National Novel Writing Month

[GirlyGhoul]

it can be hard to do Nano with an idea you really care about, just because Nano is so very quantity-over-quality.

I think that's part of the reason this is starting to feel more like a massive term paper coming due than a fun free-wheeling exercise in creativity. The ideas that I have, I care about and want to write a good book around. I already have something of a structure for at least the first couple of chapters dancing in my head, but then there are all these doubts and insecurities trying to challenge all my good vibes to a dance off.

But then I got today's email from Chris Baty and got choked up reading the lines "Embrace the fear. It's okay to be nervous. Nervous just means you're pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone-- which is when great and magical things happen".

I'm surprised at how emotional I feel over this right at the beginning. It's going to be a very interesting month that is for certain!

P.S. I'm totally intrigued by Calamity's Hippo in the Apartment.

[girlnamedcarl]

Especially because hippos are mean.

[dwanollah]

*fingers crossed*

I'm packing up the laptop and heading to the coffeehouse for Day One! Beware of hippos, kids!

[GirlyGhoul]

I wonder if any of these hippos will wind up wearing sneakers...

[Deleted]

The hippo is fairly calm, as hippos go. It has also mysteriously disappeared, but I'm sure it'll be back. Come on, it's an unexplained hippo, it HAS to come back.

Limey, zombies make any story write itself! When in doubt, add more zombies.

[Deleted]

When in doubt, add more zombies.

I need to paint this on a coffee mug or something.

[Benni]

Calamity thank you. I started happily writing this morning with this song going through my mind. Is this where your hippo came from?
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas[/color]

My word count is 2653. I cannot believe it! Yeah me. I cannot seem to get to the part of the site to post my count.

I am now actually glad that my research book is in Edmonton. I will save myself for the novel that I really want to write from the bottom of my heart. I will learn on this novel and my next one will be the best seller.

I downloaded a novel writing software and I am so happy I did because I have been jumping from chapter to chapter and I have been finding it so much easier. Every other time I have tried to write I started at the beginning and always quit after about 10 pages.

[girlnamedcarl]

I just wrote 2020 words in less than 2 hours. I really need to develop an outline tomorrow, though!

[Deleted]

Bam! A Sparklefuck reference in the first 1000 words! Granted a general one based on idiocy in fantasy novels, but princess sparkleshit was referenced. Oh yeah, I can feel the lower standards setting in.

[Deleted]

benni said:

\Is this where your hippo came from?
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

[/color][/quote]

No, but I totally went and listened to it, and now it's in my head! Only a hippopotamus will doooo...

Here is something for the word count challenged to try - sprints. You grab a Nano friend (Greecie friends count!), pick a short-ish length of time, usually 10 or 15 minutes, set a timer, and write like hell. When the timer goes off, compare your word counts. I did this yesterday with a friend who was pretty new to Nano, and she was writing 500+ words in every 10-minute sprint and was amazed at how easily the words were coming.