Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Just curious

Have any of you ever participated in NaNoWriMo? What was your experience?

I'm seriously thinking of doing it this year, mostly so I won't feel like this year has been a writing wasteland. I think this is the first year in a long, long, LONG time that I haven't completed anything--the first draft of a novel or even a picture book. I was always getting started. Like a car with a failing battery. A little noise. A little energy. And then . . . nothing.

Maybe NaNoWriMo will help me salvage what has been a discouraging year.

7 comments:

Louise Plummer said...

I actually had to google this. I think I'll hold my breath for a month.

Emily said...

I have never done NaNo, but am doing it this year! I'm mostly excited for the t-shirts. Have you seen the t-shirts? I'm totally buying one if I make it.

I'm actually geekily (is that a word?) excited for this. Something about an entire community suffering through a horrendous month of writer's block.

Think of it as running a marathon. And sign up. You'll feel way left out if you don't do it.

Also, thanks to you and Louise's suggestion, I now watch Revenge.

Sara Z. said...

I've never done it, have thought about it. But also want to say: the year is not a waste even if you don't finish something. You have had a challenging year with LIFE. Maybe it's a year your writing field lays fallow so it can yield a different crop next season. Maybe what you should do in Nov and dec is not think about writing at ALL, other than column. Enjoy the holidays and maybe, at the most, keep a journal reflecting on the year. That's just one idea. :)

Joy said...

I've been trying to get the courage up to do NaNo for several years. Instead, I've been doing NaBloPoMo since 2008. http://nablopomo.blogher.com/

Mystery Girl said...

I've done it for the last four years. It is a brilliant way to throw down a bunch of ideas, including an ending (!) the pep talks are brilliant and there is a social aspect to it if you want to do a write-in say at the down town Library. The whole experience has been pretty positive for me. Go for it!

Becca said...

I did half. NaHaNoWriMo? 2500 words in 13 days and then I burned. But this is so very like me. I did get good words, but nothing much else done in those days. I liked the experience (you know, the half experience) but my family also likes dinner and clean underwear. So if you have Domino's on speed dial, go for it.

(And, at the risk of sounding like someone's mother, be careful of setting a huge goal like that with the idea of overcoming past months' discouragement. Not that I think FOR A SECOND that you won't do it... it's just a hard set-up. And whatever. And I just read Sara's comment, so maybe ignore everything I just said and go read hers again.)

Anonymous said...

I am doing NaNo this year - I think I "chatted" that info to you. Like planning a trip to the temple - and I'm NOT saying NaNo is ANYTHING like the temple - "the best-laid plans ..."

In spite of the awryness factor, I've managed to write almost 12,000 words. I am pretty sure the writing is lame-o, but I don't really know for sure b/c I refuse to read back over what I've written until I finish all 50,000 words. Which I still hope to do before Dec. 1.

It might happen. All the kids are going to their in-laws, and I have refused all invitations to tag along "anywhere." We're staying home and eating a Banquet frozen turkey dinner so I can write, write, write. (Well, maybe we'll upgrade to a Jenny-o turkey roll.)

Loves, rbs