write a novel in one month

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   tiginbanposted 14 years ago

   Hi,
   Just wondering if anyone's ever done the nanowrimo and how they got on? This is where you write a novel in a month (November).
   www.nanowrimo.org
   Thanks

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      Scott.Lifeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Several of us are doing it this year, I've cheated though, I'm already about 10,000 words into it.

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         Jordan 1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

           Hi, I can't for the life of me wonder why anyone would want to try and write a novel in a month. I spent 2 years on my first, and even then some things weren't right. What happens if you turn out what potentially could have been the novel of the decade, that had it been thought over properly and the correct research put in place, could have made it big time. Now only to find it's dumped onto some editors slush pile?
         
         Anyway, good luck, GJT

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            Gemsongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I actually wondered the same thing before I gave it a try. I have found that what it does for me is make me get the initial story written in draft form. And even more importantly it made me finish a novel for the first time in my life. That is so important to me.
            
            Now I have several finished drafts I can now carve into. If anyone buddies me on Nano please let me know so I can buddy you back. Same name there. Gemsong.

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2. 59

   tiginbanposted 14 years ago

   Thanks Scott.
   I don't even know if I've that many words in me, but I may just do it to put a rocket under my ass.

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      Scott.Lifeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It's just a good exercise, too many writers procrastinate and never finish anything. It's also just a rough draft concentrate on telling the story not putting out a finished product, that's what December is for. Last, just have fun, you're telling a story that's all. 50,000 words is not as long as most people think it is.

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   cindyvineposted 14 years ago

   Scott, you're admitting you cheated, tsk...tsk.... well, I have already written 30 000 but my goal is to do 50 000 in November and finish the novel.  So basically, I'll be submitting the second half of my novel lol.  Is that cheating?  I'm still going to only start on the 50 000 in November!

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      Jordan 1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Hi Cindy, I'm sure you are aware that over 40.000 words makes it a novel. At the moment you are on a novella. If you've double spaced on A4 paper with 30.000 words, then you are probably, at a guess, around 100 pages or so, in. Anyway, if you finish up with say 190 pages, and you publish your novel on a size 8" x 5" book, you will roughly finish up with a novel of around 270 pages.
      
      One more piece of advice. Don't rush it, you may regret it later.

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   tiginbanposted 14 years ago

   Thanks. I will give it a blast so. See how I do.
   And I really like, Scott, that you said 'you're telling a story, that's all', it really takes the pressure off.
   Best of luck with it.

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   Hope Wilbanksposted 14 years ago

   I've joined NANO every year and have yet to complete a full manuscript during the month of November. Laziness, I suppose. I signed up again for this year's though. I have the idea ready that I want to work on but I'm going to spend this week drafting an outline and fleshing out the characters a bit. *fingers crossed* Maybe I'll actually cross the finish line with a finished draft this year!

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      Jordan 1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Hello Hope
      
      I have had four novels published, and at the moment i'm just polishing my latest off.
       
        Anyway, keep on fleshing the characters out, (but don't go overboard). Without likeable or unlikeable characters, the story is already dead in the water.
      
        One other thing, If you are lazy about your writing, that is a bad sign that you either, aren't confident about your writing, or you are simply not enjoying it.
       
        We all struggle for family time etc, on the writing.
      One tip is to forfeit that extra hour in bed. Get up and get stuck in. I promise that when you see your first book in print, you will realise it was all worth it. Don't rush it though.
      
      Best wishes and good luck with the project, GJT

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   livewithrichardposted 14 years ago

   I think I might give this a try.  I have an action/horor screenplay with 65 scenes.  The story is well developed but I never even considered turning it into a novel.

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      Gemsongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      can't hurt.

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   wrenfrost56posted 14 years ago

   I have not heard of this before,thanks for sharing. I will have to check it out. Not that I'm the fastest writer in the world.

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   Newsclipperposted 14 years ago

   When I was younger and full of energy, I wrote a novel in 12 days and then one in 17 days. The first one was a total piece of garbage, not even worth trying to salvage and the 2nd one is packed in a box in my closet somewhere. It really is a pretty funny, quirky, romance type novel with a lot of funny dialog, but I never did try to do anything with it.
   
   I should pull that thing out and rewrite it. Someday.

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   Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

   I was just about to write a thread on this but luckily I saw this one first lol
   
   I was thinking about doing it too...should I sign up and try it out?

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      Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Go for it

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         Crazdwriterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         thanks Sue I am so going for it...have signed up as Crazdwriter on there too
         
         Are you signed up?

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            Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No not yet, I'm still too busy becoming more familiar with hubbing and things like finding good titles and keywords and networking and all those annoying things that seem to be necessary to build up some kind of web presence. But one day I might sign up for nanowrimo. But good luck to you and let us know when we can read your novel.

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    Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

    Will do Sue...I will be keeping it under wraps until I have edited, revised it, proof read it, all that and then try to get it published into a book. But I might post a chapter or two on here once I'm done writing it.

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