I can't join the on-pace thread yet, so I'm starting my own! I feel like I'm bailing enough water to keep afloat, but there's still a hole in the boat. I'm depending on long stretches of bathrobe-clad writing time this weekend to help repair all the leaks in my willpower and get me ahead in case I continue to come up short on weekdays.
Some years it goes easy, other years 50K is a lot of work. I think this year will be the latter for me. But I WILL get there!
----------
Robin
Co-ML for Colorado::Denver
47,006 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 21 53
Just remember, the month is only 1/6th through, tons of time left. I remember with a week and a half to go I only had like 15-20k words written. Still finished with 52k. You can do it :) Just remember to be less picky and simply write =-)
38,432 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 00 06
Yeah, I got off to a slow start the first day so I'm just trying to make sure I'm no more than a day behind before I go to sleep each night, hoping to catch up the next day... maybe...
13,007 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 07 41
Yep, I'm about 6-7k behind... planning on writing today during my planning time and tonight after school. I'm a teacher so maybe...just maybe...I can write in class... **insert evil cackle here**
21,266 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 07 48
1147 words - the xxxx barrier has fallen. A few onlookers in the crowd begin to stir...
----------MikeWrites.NaNo09
US Army, Retired
41,733 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 08 35
I am currently 971 words off pace and have not written anything yet today. Yesterday I was 1462 words behind so I am making progress. I am finding that I need to be someplace out of the house to write. Too many distractions at home. Last night went to B&N and got almost 1500 words done in under two hours. And since I'm doing this all in long hand on paper, I think that's a pretty good clip. Good luck to every one and happy writing-Bob
PS- Spleen, what is your novel about this year? More Djinn I hope :). And I'm sorry I missed last weeks DFW to give you your review. Had a bad case of sugar shock. Damn Halloween. TTFN-B
47,216 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 09 41
four thousand words back
----------coffee and taiko music
war of the wordcount
Winner 2008
http://www.marikurisato.com/
74,792 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 09 54
Can we post here if we're behind out personal wordcount...? Yeah? Good... because I wanted to hit 25,000 last night and stuttered over a couple scenes and only hit 20,000... so I'm about nine shades of frustrated.
----------Your Name In Blood - Have No Fear
62,705 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 12 44
I *would* be right on NaNo-pace if I could count my 4k from my first idea (well, technically my third idea; I'm now doing my first idea which is what I planned to do back in February--yes, I do think about NaNo that much).
But I feel guilty about adding that 4k to my official count. Personal goal is to hit at least 60k this year, so I'm hoping I'll hit 14k tomorrow.
----------http://amandahelms.com
2004-2008 Winner
2009: Disenchantment
47,006 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 13 13
Wait, does thinking about NaNo months in advance make one weird? My current novel has been in my head waiting for a chance to be written for at LEAST 6 months (when I was making a stab at another novel that currently is back on the back burner and if I ever bother with needs an utter rewrite from scratch) and maybe longer.
But I think that's part of why I'm able to get so much done on it with so little time invested. And it's more fun feeling the suspense build up from thinking about it so much without letting yourself ACTUALLY write it ;-)
42,496 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 16 56
I was ahead until the spouse got sick and decided to share. He can be so sweet sometimes. LOL Catching up is what weekends are for, right?
15,560 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 19 34
Haha, I am amused because I was the one who started the on-pace thread but
I am currently in a hospital waiting room supporting a friend who is supporting thir family member
this laptop I am being lent is dying, I am only behind by 1 k words, so it's handwriting time
I love you folks for keeping motivated
-A
----------All Denver/Littleton Wrimos, Feel Free to Be my Writing Buddy. Not from our awesome city? I accept Bribes.
Thought of the day: "What if Garden Gnomes Had Minds of Their Own, such havoc they would wreck."
46,715 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 20 15
@ghost: Yes, all shades of frustration are welcome, since NaNo is really a race against yourself. However, I reserve the right to be envious of your wordcount. :P Are you going for 100K?
@peacekeeper: I wondered where you were on Sunday! Hopefully you can join us this week.
I think a lot of my problem staying on pace this year is I'm making a second attempt at the first of my '07 NaNovels, which went a direction I really didn't like and which I eventually abandoned. I thought a rewrite would be easier, because even though I started over from scratch with the writing/word count, I already had a lot of characters and world-building done. The plot is new and different, or at least will be once I get through all the opening scenes.
But that's made the beginning kind of boring to write, because it lacks that fresh, getting-to-know-you feeling that is usually so invigorating about Week 1. I just hope when I get into the new plot parts it will be more exciting. I also decided to rewrite it in present tense, which is shockingly difficult and really bogging me down.
To end on a positive note: I don't know about all of you, but I find the new word widget showing our competition with ATL and Glasgow to be extremely motivating! XD
----------Robin
Co-ML for Colorado::Denver
46,715 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 20 16
@Cell Farmer: I'm certainly pinning a lot of my hopes on this weekend. I hope you're feeling better and this weekend works out for you, too!
----------Robin
Co-ML for Colorado::Denver
9,609 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 20 27
Funny, I used to be ahead... now I am behind, alas. But I'll catch up this weekend! =)
74,792 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 21 26
No, I'm going for what I have when I stop writing. Whatever word count that is beyond the 50k I have no particular number in mind.
I just want to get the juicy good parts of the novel I have all kinds of scenes in mind for. The front part I thought was going to take only 15-20,000 words now looks like it might weigh in at a hefty 30k+. Things are quickly getting out of hand with some of these characters.
And I keep thinking up yet more cool scenes to add too. I mean really... my Muse has gone berserk.
----------Your Name In Blood - Have No Fear
38,899 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 12 13
I had to work late on Friday and I was out of town all day Saturday! I'll try to catch up today amidst all of the other things I have going on.
Good luck to everyone who still needs to catch up!!
----------NaNo 2007: "Eggplant Man" - 5,553 words (epic fail)
NaNo 2009: "The Goblins of Lost" - ftw
18,596 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 15 08
Oh, I'm behind but I'm hammering away at it today... I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and darn it I CAN write 50,000 words in a month.
I started the day with 4500 words and I'm at 7000 now. I absolutely refuse to give up. I'm going for at least another 1000 today.
Did anyone else start without a plot? I have a different novel I've started, and this is essentially one of the characters who showed up there. She's irresistable to me but I've had moments of just stalling out because I'm not sure where to take her or... waiting patiently enough for where she'll take me. There's no time for patient waiting in this. It's patient waiting that has created a DOA writing "career" for me so far. This is my bust out moment, d#$@ it!
I strongly related to the person who pitched out their first several days of writing to start something new/different. I was tempted to with this - I thought I was writing something on the sci-fi end of things and all of a sudden I've got a coming of age story on my hands. Go figure.
At any rate, I love the boards out here. Keep bemoaning your low word counts and catching up, peeps - it's hugely inspiring ;-)
Cheers to all,
----------Kristen
Too much processing and you get Velveeta.
40,257 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 15 37
I'm behind for the first time since 2005. I NEVER fall behind! And now, here I am. :cry: Luckily, my little one is at Grandma's for the next few days, and I won't be doing much training at work...I just need to put up some huge numbers.
In Week Two.
LOL!
----------[witty description and request for free coffee go here]
46,715 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 17 37
@girl_jen: You're hardly behind at all! I know you can make it up, though I sympathize with the Week 2 dread. *ominous Jaws music*
I'm finally caught up thanks to the weekend, but I'm worried falling behind again during the Week 2 weekdays. I didn't do so well during the week last week, and I don't think I can put off having a plot any longer... *eep*
Maybe my plot will appear and be awesome and generate lots of words! A Spleen can dream.
----------Robin
Co-ML for Colorado::Denver
38,899 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 18 56
I'm a little stuck on my plot for a bit too - I didn't plan ahead much farther than where I already am. Eeek! And I'm only 1/5 of the way there!
I may take a "plotty break" tonight to add a few more bits and pieces to my outline to give me some fodder for next week.
----------NaNo 2007: "Eggplant Man" - 5,553 words (epic fail)
NaNo 2009: "The Goblins of Lost" - ftw
24,343 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 20 32
I've got a pretty solid exposition of about 35 pages. Time to get to the plot I should think. Late night 4,000 word catch up time.
24,020 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 00 06
so, at what point do you get so far behind that you give up? I am 7,000 words behind after not writing for the last 4 days. I just turn on the computer and watch the cursor blink for an hour and a half. And drink.
47,216 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 07 42
situation: dire
----------8k behind, quota getting higher
must stoke brain fire
Winner 2008
http://www.marikurisato.com/
65,000 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 08 42
Don't give up!
Just write what you can. Not everyone finishes in November but that doesn't mean you can't do your best!
It took me five years to win NaNo (there used to not be a requirement to win to be an ML). I learned alot about Noveling in that time.
If you're having problems with your story, start a new one.
Kill a character.
Add new characters.
drop a bomb.
sometimes all you need is conflict.
----------Tirjasdyn - Badger et al
Nanowrimo Denver Events and News
http://www.dennanos.org
My Stuff
http://michellejnorton.com
http://denverfictionwriters.com
(720) 837-2213
47,006 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 09 00
Gotta agree with that. Again last year I was something like 15k behind with time running out and I finished with 52k and a day or three early to boot. Just keep going, sooner or later stories seem to hit critical mass, and then you can't seem to stop writing... which fyi is one of the most awesome feelings ever. Well barring non-family safe things of course <_<
9,302 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 13 40
I had only 2000 words as of last night. I woke up this morning and used my little calculator... 48,000 words divided by 20 days left in the month is only 2400 words per day. It IS possible, just take it a day at a time rather than feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of 50K!
This is my first attempt so I don't have past experience to cheer people on, but we can do it!!
----------Casu Consulto
7,031 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 22 40
Well, I just jumped from 3154 to 5713 tonight, so I'm still behind, but it's an improvement.
I'm taking some, loads, of advice from you guys. I'm trying to let my characters just do things without judging whether it's the best way to express it, and working on getting out of the way and letting my characters do their own thing.
I'm also finding that I get stuck because I'm worried about a detail (like does the college my character attend have dorms, for example) and I need to let that go and keep going - make an assumption one way or another and let it be the truth in the story. Just because my story has a real setting doesn't mean it has to all be real.
I'm also getting in my way as I'm trying to write it all in order, start to finish, and I've decided it's ok to move ahead to scenes my characters already know and then come back and fill in the transitions.
So tonight, the word is Grease, no no no, it's Progress! Ha!
----------"English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over and goes through their pockets for loose grammar.."
47,216 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 09 30
http://writeordie.drwicked.com/ has helped me only be 8k behind. Urgh.
----------Winner 2008
http://www.marikurisato.com/
2,780 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 19 49
I'm thinking that if I get going and do an additional thousand, I'll be okay. This happen to me last year and I ended up making 52000 and still not finishing the book.
So everyone, don't worry, it'll all come together.
----------Michelle Dragalin
Freelance Writer and Educator
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.”—Anais Nin
2,780 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 19 49
I'm thinking that if I get going and do an additional thousand, I'll be okay. This happen to me last year and I ended up making 52000 and still not finishing the book.
So everyone, don't worry, it'll all come together.
----------Michelle Dragalin
Freelance Writer and Educator
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.”—Anais Nin