Victory Incentives?

That's the same incentive I gave myself! (A tattoo, not a penguin in flight.) Mine will be a quill pen and ink well on my left shoulderblade. I've been thinking about it for over a year. Of course, I wonder how good an incentive it really is, because I'm going to get it whether I win or not.

Maybe if I win I'll get my ears pierced again. Gonna do that anyway too, though.

Hmmmm......this one may need a bit more thought.....

Jen

Reading and weeping opens the door to one’s heart, but writing and weeping opens the window to one’s soul. – M.K. Simmons

http://www.jenniferksights.com

I'm giving myself 1 M&M for every 1,000 words, and a candy bar for every 10,000 words and at the 25,000 word mark. That is a LOT of chocolate I can earn if I get all the way up to 50,000 :P

As far as an incentive for finishing NaNo in general...not really. I tried that last year and had the same problem as Jen, that I was going to give it to myself whether I won or lost (I was going to buy myself a new laptop case.) This year I'm totally broke anyway.

It's pronounced "dack" -- All my stories are autobiographies. Some are just a little more shameless than others!

Follow me!: http://twitter.com/ffnikki

Couple of years ago I played the incentive game with a nice twist. I bought the prize (it was one of the Buffy box-sets of DVDs that would ultimately complete our collection). I then told Alison - "If we dont make it to 40,000 words, that box of DVDs is getting returned to the store." And I was serious. Amazing how motivating that box-set was, just sitting there on the table and staring at us each day. It's like you could hear it pleading "please, make it to 40k..."

My incentive is so boring, but I can't wait for it...

I'm saving for a dryer. I figure since I'll be spending most of my time writing and not out using cash, I'll save some money.

Huzzah for dry clothes.

Of course, I'm sure I'll buy a book or two just so I don't feel like such an adult.

~j

Municipal Liaison for St. Louis, MO
Previous NaNovels: King Arthur, angels, dragons, the Forest Lord, and prostitutes. Apparently this year it's folks rising from the dead.
aspirations: http://etoiline.com

Hm. I hadn't thought about bribing myself before!

There are 4 different uber-geek things I've been resisting buying myself. Perhaps if I could settle on TWO of those, I could treat myself. All are Harry Potter related, which won't surprise those of you who know me even a little.

1. t-shirt: Hogsmeade Summer Camp: Accio Fun!
2. t-shirt: Chudley Cannons
3. t-shirt from A Very Potter Musical: Portkey? (with picture of a dolphin)
4. Hufflepuff license plate frame

Total cost would probably be just over $100. And given that I'm trying to REDUCE the percentage of my wardrobe that is Potter-related, buying all 4 would be counterproductve as well as expensive. But how to decide? They're all so supermegafoxyawesomehot that I don't know how I could narrow it down.

Perhaps a poll. I'll find the images online and put up a poll somewhere, if I am looking for something idiotic and time-consuming to do during these last few days of NOT NOVELING.

You are welcome to vote here, even without images.

-Lauren

Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. There’s only one rule I know of—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind. - Kurt Vonnegut

I remember that set of Buffy DVDs, and I had to write another 7229 words before he'd take it out of the car. It was in 2004, when I was doing my first NaNo ever and was too scared to come to the kick off, the write-ins, or even the TGIO. I know better now. Or maybe I'm just a lot louder than I used to be!

My NaNoWriMo career is littered with bribes to self for writing. And this year I hadn't even thought of it! But my prize for winning might just be a skein of nice yarn to make this, and the pattern to go with it:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/10/07/the_moral_of_the_story...

The yarn to make it would not be the cashmere used in the pattern because that's crazy expensive. I'd find something else, probably alpaca, or a merino.

I have been considering a tattoo for several months now. It would be a small brown dot shaped and coloured like a freckle and placed on the back of my left hand. I have huge trouble telling left from right thanks to my elementary school teacher telling the whole class "your RIGHT hand is the hand you WRITE with", and me being ambidextrous. Until she caught me and made me stop using my left, but it was too late, I have two right hands and no left. When I'm wearing my wedding ring, I know that lives on my left, but when I'm doing karate I take it off and I'm lost. It sounds stupid to be a grown adult and not know left from right, and I have no idea how much a fake freckle would cost, or if they would even do such a thing, but I might go ask anyway.

http://www.quantumtea.com/blog/

I don;t know.

I feel pretty stepchildish here.

I've been out of work for a year and don't have any extra spending money. The Sweet Pea, while a good man, isn't really a fiction reading man. So last year when I topped 50 in ten days, (a personal best) I walked up stairs, told him, and he was watching movie in volving so sort of mutant killing machine, he nodded and asked if I'd started dinner yet, and would I like a pork rind that the cat wouldn't eat?

So.

Hm. Do I get a reward?

-mm

"Not a Rose but a Thistle" -- 2005 (Win)
"Welcome To Lamentation!" -- 2006 (Win)
"A Saint Nobody's Heard Of " -- 2007 (Win)
"Nympho-izing Love Goo!" (working title) -- 2008 (Win)
"Like Getting Honey From a Stone" -- 2009

Well, Gini - I know it's not a dryer, a tattoo, or a license plate frame, but... I'll give you a giant smooooooooch! How's THAT for incentive? ;)

Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. There’s only one rule I know of—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind. - Kurt Vonnegut

I'm in.

Maybe I can start collecting sparkles for my tiara, or something.

Mean while, I will go back to plotting.

It's all QUANTUM TEA' s fault (that's right, you heard me) I titled the *&^%in' thing and wrote a *&^%in' cyclopis (or was that a synopis...?) and now I can't stand any of the idea's I've had since, oh, the Ford administration, and gah!.

But I posted the other, so , fine. I'll go with that. Hmphf.

-mm

"Not a Rose but a Thistle" -- 2005 (Win)
"Welcome To Lamentation!" -- 2006 (Win)
"A Saint Nobody's Heard Of " -- 2007 (Win)
"Nympho-izing Love Goo!" (working title) -- 2008 (Win)
"Like Getting Honey From a Stone" -- 2009

Ali:
Your Left hand makes an L with your thumb and index finger. :) (Slow, but effective.)

I've had the same Left-Right problem. I was finally getting it sorted out when I got into theatre, and then had to deal with Stage Left and Stage Right (opposite), and then I got all mixed up again. Now I know SL/SR more instinctively than regular right and left, and man, does it make giving directions hard!

-allie

As far as tattoos go, I'm sure they'd do anything you want. And a freckle would be small, and I'm guessing VERY inexpensive. I asked about a 3 inch quill pen and ink well, which would have multiple colors, and they said it would probably be around $100 (I don't have an exact design yet, so they couldn't give an exact price)

Jen

Reading and weeping opens the door to one’s heart, but writing and weeping opens the window to one’s soul. – M.K. Simmons

http://www.jenniferksights.com

Hmm if I win, I might go buy a nice violin. I'm tired of my cheap one so winning will give a good reason to go get a better one!

It's true that your left hand makes an L with your thumb and index finger, but when you have a learning disability like I do, your right hand also makes an L. (heavy sigh)

Some people are moved by positives, while others are moved by negatives. If you really want to motivate yourself, I would suggest both a positive and a negative. If you get to 50,000 words, then you get the tatoo, chocolate, etc. If you don't, you have to do something you detest. Below are some suggestions.

- If you're politically minded, then you have to contribute $1 for every 1,000 words you fall short to the OTHER party, or you have to subscribe to a daily blog from the other side AND READ IT EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR.
- If you're sports minded, then you have to buy and fly a window flag of the team you hate the worst from your car window 1 day for every 1,000 words shy of 50,000. I promise you that if you're a Cardinal's fan then you'll get your 50,000 words rather than flying a Cub's flag for even a single day.
- If you're a techie, then you have to go a day for every 1,000 words you fall short without your favorite gadget.

I think you get the idea. If you have both a positive and negative, it will be interesting from a personal standpoint to see which motivates you the most.

Kerry

Picked out my incentive, but then Mrs. InjunJoe said I couldn't have it... ah well. Maybe I'll just settle for satisfaction in a job well done.

As kids we fried ants with magnifying glasses. Now that we are adults we fry characters in far more interesting ways with plot twists

Now you just have me curious, Jim. But do we really want to know?

Oy! MM, I resemble that remark. Wait, I mean resent. Or something.

How about if you add pirates? Or ninjas?

http://www.quantumtea.com/blog/

I have thrown in a few unexpected things. But not ninjas.

I think I'm frustrated because I am broke, and really nobody in my life, while they don't actively denounce my Nano, they don't really reward me for it.

In fact, the Sweet Pea tends to schedule vacations and get aways and doctor's appointments during this month...

Maybe if I Jet Pack a lot....

-mm

"Not a Rose but a Thistle" -- 2005 (Win)
"Welcome To Lamentation!" -- 2006 (Win)
"A Saint Nobody's Heard Of " -- 2007 (Win)
"Nympho-izing Love Goo!" (working title) -- 2008 (Win)
"Like Getting Honey From a Stone" -- 2009

I've decided a good reward, if I win this year, would be Buffy season 5 on DVD. I'm writing a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles/Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover, and I quit buying the DVDs after season 4. It seems appropriate.
If I manage to break my trend of never finishing Buffy fanfiction, I deserve a Buffyish reward. :) (I have to keep reminding myself that Buffy vs Dracula and Dawn are fifth season highlights. I also have this thing where I don't like Riley leaving, so....)

OK. I have a plan.

IF I HIT 50K - I will get myself one of the aforementioned geeky things I want.
IF I FINISH THE STORY - I will get myself ANOTHER of the aforementioned geeky things.
IF I ACTUALLY GET A DECENT REWRITE DONE IN TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE PRINTED COPY - I will get myself yet another of the aforementioned geeky things.
AND IF I OVERCOME MY FEAR OF REJECTION AND ACTUALLY SHOP THE RESULTANT STORY TO A PUBLISHER - EVEN ONE PUBLISHER - I'LL HAVE A DAMNED GOOD REASON TO BUY THE FINAL GEEKY ITEM I LISTED.

If, however, I should fail to even hit 50K, I shall go without facebook for a day for every 1000 words I fell short. (This could well kill me.)

Now there's no way I can lose. :D

Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. There’s only one rule I know of—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind. - Kurt Vonnegut

Last year my victory incentive didnt exist, but I pulled off a stunning 10600 words in 6 hours sprint to make it over the finish line. I had people messaging me all the way through the sprint cheering me on, and at the TGIO party I felt amazing at having pulled it off and the various congratulatory comments from people. No prize but I sure as anything felt good about it all.

This year, who knows? All the prizes I can think of are too expensive. *sigh*

I got your victory incentive sorted out. You make the 50k, you get it. You fail, you have to wait till Christmas.

You make the 50k AND finish the story? That would be worthy of something nifty, though I draw the line at new cars and computer hardware.

http://www.quantumtea.com/blog/

Since I spent my Xmas money on... (really I'm not kidding) (sigh) (I hate my broke self)
I spent my Xmas money on.... Getting My Halo. Yup. $50 of mad money. Gone. Now. Me and, what 3.1% of the resto....?

My head hurts.

Okay. Lauren (who I adore) came up with a great concept. Reward system.
I can reward myself by, hm, I get 10 minutes of... hmm, maybe looking at the latest news on an actor I've been crushing on for, oh, 30 years. That'd be good. Free. No calories or saturated triglycerations.

If I fall short that day, I... ugh, have to take out the trash even if it is BEFORE critcal mass, crush everyone in it's wake, Shel Silversteen magnitudes. Because I won't know this until the end of the day when it is dark, the real punishment begins. Then I get to go out to the dumpster, and more than likely get jumped out at by the Dumpster Meth-Head Guy, who always seems to be in our alley.

Okay, I've officially scared myself into drawing up a graph of daily 'takes'.

"Not a Rose but a Thistle" -- 2005 (Win)
"Welcome To Lamentation!" -- 2006 (Win)
"A Saint Nobody's Heard Of " -- 2007 (Win)
"Nympho-izing Love Goo!" (working title) -- 2008 (Win)
"Like Getting Honey From a Stone" -- 2009

Hmm. I want to assign different incentives to different goals (i.e. getting to 50k, getting to 50k AND having done all my homework as well, etc), but I'll figure out the details later. In class, probably.

My ultimate incentive is The Astaire and Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition which has all ten of their films. I think I'll toss in other DVDs and books I've been wanting as various bonuses.

All this hinges on me actually having money with which to buy this (and still have enough to get my halo!). So we'll see.

Screnzy 08: The Arctitech -- epic FAIL
NaNo 2008: The One Day Clock -- won! Still in editing, tho
Screnzy 09: I don't remember, but I wrote 11 pages!
NaNo 2009: LoA/ The Raven/ The Random Unnamed Movie Musical Novel; Outcome? Remains to be seen.

Quantum Tea: that's a very pretty pattern! I haven't seen it before.

Also being a knitter, I am rewarding myself with a skein of yarn for every week I made 2,600 words every day. On a side note, I'm used to bribing myself: I'm also rewarding myself with a second skein of yarn for every week I avoid McDonald's and soda. I haven't had a problem avoiding soda, but avoiding McDonald's has been HARD. This past week was my first week attempting it, and I rewarded myself with two skeins of yarn today anyway, even though nano had only been on for two days, because I give up things far too easily.

I'm going to reward myself for winning by indulging my super-geeky side. I'm an avid (or perhaps rabid) Doctor Who fan, and I'm going to use the coupon to ThinkGeek I was given for my donation to OLL to buy a sonic screwdriver, and a Doctor Who t-shirt. This is a very influential motivator for me. XD I love my geekness!

~Andi~
2009 ~*~ Historical Fiction ~*~ When the Time Comes ~*~ First Year -- We'll see!

I think that if I get to 50,000, I will buy myself season 3 of Heroes.

If I make my ord count every day (so far so good) rather than rushing at the end, I will buy myself 2 more different language editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Because I am cool like that! :)

That's it for now, maybe I'll add something else later...

Missy :)
Smile. Take a deep breath. Write like a maniac!!!

Since I made it clear to my parents on my Christmas list that I really, really, really want Chuck Season 2 for Christmas (seriously, my list is something like "Ashley's Christmas List - Chuck Season Two, random stocking stuffer, sweater, Chuck Season Two, cubicle dart-gun, random stocking stuffer, world peace, Chuck Season Two"), my incentive is that I will buy myself a copy of First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher instead of waiting for the library to have it.

If I finish my nanonovel by Nov 30, I will purchase not one but five of the Dresden Files, the five to be decided on later. And as always, if I finish, there's a Nano-shirt in the deal for me.

The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool. ~~ Jane Wagner

I'm going to be a little boring and just get something from the Nano Store. Thinking about the "Let Your Imagination Rain" poster, then getting it nicely matted and framed for the study.

--------------
http://rebekahj81.com
NaNo 2008: A Bottle of White
NaNo 2009: (as yet untitled)

I'm going to be a little boring and just get something from the Nano Store. Thinking about the "Let Your Imagination Rain" poster, then getting it nicely matted and framed for the study.

--------------
http://rebekahj81.com
NaNo 2008: A Bottle of White
NaNo 2009: (as yet untitled)