How is everyone doing? Did you survive the first week? Are you on target with your daily word count goals? Have you hit the first stumbling block of the month?
Remember to just keep writing. Keep putting words on the page and the problems will eventually work themselves out. and before I forget....
NaNoWriMo Survival Tip #3
Remember to eat healthy during November because you don't want to spend December trying to lose the extra pounds you packed on grabbing sugary fat filled snacks. They might be more accessible at the time, but you will pay for it later. Try to maintain a healthy diet and keep the energy drinks and sodas to a minimum. You will feel better and be able to write more!
Now get out there and get those words! You can do it!
----------
Co-ML Fort Smith and Surrounding Areas
http://shay-writes.livejournal.com/
71,335 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2009 - 10 30
Way to go on the word count, Shay! :D
I'm up over 35K right now. My story's decided it needs to go in a new direction, so I'm working on brainstorming/ outlining right now. This is good for two reasons: I planned to take Saturdays off (unless I find extra time to write), so this isn't taking away from my writing at all, plus my story was starting to look like it wouldn't make it to the 75-80K that I want it to be at when it's finished. This new direction promises to give me all kinds of new scenes and situations! :D
Very good tip, by the way. I try to eat healthy all the time, but occasionally indulge in not so healthy snacks. I've been doing good this month so far. Hopefully, it'll continue!
----------Lois Eighmy
http://lmeighmy.livejournal.com
http://lmeighmy.blogspot.com
37,265 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2009 - 20 03
Despite my trip out of state, and thus no progress for five days, I am ahead of my projected word-count. Whoo Hoo!
Although I have a few notes and a rough idea of what should happen during the course of the story, I'm pretty much flying by the seat of my pants. Kinda fun, actually.
As for eating healthy, well, does coffee count? (laugh) I ate a salad earlier, and some mashed potatoes, but that was several hours ago. Time to fuel up again, and keep writing.
----------Keanan Brand
http://AdventuresInFiction.blogspot.com/
41,828 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 15 51
Oh, dear, I've just snarfed down a package of cookies the last 24 hours.
71,335 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 16 33
And I just had a cup of soda. God help us! :P
----------Lois Eighmy
http://lmeighmy.livejournal.com
http://lmeighmy.blogspot.com
51,098 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 17 10
I never eat healthily, sorry. People change definition of "Healthy" every few years. But kudos to those of you with self-discipline to do so.
I am about 5k in the hole, but FINALLY hitting a scene that I feel will be pivotal. Nervous. Am taking a short break to write down who everyone is -- my characters finally started breathing on their own and flexing muscles a bit this weekend -- and what they want and what will be in their way. 13 people in
two late 70's Chrysler Cordobas at a drive-in circa 1980, each with ulterior motives except for the protagonist who only wants to watch "Star Wars" for the ninth time.
Wish me luck!
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage -- as long as you edit brilliantly." ~ C. J. Cherryh, quoted in _The I Love To Write Book_ by Mary-Lane Kamberg
41,716 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 20 44
Thanks for the tips!
I haven't hit the wall yet, and my story seems to be stopping at very natural points, even if those points aren't quite at the word count I want. I was hoping to hit 25k tonight, but that's just not the way things went.
I write on the fly, letting things unfold and develop as much as I can and I try to stay out of its way. :-) I do have two things that I want to be sure the story covers, but I've decided that if those dont happen, I'll put them in a different story. :-)
I'd love my story to hit 75000 words, but I'll be VERY happy just hitting the 50k goal. We'll see where things go, and like others here, I am hoping the Thanksgiving break will give me an extended writing stint to really kick things out!
Happy writing!
22,375 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 21 20
I'm actually behind on my word count right now, but I've got time set aside tomorrow to catch back up.
My characters are finally starting to resolve themselves into personalities (or, at least, personalities they keep for longer than a page), which means I've finally started to develop a plot! Honestly, I don't think I like this whole 'jump in the deep end without a plot or characters' thing. It might work for others, but all it did to me was give me several thousand words that make no sense, and which I'm having to ignore to continue to write. From now on, I'm at least having a setting and characters before hand!
I haven't been eating healthy, actually. I was on a fairly good kick before November - but in the wake of NaNo and the even more stressful factor of university, I've fallen off of it. Not too far, I suppose - I'm still buying organic stuff, and wheat bread instead of white bread, and all that stuff. But I haven't been eating any fruits or veggies. I just can't convince myself to attempt to cut up a melon or anything of that type in my dorm kitchen. Not worth the effort. I suppose I ought to start buying the pre-cut stuff from the store, shouldn't I? I just worry they'll sit in my fridge and rot. That's what always happens when I buy berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries...) And I've been drinking soda's when I go home to visit my parents house. Shame on me...
----------51,098 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 03 11
Halfway to 50K and still no plot, plus my MC started dating and I did NOT want her to cave in. But at lest sh's showing a mind of her own. :) Still have a few idesas and we'll see if they coalesce in the next couple of weeks to make some sort of ragged sense.
Good luck to all!
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage -- as long as you edit brilliantly." ~ C. J. Cherryh, quoted in _The I Love To Write Book_ by Mary-Lane Kamberg
43,879 / 50,000
Nov 12, 2009 - 07 15
I did hit a wall HARD on Sunday or Monday...I couldn't even go to the site where my story was being written. Lots of old "stuff" that was creating blocks for me but I have written more than 2000 words in the past 12 or so hours. I am still behind on my word count but the energy has come back and I am plugging in the bones again. Such a sketchy story and yet so full of soul. I am so glad that I have committed myself to NaNo this year.
Good luck to us all,
Ardee-ann
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)
43,879 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2009 - 08 55
I feel half dead. I have written over 5000 painfully dragged out words in the past 18 hours. OMG, I am still behind on my word count but some of the critical aspects of the story have finally been laid out. I feel like I have been drawn and quartered. What a weekend this has been!
I hope everyone is doing ok and that you all are indeed still writing away. Whew!!! See you further down the road.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)
22,375 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2009 - 10 16
This last weekend killed me. I spent the entire weekend editing - and it wasn't even my novel! I was working on something for my mom and her friend, and it was way, way more important than NaNo. I've got to prioritize, so I don't feel too bad about the fact that I'm so far behind... That doesn't make the entire thing daunting.
Add in the fact that Friday and Saturday I went to bed at 1:30 and 3:00 respectively. Of course, that totally messed up my sleep schedule, and I know how busy I am, so I opted for the quickest route to fixing my schedule - I didn't sleep last night. At all. So, I'm working today from 1:00 to 6:00 on my novel. Then I'll go to the Anthropology Lecture at 6:30. Then I'm coming back to my dorm, taking a shower, and going to bed. At whatever point I get up - hopefully around 8:00 in the morning - I'll work on the novel some more before my class. Then I'll come back, do the paper I have due at 11:30 tonight, and work on the novel.
Hopefully, by Wendesday, I will be caught up. I doubt it though. Wish me luck? C'mon Ardee - If I can do it, so can you!
----------43,879 / 50,000
Nov 18, 2009 - 04 49
Add in the fact that Friday and Saturday I went to bed at 1:30 and 3:00 respectively. Of course, that totally messed up my sleep schedule, and I know how busy I am, so I opted for the quickest route to fixing my schedule - I didn't sleep last night. At all. So, I'm working today from 1:00 to 6:00 on my novel. Then I'll go to the Anthropology Lecture at 6:30. Then I'm coming back to my dorm, taking a shower, and going to bed. At whatever point I get up - hopefully around 8:00 in the morning - I'll work on the novel some more before my class. Then I'll come back, do the paper I have due at 11:30 tonight, and work on the novel.
Hopefully, by Wendesday, I will be caught up. I doubt it though. Wish me luck? C'mon Ardee - If I can do it, so can you!
Sounds like you have quite the schedule going on. I am so glad that my college days are behind me. I worked on getting my BA with a toddler underfoot. I got several papers done back then with his "help" surely I can crank out 50,000 words that make some semblance of sense in a month without a toddler around.
I do wish you lots of luck. I know you can do this. We all can, we have a fire in our souls or we wouldn't be here. I wish you well.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann who has managed to whip out a few thousand more words. WHEW!!! LOL!!!
PS -- you were a sweetie to take time to help someone else...bless your heart!
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)
51,098 / 50,000
Nov 18, 2009 - 12 11
Been too lazy to write last couple of days; I fell asleep yesterday w/o even doing the dishes and STILL woke up sleepy today.
But I hope to crank out some stuff today; have ideas for several chapters even tho the whole enchilada is going nowhere. But the other day a few threads pulled together, and even if it's a LAME novel when all is said and done, I want to have attempted a different genre than my normal stuff. Soooooooo .... cue theme music {Wagner's "Ride Of The Valkyrie"}, put the pedal to the metal {um, desk chair leg}, stuff parrot in cage {*SQUAWK!*}, and convince Other Half to keep the radio off {but, Honey, I'm behind on the nano and I can't THINK with that stuff blaring}.
Man, I wish I had a Viking helmet to wear as I write ....
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage -- as long as you edit brilliantly." ~ C. J. Cherryh, quoted in _The I Love To Write Book_ by Mary-Lane Kamberg
34,257 / 50,000
Nov 18, 2009 - 13 50
Good luck gammy!
I've managed to keep on steadily, falling behind here, getting ahead there. I haven't even looked back at any of it to see how horrible it is, but it's written so I'm calling it good enough for the moment! :)
--------------
"I stood Among them, but not of them; in a shroud of thoughts which were not their thoughts" -Lord Byron
http://senedrawrites.blogspot.com
43,879 / 50,000
Nov 18, 2009 - 23 08
Gammy, I want a Viking Helmet too. I know it would help but then I have wanted a Viking helmet for over 20 years....hmmm....more like 27 years, so maybe I was anticipating that one would help me to write. LOL!
I have punched out more than a thousand words in the past hour. Time for more tea and maybe some sleep. I am still behind on my count but I am literally giving this everything that I have. Talk about blood, sweat and tears. Whew!
Good luck to us all,
Ardee-ann
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)
43,879 / 50,000
Nov 20, 2009 - 09 02
I love the word count widgets if you aren't using them I suggest that you do so. I was (and still am) behind on my word count but I went from like 44% to 60.7% in the past 36 hours, talk about a rush. It helps to see the percentage even more than just the word count. I feel like a whole new person. I have been trying to be part of NaNoWriMo for 6 years, here I am and I really think I am going to make it despite some difficult odds.
If I falter, so be it but right now, I feel pretty darned optimistic. I like being an optimist too. It is part of my charm! LOL!!!
Good luck to us all,
Ardee-ann
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)
56,039 / 50,000
Nov 21, 2009 - 19 23
Hi guys! Mind if I just come in here and squee for a moment?
This was my first NaNo. I've been writing fan fiction for over 2 years, but a friend prodded me into trying my hand at an original story. I signed up for the challenge, and today I passed the 50k mark! I've never attempted writing anything with my own characters before, so this was a huge challenge to me, but once I got going on it I couldn't stop! Of course, I'm nowhere near done wrapping this thing up, but I just needed to dance a little. This whole experience has been fantastic.
I think that now I will be a NaNoWriMo junkie! Go Arkansas NaNos! Write Mo!
----------Did anyone ever think that maybe Sylvia Plath wasn't crazy, she was just cold? - Lorelai Gilmore
43,879 / 50,000
Nov 21, 2009 - 21 09
Hey Mag1, WTG!!!! You are rockin' it!!! I know you have to really be happy dancing. That is awesome, congratulations on getting your 50K and now to wrap up your story. You can do this. You have momentum on your side. How awesome! I am very happy for you.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann
----------The spirit is willing but the body's asleep! ;)