Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Sept 5, 2009 5:55:56 GMT
www.nanowrimo.org/I'm going to do it this year. What it is: NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth. The goal is to write a 50,000 word (175 page) novel by 30 November. You turn your inner editor off, and just get writing! "It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly." I'd love for people to join me. And so - as a part of the incentive - I'm going to upload my writing here as we go. So you can read, point and laugh. Also, for every person who completes 50K words by 30 November, I'll make them an official badge for the forum AND something for their Sims game (if they play it). So how about it? Interested? Kiri
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Post by silverlining on Sept 5, 2009 6:35:39 GMT
I've thought about joining just about every year since I found out about it but I've always chickened out! This year I'm giving it some more serious consideration as I'm really trying to make a general rule of turning my inner editor off more (not going so well so far, hah). I'm a little concerned about whether I'll have the time inbetween work and school but I really want to join. So I'm gonna at least try to whip out on of the ideas I haven't actually started working on and give it a try. I've never written something as long as 175 pages though So I'm quite glad you started a thread for it here, will be nice to know a couple of people who're doing it so one can exchange pats on the back (and kicks in the butt to get started?). Honestly, these days you'd think it should be called InNoWriMo, cos it's not very national anymore, hah.
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Sept 5, 2009 7:48:36 GMT
That's true Emma - but it's the brand now, so I reckon they're stuck with it.
50K words in 30 days... is 1667 words a day... or just under 6 pages a day. (I'm not sure what they're using for basis of pages - when I write based on the Microsloth Word page - I get about 2 MS pages at font 10 is about 1700 words.
So about 60 MS Word pages in the month - I can cope with that.
Kiri
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Post by silverlining on Sept 5, 2009 8:44:32 GMT
I'm sure I -could- cope with it. Your prognosis (60 pages) is a lot more comforting than the 175 pages that's the official number, hah. Now...must have a brain-storming session and decide which idea to choose...
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Jessica
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Post by Jessica on Sept 5, 2009 12:41:29 GMT
Sounds interesting to me. When I begin to write something I always end up abandoning it because I start thinking that it sucks. I'm VERY out of practice when it comes to writing though, it's been years since the last time I wrote regularly. Does it have to be in English?
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Sept 5, 2009 15:09:52 GMT
nope - it can be in any language you like!
Kiri
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Post by silverlining on Sept 5, 2009 15:10:21 GMT
You can write in any language you want, Jessica!
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Jessica
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Post by Jessica on Sept 6, 2009 0:21:30 GMT
Ah, I see, thanks! That's good because if I finally decide to participate (I do not need to actually sign up at the official page, right?) I would write in Spanish.
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Post by silverlining on Oct 3, 2009 21:55:20 GMT
So, only a month left until NaNoWriMo! I still haven't manage to decide on an idea to work on! What about you guys? Those of you who are doing it, have you decided already what to work on?
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Oct 4, 2009 3:18:24 GMT
I'm actually going to be taking a short story and a longer story I've already written and re-write them into a novel.
I'd be happy to post the stories - but I must warn you - the second story especially is not family friendly - so I'll be posting it out rather than posting it up. The first one is postable.
And what the hey - I'll post it up here now!
Kiri
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Post by silverlining on Oct 4, 2009 8:44:38 GMT
I saw your short story, Kiri! I must say I think it's awesome to see someone posting fiction here ^^ I don't really have time to read it right now as I'm still working on my home exam but I will defenitally read it later or tomorrow.
Eh, I'm just glad someone else has non-family friendly stories, I'll feel less wierd if I have to post things out for that reason and then link to it. Mind you..I still don't know what to write about. I have so many story ideas! Some of them are just to long and complicated, and some might be too short. Not to mention many of the ones I like the best I've already started writing on. So I'm not sure what to do...
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Jessica
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Post by Jessica on Oct 4, 2009 12:43:28 GMT
I had more or less decided on participating but as the time grows closer my determination fades. I hope I'll be able to at least begin. It's been years since the last time I wrote regularly and I have lost whatever "touch" I used to have. I also have two stories in mind that I want to merge into one for NaNoWriMo. One of them I started to write many years ago, and the other one I dreamt about. It will be in a medieval fantastic setting. The thing is it will be in Spanish so I don't think I'll post it here...
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Post by silverlining on Oct 4, 2009 15:26:01 GMT
Well, you can at least post how it's going here so we can all cheer each other on (or kick each other in the butt depending on what's needed ). I'm considering just picking one of my more complicated stories (the one I've posted a bit of already) and just writing like...a quick first draft of it for NaNoWriMo. Cos my first drafts always tend to be shorter, and then I add details and stuff when I rewrite. At least then I know I'd have a project that I have a good grasp on and a lot of ideas for.
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Oct 4, 2009 21:14:36 GMT
Jess - you don't need to post it here - all you really need to do is let us know how many words you've ACTUALLY written And of course - as much cheering and support is also very much welcomed! Emma - I'd definitely go for something that you already have strong feelings for, and some good ideas. I'm working on a structure for my book this month, so I know what I'm writing. Kiri
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Jessica
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Post by Jessica on Oct 4, 2009 22:00:19 GMT
Ah, that's alright then. I'm sure I'm going to need the support. I'm jealous of you girls, you seem to have pretty good ideas of what you're going to write and more or less organized thoughts. Mine is going to be a very different experience, that's for sure...
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Oct 5, 2009 4:07:44 GMT
I did a writing course quite a while ago - and while I'm not going to be following all their ideas - I am thinking of doing a number of their exercises to get me back into the swing of things.
Also I'm starting to think about the structure of the book, so that I know where it's going - and I can post up notes about that if it will help. Some people write better if it just flows from the pen.
I find I write better if I know what the ending is and the major plot points along the way.
It would be good discipline for me to post something up here everyday for it, to get me in the way of writing again. But it's up to you girls with what you want. Now that it's October, I'm really thinking that I should be doing warm-ups to get used to writing for long periods of time.
Kiri
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Post by silverlining on Oct 5, 2009 6:47:42 GMT
Oh, Kiri, that is an awesome idea! I can't believe I haven't thought of it! Here I was going "but what if I start one of my older complicated stories and then get stuck halfway?" cos I tend to have an idea of the beginning and the end, with the middle being rather dodgy. But if I put up a disposition of what happens in each chapter....I could even write a couple of dispositions/drafts of that sort for a couple of different ideas to see which one will be easier to work on of the ones I'm considering!
I defenitally should start some writing exercises too...my bf gave me these awesome books with writing exercises when I visited him, and I just haven't touched them yet. I should try to work some with then.
As for posting...I think you should defenitally post if it helps your dicipline! Maybe people won't be able to read every day but I'm sure there are those of us who would read when given we had time.
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Jessica
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Post by Jessica on Oct 5, 2009 7:50:51 GMT
I used to be like this back when I wrote regularly. I had a blank page and could fill it without much problem, but even back then I had trouble making something with a beginning AND an end. There were always short unfinished drafts, even though I used to like them. Nowadays my creativity has been stuck in a rut for years now and I don't seem to get many ideas at all, which is why I'm unsure if I'll be able to do this. Besides, since I started studying translation I've become MUCH MUCH stricter when it comes to my writing, and that includes aspects that I didn't ever think about before, which of course doesn't help. It would probably be a good thing for me to start doing warm-ups as well, but what could I write about...? So, Kiri, if you have the time it would definitely help if you posted some pointers from that course you took. I've always wanted to take one like that... and Emma, if you find something useful in those books your boyfriend lent you, you should post that too! Also, Kiri, I agree with Emma, it would be great if you posted your writings here.
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Post by silverlining on Oct 5, 2009 8:03:24 GMT
So, Kiri, if you have the time it would definitely help if you posted some pointers from that course you took. I've always wanted to take one like that... and Emma, if you find something useful in those books your boyfriend lent you, you should post that too! Also, Kiri, I agree with Emma, it would be great if you posted your writings here. Well, the book isn't useful in that way really..I mean, it doesn't teach you HOW to write, it just gives you some VERY creative exercises to do to get yourself writing rather than just thinking about writing, lol. Some of them seem really fun and helpful though. The books are called "The 3 a.m. Epiphany" and "The 4 a.m. Bearkthrough", unfortunately I think they're very hard to find outside North American (or at least in non English-speaking countries).
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Kiri
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Post by Kiri on Oct 5, 2009 9:16:52 GMT
The course I did - DOES teach you to write a book. I can include those sort of pointers if you like.
Kiri
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