I have just discovered this and have signed up to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and 30th. Just to make sure I don't have any spare time in November. 21 individuals signed up in 1999. In 2004 it was 42,000 of which 6,000 completed the word count by the deadline. So far 49,419 have signed up for this year. In the last couple of years it has produced about 5 published books.
The time constraint is a good excuse to not worry over much about the literary merit or quality of the writing and may be a good way to overcome writer's block. A 2000 words a day schedule should keep it churning out OK. As it says in the blurb on the site, it is not about quality; its all about quantity.
There's probably worse things I could waste my time on. http://www.nanowrimo.org/
October 08, 2005
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Comments
Did you blog during your previous attempts? How much did you manage to write? What were the main obstacles to getting it done? Did it encourage you to carry on writing in between times? This could be the beginnning or the end of my fiction writing career!
I've never blogged about it, and I probably won't this year either; it's such a personal thing that I'll only mention it if I finish.
I joined the US Army when I was 22 as an infantryman. I thought it would make a good story (I was a creative writing undergraduate major). I have attempted to put it out there but it is much more difficult than I expected. Part of my problem is that I tend to compare it/myself to writers I admire and I end up dissatisfied. Perhaps someday I will find the strength to complete it.
You've given me hope!
At the moment I have a vague idea of a menopausal male (no surprise here!) who sells up and takes to the road on his motorbike to explore the places he spent his childhood in, UK and Europe. He probably discovers that his notions about his youth are greatly over romanticised, he finds out things about himself and others that are surprising, he concludes that the world is a cold and pitiless place and that, as Voltaire said, you may as well stay at home and dig the vegetable patch (rough paraphrase).
All of a sudden I feel depressed! Perhaps I'll think again.
I have actively blogged and written other stories while working on my NaNovel!
Good luck, and let me know how you do!
(My NaNo screen name is Corwin.)
I'll let you know how it goes. I'm quietly optimistic. Volume has never been my problem!
I can't find you in Elgg. Are you real of just a figment of my imagination?