How in the world have people already gotten past the 50K mark??

Wow, Between the choices I have to say SuperWoman (Though I hardly think THAT is true).

I have put to the side this month things that are not important to me, video games, television, surfing the internet (except this site on writing breaks) and dinners out with friends. They still come over once a week for anywhere from 3 hours to 7 hours and play games, but I can keep that pretty contained.

I work mostly full time (36 hours a week) with no commute to speak of (less than 5 minutes).

My fiance supports my novel writing, even though he has quit working on his.

I do not have kids, which makes a world of difference.

I work, workout, and have my meals sans computer. Then I write. I write really fast (not as fast as others, I am looking at you Kateness :)) and I am blessed with a mind that I can shut off my editor and just write.

I also do not listen to music when I write. It just slows me down.

I think you are doing great, and I know that a lot of people have a much harder time getting the story out than I do. I respect those people all the more because they do not give up.

You will surpise yourself. Good luck.

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All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

I know that I haven’t past the 50k line, but I still feel like responding to this.

I highly doubt that the people are lying, and I would be one of those people past the mark if I hadn't of hit the fateful writers block on day six. I'm still recovering from the 'curse'.

There are some very fast typists on here who are capable of sitting down and churning out many words an hour. If you make sure to have a detailed outline before hand you can easily amass a large amount of words in one day - some people can easily manage 3k an hour and keep that pace for quite a while. Personally, I can do around 5 - 6k a day if I'm not distracted without any trouble whatsoever whilst still managing school, homework/revision and chores. Others can probably say the same thing but with a larger word count, or a busier schedule. It really depends on your writing speed and how well you understand your novel and the characters. Those with detailed outline will find the story is literally pouring out of their fingertips and can easily amass thousands of words in a short space of time. Others with no outline, or one that is poorly drawn up compared to others will more likely (not definitely) have a slower time trying to build up the word count due to having to think about the plot and where it's going, as well as putting down all their thoughts onto the page at the same time.

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NaNo 2006: Mar Gent Hi - 70,040 words.
NaNo 2007: A Map of the World - 50,247 words.
NaNo 2008: ??? - 00,000 words.

I can write 3k an hour for extended periods of time now that I've got wrist braces to help (it does seriously take a toll after a while), and I've only got 2 full days of class a week, with the othre three days only having one hours worth of class. Add in very detailed outlines, and yes, it's a challenge and it's taking up a lot of my time, but that's what nano is about and I'm enjoying myself very much so far.

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2005: won!
2006: won!
2007: won!

http://kateness.wordpress.com

For fast typists on day twelve, it's entirely possible to reach 50k by now, even with jobs and families.

Despite the fact that I've only just got to 10k, I still find it a bit rude to call people liars or say they have nothing to do all day as a reason for reaching 50k. I find that very few people who reach it early on are lying about their word count.

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Script Frenzy '07 - Play Dead (Epic Fail)
Script Frenzy '08 - Happenstance (Un, Deux, Trois)
Script Frenzy '08 - Swagger

They have wonderful keyboards.

Okay, seriously, I have no idea. But, a couple days ago, after switching from a keyboard that just came with my computer and to another keyboard that's been in the closest that was bought a while ago separately for some reason, all I can say is that the keyboard does make a bit of a difference. As opposed to the last keyboard I had, I feel like I can type on this keyboard for hours without having any troubles with my fingers hurting.

But past 50k, I can entirely believe it. As long as you've got the ability to type well and a little bit of time and willpower, I think it'd be really easy to get the 50k out in less than 2 weeks.

The tip?

Sit down and write.

Don't watch TV. Don't talk on IM, play games, get up and look for things to do. Don't wander all over the forums until you've written your work. Don't fuss over the writing either. You get better at it the more you do, so just start working.

In other words, it takes dedication. And no, I don't have all day to write. I'm just barely getting started now, but I still hope to do well tonight -- though I have three other 'must do' work things on my list that will have to be completed as well.

It does not take an outline or background work. I had an outline for the first 63,000 words. I've not had one since. I'm still doing fine. Let your mind wander, and just write the story.

Lazette Gifford
http:/lazette.net
Seventh Year NaNo Participant
NaNo Blog: http://zette.blogspot.com/

Lazette Gifford
http:/lazette.net
Seventh Year NaNo Participant
NaNo Blog: http://zette.blogspot.com/

I think that I would have passed 50K a few days ago if it weren't for school/my constant worry about grades... As it is, I completely blew off my geometry homework for today so I could do a bit of writing (that and the fact that I really did not want to carry that stupid book home).
The point is, it takes a lot of determination, etc., to get through it, but it's not impossible. At an average typing speed of 50 words per minute, you could still manage 3000 words an hour (with a superfast imagination). ((And as it is, these people who DO manage to write this much per hour only improve their typing speed... I know that I spend so much time on the computer/Internet, I've got a speed of about 90 words per minute. But I will admit that it's a problem of self-discipline and imagination/creativity for me... haha.))

NaNo '06 | Serenity | 50,020 words
NaNo '07 | Useless Junk You Can Learn in Spanish | 55,800 words
NaNo '08 | Let's just say my brain has imploded

I must admit, when i was struggling to catch up on my word count, the last thing I wanted to see was someone with a 100K+ word count under their name. But my teeth-grinding, obscene finger gestures, and torture of voodoo dolls with their login names carved in them was more a reflection of my frustration with myself than anything else.

Now that I've read quite a few threads that either imply or outright accuse them of cheating, I'm really starting to feel bad for them. Especially since many of them are quite polite in their replies after having to explain their ability to produce mass wordage in thread after thread. That is more impressive to me than anything else. Good for you prolific people for still being nice.

I do regret the voodoo dolls. Sorry if anyone was hurt.

:)

Also, let's not forget that those with higher word counts are most likely ignoring their inner editor. When I ignore mine, I write so much faster. I've got 36K right now, and it's all very loose. It will take a great deal of polishing - but that's what a first draft is - and yes, you are writing a first draft. Editing is not to start until December 1.

Thus, if you're having trouble meeting your count, shrug that editor off your shoulder. Nobody has to see your work - so just write whatever comes, and don't worry if it sounds like crap. It doesn't matter - you'll fix it later, AFTER NaNoWriMo.

Best,

Pamela

Best,

Pamela
Where's Yer Halo? read the poem

fair play to them, i work full-time so only get evenings and weekends to write, and some nights, i either can't be bothered or a pub will beckon me with friendly arms and a knowing smile, and that's that

i'm pleased with the word count i have somehow managed to complete

I'm a slow typist, and even I can bang out well over 1000 words an hour when I put my mind to it.
(Obviously by my word count, I'm not a superwoman!)
But definitely possible, for those who are fast AND have the stick-to-it-iveness to just sit and write. I think there were people who were done with 50K within the first few days....I think that's awesome and impressive but it's just a matter of individual style, in part, maybe?

I know from experience I'm a slow and plodding writer, I'm OK with that. :)
::inching towards the half way mark and beyond::

Well, as you can see, I'm nowhere near 50k words, but, in my defense, I didn't really start writing until the second week started. Actually, I didn't even have a plot.... *shudders* But, in the past four days, I have gotten past 15K, which, in my opinion, is pretty good, especially with school and all of my EC's... I have practice every night after school til 4. But seriously, the people who have already reached their mark are amazing. That's it.

It is possible. In a good thirty minutes without much distractions but with word warring i can type 1,600 if I work at it. Being as the fact that it takes word wars to get my writing and I am busy with marching band, theatre, homework (grr to IB), I do not get time for much writing so if I didn't have distractions I could easily be done.

Wondering where an idea will spark.

I averaged between 4,000 - 6,000 words a day. I can typically type about 2,000 words in an hour. I basically spent time during my lunch writing, and after work while I was waiting for my wife to pick me up at work (we car pool). I wrote my least while I was at home.

My story was pretty much plotted out in my head, though I have had a few surprises. But, still, the bare bones of the plot were in my head and on paper (in case I forgot where to go next).

I'm very pleased at how my story has progressed, though I'm a little worried now that I might rush the ending.

JediSoth

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Durst ist schlimmer denn heimweh.

I have a blog!
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jedisoth/
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Nope, neither; just writers. Writers who write for a living (ie they get paid to write in order to put food on the table and buy clothes for thier kids), write a lot and write a lot every day. For them, 10,000 words a day is just more of the same old same old, because they'd be writing 10,000 words per day even if they were not here on NaNo.

It should be noted that the term "writer" was originally the title of a career not the title of a hobby. Today is is looked on more as a hobby, which really is not good for the rest of us who do this for a living. Writing is a job that you get paid to do, and when you write for money, you write from 9 in the morning until 5 at night, just like any other 9 - 5 job, and there in lies the answer to how some can reach 100,000 - 200,000 in one week. Call it force of habit.

Anyways, anyone who writes a lot on a normal basis outside of NaNoWriMo, be it for their job or just a hobby, is used to writing a lot of words in a short period of time and therefor are able to zip ahead very quickly once they start writing a NaNoNovel.

If you write 10,000 words a day, you reach 100,000 in 10 days. Professional writers do this every day. I know, because I am one of them.

Consider this: 3000 words an hour is not at all uncomon for a professional author, I know because I do this myself. My average is 1,750 per hour, but that's because I usually write at a slow pace, if I'm in a hurry 3,000 is easy. If you write 3000 words per hour for 5 hours, that's 15,000 words in a single day. You do this for 10 days and you have a total of 150,000 words. Professional writers work regular 8 hour days. 3000 words per hour x 8 hour work days x 10 days = 240,000 words at the end of 10 days.

And yes, a lot of planning does go into these novels, that is why we sign up in October not November, so that we can send October plotting, planning, and outlining. The more thought you did ahead of time, the faster your brain flows when it comes time to do the writing. If you'll notice, the people who hit higher numbers did not sign up at the last minute, and most of them started outlining their story as far back as last March.

In answer to the question asked on another thread, about if 5,000 words a day was possible, I said this: (It aplies here as well.)

Yes... 5000 words in one day is very possible, here is my "score" of days over 5000 for this year and last:

NaNoWriMo 2006:

Day 4 = 6324

Day 12 = 5008

Day 17 = 5882

Day 20 = 5734

Most of the rest of the days of NaNo 2006 were between 2692 to 4069 words per day, with only 7 days in which I wrote less than 2000 words per day.

This year for NaNoWriMo 2007 my score is as follows:

Day 1 = 6513

Day 2 = 1473

Day 3 = 2182

Day 4 = 317

Day 5 = 993

Day 6 = 1739

Day 7 = 594

Day 8 = 901

Day 9 = 1678

Day 10 = 2235

As you can see from this years totals, it only takes one or two days of heavy writing to get ahead, even if you write less than 1000 words on half of the other days.

As to my non-NaNo writing, I average 700 to 3000 words per day, though it is not uncommon for me to write over 7000 words in a day, and a few times I have gone over 10,000 in one day.

My highest words per day to date, happened in October 2007. One week before NaNoWriMo 2007 started I wrote a non-NaNo story of 11,052 words in one sitting; it took me 5 hours to do so.

What is my secret to high word counts? Well, writing each and every day for one thing. Writing multiple times per day for another thing.

Here's what I try to do... I don't always stick to this schedual, but of all the scheduals I've tried, this is the easiest one for me.

Here's how it goes, if you'd like to give it a try:

First off:

I do not write in chapters.

I do not write to a set "hours per day"

I do not write to a set "words per day"

What I do is, I write small segments or scenes from my book. Say a conversation between two characters. Or maybe the description of a room. Something like that. I find this easier, because I can see a very clear beginning, middle, and end. Not the beginning, middle, and end of the entire book. Not the beginning, middle and end of the entire chapter. Just the beginning, middle, and end of that one scene, which in most cases is 2 to 4 paragraphs long or about 600 - 800 words.

I make it my goal to write three of these segmants each day. One in the morning as soon as I wake up, before I even get out of bed. One in the afternoon, when I get back in from taking my dog out for his daily walk. One in the evening, last thing just before going to bed. It takes about 15 - 30 minutes for me to write each segment. Or about 40 minutes to an hour and a half each day. In the end I end up with about 2,750 words written at the end of the day. That is, if I actualy sit down and write at all! I should be writing my NaNoNovel right now, cause I haven't written anything yet today, but instead I find myself reading blogs from other NaNoers. LOL! Some days it's just hard to get motivated to start writing.

Anyways, When you take it and break it down into tiny chunks like this, it seems like you haven't written very much at all, when in fact you have gone well above and beyound your word count goal.

As for the NaNoWriMo I'm writing... it is only half of what I write each day; I still have to do my regular writing each day on top of NaNoWriMo.

Well, I hope this helps. Good luck with your story!

~~EK

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Copper Cockeral
Need To Publish Your NaNoNovel?
So You Think You Know Phookas?

I'm not even halfway there with this novel, but thought I would comment too.

First, time is the biggest thing that keeps people from completing NaNo or allows them to finish. It depends on if you know how to find time, make time, use your time.

I type fast. In fact, I type somewhere between 70-80wpm without mistakes. When thoughts come rushing (I'm ADHD - it happens frequently LOL) I can sit and type nonstop for over an hour and churn our several thousand words.

I would actually be a lot further than I am if I hadn't have deleted two entire chapters at the start trying to learn a new writing program (yeah I know - everybody gets a new writing program to participate in something like this - they usually learn BEFORE hand!)

At any rate, I don't think they are lying, but you know - I thought about something. Let's just say they are. Or say they are word padding, etc. It isn't hurting anyone but themselves. Think about what you want out of this project. If it is just a website badge and certificate, then you are so not doing it for the right reasons. But, if you want a novel that could be published at some point, then work towards your 50,000. If you make it before November 30, that's awesome! Yay you! You now get a badge and a certificate to go along with your novel. But if you don't - you still have the workings of a novel that you were hopefully driven to write.

Anyway, that's my .02 on the whole thing. I really truly admire those of you that are above and beyond. My original goal was supposed to be 100,000 but once I got going, I realized I needed a more realistic goal to begin with :D

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Nicole Humphrey
“Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.” by Jessamyn West
NaN

Thank you so much for this. It was informative (a lot of people forget that writing is a profession and that many good writers really DO sit down and write during that 8 hour allotted 'work time'. I admire them for that) and inspirational.

I especially appreciate the word count breakdown by day and how that clearly illustrates that a couple of really good writing days can help keep your head above the water. I had some very good ones at the beginning so when I hit that wall around day 7-8 and didn't get much written, I wasn't set back as far as I could have, had I not built that cushion.

I now have my writing wind back and can easily make up the mere 1500 words I'm 'behind'.

Not to mention the fact that I did at least make a first attempt at plotting out my story. That has helped me immensely and I found that it helped because I was able to write in 'scenes' like you had suggested you do.

So again, thanks for the insight!

You think a writer just pours words onto paper in a fever of creativity, and originality?

Yea, they do. It's called the first draft. Then comes the writing. -- Miss Snark