NaNoWriMo? Who’s Participating?
October 25, 2008
Hi world. I’m currently stationed on my bed, debating on whether to work harder on a good plot for NaNoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month for those who don’t know—I didn’t until like two weeks ago… lol). If I do participate on NaNoWriMo it would be my first year and I’d do less than 50,000 words (courtesy the Young Writer’s Program where you can set your own word-count-goal to what you like).
My plot is kind of bland… following a girl who doesn’t give a fuhh about anything. She goes to a boarding school after getting into some trouble and meets different, cool people… including a boy who is “sensitive” and shows her a different side of herself. Now… how am I going to get that to work for more than a page? DONNO.
I’m always the type of writer who starts stuff and then stops for a little bit, then starts again with a better idea then stops. And repeat the cycle over and over.
My question to ALL out there is… are you participating? Would you like to share your plot? Do you have any tips? Let me now in the comments…. 🙂
NaNoWriMo starts in 6 days.
What Vanessa Reads 
:] I’m participating. Only going for 20k though, which is still a stretch for me. My plot is one of those that’d be hard to condense into one sentence. Here, I’ll paste what I used to sum it up on the Young Writers site:
Francesca St. Germaine has screwed up. Now that she’s being granted that rare second chance, she’s using it to reclaim old friends and capture new ones. There’s her ex-best friend Neil, who hates her guts after the things she made him do. There’s quiet and gorgeous Alto, who doesn’t fall for her manipulation. There’s organized, rule-following Gretchen, who would never trust Cesca, let alone befriend her. And there’s sheltered, naive Lizabeth — who might not be as naive as everyone thinks. Will Francesca conquer this impossible task? Or will she, for once, not end up getting what she wants?
—
There’s really so much more to it than that in my head, but you know how summaries are. I’m a newbie so my only tip would be the tip I have for myself: keep asking, “Why?” and “What if?” and “What next?” and write about the stuff you love. Always write down anything that comes to you randomly and don’t edit unless you’re stuck and tweaking a few words will get you back on track. :] Best of luck!
Hey Paige, thanks for commenting.
Your plot sounds intriguing. Basically Francesca is trying to make those people her friends?
I’m so glad I’m not the only newbie, and thanks so much for the tips… they make a lot of sense. I think I need to make my little-plot (the one I tell you guys) and a big-plot (the one where I can write a lot more about what’s going to happen to guide me). And I’m going to explain my characters more.
Hope you do read your goal Paige!
My user name is vanessa93 on the Young Writers page, just so you know. 🙂
Hey Vanessa,
Good luck with Nano. Go for it, and just keep writing forward, and make sure you throw in lots of conflict in your story, put your protagonists into difficult situations where she has to learn about herself.
This is my 6th Nanowrimo, I think, and I have ‘won’ for the last 3 years.
I write fast in short burst against a timer, or have word wars online with other people.
I’ve got the summary of my up-coming Nano plus my photo inspiration for the main characters on my wordpress blog – http://www.dianecurran.wordpress.com.
Come by and say hello!
Thanks for stopping by Diane.
Thanks for the tips also.
I’ve stopped by your blog and must say your story sounds really good.
Good luck! 🙂
You, know, at first I wasn’t going to go for it because I hadn’t written in a few months, but then, last night, I just had this burst of inspiration to write, so I started with an open ended plot. I have no idea where it’s going yet and I’m not very far, but I think it’s something that I can continue.
So far my plot is like this:
Olivia Andover has lived in the small farming community of Quince, Minnesota her whole life, never once venturing 50 miles away. When Olivia’s mom get’s ill and needs treatment and an indefinite residence at a hospital the Andover’s are forced to move to New Annan, a once bright and small farming community that has been taken over by fast food joints, departments stores and life that isn’t appreciated. Olivia leave her old life behind and create a new one using sticks and stones.
So that’s about it so far, but heck, i suck at summaries, don’t count it against me though.
I wish you luck Vanessa!
You can work with that Kelsey… I wish you lots of luck too!
I love Olivia as a character name. My main character’s name is Sophia.
I haven’t written in a long while either, and when I do I don’t write more than like three paragraphs. How many words are you going for Kels?
🙂
I’m going for the full 50,000 words. I had written in another story I was writing for 12 pages and that came to 23,000, So I’m going to go ahead I write 25 pages in Word and see what it brings me too. It’ll be hard though.
I’m doing NaNo! I’m going for all 50,000 words. I got 54,000ish last year, so hopefully I will get more than that this year.
My plot is on lockdown this year. It shall not be told to anyone. xD I hate sharing my writing and even story ideas. I have a working title though, which is good since I didn’t have a title last year. The working title is “The Fifth Stage of Grief.”
Yeah, it’s not really a happy story. xD
Khyrinthia-Hehe, that’s fine. I kind of don’t like to share either (that’s why I gave a broad summary). Good luck this year and I hope you do higher than 54K.
thinking about it. Trying to come up with an idea.
Well, good luck. Ideas pop in your head all the time. Make drama happen… and use the other tips these cool peeps have replied to me.
Good luck!
I don’t do NaNo because I’m still wrestling with a work in progress and don’t want to distract from that, but here’s a tip for when you run out of ideas: think of the worst thing one of your characters could do right then. How could they screw everything up for your main character? Make that happen, and then watch your main character react to it. Have fun writing!
I’m Paradox on the NaNoWriMo site, the same as I am just about everywhere.
I’m writing a medieval science fiction novel set in a parallel world. With polytheism. And flying machines powered by mirrors. (In other words: no magic) It’s titled Reflection of Souls. I’m going for 50,000 words, but I wish I had time for 100,000. My main characters are a klutzy pseudo-technopath and a former nomad princess who has an unhealthy interest in knives and eyes in the back of her head. Literally.
I wish you luck on reaching your goal!
Ali- Thanks! That’s a good idea.
Paradox- Wow, 100K? Your idea is really interesting and something I’ve never heard of. I wish you lots of luck.
As for me, I’m still not secure with my plot. I’m glad you guys seem to be!
I wanna join, but im not sure, it sounds interesting, though i only have 15 pages or so (embarassed) Yeah, Im the kinda person who starts and writes like three pages (double spaced) then stops
The main jist of the story, is about a girl from Taiwan who does this foreign exchange program and comes to America and everything she encounters. I can get some of it down, since my whole family except me was born/lives in Taiwan, there are some things that are kind of muddy. lol
Wdebo
P.S. Yeah! You’re reading Rumors its as amazing as Luxe can’t wait for Envy!
Happy writings!
Wdebo- Yeah, I’m still not sure if I’m going to participate. I think I am. Your story sounds cool, I wonder what happens to her… culture shock? That’s kind of what I want to happen to my main character in my story but still, don’t know for sure if I’m participating.
RUMORS IS AMAZING! 🙂 I can’t wait for Envy either… just 3 more months!
Participating.. Working on the plot as I go along. 🙂 But, I know it’s going to be my first non sporty book. 🙂 Good luck! I’ll look for you.