Playing by the rules?

I'm starting from scratch! I have my outline, which isn't very good or detailed at the moment, at all, and in the end probably won't help too much as I haven't even planned out a middle. I'm just waiting for Sunday to come! I can't wait. I want so badly to start writing!

I couldn't imagine starting without a basic outline! So, as it's my first year, I'm going in with an outline to see where I get. If I win, excellent, if I lose, try again next year with a new idea again. XD

First NaNo year!!!

NaNo 2009 - Lullaby

Days In: 22
Craziness Level: 58%
Number of Times Hit The Writer's Block Wall: 15
Number of Times Threatened to Give Up: 4
Words Written: 51844
Words Left: 0

I am taking a novel I failed with last time around, which was about 18000 words, but cut down to about 10,000, and adding 50k to it. I dont know if that consitutes cheating, but it will end up being a more complete novel at the 60 to 75k mark anyway.

I wrote down a few profiles, but mostly just have a general idea.

Starting from scratch, with a detailed outline, and hopes that it won't go much beyond 50K so I can finish the novel in a month. However, if it does go beyond the 50K mark, I will (of course) keep writing until I get to "The End"!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4009837578_cd52debacf_o.png

Her Brother's Keeper
Number of deaths: 4
Number of chapters completed: 23/23

I am pre-writing, writing the prologue and a basic introduction. Neither piece will be counted for the 50,000 word goal, though, so I don't imagine it to be cheating. It's a basic excercise to get to know my characters and get a feel for where the story is heading, I guess.

I am also starting from scratch, although I am hoping to make 100K or possibly finish the novel altogether. The plot is mostly in my head, but some characters and a basic outline are now down on paper for quick referencing.

This will be the first time since '05 that I've started totally from scratch. Scary!

I've got my character descriptions and a stack of scene cards sitting in front of me. Several scenes keep writing and rewriting themselves in my head. Yes, I'm sticking to the rules, just anxious to be able to start.

The rule is to start from scratch, without anything written. If you had taken that material and turned it into an outline and started from page 1 again, you would be fine.

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

I am. I have somewhat of what I want to do, but i"m not an outlining writer anyway. I probably won't start until the 2nd since the 1st is busy. And Saturday will be busy. So I can't start ahead.
And I'll put in all original material too, well I may have my characters talk about something like a movie, but I never copy word for word (I don't care if anyone else does it, I just don't feel good about it). I suppose if they quote someone, that might be okay. But I'll be too busy trying to get 50k in to look it up, so I'll have to later.
Although some of the stuff I write will be stupid and I'll scratch my head in December, but...

It isn't what you count, but where you start, that defines the rules in this case. The rule is that nothing at all should be written before November 1 with the exception of outlines, character pages and things like that.

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

If I restart this story, or start a new one, the novel I have been wanting to write for the past two years flat out wont get done. Does not seem like it should be an issue.

That's all right; I'll be a very tame sort-of rebel.

I have a couple different outlines to choose from this year. The one I would really like to start with isn't finished, and with all the work that I have to do today and tomorrow, I'm not certain I'll get it done in time. I might go with it anyway and just write the last third of the book without a net. Eeek!

My plan is to write at least one first draft novel. Depending on how long it is (sometimes they are relatively short in first draft), I might go on and do another one. I am looking forward to November 1, though!

Now, if I can just get the rest of this real world work done in time so I can just write for the first day!

(Looks back at the never-ending-list-from-hell of things I need to do.)

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

I always start from scratch. And, I think the whole fun of NaNoWriMo is following the rules and not writing anything until midnight on November 1st. Why cheat, anyway?

I usually get my ideas for my novels from one of the cases I work on or from a news article I'll read. I try not to begin with any research or character outlining until that first week in October. I usually outline my main characters, the story line or plot, and who does what. This year, I thought I had everything pretty well organized, but then when I did research on my MC's hobby (he's a gun enthusiast and I talked with a retired Sheriff's Deputy about guns), I changed the focus of my story and several other aspects. So, yesterday - three days before NaNo begins - I rewrote the outline and some of the characters, and added a different subplot (which is also outlined). I'm trying to get it all organized so I can start right at midnight on Sunday. I'm going to be one of the excited people who will take a nap on Saturday so I can stay up late and start writing at midnight. LOL! :-).

2004: Daniel In The Lion's Den (mystery/suspense)
2005: Two Women And A Girl: EGG, MAT, and MSG (mystery/suspense)
2007: Finding Emma Jane (fictionalized memoir)
2009: Foreplay (mystery/suspense)

You are far more organized than I am this year! Good work! And good luck with it!

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

I am a first timer here and it seems to me that at least the first time out I have to play by the rules completely.

Good for you! Trust me, you will feel so great when you reach that 50K word goal.

The first year I did NaNo (back in 2004), I was nervous, jittery, and had the usual doubts. I was also excited and got lots of encouragement from some very nice people on these forums. I made it through just fine, as will you. You'll feel a new sense of confidence and will be proud of yourself for finishing the story.

Just remember, this is a fun project! Have fun with the writing! The issue is not whether the novel will ever be published or whether some person thinks it's a great book. The point is to get you to actually set a writing goal and complete that goal.

You'll see what I mean by November 30th. See you at the finish line!

2004: Daniel In The Lion's Den (mystery/suspense)
2005: Two Women And A Girl: EGG, MAT, and MSG (mystery/suspense)
2007: Finding Emma Jane (fictionalized memoir)
2009: Foreplay (mystery/suspense)

My life is a lot more pressing this year than last, so. I've done 100k, now it's time to see if I can get 50k while simultaneously trying to get into Oxford.

hello earthling: a webcomic. I don't think you'll like it.

I always start from scratch with a minimal outline. When the 1st hits the calendar, I just start to write and see where the story takes me. It brought me to 50k for two years straight and so hopefully it'll happen this year as well. I always have immense fun with the new story and the characters involved, which is still my NaNo-goal for every year. I want to write something I love and enjoy. Nothing else matters.

hope is more than a postponed disappointment.

I have a highly detailed outline that has mapped out the first 26 chapters of my novel. The thing is, I have already started on it, so I am definately not playing by the rules, however the reason I am starting early is because I will probably exceed the 50k word limit by a lot. I am expecting that this novel will run 75k to 90k words long.

So I am not really cheating, as I still plan to write more than the required 50k.

Some people are like slinkies…They don’t really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

It doesn't matter if you intend to still get 50k after the first... the rule, really, is to start at zero words on November 1. I know this sounds odd to a lot of people, but it does make a difference. It is far easier to continue to write more words on something already moving forward than it is to start from zero.

It's not going to matter in many ways for overall NaNo fun, but it's really not playing by the rules, which is what this thread is about.

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

I followed the rules last year (my first), and I'm doing the same this year. That seems like the most fun way of doing it, launching out of the starting gate at the same time as everyone else and knowing that you're joining thousands of people around the world in creating something that didn't exist yesterday. It makes it more special.

It's a lot harder this year, though, I have to say. I've been doing lots of planning, and I'm desperate to write these scenes that I keep going over in my head. And these characters really want to be down on paper - or at least on the screen. Mere outlining is unsatisfying!

It's a good thing outlining is unsatisfying or some of us wouldn't get any farther! (grin)

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

I'm starting from scratch, and writing 50,000 words. I'm forcing myself not to plan anything until then. Otherwise, what's the fun?

Hello,

I'm also starting from scratch with really no preparation at all! I not even thought about the subject of my 'novel'.
I wonder, whether I'll manage the 50'000 words or not.

At any case: all the best to all of you!

I'm starting from scratch, a story I thought up just Sunday actually. I've dug out 2 main characters, 2 minor characters, 1 antagonist and a four sentence outline. Usually I have more by now..... :-/ but there's a lot of story building going on in my head. :-)

~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~

Chris

Its my first time attempting NaNo this year, and i'm going to follow the rules. I have a semi-detailed outline for 3/4 of my story i'm just not so sure about the end, I have a general idea of whats going to happen but that changes daily so who knows, and besides theres only one more day left anyway i'v been waiting this long to start writing I can wait a little longer

It's my first time and I'm way nervous but I'm following the rules. I don't have anything written out yet and I'm just going to see where my characters take me.

I figure I can do other stuff any time of the year, NaNoWriMo is the time to do the 0-50k in 30 days. That's what I've done all three years so far. This year I'll be trying to get to The End (only managed that once so far) as well as getting the 50k. I do an outline, but no words on the novel until November 1.

I'm glad to see so many 'traditionalists' here. (grin) I was starting to think that there were far fewer of us.

We're only a day away from insanity. Yay!

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

First time NaNo, playing by the rules. I don't even have an outline or any character sketches.

What I DO have is the bare skeleton of a brief scene I wrote several years ago for a totally different story. The scene didn't work in that context at all, but I think that is where I'm going to start -- by fleshing out that scene, which I have always liked and wondered what happened next. Hopefully I will find out early next week!

"It's easy to become fundamentalist when you've only read one book."
-- Sherman Alexie