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[fqllve]

It's not "the outline trap" because it's an assignment for a novel-writing course in college, so... I do actually have to finish, and he said "detailed outline."

Ahh, that's tough. I can't imagine writing an outline in such a way as to have it make sense for anyone but me. That'd require consistency and linearity.

"Gimme a second, I'm editing my outline."

[Vector]

Doesn't help that I don't do outlines.  Ever.  Not even for essay courses.

[Aqizzar]

Thanks to the TVTropes plot generator, I have a really cool idea for a throwaway story full of meaningless symbolism and subdued humor.  I'm sure as Hell not going to write 50000 words in twenty one days, especially with three essays to write in the meantime, but I think I can take a serious crack at this.  Thanks peeps, for finally spurring me on to a hobby I can be proud of, and trying to write something I'd actually want to show other people.

[Euld]

Ugh, having a rough time.  I took four days to visit some friends, and naturally, I'm four days behind.  Currently sitting at 9,000 words, and I should have 18700 by now, ouch.

[fqllve]

Don't worry so much about it. The whole 50k thing is exceedingly arbitrary anyway. I figure if you end up finishing your novel in January you still won. Hell, if you end up writing 20 days of 30 you still won. Writing is the important part.

Besides, unless you're really serious about writing it should be more about enjoying yourself than beating yourself up for missing deadlines.

[Talanic]

Heck, if I were you, I'd take my time, get it done by the end of January, and enter it into ABNA instead.

[fqllve]

I wrote this today instead of my novel month novel. Partially out of penance.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

water hyacinth

unobserved seconds flit by leaving no impression on alex. they will be absent from the minutes of his life, unread by the angels on his day of judgment. these morning moments are vigorous and the observer sluggish. only the boldest of them are caught and even then they will never be recalled. all the rest trickle by his ears, blurring into the sound of a thousand running faucets.

vaguely some sense of responsibility stirs within him, but it is not his to grasp, nor could he even act on it at this point. he, hunched over shuddering on the hypnic border, beams of interlacing light phasing back and forth in static. still, the knowledge shudders with him, shaking off mounds of the dust that had buried it in its unthought of days. and here, presently, it would become important again. it shall rise for its fate as we all do.

but now it is little more than a pinpoint, distant as the stars. alexs mind can hardly stray farther than the dip and rebound of the bus around him: his flying cage, a cacophony of springs. the end of the twenty minute ride is miles outside his sphere, some intangible commitment might as well be buried in a mountain on io for all his concern. he does not know this now, and it would mean little to him if he did, but the lines this day has drawn for itself will be revealed in time.

he steps off the bus and the pale light of the morning surrounds him. more buses pull in behind his own. each one heaving and dying, opening a hole in its carapace to allow the parasitoids to escape. and this line of yellow will sit here until the end of the day, until the students pile once again into its massive body and demand it take them home. alex imagines the insect life budding within these carriages as the light saps their color and vitality. automatically his feet begin to drag him forward.

. . .

Think I will burn the novel and continue this.

[Muz]

I'd be on this if I actually had something to write about. My thoughts don't translate well into text.

[Willfor]

I just hit 50,000 for the first time. I've tried for about three years now, and this is my first success.

[cowofdoom78963]

Damn. I'm a month late and 50,000 words short. I guess I am going to have to wait until next year to try this.

Well I guess there are still 2 days left, but do I have the balls to write a 50,000 word novel in two days?

[Supermikhail]

I just hit 50,000 for the first time. I've tried for about three years now, and this is my first success.

I don't think I can put it strongly enough, but I need to read it!

[Willfor]

I'm only comfortable with showing 40 pages of it, as most of the rest of it was frantic trying to get words on the page. I started this NaNo with an entirely different concept, and 10k words in realised that I couldn't bear writing it anymore. Since I was only 9 days in, I restarted. I wrote a total of around 60k words this month, and as I was also working full time it was rather harrowing. Most of it is utter dreck, but forms a skeleton for editing that I can work with.

I'll PM you with a link to what I am showing off from it because I am putting it somewhere I can keep a better amount of control over its visibility when I decide to upload it.

[Supermikhail]

I'm looking forward to it!

[mendonca]

Congratulations Willfor. Well done. I was working full time this month, and stumbled at 3000 words ...

I also would be interested in reading what you have done, so if you feel compelled to share please do. If not though, good luck in whipping it in to shape.

[penguinofhonor]

As NaNoWriMo ends, I realize that I stopped working on my book as soon as it started and haven't worked on it since. I think you guys stole all my enthusiasm.