I have posted my 2006 NaNoWriMo novel at Novelty - Happenstance.
Read at your own peril.
I have not read or edited it in any way, with the exception of using the spell checker on occasion. It is broken up into 20 posts.
For those who do not know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and it happens every November. People try to write a 50,000 word novel from the 1st until the 30th. The word count is the main goal, because finishing seems to be the most difficult novel writing hurtle. The only rule is you can’t write the same word 50,000 times.
I have told myself each year I would participate, but never got around to it. I’ve never finished several novels I’ve started either. This year, November 1st hit and I committed.
While you are not allowed to start writing your novel until the 1st, you may plan it. I didn’t. I had no idea what I was going to do; I just wanted to be able to say I finished a novel. Now, I can.
What have I learned from this?
I can physically write 1,000 words in an hour. If I learned to type, I bet I could write more.
If you give your characters titles and use them every time, you can increase your word count easily.
Do not use contractions.
Break up all compound words.
Include and describe all meals, dressing routines and throw in a potty break now and again.
If you turn your monitor on an angle, you can write at work.
Repeat the phrase, “I have to write,” to anyone who crosses your path.
give me some time, but I will read it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Nessa. And excellent advice.
PTB: I'd appreciate it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteInclude and describe all meals, dressing routines and throw in a potty break now and again.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, for the month of November, you will actually eat no meals, you will not dress, nor will you go to the potty. So you really have to be creative!
What an accomplishment Nessa! Now you can take a break and enjoy some Christmas fun!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I like the rule about using their titles every time. That helps the reader remember who they are too. Just imagine how successful Dostoyevsky would have been if he had done that. Of course, you would have needed a wheelbarrow to borrow one of his books from the library, but still.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I will make a sincere effort to read it as well. (Although the odds would improve if you were to play my Make Diesel Read a Book contest). :)
ReplyDeleteDan: That dichotomy is the foundation for success.
ReplyDeleteKat: Thanks. Yes, just in time.
Diesel: I bet Dostoyevsky would have won NaNo in two days.
Diesel: I will be there today to play.
Wonderful, congratulations! So I will be reading, you can bet on that...
ReplyDeleteO.K. I truly am excited for you. I will have to return to finish the reading session. How much fun is this for you!Best wishes....
ReplyDeletePauline: Thank-you, thank-you.
ReplyDeleteMr.Fab: You sweetie.
Pauline: I know. I did the happy dance.
word verification: minewee
goldennib - this is FANTASTIC! I've only read the first chapter, but it's been worth the wait. I've been wanting to read your book ever since you wrote:
ReplyDelete"Thirty named characters so far, with a minimum of six more needed. Of these, three are already dead, two quite horribly. "
This is MY kind of book! I love the little things you do to make it interesting ... just on the first page! For instance, you could have just said "Alena inherited a small fortune" ... but no, you had to take it to the extreme and say "She had inherited a small but rich village and its resources". Who inherits a village? I LOVE IT. Hehe.
Anita: Comments like that make me want to cry. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing! I'll be looking at bits and pieces as I can, Nessa.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That just sounds too much like punishment to me though, LOL
ReplyDeletecongratulations!
ReplyDeletei sometimes say, "i have diarrhea" to people who cross my path.
Nessa, I will take my time and read your dear "baby". Hell, you let us in on its conception, it's the least I could do.
ReplyDeleteMorning... *yawn*... ??? *blinks*...
ReplyDeleteWow. *impressed* I'm gonna try to read it. But not right this minute. I'll go over and bookmark it.
ReplyDeletedo not use contractions? why, i believe that is a very helpful and clever tip, Nessa! and, because i am now very impressed with all of your other tips, i shall make every effort to read each and every one of your 50,705 words. wait... FIFTY-THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED and FIVE? oy.
ReplyDeletecan i do this in stages? maybe read 1,250 a day, for say, a month? xox
Congratulations Nessa! I'll definitely be getting over there to read it. :)
ReplyDeleteHiccup! Anohber way to increase the munber of wurds...Hiccup! is to sampull some vokda fruitcake ober at my place...yule come up with wurds that will send eberybuddy to the ditchinary...Hiccup !
ReplyDeletecongratulations! congratulations! congratulations! congratulations! congratulations! congratulations! congratulations!
ReplyDeletecos i didnt say it last time ^^
well done hun you deserve it ^^
i will read it when i havetime (erm its gonna be a while :( )
now to check my blog lol ;)
Quilly: Thanks, look as and when you can or want.
ReplyDeleteSe7en: Thanks. My wrists do still hurt.
Guggs: Thanks. And how does the work for you?
Grunty: Thank you. I just noticed you have lots of fun extra things on your side bar. Stories and interesting essays on musicians and artists. It all looks very interesting. I sampled yesterday but I will reading more thoroughly.
Charlene: Are you awake yet?
TLP: Thanks. Whenever you have time.
Neva: Thank you. You could read one word every other day. It could be a story for a lifetime.
Brooke: Thank you/
Swampy: You are hysterical. Your fruitcake recipe is the best ever. It makes you very creative. And happy.
CECCG: Thank you, thank you. Whenever you have time. It must be getting to be end of term for you. I read your response to my question. In January things will be less busy and I’m going to figure your deviant art site and the new one where you are a mod.
Congrats on gettin er done!! That's a whole lot of writing in a whole lot of little time! And clearly, a great recommendation for Diesel.
ReplyDeleteAlastair (May I call you Alastair?): Thanks, we'll see how great a recommendation it was.
ReplyDelete