I’ve often asked the question “What is the difference between a blogger and a writer?” Any ideas please, because I’m about to find out!
I must be crazy because to complete the challenge I need to write a novel of a minimum of 50,000-words in a month. The challenge starts on the 1st of November and finishes at midnight on the 30th.
Reading the about page I’m assured “This is not as scary as it sounds” Yeah, I’m not convinced. It’s probably right up there with being invaded by Zombies!
I’ve also enrolled on a creative writing weekend prior to the challenge which should be fun! errr “Yes it will be!”
I’m getting cold feet and quaking in my boots on both counts already! Still my motto is “You never know until you try, and better to have tried and failed, than not tried at all!” (If you follow my drift) In 2011 there were 256,618 participants and only 36,843 winners (completed the challenge)
Who else has signed up to NaNoWriMo?
Piglet in Portugal 
good luck ! 🙂
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It is scary! I’ve done it before and it’s scary every time. It feels GREAT to win it, and even if you don’t, you’ll probably have a lot of fun. I’ve learned a lot about how I write by doing NaNoWriMo. I’d love to see some of what you write!
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Hi DB and welcome 🙂 I can imagine the feeling of completing the challenge must be fantastic. As for seeing what I write my style is really as my blog 🙂
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Stop thinking of others as ‘serious writers’ or ‘real writers’! Writers write, period, so take the next step and go for it. (Blogging is merely one form of writing.) I think it’s great you’re pushing yourself with the NaNoWriMo challenge. I was all set to commit but a couple serious family issues have popped up that will likely require my attention. But I still may commit to writing as much of the 50K words as possible. Rather than think of it as ‘trying and failing,’ I prefer to think of ‘trying and not yet suceeding’.
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Hi Linda, you’re absolutely right :)! The reason I think of bloggers, rather than writers who blog, in a different category is stamina 🙂
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Hi Vivian PIBOIDMO sounded painful so just looked it up! it’s a shame she states “picture books for kids while raising them”
I like the idea though and what a great shame she made it the same month! I have so many ideas re. picture books for kids and a whole arsenal of photographs but my kids have grown up.
Still it’s a great site fo showing you how to collate all the pictures into a book 🙂
Good luck with the challenge!
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You are not crazy, PiP! I’ve signed up to do PIBOIDMO that starts tomorrow. Best of luck to all of us in our writing endeavors. Writing makes me joyous…I’ve never been happier since I’ve started writing picture books again. 🙂
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I think my wife finally nailed it for me. I’m always complaining about how difficult it is for me to complete the novel I’m working on. But when it comes to blog challenges, I’m always ready to jump right in. She told me there’s nothing wrong with my preference. Do what makes you happy. So maybe one day I’ll finish that novel. But it’s no longer ruling my life.
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Your wife is right Paul you must do what you enjoy – life is too short.
I am not obsessed by writing or by writing a novel. I don’t dream of being a writer nor does the idea possess my soul and consume my very being. At the end of the day we must do what brings happiness. I’m trying something new and scary. However, once I’d written this post and saw all the encouraging comments, I suddenly thought. “Yes I can do this and if not at least I’ve tried!”
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If you pace yourself, you can do it. I’ve joined the challenge 3 times and completed my writings. You can do it. I’m not sure how I will do this year as too much is going on in my life right now… but you never know… Writing keeps me sane. Let’s be buddies. Here’s my link: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/elizof
Best wishes!
Eliz
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Hi Eliz, I’ve added you as a buddy. Thanks
My hubs has been fab and encouraging me to do this…however, tonight it just dawned on him what it meant to write 1500 words plus in one day, every day for a month!
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NaNo shouldn’t be thought of as scary, not unless you’re writing a dark and twisty story, in bed, under the covers, where every tiny sound makes you jump! It’s about getting your story out of your noggin and onto screen or paper. I guess you could cheat, write garbage or upload excerpts you’ve previously written. But where’s the fun in that?
I suppose, for arguments sake, you could use previously written material. Last year I took about 800 words or so from a short story I wrote about 6 years ago, rewrote it a little and added it my story. I was struggling with a scene and remembered the short story and dug it out. Thankfully that bit of effort got me out of a slight slump and spurred me on.
If you stick with it to the end, I’m pretty sure you’ll be over the moon! It’s a considerable achievement and worthy of a Big Celebratory Choccy Cake! Or wine. Or both. I suggest both. Gotta love choccy cake!
Anyhoo, I wish you all the best luck PiP! I’ll be there rooting for you all the way!
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Aww Dave, thanks. When I wrote this I never even had a clear idea of a plot! Now I have the plot for next«s years as well 🙂 I think it just comes back to the old question about bloggers and writers. This challenge will certainly be a babtism of fire. Just glad they are running it in the winter months. And it usually rains loads in November!
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Good luck!!
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How do they know if you cheat? By that I mean if you already have a finished novel that one merely load exerpts?
I have seven. Even so, I may have a crack at this. I have been going through a desert, never mind a dry spell for a while. so this might help 🙂
We’ll see.
I wish you the best of luck. That is some pressure, believe me!
I usually map out each scene/plot in a note book until I have the story more or less complete. Then it’s merely a case of ‘fleshing it out’.
If you know how it will end, this helps too. Then you just have to work backwards!
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Hi Ark, I suppose with regard to your question about cheating, you would know…so there is no real sense of achievement.
I was wondering how and where to start and until yesterday I was rather overwhelmed. Then I sat with a glass of wine or two, thoughtof the end, the beginning and then wrote some notes on the path inbetween, My next task is to take some random photos of strangers in the street who I will use as my characters… I’ve never written a book before or even thought about how to go about it…thanks for your tips so I was more or less along the right lines. I feel rather overwhelmed by the prospect, but everyone has to start somehwere!
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Like eating an elephant-one bite at a time. Have fun!
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Hi Alice, good advice, thank you!
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Good Luck! Stick with it! Go PIP go!
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Hi patty, thanks for the words of encouragement – really appreicated!
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Good luck PiP, I don’t have the courage to take part in such a huge challenge. Let us know how you get on.
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Hey Gerty! how about Dutch courage? We can only give it our best shot 🙂
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Yes I do do Dutch courage and it does make my writing more fluid! Good luck Pip
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Wow….. I’m suitably impressed, PiP. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll do famously. 🙂
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Hi ad, hey be impressed if I complete it! Thanks for the support 🙂
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I’ve thought about doing it too, PiP, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Not sure I’m disciplined enough to participate and, as always, I have a million other things cooking. Those sound like good excuses, right? Good luck!
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Hi Sally, I’ve been pondering over this since last year. I’m sure you could do it! I’m not sure if I will complete the challenge but I will give it my best shot!
Please let me know if you take part and perhaps as newbies we can become buddies and encourage each other!
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Good luck. One crazy lady but am sure you will enjoy it.
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Time will tell Linds!
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I’ve signed up and yes, I think you have to be just a little crazy! I did it (successfully) last year and did have a lot of fun so am going for it again this year. Come join me and we can be writing buddies! Last year’s book was called Mental Pause (which I’m in the process of querying) and this year’s is called Deep Deceit. If you’re looking for me on NaNoWriMo, I’m Anne the Writer!
Happy writing,
Anne
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Hi Anne, I could certainly do with some writing buddies for the challenge. I’ve never undertaken anything so crazy! The more I actually stop and think about this the more scary it seems and I have moments of sheer panic! As I said- there is a big difference between writing blog posts and writing a novel!
Boa Sorte!
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Hi Anne. how do I add you as a buddy? I’m logged in under my name PigletinPortugal
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Best of luck Carole. I don´t know if I could be restricted to having to write some many words in a month, but I would love to give it a try someday! I have been wanting to do a creative writing course too, hope you learn a lot out of it. xxx
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Hi Sami, I’m looking forward to the creative writing course and the fact that it is residential means I can really immerse myself in the project! This is one hell of a challenge and I’m determined to give it my best shot!
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What a great challenge! I would love to write a book but I just can’t think of what I would write about. I can witter on about my life until the cows come home but it would not make a good book which is why I write my blog. I have an idea for a children’s book but it only goes as far as the first line! 😀 Best of luck Piglet. I admire anyone who can write a novel.
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Hi Tosta, I’m sure after reading your blog you could write a book if you set your mind to it 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement…a month is a long time to keep motivated!
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Thank you Piglet. That is encouragement indeed. I got to the second sentence of my ‘book’ yesterday. I feel this may be a slow process!
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Great that you are challenging yourself – best of luck!
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thanks 24/7 🙂
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Wow, fantastic! Good for you. Just by being brave enough to set yourself such a challenge you’re bound to get loads out of it. Can’t wait to hear how you get on.
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thanks Austurian…I don’t feel brave right now…panic springs to mind!
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Good luck! Every year I intend to have a go but November is a bad month since the kids have two weeks of half term that runs into at least the first ten days, also it’s the start of winter so the livestock takes up more time every day. I might keep January aside for some concentrated writing – I have three novels I want to get written. One day …
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NO: you are not crazy!! YES: you are seemingly letting yourself in for a lot of hard yakka!! One of the other posts I love and regularly read is letting herself in for the next stage!!!! Heaps of good luck: shall back you up all the way as I will Celi!!
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Hi Eha or is it Celi, love the term hard yakka!
thanks for the voice of encouragemnt!
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I know a number of writers who do NaNoWriMo every year and LOVE it! Two that come to mind ~ Rik Scott (Uphill Writing) and Maggie Smith (Maggie Madly Writing).
Here’s Maggie’s link:
http://maasmith.com/
Here’s Rik’s:
http://uphillwriting.org/
They both have posts about NaNoWriMo on their blogs.
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Hi Nancy, thanks for the links. These are serious writers and I’m not in the same league 😦 Not sure I will LOVE it, but I’m going to give it a go.
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To answer your question–Yes! You are crazy! 🙂
But I think all writers have to be a bit crazy. I haven’t participated in this particular challenge, but I did write, photograph, produce, and publish three children’s books (ebook and print versions) in the space of 4 months. I realize that children’s books are not the same as novels, but they do require a particular writing skill and a lot of time and energy.
Warm up those feet of yours because you are going to do a fantastic job! You have given me and many others a great deal of reading joy. You–can–do–it!!! You go, girl… -Dawn
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Awww thanks Dawn! I was going to write childrens books with photographs but somehow got sidetracked! Writing three books in four months, well done!
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my blog I just hope I can carry on the same style into a novel. We will see 🙂
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Best of luck with it. I’m not ready this year… maybe next… I’ll be interested to know how you get on 🙂
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Thanks Julie, please don’t hold your breath LOL 🙂 but I’ve got to try!
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No you’re not!!
I’m still thinking about it…
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Hi Sarsm, that’s great! To be honest I feel nervous just thinking about it! What’s stopping you?
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I’m not sure what I want to write falls into the rules… I’ve written to them to ask them. Let’s see!
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Ok, fingers crossed then!
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Ignore the rules – seriously. The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to write and have fun with other writers. If you have a great idea, write it. 50,000 words is 50,000 words.
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Hi Jessica, thanks for stopping by! I love to have fun while I’m writing so I should be OK…she says hopefully. I’ve just never written so much in one go, but I’m determined to succeed. A bit like a sponsered charity walk!
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LOL – one word at a time! I’ve added you as a buddy in NaNoWriMo, so we can cheer each other on.
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Hi Jessica, how do I add you as a buddy on NNWM?
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Go to my profile page http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/jessicaburde and click “Add a Buddy” at the top.
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think I’ve done it?
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Yup, you did.
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No crazier than I am; I’m doing it too. Think of it as sanctioned insanity and enjoy! Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:07:25 +0000 To: glassmunky@hotmail.com
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Hi Carol and welcome! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Did you try the challenge last year?
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