [quote=bestiutza] i am writing a novel that includes a little real history (In order to give facts according with reality) so ..yes..i am inspired buy historical people and their works. anyway, in the final, the novel it will not be entirely about history, just at the beginning, the first 2500 words.It will be the base of my novel. it will be consider it a novel? [/quote] If it is a lengthy work of fiction, yes, it's a novel. [quote]Can I make reference to another book in my novel? for example I write: In the end, i am not a historical man, because my purpose of this book is not to write history but i strongly recommend to read "xyz" written by "dft"[/quote] You are welcome to include anything you like in your novel. The only rule for content we have is that it must be fiction, and we do not determine how much fiction you must include. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:14:30 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_436184 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_436184 irrevenant See http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/20313 for what is and isn't included in your wordcount. What you are talking about sounds like text that would go in the book's afterword, which definitely counts towards your total... Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:35:55 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_446665 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_446665 Bandi.Bandi Does a collection of short stories count as ONE novel? Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:20:17 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_449823 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_449823 Marie16 The normal answer is that it only counts if the stories are all interconnected somehow. Like, three short stories each about a different member of the main family in the book, or whatever. Unrelated stories don't count because the 50k needs to be written on one *novel*, not on a bunch of unrelated stuff. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:00:06 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_454580 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_454580 absoluteddie I've shifted the work, now its structured as a collection of stories that are a false start as organised by a fake author. I.e. It still involves a main character, but the work itself is structured as if an author is saying "I know you like the character, here are some stories that didn't make it to publishing" Is this still ok? Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:35:43 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_633465 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_633465 Dragonchilde [quote=absoluteddie] I've shifted the work, now its structured as a collection of stories that are a false start as organised by a fake author. I.e. It still involves a main character, but the work itself is structured as if an author is saying "I know you like the character, here are some stories that didn't make it to publishing" Is this still ok? [/quote] If you think it's a novel, so do we. We don't actually have any rules about short stories; we do feel that there should be some connecting theme, but whether or not that theme is enough to count it as a novel is up to you. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:55:00 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_639888 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_639888 ioanite I've already asked elsewhere about my current project, but I'm already planning future projects (outlining but not actually writing, of course), so I might as well clear it now... I know the rules state you should start from scratch, and that makes complete sense. But what if you're writing a sequel? If I write a novel in 2012 about a character going on a journey, and at the end of it, she loses her transportation and is going to have to continue on foot, could my 2013 novel be about her continuing and finishing her journey? It's the same character, but it's a new story with her, with new situations. Does this count? Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:37:56 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_742734 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_742734 Dragonchilde [quote=ioanite] I've already asked elsewhere about my current project, but I'm already planning future projects (outlining but not actually writing, of course), so I might as well clear it now... I know the rules state you should start from scratch, and that makes complete sense. But what if you're writing a sequel? If I write a novel in 2012 about a character going on a journey, and at the end of it, she loses her transportation and is going to have to continue on foot, could my 2013 novel be about her continuing and finishing her journey? It's the same character, but it's a new story with her, with new situations. Does this count? [/quote] Sequels are 100% okay. They're generally separate, standalone novels, and have their own beginning, middle, and end separate from th e other novels in the series, even if they may follow an overallplot arc. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:04:21 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_746200 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_746200 ioanite Excellent! Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:59:18 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_758782 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_758782 erikric I'm beginning to feel that I am not writing a novel. It feels more like a lot of separate scenes that don't really have anything to do with each other. They involve a lot of the same characters, and I have some vague idea in my head how they fit in, but the only way I manage to keep my word-count up is by starting new scenes that inspires me, not by continuing on what I alredy have. Does that still count as a winning "novel" if I hit 50k? Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:25:53 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_828739 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_828739 Dragonchilde [quote=erikric] I'm beginning to feel that I am not writing a novel. It feels more like a lot of separate scenes that don't really have anything to do with each other. They involve a lot of the same characters, and I have some vague idea in my head how they fit in, but the only way I manage to keep my word-count up is by starting new scenes that inspires me, not by continuing on what I alredy have. Does that still count as a winning "novel" if I hit 50k? [/quote] Well, the goal is to write a novel... not just hit 50k. The standard rule is: If you think it's a novel, so do we. Conversely, if you don't think it's a novel... we don't either. Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:46:49 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_831559 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_831559 hollygetz OK, i'm really bummed out (technical term). What I have here are several scenes, an outline, several conversations, and a short bedtime story that is told in the novel. It all (including the outline) adds up to lots of words, but I don't know what threshold it has to hit to get "validated". Who reads them to give them the "yes it is validated" thumbs up? I really like the storyline, and would like to really "write it right" but that is not going to happen by the end of the month. But it sounds like I cannot wait till next year and start again with it. AND I am a total newbie in the field of writing, and although I think I might have a bit of talent (others say so, but what else are they going to say, right?) I can't imagine doing it without the support I feel I have with this. Any ideas? Or answers? Thanks in advance, Holly Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:33:59 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_846253 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_846253 Dragonchilde [quote=hollygetz] OK, i'm really bummed out (technical term). What I have here are several scenes, an outline, several conversations, and a short bedtime story that is told in the novel. It all (including the outline) adds up to lots of words, but I don't know what threshold it has to hit to get "validated". Who reads them to give them the "yes it is validated" thumbs up? I really like the storyline, and would like to really "write it right" but that is not going to happen by the end of the month. But it sounds like I cannot wait till next year and start again with it. AND I am a total newbie in the field of writing, and although I think I might have a bit of talent (others say so, but what else are they going to say, right?) I can't imagine doing it without the support I feel I have with this. Any ideas? Or answers? Thanks in advance, Holly [/quote] No one reads them. The entire challenge is on your honor, and any text submitted to the word count validator is verified by illiterate robots who count spaces... not words. Your novel includes whatever you want it to. We do have rules (they're in the FAQs, <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/faq" rel="nofollow">here</a> but whether or not you follow them is up to you, and we never, ever kick someone out for not sticking by them. We welcome everyone, and there's even a forum for people doing their own thing. Now, as for reusing your idea next year (outlines really don't count in your word count) you can do that if you start over from scratch... you just can't continue, nor can you use any previously written work. We tell people who want to reuse old ideas to set aside all previously written prose and start over from word 1 without referring to any of it. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:23:45 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_851601 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_851601 N-K-W Can a novel be a bunch of short stories, maybe interconnected, maybe not? Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:10:17 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1100986 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1100986 Dragonchilde [quote=N-K-W] Can a novel be a bunch of short stories, maybe interconnected, maybe not? [/quote] While there's no specific rule on short stories one way or the other, the moderators feel that a book of related short stories counts. After all, you see such things on the shelves next to traditional novels. However, unconnected short stories that don't make a single, cohesive work probably don't qualify. The point is to write a novel, not just wrote 50k words. In the end though, if you think it's a novel so do we. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:20:00 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1102512 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1102512 DemureDesigns If I were to write a book based on my life, would it be legal, or would it fall under auto-biography? I'd have to fictionalize most of the characters (a lot), so I wouldn't offend them. Would that qualify it? (Yes I realize I'm asking this in February, I just want to know way ahead of time.) Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:43:28 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_1136714 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_1136714 Dragonchilde [quote=DemureDesigns] If I were to write a book based on my life, would it be legal, or would it fall under auto-biography? I'd have to fictionalize most of the characters (a lot), so I wouldn't offend them. Would that qualify it? (Yes I realize I'm asking this in February, I just want to know way ahead of time.) [/quote] It's entirely up to you. The only requirement we have for content is that it must be fiction... anything beyond that is up to you. We also don't have a required amount of fiction. It's up to you to decide if what you're writing is a novel! Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:43:12 +1000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_1140315 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/rules-regulations-and-other-minutiae/threads/598?page=2#forum_thread_comment_1140315