NaNoWriMo 2021 October 31, 2021 6:14 PM Subscribe
National November Writing Month is here. NaNoWriMo is a November writing challenge where participants try and finish 50K words in a piece of writing (WIPs or new). Write on your word processor of choice, analogue or digital - just update your wordcount each day. Post your NaNo account in the comments if you're open to being Writing Buddies. Check in to this thread throughout November to moan and celebrate and discuss past experiences.
All versions of Nano welcome: AcWriMo for academics, NaBloPoMo for blog posters - post your version in the comments!
Not sure if anyone is up for it given the year that's happened, but thought I'd make a thread in case people were participating.
Not sure if anyone is up for it given the year that's happened, but thought I'd make a thread in case people were participating.
It's November 1 here (timezones!!) and I've decided to go for it. I've got no plot, no plan (I've tried twice now to nano the same idea) but I've created a project and started.
Who knows! maybe this year will be my year.
posted by freethefeet at 11:37 PM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Who knows! maybe this year will be my year.
posted by freethefeet at 11:37 PM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am doing MiNiWriMo. I know I will not get anywhere near 50,000 words, and I have no intention of trying - I've won several times in the past and I know the kind of intensity it takes, and...no. So I'm aiming for a nice 20,000. That's a pace that will stretch me but not (hopefully) consume me.
(I haven't made up my mind about whether to jump in on the NaNoWriMo site or not.)
posted by Jeanne at 4:46 AM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
(I haven't made up my mind about whether to jump in on the NaNoWriMo site or not.)
posted by Jeanne at 4:46 AM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am doing a variant and working on my nonfiction book! I'm aiming on at least 400 words per day, following in Terry Pratchett's footsteps.
I often find it helpful to do live videocalls for accountability while working ... I'll probably be doing some of that this month, so speak up if that's something that would interest you! I often have a lot of flexibility regarding time of day.
Resources for NaNoWriMo and variants, by The Wrong Kind Of Cheese.
posted by brainwane at 6:44 AM on November 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
I often find it helpful to do live videocalls for accountability while working ... I'll probably be doing some of that this month, so speak up if that's something that would interest you! I often have a lot of flexibility regarding time of day.
Resources for NaNoWriMo and variants, by The Wrong Kind Of Cheese.
posted by brainwane at 6:44 AM on November 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
I would most certainly love some Mefi Writing Buddies! I have hardly used the NaNoWriMo site at all, so it's not a very interesting or thorough account, but here I am.
I'm not really trying for the 50,000 word goal. I'm just trying to encourage myself to do consistent, substantial work on getting this plot figured out.
posted by meese at 7:24 AM on November 1, 2021
I'm not really trying for the 50,000 word goal. I'm just trying to encourage myself to do consistent, substantial work on getting this plot figured out.
posted by meese at 7:24 AM on November 1, 2021
I was thinking of writing a detective novel. But I need a flaw for my detective. Alcoholism, divorce, loneliness - done to death. Maybe they should be tone-deaf? Have IBS?
posted by thelonius at 7:45 AM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 7:45 AM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I always want to participate--and I think I did win, one year--but like, it's very hard to fit my schedule into nano's RIGID TIME-BASED GUIDELINES. I just finished a book yesterday, I'm taking today off, and tomorrow I start proofing a different book, which'll take a few days, then I'll be jumping back over to the just-finished book to start proofing it...and like, maaaaaybe by the middle of November it'll be time to start writing a new book? Maybe? And then I'll watch in jealousy as people finish their November books while mine takes until the end of December to finish. But for anyone who actually does nano, I wish you all the best, from the slough of despondent proofing.
posted by mittens at 7:47 AM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by mittens at 7:47 AM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
thelonius, how about topographical agnosia?
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:17 AM on November 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:17 AM on November 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
its that time of year again...
there was a recent? comment I think?? about someone saying that such-and-such author wrote xyz number words per day, if you (me) strove to write 200 per day it would be 10% of that person (Douglas Adams maybe?) I am trying to find it...no luck yet. I am trying to set myself up to actually do nanowrimo this year (I never get very far...) I have a current project stewing. 200 words x 25 days is? 5000 words? I think that would be approximately 15 pages of new material? which is not A LOT but is more than I normally write in a month. sorry, I'm babbling.
best luck to all you writers!! I hope your creative juices gush and flow warmly (ew) :D
posted by supermedusa at 10:32 AM on November 1, 2021
there was a recent? comment I think?? about someone saying that such-and-such author wrote xyz number words per day, if you (me) strove to write 200 per day it would be 10% of that person (Douglas Adams maybe?) I am trying to find it...no luck yet. I am trying to set myself up to actually do nanowrimo this year (I never get very far...) I have a current project stewing. 200 words x 25 days is? 5000 words? I think that would be approximately 15 pages of new material? which is not A LOT but is more than I normally write in a month. sorry, I'm babbling.
best luck to all you writers!! I hope your creative juices gush and flow warmly (ew) :D
posted by supermedusa at 10:32 AM on November 1, 2021
Last year I posted a National Clean Your Home Month thread. I'm feeling pretty on top of my shit right now, so I don't feel the need to lead the charge on it - but anyone else is more than welcome to do so :)
posted by snerson at 10:47 AM on November 1, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by snerson at 10:47 AM on November 1, 2021 [5 favorites]
I've opened up a blank document...and immediately started procrastinating by coming here, so things are going as well as usual.
Good luck, everyone!!
posted by mixedmetaphors at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Good luck, everyone!!
posted by mixedmetaphors at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
253 words today. I never participated before, so this is my best ever!
posted by riruro at 3:10 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by riruro at 3:10 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Oh, there is a thread! I’m trying again this year (I failed in 2009, completed in 2014), but it’ll depend on my workload. 2124 words so far! I’m here (Oh hey, I need to update that).
Good luck everyone!!
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:07 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Good luck everyone!!
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:07 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
I was lured back to MeFi by the annual gift swap reminder email but was instantly distracted by this thread instead. Yes, I'm doing NaNo this year! I completed it once, in 2009, and had a few failed attempts since then when I tried to somehow use it for my nonfiction work. This year I'm back to trying to write fiction. So far I have about 200 words and a complicated set of notes with rules, tasks and challenges for the round-the-world game that my characters are playing and that I need to somehow wrap my head around before I write things properly.
Anyway, my profile is here.
posted by easternblot at 4:43 PM on November 1, 2021
Anyway, my profile is here.
posted by easternblot at 4:43 PM on November 1, 2021
I've added 446 words to my manuscript today, spurred on by something I read on social media recently: "The only job of a first draft is to exist."
posted by brainwane at 5:02 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by brainwane at 5:02 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
11/1 226 words!! only a lot more to go!
posted by supermedusa at 5:35 PM on November 1, 2021
posted by supermedusa at 5:35 PM on November 1, 2021
I'm doing LoShoStoMo instead, Local Short Story Month. Local (only happening in my apartment) Short Story (finish writing one) Month (month).
MeMail me if you want an accountability partner for your smaller writing projects.
posted by betweenthebars at 6:45 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
MeMail me if you want an accountability partner for your smaller writing projects.
posted by betweenthebars at 6:45 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
ah shit, anyone got a writing prompt?
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 7:36 PM on November 1, 2021
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 7:36 PM on November 1, 2021
Freelance Demiurge- I was cramming and looked at the nano prep stuff and found the links to random generator 1 and random generator 2 amusing.
posted by freethefeet at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by freethefeet at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yeah, all right, I'm in! I'm doing the blogging version.
posted by Tuba Toothpaste at 8:55 PM on November 1, 2021
posted by Tuba Toothpaste at 8:55 PM on November 1, 2021
I want to write a memoir but to make it accurately reflect my level of procrastination I won't start it until the 23rd and probably won't finish it.
posted by bendy at 9:00 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by bendy at 9:00 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Is it OK to participate in the thread to share writing progress on my current book, even if I am not participating in nanowrimo?
posted by Zumbador at 11:54 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Zumbador at 11:54 PM on November 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Is it OK to participate in the thread to share writing progress on my current book, even if I am not participating in nanowrimo?
Yes absolutely
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 12:14 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yes absolutely
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 12:14 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Darius Kazemi
@tinysubversions
Hey, who wants to join me in NaNoGenMo: spend the month writing code that generates a 50k word novel, share the novel & the code at the end
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 8:37 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
@tinysubversions
Hey, who wants to join me in NaNoGenMo: spend the month writing code that generates a 50k word novel, share the novel & the code at the end
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 8:37 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I've been meaning to try journaling for a while. 400 words a day for November it is. Novel can wait.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 9:12 AM on November 2, 2021
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 9:12 AM on November 2, 2021
I'm going to attempt the blogging version. I'm not going for word count, but just to get a post up on one of my several blogs everyday.
posted by kathrynm at 10:06 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by kathrynm at 10:06 AM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I started blogging again on Nov 1, so I'm counting it as an accidental entry. I took a good look at what I wanted to do (journalling) and I've decided to do a combination of daily paper journalling + online blogging. How does anyone else keep up with various blogs these days? I depend on their newsletter updates.
(In case anyone's curious, here's my my personal website. It's mostly pop culture, yarn & textile stuff, stationery nerdery and random things about ADHD)
posted by cendawanita at 10:22 PM on November 2, 2021
(In case anyone's curious, here's my my personal website. It's mostly pop culture, yarn & textile stuff, stationery nerdery and random things about ADHD)
posted by cendawanita at 10:22 PM on November 2, 2021
Good luck to NaNoWriMo-ites and all who do a similar activity.
I blog about organizing (usually paper and productivity), and in November 2017, I wrote a series of posts with all manner of resources to help people organized for NaNoWriMo. This week, I created a new post (linking to all the old posts) with some new resources and recaps of the old ones. It's kind of a goofy compendium, but for anyone inclined, it's at Organize Your Writing: NaNoWriMo 2021.
FWIW, I'm a rebel, half-plotter/half-pantser, doing non-fiction. (Though I like the idea of a NaBloPoMo, my weekly posts already top out around 3,000 words! If I blogged every other day this month, I'd hit 50K! Oy, vey)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:31 PM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I blog about organizing (usually paper and productivity), and in November 2017, I wrote a series of posts with all manner of resources to help people organized for NaNoWriMo. This week, I created a new post (linking to all the old posts) with some new resources and recaps of the old ones. It's kind of a goofy compendium, but for anyone inclined, it's at Organize Your Writing: NaNoWriMo 2021.
FWIW, I'm a rebel, half-plotter/half-pantser, doing non-fiction. (Though I like the idea of a NaBloPoMo, my weekly posts already top out around 3,000 words! If I blogged every other day this month, I'd hit 50K! Oy, vey)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:31 PM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Wow, @Brainwane, I didn't even realize that you'd promoted my blog post already; had I read everyone's posts firsts, I wouldn't have been so self-promotional.
That was really nifty of you, and I so appreciate it. (Readers will have to trust me that my posts are usually funnier. Just not shorter. I've been told by @zibetto that I'm made of words.)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:36 PM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
That was really nifty of you, and I so appreciate it. (Readers will have to trust me that my posts are usually funnier. Just not shorter. I've been told by @zibetto that I'm made of words.)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:36 PM on November 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I tried NaNoWriMo a few years ago on top of my computer-heavy job and ended up with repetitive stress injury requiring months of occupational therapy. I still have to wear a hand brace when I work at the computer.
So good luck to everyone and have fun, but if it hurts, cut back or stop!
posted by FencingGal at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
So good luck to everyone and have fun, but if it hurts, cut back or stop!
posted by FencingGal at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
(In case anyone's curious, here's my my personal website. It's mostly pop culture, yarn & textile stuff, stationery nerdery and random things about ADHD)
posted by cendawanita at 1:22 AM on November 3 [+] [!]
It's amazing - thanks for sharing! Love the standup comedy video. The LinkedIn profile and linked professional publications are impressive.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 3:28 PM on November 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by cendawanita at 1:22 AM on November 3 [+] [!]
It's amazing - thanks for sharing! Love the standup comedy video. The LinkedIn profile and linked professional publications are impressive.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 3:28 PM on November 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm hoping to use NaNoWriMo to help me finish the (crappy) first draft of a novel I've been working on this year. I am not shooting for the 1667 words a day target, but focusing more on just maintaining a habit. If I average 750 words a day I will be consider it a success. My biggest problem is not letting myself write crap, and since I'm new at this whole creative writing / fiction thing, that's a real problem. Hoping the NaNoWriMo will help me just get the words out.
posted by synecdoche at 4:38 PM on November 3, 2021
posted by synecdoche at 4:38 PM on November 3, 2021
I was doing just fine - 1700 words so far - until I came home from my late shift and my key got stuck in the lock and I spent the next hour and a half trying to get it fixed. Now my cat insists on being petted because she was Traumatized by having strangers in the apartment, and I still haven't eaten supper, and I'm going to try to write something before I go to bed but I am Deeply Annoyed.
posted by Jeanne at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2021
posted by Jeanne at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2021
I am trundling forward, fleshing out some chapters per my outline.
posted by brainwane at 4:41 AM on November 10, 2021
posted by brainwane at 4:41 AM on November 10, 2021
The Wrong Kind of Cheese -- no problem! Glad people got a second chance to find your resources!
Today I started a new chapter in the nonfiction book I'm writing (a guide to learning open source maintainership skills for rejuvenating legacy software projects) and tore through several hundred words -- they came a lot easier than a lot of words have so far this month. Yay!
How are others doing?
posted by brainwane at 8:45 AM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Today I started a new chapter in the nonfiction book I'm writing (a guide to learning open source maintainership skills for rejuvenating legacy software projects) and tore through several hundred words -- they came a lot easier than a lot of words have so far this month. Yay!
How are others doing?
posted by brainwane at 8:45 AM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
I've managed to post on one of my various blog everyday this month.
posted by kathrynm at 11:16 AM on November 10, 2021
posted by kathrynm at 11:16 AM on November 10, 2021
happy to check in, i've at least done a blog entry or a journal post daily so far!
posted by cendawanita at 6:32 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by cendawanita at 6:32 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
I managed to finish the first draft of a 10,000 word near future SF novella set in southern Chile. I've been working on it for over a year, so I'm kind of excited and pleased with myself.
posted by signal at 7:03 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by signal at 7:03 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
After a slow start (I had a work deadline early in November) I'm finally writing properly and things seem to be getting somewhere. I know the plot from about halfway to the end, so my current challenge is to find a sensible way to get all four characters to that crucial halfway point. But I passed 10,000 words today, so that's something.
posted by easternblot at 6:56 AM on November 11, 2021
posted by easternblot at 6:56 AM on November 11, 2021
7900 words. I don't have much further to go before I run out of outline, though, so I'm going to have to spend some time this weekend replotting.
posted by Jeanne at 5:49 AM on November 12, 2021
posted by Jeanne at 5:49 AM on November 12, 2021
I actually got some writing done today!
I've been on new meds and it's knocked me sideways, but today I got some writing done.
Nearly got derailed by wondering whether or not my heroine's cat would be going on a walk with her or not, which would change the entire scene, but realized that no one but me would ever know that the cat would not have stayed behind, knowing that she was going to buy fresh fish.
(it's a talking cat. Also, not actually a cat)
So I just ignored the problem and forged ahead.
posted by Zumbador at 6:32 AM on November 12, 2021
I've been on new meds and it's knocked me sideways, but today I got some writing done.
Nearly got derailed by wondering whether or not my heroine's cat would be going on a walk with her or not, which would change the entire scene, but realized that no one but me would ever know that the cat would not have stayed behind, knowing that she was going to buy fresh fish.
(it's a talking cat. Also, not actually a cat)
So I just ignored the problem and forged ahead.
posted by Zumbador at 6:32 AM on November 12, 2021
I was going to post a mid-month check in thread, but [work-related screaming redacted]; anyway, we've passed the middle now! I hope everyone is having successful and productive writing sessions, no matter the word count. I'm picking up my TiWriPro [Tiny Writing Project] after a few days off and I'm hoping it will stay picked up until December.
posted by betweenthebars at 6:48 PM on November 18, 2021
posted by betweenthebars at 6:48 PM on November 18, 2021
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posted by rpfields at 8:19 PM on October 31, 2021