Bay 12 Games Forum

Finally... => Creative Projects => Topic started by: Caz on October 13, 2015, 08:03:15 am

Title: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Caz on October 13, 2015, 08:03:15 am
Shudder in terror, for the National Novel Writing Month (http://nanowrimo.org/) approaches.

I made this thread in advance 'cause it's usually good to get some preparation done.

Old threads: 2014 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=144886.msg5744295#msg5744295) 2013 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=132259.msg4700987#msg4700987) 2012 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=117442.msg3676510#msg3676510)

Getting a wee bit too close to November for comfort now - can't really put off planning any longer. I don't know if you guys prefer pantsing, but I get completely lost without at least an outline for this thing.

So... What're you guys doing for this year? Are you doing it this year? I remember we had an IRC room, but I forget the details of it. Word wars helped so much last year imo.

I'm gonna write a thing about feuding thieves and knights cause apparently there isn't anything but that kind of sludge in my head. Woo~
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: TheBiggerFish on October 13, 2015, 08:10:15 am
What the heck, PTW.
Not that I'll possibly be able to do so.  School and not a really good writer do not a novel make.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: strawberry-wine on October 13, 2015, 08:40:28 am
Anybody else have no idea what to write about yet?  :'(
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on October 13, 2015, 09:07:58 am
We had an IRC at irc.freenode.net #bay12nano last year.

Dunno if I'll do it this year, I'm writing arguably the most important exams of my life. Might see what I can scratch out between study sessions or something. I haven't been writing nearly as much as I should be recently...
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: 4maskedwolf on October 13, 2015, 10:02:13 am
Anybody else have no idea what to write about yet?  :'(
You're not alone in that.  I'm considering doing this for the first time but have no idea what to write about.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on October 13, 2015, 12:16:30 pm
The bad news is I am not participating this year.

The good news is it's that I am finishing up a successful draft of a 100k+ word book I started last November during NaNo. The system works*.

(* for some people)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on October 13, 2015, 01:28:41 pm
Already started an outline for the second book in a series I started last year. Have my cover started and everything. Should be no problem, third win in a row incoming.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: inEQUALITY on October 13, 2015, 10:57:11 pm
Going to attempt my third win this year, with the added challenges of being in college this time, rather than responsibility-less, and writing horror/science fiction. Should be interesting.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Digital Hellhound on October 14, 2015, 08:24:08 am
I don't think I'll participate this year, but I will be writing ongoing things like a demon and likely creeping around the chat. Good luck to y'all! Don't think, just write!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 14, 2015, 03:11:20 pm
I'm going to give this a shot, this'll be the first time doing something like this. What should I expect?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Digital Hellhound on October 14, 2015, 03:22:06 pm
I'm going to give this a shot, this'll be the first time doing something like this. What should I expect?

Blood and tears. Fire raining down from the sky. The sun turning black and the oceans into ice.

Other than that, the biggest problem for most people, I think, is the urge to perfect and polish. I don't think editing during NaNo is bad, per se, but your first priority should be getting words out, whatever their quality. You'll feel like what you're writing is garbage, but carry on. If really needed, skip ahead and fill in the gap during another day. Just make sure you get stuff down.

But really - it's probably going to be hella fun. It's been so for me. Do join the chat, if we make one, and work with others - the sense of community is one of the things I love about NaNo.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on October 14, 2015, 03:26:37 pm
I'm going to give this a shot, this'll be the first time doing something like this. What should I expect?
You should expect to be tired of it from 5-11 days in. You should expect to get discouraged at some people in the process. You should expect to have your expectation of what 50,000 words is actually like altered despite having a rough idea of it already in your head.

The important thing to realize is that even with forewarning this is going to happen, and you need to power through those if you want to succeed.

I've participated about 5 times in some way or another, and I've succeeded once. I succeeded on #3. That means I've failed twice after I thought I figured out how to do it. Determination really is the key factor.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Silthuri on October 14, 2015, 04:41:58 pm
How did I not know this was a thing? Count me in!

Made a profile under the name Silthuri if anyone's interested.

I'll probably be writing some sort of fantasy thing I've been tossing about in my head for a couple months now.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Malt_Hitman on October 14, 2015, 04:47:48 pm
I'm in this year as well.

I guess they have updates on the badge stuff on their website.  My profile is Malt_Hitman is anyone, new or old, needs to add me as a writing buddy.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 14, 2015, 05:37:19 pm
For my story idea. It is called Newborn

It is sci-fi. The story deals with a group of people who lived in a utopian society, but after an accident, the residents were sent to cryosleep while the robotic servants cleaned of the mess. An untold amount of time passed, and the cryochambers open, leaving our protagonists to survive in a wild world reclaimed by nature, without their precious technology to aid and assist. Without even the very base survival skills, an already difficult task is made infinitely more difficult.

One of my ideas, anyway, hopefully this'll have enough material for 50,000 words. Does this sound good to you?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on October 14, 2015, 06:18:26 pm
If it sounds good to you, write it. Write what you're excited about, because you'll need that motivation to keep going.

Re: what to expect: first time is usually pretty rough. Don't quit. Don't edit your stuff as you go; that wastes time and can be done later on. Aim to exceed the 1,666 daily word count, by as much as you can. Don't quit. If you fall behind, don't quit. If you get way ahead, don't quit.

Don't quit.

Yeah, you'll hit a point where you hate everything you've done. Everyone does, every time. My first year that lasted a week... second year it lasted a couple hours. Ignore it and keep writing.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 14, 2015, 07:12:05 pm
Alright, got signed in. My name on the site is Bernardo Hoagie.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on October 14, 2015, 09:01:02 pm
I find myself in a comfortable position to try it for this year, provided college application things don't get too much in the way.

I've got a somewhat decent plan out for some science-fiction low-quality-super-tank action, so we'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: strawberry-wine on October 15, 2015, 11:24:35 am
I joined up, same name as my forum handle.

Gonna try to write a funny story. Something like John Swartzwelder's stuff cause I love The Fifty-foot Detective (http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Foot-Detective-John-Swartzwelder/dp/0982273649). Can't wait to fail miserably  :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on October 17, 2015, 12:54:04 pm
I don't know that I want to register on the site just yet, but the beginnings of a concept are forming in my head. If I can get a decent outline written before November I can see myself doing this.

For my story idea. It is called Newborn

It is sci-fi. The story deals with a group of people who lived in a utopian society, but after an accident, the residents were sent to cryosleep while the robotic servants cleaned of the mess. An untold amount of time passed, and the cryochambers open, leaving our protagonists to survive in a wild world reclaimed by nature, without their precious technology to aid and assist. Without even the very base survival skills, an already difficult task is made infinitely more difficult.

One of my ideas, anyway, hopefully this'll have enough material for 50,000 words. Does this sound good to you?

This sounds like a decent concept, and I can't think of any existing thing that does this either. If you can get a story planned out I'd say go for it.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: quinnr on October 17, 2015, 01:37:09 pm
Posting to watch, posting to cry.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Caz on October 17, 2015, 03:06:39 pm
Posting to watch, posting to cry.

That's the spirit!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Xantalos on October 17, 2015, 03:12:15 pm
Oh meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

dammit I have too much excessive emotional commitment going on in my head right now to really write all that much.
That's my excuse.
PTW.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 17, 2015, 05:58:41 pm
Here's the novel I'm going to write. It's nothing too serious, but not really wacky either. Hopefully it's something enjoyable.

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/bernardo-hoagie/novels/centralia-the-filthy-moon

Is the image okay to use?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Digital Hellhound on October 17, 2015, 06:14:51 pm
Your single-line excerpt is pretty great, gotta say. I don't see any problem with the image, why?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 17, 2015, 06:32:07 pm
Copyright reasons.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 18, 2015, 03:42:35 am
Looks like I'm going to have a go at this for the first time. I signed up as Gamedragon if anyone wants to know. One question however, should I plan anything or just wing it?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: quinnr on October 18, 2015, 03:48:04 am
Looks like I'm going to have a go at this for the first time. I signed up as Gamedragon if anyone wants to know. One question however, should I plan anything or just wing it?

That's a personal decision. I think on the Nano Forums they call that either Planners or Pantsers (go by the seat of their pants).
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 18, 2015, 03:50:57 am
I have a feeling I'll be the second.  :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on October 19, 2015, 12:28:09 am
Hm. I have always wanted to get to work on a novel. Very well. I shall attempt this and fall humorously short!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on October 19, 2015, 03:49:05 pm
I hate that I got an awesome sci-fi idea a month ahead of this. I just want to write, after years of not caring about anything but music and art, already blew past 1666 in two hours. Maybe I'll finish two novels instead, haha.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on October 19, 2015, 04:29:12 pm
I hate when that happens. I've been putting off writing forever now and this idea has been floating around in my head for years and years. Also I finally got my first recognition as a writer today in having my creative writing professor tell me I had some srs talent for fiction writing. Small victories, lads, small victories.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on October 20, 2015, 02:58:23 am
I'm going to do it. Posting for accountability.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 23, 2015, 04:19:57 am
My younger sister wants to try this now, going to be fun seeing who can write the most.  :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on October 23, 2015, 04:25:33 am
My younger sister wants to try this now, going to be fun seeing who can write the most.  :P

Word wars are basically the best thing ever for productivity. I might have to set up a similar deal with my sister, although I imagine she'll outpace me pretty easily.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Yoink on October 23, 2015, 04:40:20 am
*Sigh* Maybe this year I'll actually do this... probably not, though.
Perhaps I should just base a story off a dream I've recorded and go from there.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on October 24, 2015, 11:01:37 pm
At this point I'm going to need to write my current mental setup down or it'll be ten times more changed and distorted by the time I start writing.

Word wars are basically the best thing ever for productivity. I might have to set up a similar deal with my sister, although I imagine she'll outpace me pretty easily.

... perhaps we could do that with each other? Post current word count daily on this thread along with writing samples?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on October 25, 2015, 12:41:28 am
At this point I'm going to need to write my current mental setup down or it'll be ten times more changed and distorted by the time I start writing.

Word wars are basically the best thing ever for productivity. I might have to set up a similar deal with my sister, although I imagine she'll outpace me pretty easily.

... perhaps we could do that with each other? Post current word count daily on this thread along with writing samples?

We did that in the IRC last year, IIRC.

I also flunked out of NaNo halfway because of exams, so I might have missed something.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: quinnr on October 25, 2015, 01:49:07 am
If ya'll haven't already, go watch NaNoMusical (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6bun_pBjtE&index=5&list=PLyCn-cSUv3PnfQf_uFNMtv2sepLyK2dui). It's beautiful, how I learned about one of my favorite (now defunct :( ) bands, and not that long, either. It's beautiful, and there is a song about Word Wars.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Yoink on October 25, 2015, 02:03:06 am
Oh man, I just remembered that one dream I had a while back that I thought would make a good novel...
Perhaps I should use that as a basis for my first real NaNoWriMo attempt. Hmmm.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on October 25, 2015, 02:07:04 am
PTW. Not like I've ever gotten anywhere close to the needed number of words before, but hell.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 25, 2015, 04:18:28 pm
How would the early Renaissance future look like?

for my book, I wanted to make a Sci-Fi book dealing with Death-Row and Super-Max type criminals dealing with survival in an alien Galaxy. They were sent to death via Black Hole, but the Black Hole is actually a worm hole, and some of the trash and inmates not turned into spaghetti are farted out the other side into a completely alien Galaxy, with only the alien flora and fauna and human waste to aid in survival.

What I'd like to do is have a Sci-Fi world with a feel similar to the Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance period, specifically, a sort of world that Christopher Columbus would possibly think of. Do you know of any resources to aid in this sort of world, and what are your thoughts and suggestions for this world?
 
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: XXXXYYYY on October 25, 2015, 05:09:30 pm
I very well might do this.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on October 25, 2015, 05:12:43 pm
How would the early Renaissance future look like?

for my book, I wanted to make a Sci-Fi book dealing with Death-Row and Super-Max type criminals dealing with survival in an alien Galaxy. They were sent to death via Black Hole, but the Black Hole is actually a worm hole, and some of the trash and inmates not turned into spaghetti are farted out the other side into a completely alien Galaxy, with only the alien flora and fauna and human waste to aid in survival.

What I'd like to do is have a Sci-Fi world with a feel similar to the Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance period, specifically, a sort of world that Christopher Columbus would possibly think of. Do you know of any resources to aid in this sort of world, and what are your thoughts and suggestions for this world?
 
I tried to do a "Roman Empire in the future" story one year. It didn't get far, but that was more because of lack of writing time. I researched how the Roman legions were organized, their weaponry, that sort of thing.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 25, 2015, 05:30:31 pm
How would the early Renaissance future look like?

for my book, I wanted to make a Sci-Fi book dealing with Death-Row and Super-Max type criminals dealing with survival in an alien Galaxy. They were sent to death via Black Hole, but the Black Hole is actually a worm hole, and some of the trash and inmates not turned into spaghetti are farted out the other side into a completely alien Galaxy, with only the alien flora and fauna and human waste to aid in survival.

What I'd like to do is have a Sci-Fi world with a feel similar to the Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance period, specifically, a sort of world that Christopher Columbus would possibly think of. Do you know of any resources to aid in this sort of world, and what are your thoughts and suggestions for this world?
 
I tried to do a "Roman Empire in the future" story one year. It didn't get far, but that was more because of lack of writing time. I researched how the Roman legions were organized, their weaponry, that sort of thing.
That sounds neat, though it sucks you weren't able to finish it. What was the storyline behind it?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: forsaken1111 on October 25, 2015, 05:31:57 pm
ptw
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 25, 2015, 06:21:33 pm
I think I'm going to write something about a man who almost dies in one of those moral dilemmas and decides from then on to kill a large number of people to save a small number.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on October 25, 2015, 07:10:12 pm
How would the early Renaissance future look like?

for my book, I wanted to make a Sci-Fi book dealing with Death-Row and Super-Max type criminals dealing with survival in an alien Galaxy. They were sent to death via Black Hole, but the Black Hole is actually a worm hole, and some of the trash and inmates not turned into spaghetti are farted out the other side into a completely alien Galaxy, with only the alien flora and fauna and human waste to aid in survival.

What I'd like to do is have a Sci-Fi world with a feel similar to the Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance period, specifically, a sort of world that Christopher Columbus would possibly think of. Do you know of any resources to aid in this sort of world, and what are your thoughts and suggestions for this world?
 
I tried to do a "Roman Empire in the future" story one year. It didn't get far, but that was more because of lack of writing time. I researched how the Roman legions were organized, their weaponry, that sort of thing.
That sounds neat, though it sucks you weren't able to finish it. What was the storyline behind it?
Basically, the Roman Empire never fell and instead managed to expand across the globe. Eventually they build up to modern and then future technology, expanding into space on giant city-ships. The story would have followed the "Cursed Legion", Legio DCLXVI, shortly after the most-recent founding as they travel around battling rebels, hostile aliens, etc.

Not at all original, but wgaf?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 25, 2015, 07:13:28 pm
Here's the novel I'm going to write. It's nothing too serious, but not really wacky either. Hopefully it's something enjoyable.

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/bernardo-hoagie/novels/centralia-the-filthy-moon

Is the image okay to use?

If the image is public domain, yes. Otherwise, I would contact the creator.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: spümpkin on October 26, 2015, 12:36:04 am
Screw it, let's do this. I already have twoone story going on atm, but I'll do this anyway. Not gonna plan, planning is not for me.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 29, 2015, 02:41:23 am
I recently got Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and it is going to be bloody awesome to write a novel with it as a reference book.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on October 29, 2015, 07:36:00 pm
How is everyone else's hype level going? I'm getting quite excited, although finding time to write everyday is certainly going to be a pain and a half for my motivation.


For my outlining, I took some paper and tried to list 25 chapter outlines, with 2 major events for each chapter. I'm not terribly happy with it, especially near the end when things should be building in excitement. My original plan for the primary conflict seems rather underwhelming (man vs. money/mechanic problems), but I think that I've come up with a plan to shift more traditional conflict to the forefront.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on October 29, 2015, 07:42:29 pm
I've got plenty of hype. Problem is maintaining it, especially when you have a weird schedule that doesn't allow you to just "set aside" some time to write :v

But I shall try yet again.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Tawa on October 29, 2015, 08:05:06 pm
This should be fun.

Methinks I'll write a novel primarily for my own amusement about the misadventures of a walking otaku stereotype with various quirky and strange characters as he goes about a particularly eventful summer in a small city.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Zanzetkuken The Great on October 29, 2015, 08:16:43 pm
Might attempt to try to write for this this year.  Don't know whether to utilize it as a game programming benchmark and wind up ending up with a book of code, a benchmark for writing up item descriptions and plot for a game I have in mind, or just flat out write a novel from an idea I had, wherein a non-powered individual lives on a planet where everyone has some superhuman ability and follows his descent into becoming the most terrifying individual the planet had seen.  Likely been done before, but screw it, why not see what I can do with it?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on October 29, 2015, 09:07:26 pm
Alright, posting here for accountability. If I don't finish I owe an internet cookie to anyone who asks for one.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on October 29, 2015, 09:47:00 pm
I found a friend willing to push me through this, so my god, am I excited!!! AAAH!!!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 29, 2015, 10:23:27 pm
Excitement levels are through the roof! Can't wait to start my unplanned masterpiece!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Yoink on October 30, 2015, 12:33:16 am
Had a bit of a brainstorm with my housemates the other night.
With luck, one of them might also participate- that would probably make it a lot easier to stay focused/motivated on writing!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on October 30, 2015, 01:23:39 am
Staying the course, thousand points of light and all that. My outline and cover have been done for a couple days so I'm not thinking about it and working on other stuff.

Should have no problem finishing the book a week early again this year, barring catastrophic injury or illness.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Silthuri on October 30, 2015, 01:04:03 pm
Excitement to the max. I've been pumping myself up for this all month!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Caz on October 30, 2015, 01:34:29 pm
Got a plan done, just gotta write it up to print out for Halloween. Gonna be kinda tough since I'm away for a week starting around the 2nd of November. Trying to write in the middle of partying = hard. 1stworldproblems.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on October 31, 2015, 02:20:19 pm
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on October 31, 2015, 02:27:17 pm
I've done this planning:

Quote

So yeah, gonna be fun. Might spin some kind of bizarre Space Knights of Crail high fantasy in space yarn.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on October 31, 2015, 02:48:46 pm
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.
Six page outline and building. I tend to go overboard when I work on stuff. I've got a cover too :D
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 31, 2015, 03:42:46 pm
So do we start on 1st of November where we live, or the 1st of November in America? Because if it's the former I better start writing.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 31, 2015, 03:43:15 pm
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.
Bout what you've done, minus the writing. I store it in my head
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 31, 2015, 03:43:59 pm
So do we start on 1st of November where we live, or the 1st of November in America? Because if it's the former I better start writing.
I think NaNo is American, so get going!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on October 31, 2015, 04:03:19 pm
On another topic, I remember that some of you were saying that there used to be an IRC Channel for this, are we going to do that again?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on October 31, 2015, 04:06:02 pm
Probably. I might hop on a bit tomorrow (GMT+2), but I'll be studying a lot of the time instead of writing.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on October 31, 2015, 06:01:22 pm
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.

Handmade a cover, fleshed out full character sheets for 5 or 6 characters and updated more for returning ones. 13 chapters outlined, with 33 scenes or so, each with descriptions. Did a couple minor stage setting documents. While I was at it I also plotted a few hooks for character development in the next novel in the series and hashed out some long-term character arcs that I hadn't worked on yet.

All this took less work that nano actually will.


So do we start on 1st of November where we live, or the 1st of November in America? Because if it's the former I better start writing.

Start in November for you. NaNo is global.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on October 31, 2015, 07:53:09 pm
As someone with a creative writing minor (hopefully becoming someone who gets paid to write), I feel put to shame by the amount of prep you guys have already put in to this. Nice.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Caz on October 31, 2015, 09:39:11 pm
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.

Summarised 24 chapters and did a veeerrryy basic character sheet. I should've probably prepped more than I did but oh well.

Reached the target for tonight, but it took around 2 and a half hours. Hopefully I should speed up when I get back into the NaNo groove.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Salsacookies on October 31, 2015, 10:32:29 pm
Engines are revving, an hour 30 til NaNo. Much excitement is here, indeed
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on November 01, 2015, 12:09:11 am
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.
None whatsoever! :D

I haven't even decided what to write about. Oh well.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on November 01, 2015, 01:11:24 am
So how much prep work have other people done? I've got a general idea of the way the story goes in my head, but I haven't planned out chapters or anything more specific than some world building notes and short biographies for some, but not all of the important characters.
None whatsoever! :D

I haven't even decided what to write about. Oh well.

We're in it together then, lol. As far as prep. I know what I want to write about, been thinking about it for years actually, but I'm taking the approach that the best work is written when you don't know what will happen. (so I have heard, anyways)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 01, 2015, 02:57:25 am
Just reached my word goal for today! I have still got very little idea what I'm writing about as I just killed what seemed like my main character off.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 01, 2015, 03:36:51 am
Opening sprint yielded 2,850 words. Hopefully getting an earlier start will let me take a bigger lead tomorrow.Goal is 50,000 words in 3 weeks, but 2 would be even better.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: strawberry-wine on November 01, 2015, 09:25:20 am
So I just found out about NaNoGenMo (National Novel Generation Month). And.... it seems really interesting. Not sure if I wanna do NaNoGenMo per se, but am considering using procedural generation to aid my novel writing. That wouldn't be cheating, would it?  :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 01, 2015, 10:24:15 am
At the last minute, despite an extreme shortage of time, I've decided to go ahead and give this a shot. Haven't started writing yet, but anyone who hasn't already added me in the past, feel free to do so now (username Kotshka).

I'll also be posting my updates each day on my blog: https://meganleeprose.wordpress.com/
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Twinwolf on November 01, 2015, 11:22:38 am
Posting to watch.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on November 01, 2015, 12:51:59 pm
(https://41.media.tumblr.com/8615f21aa1b2348b367272acce6413cd/tumblr_nncbsn7Tr81t8sv17o1_540.jpg)

Encouragement for the NaNo-ers.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 01, 2015, 01:27:14 pm
I managed 2417 words! Hooraaaaaay!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on November 01, 2015, 02:22:31 pm
564, which I'm calling good because I still have basically no plan and I knocked them out in ten minutes.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Urist McScoopbeard on November 01, 2015, 06:47:52 pm
I am a crazy-slow writer. Got very hung up in my introduction, things now just getting underway.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on November 01, 2015, 07:30:12 pm
Alright, I'm declaring my first chunk done, 1225 words. I'm going to make a serious attempt at getting one or two more in today, probably in 1000 word-45 minute periods.



Anyone else use writeordie? I've found it to be a pretty nice program for getting words on screen.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 01, 2015, 08:04:33 pm
First chapter done at 3367 (in libreoffice - nano thinks it's 3386)... yeah... too much free time for this not to win. And just by saying that, my laptop will pick this month to croak.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 02, 2015, 02:13:48 am
Less than a thousand words till I reach my next word goal! I'm probably not going to finish the whole 50,000 words but hey, who cares as long as I try, right? ...right? On other topic, is anyone going to be going on the IRC channel sometime soon? It would be nice to have someone yell at me to keep writing.

EDIT: Just reached 3486 words!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on November 02, 2015, 02:38:42 am
Less than a thousand words till I reach my next word goal! I'm probably not going to finish the whole 50,000 words but hey, who cares as long as I try, right? ...right? On other topic, is anyone going to be going on the IRC channel sometime soon? It would be nice to have someone yell at me to keep writing.

EDIT: Just reached 3486 words!

Nice! I'm on the IRC for the moment. Not writing ATM though, studying instead...
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 02, 2015, 02:42:27 am
6,400 words and counting. I slap the entire thread with a gauntlet and/or white glove.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 02, 2015, 03:57:57 am
How have you managed 6,400 words already!?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Yoink on November 02, 2015, 04:49:54 am
I found the dream I was planning on turning into a novel.
Will have to smash some iced coffee and try and quickly work out an outline for the story. I don't know WTF I'm doing.
Trying to think of anything story-related is making me weirdly anxious. I remember I used to enjoy writing, even if I'd get bored of whatever I started to write fairly quickly.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 02, 2015, 10:31:54 am
How have you managed 6,400 words already!?

fleshed out full character sheets for 5 or 6 characters and updated more for returning ones. 13 chapters outlined, with 33 scenes or so, each with descriptions. Did a couple minor stage setting documents.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on November 02, 2015, 01:28:04 pm
Why is naming characters so hard? I hammered out almost 2000 words, but I wouldn't have finished half that if I hadn't started filling in things like [IMPORTANT DOUCHEBAG] and [MACHINIST].
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Zanzetkuken The Great on November 02, 2015, 01:48:49 pm
Why is naming characters so hard? I hammered out almost 2000 words, but I wouldn't have finished half that if I hadn't started filling in things like [IMPORTANT DOUCHEBAG] and [MACHINIST].

For side characters, my method is to dive onto the Wikipedia pages containing the common first names and surnames of a country that is either the setting or an approximate of the setting, then select a first name and surname that at least sound decently.  If its a main character, I mess around on a meaning of names site and find something quasi-related to some aspect.  Sometimes dive into google translate and grab a word from another language that means the particular aspect of the character.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 02, 2015, 02:05:53 pm
Why is naming characters so hard? I hammered out almost 2000 words, but I wouldn't have finished half that if I hadn't started filling in things like [IMPORTANT DOUCHEBAG] and [MACHINIST].

Go the Fallen London route and call them the Important Douchebag and the Unassuming Machinist or something.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Digital Hellhound on November 02, 2015, 05:58:40 pm
Behind the Name (http://www.behindthename.com/) is useful for names of real-life or real-life-inspired cultures, but if that's not necessary, I get by with syllable mashing. You just let your fingers wander around the keyboard until you come up with something kinda decent. You might spend the next 50,000 words regretting the name, but if you're anything like me, you'll just let it stay because it's less work than thinking up something perfect.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 02, 2015, 06:55:16 pm
I use placeholders, usually words or names that have vague relations to the personality of the character. Usually they end up feeling right over time, either because they change a little to accommodate or else I get more used to them. If at any point I come up with something better fitting, find and replace exists to make it an instant reality :D Of course, that spoils the rhythm of the text, but that's just another thing for the rewrite to fix - the more things left over to fix, the more entertaining a rewrite becomes to push through.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on November 02, 2015, 09:40:17 pm
Wow you guys are productive. How could I expect anything else of Bay 12, however?
I'll be catching up on my writing tomorrow.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 03, 2015, 12:43:06 am
Today's writing hasn't been so good  :-\. It appears as though planning might actually have a use and that just making things up as you go doesn't always work out. Oh well, I'll just type words until something works out.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 03, 2015, 01:01:16 am
I got ~1200 yesterday and ~1400 hundred today. I'm hoping it becomes easier as I go.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 03, 2015, 01:32:01 am
I ended up writing some terrifyingly subversive stuff that I didn't even know I had in me. Part of me wants to bury this and try to tame it to Oprah Standard, but I also know it's the best it can be for the book's message as a whole. I guess I could always set it up to publish posthumously... in any case, 5385 words, self-censorship later.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: TheBiggerFish on November 03, 2015, 06:21:59 am
'subversive'?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 03, 2015, 08:44:31 am
'subversive'?
Not in the destructive sense. More Catcher in the Rye
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: TheBiggerFish on November 03, 2015, 01:36:25 pm
'subversive'?
Not in the destructive sense. More Catcher in the Rye
Then write.  We need more people willing to say things that aren't quoting Oprah.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 03, 2015, 01:57:06 pm
It is day three and I already hate what I'm writing and want to go to bed instead of finishing for the day. This is going to be a very long month.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 03, 2015, 02:13:50 pm
'subversive'?
Not in the destructive sense. More Catcher in the Rye
Then write.  We need more people willing to say things that aren't quoting Oprah.

This. Do your own thing and have fun with it.

It is day three and I already hate what I'm writing and want to go to bed instead of finishing for the day. This is going to be a very long month.

I spent all of yesterday staring at a screen drooling on myself. Ended up changing a big chunk of my B-plot to drag some lazy characters into the spotlight, which seemed to do the trick. When all else fails, smack the plot with a crowbar 'til it behaves, in my opinion.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 03, 2015, 02:27:19 pm
I agree with Darkmere, just whack it until it works. Or you could do what I did and murder your original characters so that you can bring in new characters who you actually like writing.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 03, 2015, 02:37:59 pm
Someday I should try writing fantasy or sci-fi or something. My story is first-person, with one main character so far and another about to be introduced. It's mostly introspective, thought processes... Not a situation where I can dispose of characters. And the subject matter is so serious and heavy and I'm so worried about doing it wrong or making it racist or something by accident. Don't suppose any of you have been homeless and know how I can write about it and not screw it up?

1291 words so far... Just gotta fill in the rest with some nonsense... The problem with writing a story based on a random dream is that dreams are chaotic and disorganized and it's day three and I still haven't gotten to the thing I want to write. Ever get stuck leading up to things and realize you can't figure out how to connect the introduction with the story you actually want to tell? And also you're posting it all online every day so you can't just throw out the beginning or start over because too many people have already read it and are waiting to see what happens next?

Also I just tried to make myself a cup of cocoa to chill out and feel happier and I found a ton of weird beetle bug things and larvae swimming in it.

Okay, enough bitching, gonna go write at least 400 more words now. I write for a living, damn it, this should be easy! Amazing how 2000 words of nonfiction is nothing while 2000 words of fiction is like pulling your own teeth without anesthetic and realizing halfway through the third or fourth tooth that you aren't even sure they need to come out at all and you can't remember why you started pulling them out.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on November 03, 2015, 02:49:25 pm
My plan is basically to go far-out full ham so I can write to relax between exams, which is so far pretty good. I have a better idea of where I'm going than I ever have before, my characters have motivation, and I actually have multi-dimensional characters.

To give an idea of what I mean by 'far-out full ham', my working title is Awakened: a Novel of Time and Space, one of the viewpoint characters is immortal (from an old-age standpoint), the antagonist is likely to involve an undead plague, and if I don't work a reference to Chaos Portals and the Galactic Nexus in there somewhere I will be sad.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 03, 2015, 03:08:02 pm
Anyone want to go to the IRC for a while? I promise to yell encouragement at you if you yell at me.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 03, 2015, 03:14:11 pm
I DID IT. Three days down, twenty-seven to go...
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 03, 2015, 03:18:14 pm
Go Sappho! You can do this!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on November 03, 2015, 03:31:23 pm
Early on and I'm already sputtering out at 2,500 words. I've got exams next week so there will probably not be much writing getting done until those are done. I like the concept, but if I want to actually reach 50,000 words it's looking like I'll have to into December.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 03, 2015, 04:03:21 pm
Someday I should try writing fantasy or sci-fi or something. My story is first-person, with one main character so far and another about to be introduced. It's mostly introspective, thought processes... Not a situation where I can dispose of characters. And the subject matter is so serious and heavy and I'm so worried about doing it wrong or making it racist or something by accident. Don't suppose any of you have been homeless and know how I can write about it and not screw it up.
Not homeless, but close to it, and plenty of financial trouble past and present. Have you ever felt like if you screwed something up, you might die? Imagine that, but every single day rain or shine with no clear way out and simultaneously almost everyone hates/fears you as if you were an animal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzTHUzRI5ag (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzTHUzRI5ag)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 03, 2015, 04:14:04 pm
Someday I should try writing fantasy or sci-fi or something. My story is first-person, with one main character so far and another about to be introduced. It's mostly introspective, thought processes... Not a situation where I can dispose of characters. And the subject matter is so serious and heavy and I'm so worried about doing it wrong or making it racist or something by accident. Don't suppose any of you have been homeless and know how I can write about it and not screw it up.
Not homeless, but close to it, and plenty of financial trouble past and present. Have you ever felt like if you screwed something up, you might die? Imagine that, but every single day rain or shine with no clear way out and simultaneously almost everyone hates/fears you as if you were an animal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzTHUzRI5ag (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzTHUzRI5ag)

Thanks. And yeah, I've been close to homeless, too, for political/legal reasons rather than financial ones (although political/legal reasons have a tendency to rapidly transform into financial ones as well), so I have some idea. I've done plenty of research, especially on specifically being homeless in Prague (which is different from other areas in some ways). I actually found a company that does "homeless tours" of Prague - homeless people work there and give tours of the city through their eyes, show what it takes to survive, share their stories, etc. I'm going to try to get on one of those soon, maybe this weekend, if I can. Anyway, there's a lot of homeless people I pass every day but can't talk to because of the language barrier, and that combined with a dream is a lot of what made me choose this topic. I'm pretty sure I'm going to screw it up anyway, but I have to make an attempt in order to screw it up, and then hopefully I can fix it later.

If you feel like reading my updates as I post them and offering any feedback you feel inspired to give, you're welcome to. I'm posting them every day on my blog (link in sig).
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on November 03, 2015, 07:16:03 pm
I spent all of yesterday staring at a screen drooling on myself. Ended up changing a big chunk of my B-plot to drag some lazy characters into the spotlight, which seemed to do the trick. When all else fails, smack the plot with a crowbar 'til it behaves, in my opinion.
It is my opinion that that's what you're supposed to do to your characters to move the plot.
I'm currently at 1017 words, soon to be more.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on November 03, 2015, 11:02:39 pm
I seem to have hit one of the nagging questions that halts all productive writing at 3092 words.

My damn tank needs an actual vehicle name and I have no clue what it should be. The concept of the vehicle has three separate AI's working things, with the tank being called Arkhos (after Greek for ruler) after the primary AI system. It's made actually writing anything a terrible mess because there's a need to distinguish between something that the AI is doing and the collective actions of the vehicle.

I'll have to muddle over a model name and then catch up on the writing later.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 03, 2015, 11:46:35 pm
Could you try something else Greek? Eg: Prometheus, Daedalus or Icarus.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 04, 2015, 12:10:32 am
three separate AI's working things,
Cerberus 1, 2, 3?

Not much writing today due to unforeseen distractions, 5509
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 04, 2015, 12:47:22 am
10,084 words, 15 minutes before midnight.

I think I still have energy to get started on tomorrow's work, too.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 04, 2015, 01:00:37 am
I got ~1200 yesterday and ~1400 today. I'm hoping it becomes easier as I go.
1550 today. It is getting easier  :). Just reached a plot point I thought I would finish today, but that's ok.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 04, 2015, 01:51:18 am
I seem to have hit one of the nagging questions that halts all productive writing at 3092 words.

My damn tank needs an actual vehicle name and I have no clue what it should be. The concept of the vehicle has three separate AI's working things, with the tank being called Arkhos (after Greek for ruler) after the primary AI system. It's made actually writing anything a terrible mess because there's a need to distinguish between something that the AI is doing and the collective actions of the vehicle.

I'll have to muddle over a model name and then catch up on the writing later.

You can always name it AWESOMETANK73 and keep writing, and later go back and find+replace that with the awesome name that will surely come to you in the shower a month from now.

I know how you feel - I always get stuck on names. I always end up trying to think of names for my characters and staring at the screen for ages. I usually have the perfect name for them, but I also know someone else in real life who has that name, and maybe the character has something in common with the real person, and I don't want them to read it and think it's them and... In the end, I wind up just making a list of names that I don't know anyone called that so they're "safe".

Obviously, naming a tank will be rather different. Maybe you can just make a slight but clear difference between the AI and the tank itself, like adding a "the" when talking about the tank and not capitalizing it, but capitalizing it without "the" when referring to the AI (like a proper name)?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 04, 2015, 02:07:27 am
I reached my word goal. Is it just me or is this seeming to get harder as time goes on?

I'm going to be on the IRC for a while BTW, the channel is #bay12nano on irc.freenode.net in case you missed it.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 04, 2015, 02:45:14 pm
Just got home from a very long day and finally sitting down to start writing. It's quarter to nine in the evening and I have no idea what I'm going to write today. Gonna hang out in the IRC for a while and see if anyone else is around and stumped... Gonna be a long night.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 04, 2015, 02:53:33 pm
I'm on now if you want to talk.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 04, 2015, 03:11:46 pm
I'm on now if you want to talk.

You are? I may have done this wrong. I do now know how to IRC very well.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 04, 2015, 03:18:39 pm
I think I may have stuffed something up. I should get on soon.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Digital Hellhound on November 04, 2015, 04:37:44 pm
We... are using the freenode #bay12nano channel, right? For the less IRC-savvy, like myself, the webchat version is easiest. (http://webchat.freenode.net/)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 04, 2015, 05:04:24 pm
Ahhh, webchat is preferable, thanks. I've finally managed 881 words. I'm up to par thanks to some productive days before now, but I'd like to make the minimum daily count... On the other hand, it's already 11 at night and I have to wake up very early for work... Hrrrrmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sirus on November 05, 2015, 07:27:50 pm
I don't think I'm ever going to be able to successfully complete NaNoWriMo until I get into a different line of work. This entire first week has been nothing but 13-hour shifts with no computer access, leaving me little time to write, and last night a power outage wiped out what little progress I made.

Save your work, folks. Even if you only have a few hundred words, save your goddamn work. I'm not sure if I can summon up the will to start over.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 05, 2015, 11:24:30 pm
Save your work, folks. Even if you only have a few hundred words, save your goddamn work. I'm not sure if I can summon up the will to start over.
Yeah, I save compulsively to dropbox whenever I switch back from a different window. Old habit from programming.

Have you thought about at least making an outline of the shopping points for what you've already written? Could just continue it on from where you were and flesh it out as you remember more, then come back to write those parts when you feel like it'll be easier than working on new stuff. Remember that you don't have to write a book all in one string, I often take what should be a chapter and make very brief, short-story level blurbs that cover everything essential, only coming back as I figure out a character or other events a little better from some other implications. Worst case, you finish a few days late, but you'll still have a friggin novel!

(7376, yesterday was 7176, will hit par before I get to bed or just not get to bed until I do)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 07, 2015, 09:23:47 am
I'm all set up at my local tea room, away from distractions, ready to make up for not having written yesterday. On IRC for now if anyone feels like chatting, maybe word sprinting or something.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 07, 2015, 05:06:31 pm
I'm going to be on the IRC pretty much all of today, so if anyone wants to talk you can come and chat with me.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on November 07, 2015, 06:37:59 pm
Alright, I am 5000 words behind my word count, I've christened my vehicle the Axiom type supertank, and don't have a clue what the third item in this list should be.


If I could keep up my writeordie pace of 26 words per minute, it'd barely be three hours of good writing, I'm sure it'll take all night, though.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 08, 2015, 12:55:31 am
I finally did 2000 words today bringing me up to ~9600 total. It feels really good, especially since I had a very unproductive Thursday this week. I have a midterm monday which I haven't really started studying for, so I'm not sure if I can make 2k tomorrow or Monday, but I've wrote at least some every day this week.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 08, 2015, 03:27:12 am
I finally did 2000 words today bringing me up to ~9600 total. It feels really good, especially since I had a very unproductive Thursday this week. I have a midterm monday which I haven't really started studying for, so I'm not sure if I can make 2k tomorrow or Monday, but I've wrote at least some every day this week.

Yaaaaayyyyy!!!!

I've started using my old laptop for writing instead of my nice desktop. Sometimes I take it to my local tea room, but even if I stay home, just using a different machine for writing is really helpful (and eliminates some of the distractions of my gaming computer, of course). Yesterday I managed to make up for not writing Friday, and I even found a friend at the tea room who shared some of his experience being homeless for a time years ago, who is willing to help me make my novel less horrible. Hooray!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on November 08, 2015, 01:49:46 pm
Midterms are done, so I can actually do this now. Ended up writing about 1800 words yesterday, bringing me up to a grand total of 4763. Not nearly enough to finish on time, but at least I'm making progress again. Hopefully I can put out at least that much tonight.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on November 08, 2015, 02:34:30 pm
Well, my current scheme is to drop 25000 words over the course of next week, so you're beating me!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 08, 2015, 04:25:14 pm
No words today. :( Been having awful headaches for weeks, saw a doctor, she couldn't find anything wrong with me, but last night I didn't sleep almost at all, the pain was so bad, and I woke up with my jaw aching more than my head. It finally occurred to me that the problem is probably my teeth. I still have both wisdom teeth on the top (they've both come almost all the way in already) and I think there just isn't room for all of them there. Need to call the dentist tomorrow and try to get an emergency appointment... This on top of all my other busyness and I have to start considering the possibility that I might not finish this year. I'm still going to try, but I don't want to be devastated if I don't manage. :/
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 08, 2015, 06:59:10 pm
Sometimes life has to come first. Don't agonize over it, just get to feeling better.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 09, 2015, 02:02:17 am
Blasted up from 8951 to 12160 today, ~3000 more and I'll be caught up tomorrow. I have no idea how to write for one of the characters, though - might have to cut her out and pad out the scenery, instead.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Caz on November 09, 2015, 06:21:29 pm
Missed the whole of the last week due to life stuff. Not that far behind though 'cause I got a real headstart during the first couple of days. Time to get back on the horse.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 11, 2015, 12:56:40 am
Did another 2k today. Unfortunately this doesn't quite make up for only doing 1k yesterday, but I'm still basically on track. My novel has been sidetracked into a subplot because I'm kinda stuck with the main plot. I've also started to think the sideplot is much more interesting than the main plot.  :-\
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 11, 2015, 04:23:59 am
Well. Earlier my keyboard broke and I spent a day without it. Had to panic and order super-fast shipping or I would have missed at least 4 days, so that sucked. But I just hit 24,947 words, which I'm rounding up to 25,000 and saying I'm halfway done today.

I'm currently on pace to repeat last year's victory on the 22nd. I bet I can finish faster this year, though. We'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Worldmaster27 on November 11, 2015, 08:10:05 pm
haha ive just decided to start today this is gonna be fun, im at 2072 words, but i have a bunch of notes since id been planning to write something for a while. this is just to give me more motivation to actually do it :P it's basically cataclysm fanfic lol, but writing is writing and progress is progress. there's no way in hell im gonna finish this but hopefully i'll at least break maybe 15 or 20,000 words if im lucky. this is also my first time doing this so weeee such fun

also, you all sound like you're doing great so keep up the good work ! im sure you all can do it :D
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on November 11, 2015, 10:54:12 pm
8157. I'll do some serious catching up at some point in the reasonably near future. Hopefully.

Or ridiculous catching up at some point in the slightly further future.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on November 11, 2015, 11:02:21 pm
Wow you people are productive. I'm regularly making under a 1000 each day.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 13, 2015, 03:29:36 am
I think I'm officially quitting for this year. I just don't have the time, and there's too much else going on in my life right now. Thinking about NaNo and trying to force myself to write when I'm finally home at 9 pm or so is only making me more stressed, and I don't need more of that right now. I'm sad to fail after succeeding the last two years, but... maybe next year will be easier.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on November 13, 2015, 09:09:14 am
... 9pm or so? I'm starting to regularly do some writing at that time.

But it's your choice. Good luck with your life.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Arx on November 13, 2015, 09:28:14 am
... 9pm or so? I'm starting to regularly do some writing at that time.

Trust me, when you only arrive home then you don't want to do anything other than relax.

I think I'm officially quitting for this year. I just don't have the time, and there's too much else going on in my life right now. Thinking about NaNo and trying to force myself to write when I'm finally home at 9 pm or so is only making me more stressed, and I don't need more of that right now. I'm sad to fail after succeeding the last two years, but... maybe next year will be easier.

I don't blame you. I think it's going to be a write-off for me too this year, unless I pull some kind of miracle in the next little while.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on November 13, 2015, 10:24:32 am
... 9pm or so? I'm starting to regularly do some writing at that time.

Trust me, when you only arrive home then you don't want to do anything other than relax.

I think I'm officially quitting for this year. I just don't have the time, and there's too much else going on in my life right now. Thinking about NaNo and trying to force myself to write when I'm finally home at 9 pm or so is only making me more stressed, and I don't need more of that right now. I'm sad to fail after succeeding the last two years, but... maybe next year will be easier.

I don't blame you. I think it's going to be a write-off for me too this year, unless I pull some kind of miracle in the next little while.

Yeah, when you get up for work at 6:30 am and stagger through the door back home at 9 pm, where you live alone and are responsible for feeding and cleaning up after yourself, 9 pm is not a good time to write. Next week I have to spend the few spare minutes I have during the day exploring Kafka's Fun Time Maze of Bureaucracy, visiting various government offices and being pinballed around to *other* government offices until I finally have all the paperwork I need for my next residence extension application.

Also, I just got home from the dentist, hid the fact that I have a sinus infection so she wouldn't send me home and then - surprise! - had 2 wisdom teeth removed which I didn't expect to have removed yet, so I'm in for a fun weekend, too.

So... yeah. I'm thinking I made the right decision. I'll try again next year. :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 14, 2015, 01:01:59 am
Just passed 20k words today. I feel like I'm slowing down slightly, but I don't think it'll be a permanent problem.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Emma on November 14, 2015, 03:36:34 pm
Looks like I'm going to quit, shit happened and made it so that I couldn't write, I'll still finish the book just not this month.
Actually fuck that, I'm going to try and finish and hope that it's enough.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 14, 2015, 06:59:21 pm
Good call. Rah rah rah and all that!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: FallacyofUrist on November 18, 2015, 09:10:17 am
I'm finally over 20000 words. Finally.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 19, 2015, 03:58:26 am
I broke 40,000 today. Unfortunately I probably won't be able to validate on the 20th like I'd hoped, but I will be getting a celebratory day off this week when I hit 50k. Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 20, 2015, 03:40:02 am
Catching up at ~30k, after finding out that my ultimate muse is apparently Tool, Alice in Chains, and Cold. Who knew that 90s alt metal and rock was music for writing? I mean it's the stuff I grew up listening to thanks to my brother, but still, 3k words easy in between endless putzing around with After Effects and avidemux datamosh silliness. Wat.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 22, 2015, 01:12:17 am
I passed 35k today, meaning I finally made up for the first week and have caught up to the curve. I've been writing a pretty consistent ~1800 words/day for the past week or so.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 25, 2015, 11:24:23 am
3133 wpd to finish this in time.
eyes narrow, hands clench, Stinkfist begins playing, goats bleat wildly amazed fear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jCb2yLQXl0)
Let's do this. Let's end this novel.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 25, 2015, 10:21:59 pm
3133 wpd to finish this in time.
eyes narrow, hands clench, Stinkfist begins playing, goats bleat wildly amazed fear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jCb2yLQXl0)
Let's do this. Let's end this novel.

May a chorus of blind, insane angels sing you to the finish line!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 28, 2015, 01:02:57 am
I'm gonna double post and not even care. Because....

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/darkmere/novels/revenant-828351/stats

50,037 words. Yay for winning and all that. The rest of you can join me any time now... :P
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on November 28, 2015, 01:05:02 am
Congrats!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Tiruin on November 28, 2015, 02:49:49 am
I'm gonna double post and not even care. Because....

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/darkmere/novels/revenant-828351/stats

50,037 words. Yay for winning and all that. The rest of you can join me any time now... :P
Grats to you! c:
I wonder if I can ever try this thing next year .-.
Is there anyway to read the finished works? :O
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 28, 2015, 03:49:23 am
Grats to you! c:
I wonder if I can ever try this thing next year .-.
Is there anyway to read the finished works? :O

Thanks! @you and Wilfor

Yes, you can try. No reason not to.

You can ask people for a copy, I suppose. Mine won't be finished until mid-late December because I need to do RL things to catch up from not doing those things in November.

Also I don't think I'm sending my books out anymore, it seems like almost no one reads them and the ones that do only do it because they feel obligated. I begged for peoples' books last year and the year before and never got around to reading them. Now I feel guilty, so I won't ask any more.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 29, 2015, 03:02:53 am
I'm gonna double post and not even care. Because....
http://nanowrimo.org/participants/darkmere/novels/revenant-828351/stats
50,037 words. Yay for winning and all that. The rest of you can join me any time now... :P
Congratulations!

I'm at 48k. If I push myself, I can finish tomorrow. Even if I don't I'll just finish on Monday.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Tiruin on November 29, 2015, 04:13:50 am
Also I don't think I'm sending my books out anymore, it seems like almost no one reads them and the ones that do only do it because they feel obligated. I begged for peoples' books last year and the year before and never got around to reading them. Now I feel guilty, so I won't ask any more.
Send them out for the people who care! x3 'Seems like' is the destroyer of worlds is a real demotivator at times .-.
...Is it ok to link it here? Because I'm lost in finding it x_x
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 29, 2015, 04:53:53 pm
Also I don't think I'm sending my books out anymore, it seems like almost no one reads them and the ones that do only do it because they feel obligated. I begged for peoples' books last year and the year before and never got around to reading them. Now I feel guilty, so I won't ask any more.
Send them out for the people who care! x3 'Seems like' is the destroyer of worlds is a real demotivator at times .-.
...Is it ok to link it here? Because I'm lost in finding it x_x

Well last year I sent out 14 copies to friends. I've gotten two back. One of them wasn't really a fan, and since this year is the second volume in that series, I'll be sending out one copy when I finish the book. So... I will send out one copy.

But these are rough drafts, I shouldn't be sending out any.

I'm not sure what you're asking to link, but I see no reason not to link it?
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Eagleon on November 29, 2015, 11:01:13 pm
Got up to a reasonable ~39k words, and I don't really feel like sprinting the last few chapters when I need to rewrite and then edit the whole thing anyway. I'm also not a huge fan of doing this in November, since I usually have fairly substantial thanksgiving holidays and friends I'd rather not be missing during :F excuses excuses

Call it a loss if you like, but it'll be "done" to an official 50k some time this week and will probably extend a fair distance beyond that tying things up, so I feel like this was a huge success for me :)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on November 30, 2015, 02:02:44 am
I feel like even losses are fine so long as you got something out of it. I am plugging away at a novel that I 'lost' last year's NaNo with, I finished a full draft and have am currently running through edits on it to get it into its best shape. Really, the goal is to get you to start the work, so if it managed to get you there then it's done its job.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on November 30, 2015, 08:35:33 pm
I did it! 50430 words.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Darkmere on November 30, 2015, 09:15:36 pm
I did it! 50430 words.

Awesome! Congrats!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Malt_Hitman on November 30, 2015, 10:45:53 pm
I finished this morning with 50043.  I think I was actually higher last year but stupid stuff has been getting in the way this year.
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Willfor on December 01, 2015, 12:10:44 am
Grats zombie urist, and Malt_Hitman!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: zombie urist on December 01, 2015, 01:15:29 am
I finished this morning with 50043.  I think I was actually higher last year but stupid stuff has been getting in the way this year.
Congrats!

Grats zombie urist, and Malt_Hitman!
Thanks!
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Sappho on December 01, 2015, 04:24:12 am
Congratulations to the victors! And to all who didn't give up, regardless of whether you made 50k or not. I hope that next year I'll be able to join you again. :)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Baffler on December 01, 2015, 01:52:53 pm
Made it to 25k, not even half the goal. Sure a lot of things got in the way, but I feel like I could have done more. I have the concept though, and I hope I can plug away at this every so often into the future. Not a total loss, but...

Alright, posting here for accountability. If I don't finish I owe an internet cookie to anyone who asks for one.

Spoiler: Fresh from the Oven (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: NaNoWriMo 2015
Post by: Strife26 on December 03, 2015, 04:27:05 am
I have failed miserably~

I'll have to see how my work requirements pan out, and maybe-possibly-hopefully some more progress might be made.