NANOWRIMO
Oct 9, 2013 16:35:25 GMT -8
Post by Thy Dungyeon Maestyr on Oct 9, 2013 16:35:25 GMT -8
NANOWRIMO
Technically, shouldn't it be InMoWriMo, since the "Na" stands for "National" (not sodium) and peeps do it around the world? As for the NoWriMo, it's Novel Writing Month. Many people aspire to write a novel, but can't break out of writer's block or a feeling of just never having the time. So in the spirit of other perverse endurance challenges like 24 hour comics comes something even more hardcore: Write a 50,000 word novel in one month. That works out to 1,666 and two thirds of a word per day, or a little over two full pages of text in the default formatting of an average word processor program. Here's the rules:
1) Do not work on a previously existing idea. Generate the idea at most one day before the beginning of the month, so... on Halloween. We're not purists here, so you can try to work on that idea you've had since you were sixteen if you want. But in our experience, it slows you down a lot. Anything that slows you down is the enemy.
2) Starts November 1 at midnight, ends by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. This is one rule we will go by. If you aren't quite to the word count at the end of the month and still want to finish, you can, but you've lost. No shame in that. It can be less crushing to admit defeat earlier, if you see it coming. I have tapped out within the first week more than once.
3) Write 50,000 words. If you've signed up for a membership at the NaNoWriMo website, you can verify your wordcount there to see neat graphics on your progress. Starting November 25, if you've finished, you can submit your novel for verification you've won, and will get some kind of kudos. We aren't going to be purists about this. You should have a target number to gauge your success by. Indea wants to do a lower word count (HemiSemiDemiNaNoWriMo?), but should have a target amount of some kind.
4) Are there more rules? Aside from the word count and time limit, no other rules I could find on NaNoWriMo's website. There's some suggested limitations (like what we put at rule one here) in the book by the guy that invented it: www.amazon.com/No-Plot-Problem-Low-Stress-High-Velocity/dp/0811845052 but we don't recall any others at the moment...
5) Genre restrictions are out. This section of the board was started with the goal of seeing more horror stories with diverse main characters. In NaNoWriMo, all bets are off. If you're capable of achieving your word count only by writing Dr. Seuss porn, go for it (but maybe put a content warning on top).
6) No Criticism in November. Normally, I guess, sharing your book before the end of November is discouraged, to keep people from wasting valuable time on editing. I'd like to do it different, but be mindful to avoid encouraging your inner editor - or anyone else's. So no criticism of other peep's stuff, beyond encouragement to continue - until November is over.
Other rules for the board ideally will be enforced (be sensitive to real life people with your word choices, themes, etc.), but will not be as closely scrutinized as usual.
SUGGESTIONS
"The first draft of anything is shit." - Ernest Hemingway
In the spirit of that, DO NOT CRAFT YOUR WORDS. Just spit 'em out. Maybe spell check afterwards. I've never won because I find it very hard to follow this rule.
"Writing tips, advice, neat resources" from the NaNo forums: nanowrimo.org/forum_comments/3328718
Any more ideas? Anything interesting you found on the NaNo forum or elsewhere? Comment below.
Technically, shouldn't it be InMoWriMo, since the "Na" stands for "National" (not sodium) and peeps do it around the world? As for the NoWriMo, it's Novel Writing Month. Many people aspire to write a novel, but can't break out of writer's block or a feeling of just never having the time. So in the spirit of other perverse endurance challenges like 24 hour comics comes something even more hardcore: Write a 50,000 word novel in one month. That works out to 1,666 and two thirds of a word per day, or a little over two full pages of text in the default formatting of an average word processor program. Here's the rules:
1) Do not work on a previously existing idea. Generate the idea at most one day before the beginning of the month, so... on Halloween. We're not purists here, so you can try to work on that idea you've had since you were sixteen if you want. But in our experience, it slows you down a lot. Anything that slows you down is the enemy.
2) Starts November 1 at midnight, ends by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. This is one rule we will go by. If you aren't quite to the word count at the end of the month and still want to finish, you can, but you've lost. No shame in that. It can be less crushing to admit defeat earlier, if you see it coming. I have tapped out within the first week more than once.
3) Write 50,000 words. If you've signed up for a membership at the NaNoWriMo website, you can verify your wordcount there to see neat graphics on your progress. Starting November 25, if you've finished, you can submit your novel for verification you've won, and will get some kind of kudos. We aren't going to be purists about this. You should have a target number to gauge your success by. Indea wants to do a lower word count (HemiSemiDemiNaNoWriMo?), but should have a target amount of some kind.
4) Are there more rules? Aside from the word count and time limit, no other rules I could find on NaNoWriMo's website. There's some suggested limitations (like what we put at rule one here) in the book by the guy that invented it: www.amazon.com/No-Plot-Problem-Low-Stress-High-Velocity/dp/0811845052 but we don't recall any others at the moment...
5) Genre restrictions are out. This section of the board was started with the goal of seeing more horror stories with diverse main characters. In NaNoWriMo, all bets are off. If you're capable of achieving your word count only by writing Dr. Seuss porn, go for it (but maybe put a content warning on top).
6) No Criticism in November. Normally, I guess, sharing your book before the end of November is discouraged, to keep people from wasting valuable time on editing. I'd like to do it different, but be mindful to avoid encouraging your inner editor - or anyone else's. So no criticism of other peep's stuff, beyond encouragement to continue - until November is over.
Other rules for the board ideally will be enforced (be sensitive to real life people with your word choices, themes, etc.), but will not be as closely scrutinized as usual.
SUGGESTIONS
"The first draft of anything is shit." - Ernest Hemingway
In the spirit of that, DO NOT CRAFT YOUR WORDS. Just spit 'em out. Maybe spell check afterwards. I've never won because I find it very hard to follow this rule.
"Writing tips, advice, neat resources" from the NaNo forums: nanowrimo.org/forum_comments/3328718
Any more ideas? Anything interesting you found on the NaNo forum or elsewhere? Comment below.