When I was younger I always used to write but I don't think I ever took it seriously but latly I've been itching to start writing again. I've moved 3 times within the time period of when I was eager to write until present day and I think that has something to do with it. I was walking around school today and I 'borrowed' one of the flyers for NaNoWriMo and I'm pretty interested. I just want to know what some mroe xperinced writers think.
Is it possible for me to be able to particpate being a very unseasoned writer?
Do I stand a chance for eaching the deadline? (I've never worke dunder a deadline before I always wrote for fun)
Is it that hard actually writing 50k words?
It may seem like stupid questions but I want to get a feel of what I'm up against.
----------
50,063 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2007 - 10 21
1. Totally. I started having never written something longer than a short story for school. I won, and that Novemeber was one of the best ever!
2. Yes! Yes yes yes! If you write everyday then it's very do-able.
3. You aren't writing 50k, you're writing 1.6k every day which, depending on how fast you type takes about 45mins to an hour. It's a challenge, hard sometimes but that makes it more fun.
Hope that helps!
----------2005 (NaNo)- Underground- Won!
2006 (NaNo)- Delusions- Won!
2007 (SF) - Dead Dandelions- Won! (But lost after HD crash.)
2007 (NaNo)- If Wishes Were Fishes- Won! (Nearly lost in HD crash)
1,725 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2007 - 14 18
Remember, nano is a high volume, low pressure writing exercise. The best thing to do if you want to write is to write. With 50K to finish, you'll have 50K+ more writing experience at the end of the month then the start. You'll also have much more experience framing a store, at using transitions, at writing dialog and at almost everything that goes into a store.
Many nano participants have little or no writing experience beyond what was needed for school.
And even if you do not "win" by writing 50K+ words, you'll still be part of the writing community effort and I think you'll find it enjoyable.
So in short, if you want to write and don't have much experience, how can you *not* nano this year?
50,056 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2007 - 17 53
As long as you keep with it, it's possible to do it. Last year was my first year, I didn't generally write anything too long before, and I managed to write all 50k words. So, if I can do it, you can, too.
----------"Chic people, unique people, and freak people we quickly ditch."
10,548 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2007 - 18 57
Absolutely possible to participate and win as a first-timer. I did! :) 2003. I also lost horribly in 2004 (with only 15,000 words). If you pace yourself (shoot for 2,000 words a day) and remember to just write versus trying to edit and make your story "perfect" (my biggest flaw/stumbling block), you'll be great!!!
I've found it hard on some days - mainly because I am really horrible on myself and I edit and "stumble over" what I want written down. Nano isn't about that. It's about writing. Writing consistently and writing quick! If you've always written for fun - remember that feeling and use it. That's what will get you through - and chatting/venting to your fellow Nano's! :)
Good luck and happy writing - to all of us!!!!
----------*****
I haven't a clue what I'm doing. Ever.
Stay Shiny. Keep Flyin'
50,087 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2007 - 20 35
It's definitely possible. The first year I did this I was 14 and had never written anything over about 10K words before... and that over a period of months. The main thing is to A. Really like your story, really want to write it and B. Don't get discouraged if it's crap, because it will be crap. But crap can be polished later. The important thing is to get it down on the page so you have something to polish.
----------2003: Anomaly (won!)
2004: Duodecium (won by a large margin!)
2005: Follow the Tides (won, but hated the story)
2006: Glass Jars and Seashores (won! This was Anomaly, mach II, with 100% new characters and a completely re-outlined plot)
0 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2007 - 02 15
Thanks for the replies peeps, I've actually been postphoning writing a story for a long time now but it kinda just died. It's not against the rules though if I decide to pick it back up, I haven't written a single word for it. It's one of those idea bubbles that tend to float around as the best idea ever.
Haha I think I'd need to post in a different forum if I wanted to explain it more huh?
Once again thanks for your replies. I'll give it a shot.
20,708 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 11 13
Go for it. What makes NaNo wonderful is the combination of pressure/encouragement to keep writing (so you write something every day) and the total lack of pressure to make it perfect, or even good. Remember, nobody will ever read it unless you choose to show it to them. It doesn't have to be polished. It doesn't even have to be spelled right.
You can't lose. Even if you don't make 50,000, you haven't lost. You've written, you've created, you've done an amazing thing. Even if all you manage is 1000 words over the whole month of November, that's still a thousand words more than you would have written otherwise. How can that not be winning? The only way to lose is not to try at all.
Last year was my first NaNo. I ended up spending most of November having a horrible dose of flu, and then having to spend every waking hour catching up with work because of the time I was out with the flu. So I didn't get much writing done, and ended up with a total of 10,000 words in all, and they were rubbish. But I'm awfully proud of those 10,000 words. I killed my writer's block and got something written.