The Adopt-a-newbie thread is incredibly long and frustrating. They don't post when they have been adopted so it's confusing and time consuming to say the least.
If there are any Newbies wanting a buddy/mentor for this year's Nanowrimo, please reply here.
Anyone that has won a NaNoWriMo previously can contact anyone wanting a buddy/mentor. Please use Private Message to contact the person with any of your info/selling points.
If you want a mentor/buddy and you get one, please post back here so we know who still needs someone.
This is the only way I can think of making it happen for us locally as we seem to not have an ML.
I hope this makes sense.
Corina
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~Corina
ML Sonoma-Marin
http://corinajoyc.wordpress.com/
http://cjc.gather.com/
2,165 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2007 - 01 03
I could use some words of wisdom. I've haven't written much before, and mostly non-fiction stuff, so writing a novel is pretty daunting.
So any advice for a first timer would be wonderful!
50,568 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2007 - 08 25
Julinda,
Aim for 2,000 words a day, and you'll make it with a few days to spare.
Don't stop to edit--although for me it helps trigger new ideas if I reread what I wrote the previous day.
Remember, it'll be a rough draft, so don't worry about corrections this month.
It's fun! Good luck!
Robin
51,077 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2007 - 00 00
Julinda, I agree. Don't stop to edit but DO stop to reread what you have written. Just add some things to fill in where appropriate.
Let it happen. Just sit with some music on. Think of what kind of music might inspire you or at least not distract you (don't listen to vocals you'll be tempted to sing along with). Put it on and stick some headphones on your ears. Ask people NOT to distract you.
Make little deals with yourself. For example, I will write for 90 minutes straight then I will treat myself to a walk around the block or 20 minutes of my favorite show tunes CD or 30 minutes of TV or whatever you might be enthused about.
If you're writing and you come to something you can't quite decide, such as the name of a restaurant or character or such, type it in ALL CAPS so you'll know to come back to it then just keep writing. Ex: Sally and Ed had breakfast at their favorite coffee shop FIND A NAME FOR THIS PLACE. It not only helps to move on with the story but it also adds words to your count!
I have other stuff I can write. I just am behind on my word count because my laptop was broken for two days. So I will move on but if you have questions, please PM me and I'd be happy to adopt YOU. Also we can exchange contact info by PM so you can reach me for questions or inspiration, etc. If you are anywhere near Santa Rosa, let me know and we can get together for writing and coffee or something!
Much luck!
Corina
53,433 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2007 - 13 02
Personally, i use a carat ( ^ ) to designate something I need to go back and check, change into something better, or find that better word I just cant think of. It's essentially a dont-get-stuck practice. I use the carat since I never use it for anything else, and (unlike CAPS) it's easy to find with the search function of every editor out there.
Example:
Later I'd go back and change 'Bulgaria' to 'Transylvania', since everyone knows Vampires come from there, and 'word meaning people senstive to light' into 'photophobics' after I looked it up on google.
50,418 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2007 - 21 33
hi thre! thanks for all the input - i am just learning here.
how do you PM someone?
how many pages is 2000 words?
how do you count your words?
thanks a ton!
50,418 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2007 - 21 42
I would LOVE to be an adopted newbie! Just even to have someone to be accountable to would be great. I am squeeking out some words here and there but I dont even know how to figure out how many pages 50,000 words are.
I promise to be low maintenance if anyone is up for it! thanks,
d
51,077 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2007 - 21 50
d...
Are you using a word processing program on a computer to write? If so, most of then have a WORD COUNT function. If you are using MS Word, it is under TOOLS at the top then go to WORD COUNT. Word Perfect has it under TOOLS>Grammar Check>Options>Basic Analysis>Word Count.
Then take the words they give you and enter into your profile like this: Go to your sign in page on www.nanowrimo.org. At the top right after you sign in it will say USER NAME VIEW PROFILE EDIT PROFILE NANO MAIL LOG OUT. Click on EDIT PROFILE then go to AUTHOR INFO and then down to WORD COUNT and enter it in there.
As far as pages, it depends on what font you are using, font size, and if you are single spacing, double spacing, etc. So it's hard to tell. Generally I would say that 50,000 words will be about 180 to 200 pages, depending on font, font size, etc.
You can contact me any time you need to. I would be happy to help with anything I can. See if you can get to a write-in. People are pretty good about helping out then, too.
Corina