NaNoWriMo 2023 anyone?

[Maggie Maxwell]

Oh, would you look at the time. November seems to have snuck up on me. Still, I have a vague idea of what I want to do (or two) and a winning streak I don't intend to break. Who else is taking the NaNo plunge this year?

 

[CMBright]

The year I committed to NaNo, I did around 25k words. The next year I didn't and managed around 50k words. I don't think I'll commit to NaNo this year.

 

[Sage]

I was considering doing a revision version this year. Honestly, the last time I successfully finished NaNo with a new book that wasn’t in my paranormal series (which is now complete) was when I wrote the book I’d be revising, back in NaNo 2016 (& I didn’t even finish that first draft until a few years later). I haven’t really been inspired since I moved here with new characters, to be honest

 

[lizmonster]

I’m in, although this morning I realized I wanted to work on something different than what I’d originally planned. But it helps me reinforce the habit.

 

[lorna_w]

Maybe? And go, you!

I've had terrible luck over the years finding anyone there who seriously writes. (I made one friend, in Germany, but Long Covid is kicking her butt still). 90% drop out and by week 2, I'm usually the lone voice in a group/cabin, reporting to myself. However, I do have a Nano-based sprint discord I go to that has some reliable folks. I might do that in November if I decide to write (and I think I will). And there's the monthly accountability thread here to report daily words, and here, you find people who are much better at doing what they pledge to do. So maybe yes to the commitment, but no to going to the official site.

 

[Woollybear]

Not me. I'm very happily editing, my favorite part of this game. I've drafted 160,000 words since January though, which I'm happy about. And done with!

 

[BenPanced]

I thought about returning for this year but I honestly can't. My coursework for school has completely taken over the free time I would have used for NaNo and I think school is more important at the moment.

 

[DavidLWyattjr]

I have no plans to commit, and never officially have. In 2020 i started in late November and managed to get 35K (estimate) of my novel A Bite of Life, but did not finish it in January and the first draft came in at 120K words. I'm going to work on my books and let myself get done whatever gets done.

 

[Elenitsa]

I will, even if I know I cannot win. But I have to be there for my people, since I am the ML for Romania.

 

[BabyBoomer]

I'm there.
Now that I have organized the characters, the world and all the surroundings, the NaNo is the right push to dive into the novel.

 

[TheBleedingTypewriter]

Oh, would you look at the time. November seems to have snuck up on me. Still, I have a vague idea of what I want to do (or two) and a winning streak I don't intend to break. Who else is taking the NaNo plunge this year?

I'm doing NaNo, but a revision-based NaNo. I did NaNo for the first time last year and I really liked it, so I'm definitely in.

 

[JoeySL]

I really want to, but with my arm still in a cast that just slows everything way down, and I haven't even finished my current WIP. Also it's a hassle to keep track of word count writing longhand

 

[Norsebard]

Not sure yet. I may end up doing it again, but... I don't know. I pretty much write all the time, anyway, so it doesn't really matter if I do it under the WriMo banner or not.

It was kinda fun last year, though - no doubt about that.

I'll definitely post words of support for those AWers who take the plunge this year


Norsebard

 

[Nether]

Yes, I'd like (or am planning) to participate, but I'd need to finish my current WIP first. And, like in 2021, it might come down to the wire. Still, there's something amusing in trying to average 2.2k words/day so I can participate in an event whose goal involves writing a bit under 1.7k words per day.

Haven't committed to a project for NaNo yet. Have a few possibilities in mind, although the planning is still early on some of them. If I join NaNo, it'll be the last manuscript I write for the year

 

[Zachisrad51]

Yep! It's my first attempt at NaNoWriMo this year, I have stuff outlined but I'm a little worried about balancing school with writing/how it's going to work

 

[Norsebard]

After much hemming and hawing, I've decided to go for it again this year. My 'problem' isn't reaching the 50K-Words (I'll probably get there after 20 days or so), but that I'm far too much of a plotter to get the most out of such a challenge.

Before I ever get to the actual fiction, I've already written the initial brainflash, a brief outline, an expanded/detailed synopsis, a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, a scene-by-scene breakdown, maybe a few character-info sheets (on things like speech patterns, points of origin, current occupation and all those things) and Lawwwwrd-knows whatever else... sigh! And perhaps worse, I always stick to it.

Therefore I'm going to force myself to pants it the whole way through - I'm actually kinda looking forward to going off on a tangent if I feel like it!


Norsebard

 

[Sage]

Therefore I'm going to force myself to pants it the whole way through - I'm actually kinda looking forward to going off on a tangent if I feel like it!

That’s what I did my first NaNo, as an experiment.

Actually, all my early NaNos tried something new. 1) Pantsing, 2) adult novel, 3) sci-fi, 4) first-present, 5) contemporary, 6) MG, 7) chapter books, 8) paranormal… then I ran out of new things I was willing to do. I also wrote books outside of NaNo, so some things I could have done first for NaNo (like my first sequel, for example) were done in my spring/summer book instead. But I did spend my first 8 NaNos experimenting.

 

[Maggie Maxwell]

My second NaNo, technically the Camp, was a full pants, and it caused me PROBLEMS. Cause I came up with some really great stuff on the fly that greatly expanded the world, and when I began to realize that I am NOT a pantser after that, it took a while to let go of how good that one time it worked was.

 

[Catriona Grace]

NaNo reminds me of the round-up before a pitcher hurls the ball. Last year I started out with a handful of ideas and plowed out 50,000+ words that I eventually divided into scenarios for three books. This year in November, I intend to write at least half of the first draft of the first book (books run about 100,000 words). In the past I completed or made excellent headway on three books, all with the benefit of extensive notes and outlines. Neither a pantser nor a planner be (sung to the tune of Toreador from Carmen). I'm more of a gardener. I find a plot of land that looks like it might make a garden and start planting stuff where the fancy takes me.

 

[Sonsofthepharaohs]

I'm far too much of a plotter to get the most out of such a challenge.

Before I ever get to the actual fiction, I've already written the initial brainflash, a brief outline, an expanded/detailed synopsis, a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, a scene-by-scene breakdown [...] And perhaps worse, I always stick to it.

Me too This is why I've always failed at NaNo, because I don't just sit down and write from scratch. I plot it all out in summary first, then replace that summary with actual scenes, so it's not just a blank page I throw words onto, it's more like converting synopsis into a novel.

But this year I might see if I can use it to finish editing my novel. I don't need to use wordcount as a progress indicator, I can just use my spreadsheet of all the planned edits - I have a pivot table and completion status and everyfink!

 

[Nether]

My second NaNo, technically the Camp, was a full pants, and it caused me PROBLEMS. Cause I came up with some really great stuff on the fly that greatly expanded the world, and when I began to realize that I am NOT a pantser after that, it took a while to let go of how good that one time it worked was.

I can relate, since I can't fully pants. My unsuccessful NaNos were all attempts at pantsing to some degree, which was probably one reason why they ultimately failed.

 

[Hannya Kay]

I am in! I started my writing journey with last year's Nano. Result: proud winner with 69k of a fruit salad I wouldn't touch with a barge pole lol. Since then, I've worked a lot on my writing, but I'm still such a rookie, with so much more to learn. This year, I'm going full barbarian mode: complete pantsing and let's go! I have no idea what I will do and I put myself in no stress about the final word count. The experience of pushing myself a bit more than usual is enough for me. This and sharing the excitement with my writing friends here, in the Nano groups, and on discord. It's going to be fun!

 

[JoeySL]

I'm going full barbarian mode: complete pantsing

Pantsing can be a really liberating experience, and with as much experience as you've built up I'm sure you can make the best of it.
I really like your website, by the way! You showcase your work in a very appealing, professional way

 

[Catriona Grace]

I like the website, too, Hannya Kay. It's beautiful to look at.

 

[DorianFrost]

This is the first time I'll be attempting it. I'm a slow writer, and will also be taking a voice acting class in November, so not at all sure I'll manage the full 50,000 words, but more writing is more writing. Since the rules now allow for an already started project so long as only new words are counted, I'll be writing as much of my first draft of my current WIP as I can manage.