I'm a failure

On the topic of making the 50k word goal - you can definitely make it. The first year I did NaNoWrMo I didn't even join until Nov 5th and if I remember right it was the evening of the 5th when I started writing. So, as its still only the 4th, yes you can reach 50k.

As for getting started some suggestions:

Talk to someone about the story. Might rejuvenate your interest in the story and get yourself started.
My 6th and 7th grade english teacher gave me this advice - when stuck just start writing something with your characters just to get yourself started. It can be total nonsense, a scene later in the story - anything - just get started. Her belief was that getting started was the hardest part.

Hope this helps. Good Luck. You can do it!

There was something my 8th grade writing teacher taught me. She called it the Picture Frame. Take your character, and imagine that you've just taken a picture of them doing something, anything, it doesn't matter what.

now, describe that picture. What is happening in the picture? How did they get to that particularly photogenic spot? what happened aftwerwards? Who took the picture?

Use that as your jumping off point. It could be in the middle of your story, but who cares? Take it, go with it, run it down a mountainside. Once you can get your characters talking to you, things get a bit easier.

2006: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: Medari (winner)
2007: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: Kyrin(winner)
2008: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: The Devoted (winner)
2009: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: The Wandering

I started on the 5th or 6th my first year (I think) - and finished. Go for it.
Besides, its more important that you get it started anyway!

You're NOT a failure!

I started out well on the 1st. I wrote 3300 words! Then, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, I wrote nothing! I worried I was not going to get back into the swing of things and be a failure.

However... this morning, I resolved I was NOT going to put writing off another day. Even if I have to write in intervals (an hour here, two hours there, staying up til midnight, etc), I would get 5,000 words in by tonight!

I hunkered down in front of my computer around 11:30 a.m., and I've written 2,000 of those 5K so far. I have to stop soon (new puppy is awake AND I have to pick up the kids from school!), but after dinner, I'm starting up again.

For me, it's all about wanting: I want to win again. I want to complete a novel. I want to feel accomplished. I want the free proof copy that only winners can get. And I want to make a few new friends along the way! ...So I *AM* going to get caught up by evening's end.

You can do this too! Good luck!

--Gina

================================
2005: The Pig Woman (6K words)
2006: Truth or Dare (14K words)
2007: -----
2008: The Chocolate Festival Murders (50,270 words)

There is no such thing as a failure in Nano. So long as you get yourself started, even if you don't complete the 50k goal, even if you only get a handful of words down, you are not a failure.

Getting yourself motivated to do this is a feat in and of itself. Once you get that done, then there is nothing, nothing that you can't do.

I personally am going to try and take this momentum and motivation that I get every year from Nano and attempt to use it to quit smoking. It's about that time.

Of course, I'm not going to quit during Nano, that would just be suicidal, but December here I come!

Keep going, keep plugging, keep all of us updated on your progress, we are here to help and support you! If you need us to come around and poke you with sticks, then let us know. That is what we are here for!

You CAN do this. All of us can.

2006: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: Medari (winner)
2007: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: Kyrin(winner)
2008: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: The Devoted (winner)
2009: The Chronicles of Ahlterra: The Wandering

Thank you for replying. I think tonight I'm going to stay up and write in my journal (I tend to write better with a pen/pencil in my hand than sitting at a computer) and see how far I get. Then type up what I wrote tomorrow and see if by typing all of that up I can just flow on through the rest of the story and catch up.

It's hard balancing school, a young puppy (who can't be left alone by herself), and then my prior commitments to online gaming and squeeze in time for writing.

And as a side note, FC is a nickname for my online name Failcake. I'm proud to be a failure. ;)