I think I'm gonna have to pull out of NaNo again this year, but this time before it's even started...
Unless you want to see me on the news after committing patricide.
Anyone else got this problem? I want to do it, but I also want my sanity intact, so I dunno what to do.
----------
You know you're a bit mad when you write a novel called "Mouse and his pact with Lucy, also known as Stan, for the return of his opposable thumbs" which is sure to annoy both members of a variety of religions and cat lovers... hmm...
12,513 / 50,000
oct. 20, 2009 - 13 36
I absolutely have the same problem! I'm mostly blaming my inner editor though, she really doesn't like my plot idea, she thinks it's too generic-fantasy and ripping off other people. I really don't want to have to pull out due to the inner tyrant but she's definitely making it really difficult :( I'm hoping it'll get sorted out, this being my first ever NaNo, I want to at least get a start on it! Don't pull out, I reckon you can do it - we can struggle together :D
----------50,820 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 01 11
If you actually have a plot I'd say go for it as much as possible! Even if you only get 10k words, it's 10k more than you started the month with and will hopefully push you on further! If it does become too much then no one will think less of you if you stop!
I struggled last year for various reasons but still got 13k words, and was happy I got them :)
----------2008: A Turtle, And Other Things That Destroyed The World - Rewriting on hold for November
2009: The Floating City - Going a little too well!
57,147 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 01 38
Have a look at:-
www.spacejock.com.au and follow the articles link. They are good overviews.
and
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
This gives a good 'top down' approach. I've tried this with NaNo (though I skipped on the character bit mind).
----------Cheers,
David.
156,542 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 01 50
Faith, this'll be my fifth nano and I've still got my sanity. You'll be fine.
Okay so it might be a bit tough. So start. If you don't even start then you'll be regretting it for the rest of the year. See how it goes during the month and if you need to then lower the target later in the month. In the end any amount of writing you do, will more than likely be more than what you would do if you drop out.
In the end if you don't feel like you can make it to 50k without a huge breakdown then lower the target. But try not to drop out completely. We'd miss you and I'd always wander what would happen in your awesome plot!
If you need to talk then you have my msn. Are you a bit shaky because of what happened last year? Because I'm sure there won't be a repeat of that. *hugs*
Siobhandeeny, inner editors can be tough. But don't drop out before NaNo starts. Start writing and if your IE gets too tough on you then lock 'em in the cupboard.
But seriously this is all about teaching your IE to shut up and let you write. Just try and see what happens. There's probably a guide for dealing with troublesome IEs on the forums somewhere.
57,147 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 02 21
I'd underline Cieria's point about lowering targets. I once set myself 1,000 words a day, and produced nothing. OK, try 500 words a day... again unhelpful. 100 words a day or even just switch on the computer and write 1 word. It was surprising how often, with a target of 100 words, I'd easily top the 1,000 mark. It's all about tricking your brain.
I suppose it depends upon your own personal reasons for doing this. For me, 50,000 words isn't the target, or even the 100,000 that I've used to set my milestones, because I want to produce a first draft of a novel: if it takes me three months, then so be it. I'm using NaNo not for the deadline, but for the 'delayed startline' to force myself to plot properly.
----------Cheers,
David.
26,343 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 02 43
I'm with David on this one. With November being an uncertain month to me anyway, I'm not going to fool myself into thinking I'll smash the deadline, but nor have I already given up any hope of finishing. I'm in it for the journey, not the destination. This story wants to be written, and eventually it will be. If I don't hit the 50k, I'll live with it. We'll just see how it goes.
----------"Bunch of savages in this town..."
12,513 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 03 59
Cieria - cheers :) I am trying to banish the tyrannical inner editor to the cupboard of doom, she doesn't want to go but she will! I think it's going to be pretty liberating just to write and see what happens :) I mean, when I write that's what I do - the IE comes back later to prod me and have a good giggle at my predicament! But it's getting past the 'plot' stage with an IE that thinks it's too generic. Thing is, I know myself that it's a good enough plot, that I will be able to write lots with it, and that it's linking two storylines I've had in my head and liked for a while now. The IE is just stubborn...
----------57,147 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 05 28
In answer to a post about ideas being too cliched: there is no original story. There are only three stories and two of those are "Cinderella".
1. Boy meets girl, 2. Rags to Riches, and the non-Cinderella option: 3. Hero's Journey.
It's not what you tell 'em, it's how you tell 'em.
----------Cheers,
David.
12,513 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 07 39
Thanks, David! That's made me feel a lot better about my plot! And it's true, my friend and I were discussing it over lunch just an hour or so ago, there are no original stories any more, it's what you do with them! And I think (hope!) something original is happening in mine :)
----------9,524 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 07 57
I must admit I only signed up this year out of habit, rather than because I had something I really wanted to write. I'll see what happens in November, though.
----------Theaker's Quarterly 30 * Dark Horizons 55
39,338 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2009 - 06 53
I've all but chucked my existing idea out the window today. It was starting to do my nut in, trying to make it fly.
So I've come up with something else. I think it's a weaker plot, and not really my cup of tea, but seeing that I dont know if I'll be a competitor this year (ongoing technical fail), I won't mind so much if it doesn't take off.
Time will tell, though. Monday's the 26th, isn't it? =/
39,900 / 50,000
oct. 24, 2009 - 00 56
I've just been diagnosed with RSI. which puts rather a crimp in my plans to type 50 000 words!
I'm compromising by writing most of it by hand on the trian, and typing up odd snatches when my wrists feel up to it.
I also have a hole in my plot that could swallow a blue whale, but that's all part of the NaNo fun!
0 / 50,000
oct. 24, 2009 - 03 17
I think I'm officially dropping out. Nothing to do with plot (I'm itching to write my plot, in all honesty) but personal reasons that want to stop me doing anything and everything at the moment.
I may randomly start halfway through the month, or I may not start at all, but I'm erring on the side of caution and saying it's not happening this year.
I will, of course, hang around the forums and spur you all on. With a virtual cattle prod if need be.
----------You know you're a bit mad when you write a novel called "Mouse and his pact with Lucy, also known as Stan, for the return of his opposable thumbs" which is sure to annoy both members of a variety of religions and cat lovers... hmm...
16,472 / 50,000
oct. 24, 2009 - 03 44
I'm compromising by writing most of it by hand on the trian, and typing up odd snatches when my wrists feel up to it.
I also have a hole in my plot that could swallow a blue whale, but that's all part of the NaNo fun!
.............................................................
Nano 2005 - Won - Crashed
Nano 2006 - Won - Drama in Skitham
Nano 2007 - Lost - No title :(
Nano 2008 - Won - The Train Journey
Have you thought of voice recognition software and an mp3 player?
----------.............................................................
Nano 2005 - Won - Crashed
Nano 2006 - Won - Drama in Skitham
Nano 2007 - Lost - No title :(
Nano 2008 - Won - The Train Journey
39,900 / 50,000
oct. 24, 2009 - 07 22
That would involve spending money, unfortunately. Also as my peak writing time is on the train, I might end up making myself very unpopular with my miserable fellow commuters!
Fortunately the problem is in my left hand (it's my dominant hand for typing, but I do everything else with the right), so handwriting is not the problem it could be. I got some nice notebooks with a WHS voucher this morning, so I'm All set!
0 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2009 - 15 48
I'm think I'm going to have to pull out. I feel like such a flake - It's my first NaNo and I'm pulling out. But everything in the world has decided to happen in November.
I have stupid amounts of mock exams (including art - eurghh so much prep work) I'm tooing and froing between birmingham and cardiff to see my sister, My health has deteriorated significantly, I have my DLA tribunal, I have the meeting about a programme to help with my various disabilities, I have preporation for that programme (or looking at my alternatives) and then there's the incessant physio/doctors/hospital appointments to go to. Plus all the rest of the day to day things.
So yeah. I think it's time to pull out. :(
I guess next year maybe. Or maybe not. It's sucky but I'll live.
Becca
----------Xx
He's not married - He's canadian!
0 / 50,000
nov. 2, 2009 - 05 46
Day 2 and I haven't started yet (didn't help going away for the weekend and purposely leaving the laptop at home). Really don't think I will have time this year.
Life is getting in the way, (well it normally does), but in a way that (this year) is important and unavoidable. Sometimes (only sometimes), priorities need to be acted upon.
Since I was successful in 2006, skipped 2007, was successful in 2008, I don't feel bad skipping 2009 and finishing my trilogy on 2010. At least my brain in now engaged in plot land and is coming up with random ideas at random moments.
Saying that, each time I have done this, I have had a few days in the month, where I didn't work on the novel at all and still finished it early, so maybe I will start writing later in the week. We shall see.
If not good luck to everyone. I wish you all the best!!!!
----------2006 Winner - "Lies, Damn Lies & Sadistics"
2007 - Skipped
2008 Winner - "The Stealer of Hearts"
2009 - Skipped
http://www.chrisrollasonphotography.com
12,513 / 50,000
nov. 2, 2009 - 07 05
Ugh, I feel utterly useless. I REFUSE to drop out until I absolutely have to but I CANNOT get the first couple of chapters off the ground. I have a very complicated backstory for my FMC and I really don't want to hand over that backstory on a plate in the first couple of chapters, but I have nowhere else to go :( I'm going to keep being bloody stubborn though until I really do have an epic crash-and-burn fail. Once I've got over this annoying little bit I'll be fine, but getting past this bit is proving impossible :(
----------57,147 / 50,000
nov. 2, 2009 - 07 49
Don't write them then.
If you are having problems with the first couple of chapters, then why not start writing at Chapter Three. Maybe a solution will occur later, or maybe starting later in the tale is better.
----------Cheers,
David.
12,513 / 50,000
nov. 2, 2009 - 08 29
Yeah, I think I will do that - I'm not sure how my chapter structure will work yet but it will eventually. God, I'm so disorganised. I have a plot but making it work is proving harder than I thought :(
----------42,470 / 50,000
nov. 2, 2009 - 08 32
Don't give in, not before you've started, not after you've started. Finish this thing, what starts off as poor could develop into something with extraordinary potential. Start writing. Putting bum to seat until words come is the only way things get written. If you've got the block, stay sat in front of the keyboard until something comes. It will come. It always does.