Write a Novel in November challenge

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**LordofHats**

Most of the stories I've heard like that though concern novella or short stories an editor notices and asks the author to expand into a larger format, or for something similar. It's very rare for a piece on the internet in its entirety to become a published work via a major brand to my knowledge (I.E. it would need to be damn good and popular enough that people will buy it even if they've already seen it).

**KalashnikovMarine**

I have work to do sadly NaNoWriMo is a monster project

**rodgers37**

I've wanted to write for ages. I'd rather write a film script, but I have an idea for a book proper anyway.
Hopefully I can get myself motivated to do this.

**Paradigm**

rodgers37 wrote:
I've wanted to write for ages. I'd rather write a film script, but I have an idea for a book proper anyway.
Hopefully I can get myself motivated to do this.

If scripts are your thing, then I think there is a similar competition/challenge in April or March called 'script frenzy' or something like that, and works on the same basis of producing a good-length piece in a very short space of time. I've never really looked at it as scripts have never been my thing, but it could be worth looking into if you enjoy script writing.

You'll be motivated if you enjoy it. so pick something you have a passion for and just write. You'll probably think it's a little slow to start, but before you know it you'll be immersed and will write for hours at a time, and once you're in, you'll enjoy every second of it and make progress far faster than you thought. Give it a shot, and best of luck.

**Jimsolo**

I've done this for the last three years in a row. It really helps get the bulk of the work done.

**DarkCorsair**

Paradigm wrote:
DarkCorsair, I've just read the chapters up on your blog, they are pretty good, and nicely written. You've got a good sense of mystery going on in both parts, and the bit in the prologue about reality was also particularly interesting.

I also found your post on plot vs character fascinating, and while I may not agree with all of it (purely down to personal taste, I tend to prefer characters involved in something larger than themselves), you certainly raise some good points.

I'm very much in the same boat regarding finishing current projects or starting new ones. I wasn't going take part this year, but all this discussion has me back interested again. However, I already have 2 novels on the go, one of which I could not do justice to by speed-writing it, and the other which is progressing very slowly for various reasons. I'm not sure I will be actually going with the NaNoWriMo idea, but I'll certainly be trying to make some progress which has been sadly lacking recently. Hmm, decisions decisions...

Thank you. I've only taken up writing seriously within the past half a year or so, so any feedback is great.

As far as the article about plot vs. character, I must admit that I don't entirely agree with the very singular view presented in that post either; however, I chose a much more direct and simple approach to get my point across. The plot is important, but I was trying to emphasize that the characters are what is most important.

**Jimsolo**

DarkCorsair wrote:
Paradigm wrote:
DarkCorsair, I've just read the chapters up on your blog, they are pretty good, and nicely written. You've got a good sense of mystery going on in both parts, and the bit in the prologue about reality was also particularly interesting.

I also found your post on plot vs character fascinating, and while I may not agree with all of it (purely down to personal taste, I tend to prefer characters involved in something larger than themselves), you certainly raise some good points.

I'm very much in the same boat regarding finishing current projects or starting new ones. I wasn't going take part this year, but all this discussion has me back interested again. However, I already have 2 novels on the go, one of which I could not do justice to by speed-writing it, and the other which is progressing very slowly for various reasons. I'm not sure I will be actually going with the NaNoWriMo idea, but I'll certainly be trying to make some progress which has been sadly lacking recently. Hmm, decisions decisions...

Thank you. I've only taken up writing seriously within the past half a year or so, so any feedback is great.

As far as the article about plot vs. character, I must admit that I don't entirely agree with the very singular view presented in that post either; however, I chose a much more direct and simple approach to get my point across. The plot is important, but I was trying to emphasize that the characters are what is most important.

I think that REALLY depends on the book and your audience. There are so many different genres and audiences that I find a lot of people getting into the trap of trying to apply a 'one-size-fits-all' mentality to writing advice or writing techniques. Certainly I prefer strong characters over strong plots, but that's not always going to be the formula for victory.

In an event, good luck with your novel this year!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

One thing I want to chip in with is this: don't worry if you feel like you're churning out complete trash. For first drafts, all that matters is that you get words written. Refining the story, correcting grammar and spelling, and generally shaping it into something worth seeing the light of day are things you should only worry about when you've finished all the rough draft. Ask any writer about this and they'll agree. Even famous writers like GRRM or Steven King have admitted that their first drafts are just completely atrocious, so bad that they won't let anyone else read 'em.

You just gotta keep slogging on!

~Tim?

**Jimsolo**

Holy crap, yes! The first time I did this, my wife was the one who got me started, and I was kind of creeping along until she advised me to just plow on, full speed ahead. Don't delete anything. Don't fix mistakes. Don't rewrite anything. If you get blocked, skip ahead to the next section you can see clearly. If you want to go back and write a scene that should have happened earlier, just write it where you are, and reorganize all your sections once you get the whole thing down on paper. It may not work for everyone, but by the time I got to 50,000 words, I was two thirds of the way done with the story, and after that, it felt like it was all downhill. Really, really helped the process. I can't recommend NaNoWriMo enough.

**Perkustin**

I have too much difficulty motivating myself for this kind of thing. I'm too much of a Drone, If i was told to write a novel at work i'd probably manage 500,000 words, including a fully functioning Con-lang if fantasy or a treatment and rough draft script if it was contemporary fiction.

I have also moved away from the notion (delusion) of 'the Novel' and am attempting something more episodic.

However, having 50,000 words to work with would be useful and a great morale boost. Unfortunately though for what i had in mind the writing would be less than half the work.

I will once more attempt it this year but this time i don't have the end goal of a novel, also i have all the plot worked out. Maybe i'll have more success.

**LordofHats**

Perkustin wrote:

I have also moved away from the notion (delusion) of 'the Novel' and am attempting something more episodic.

I actually talked to the professor of the writing classes at my school my senior year and we had an interesting discussion about that. Book franchises are so common now, and why with the success of manga magazines, comics, and such, we both wondered why publishers continued to push the full length novels and serial literature remains an underdeveloped market. Given the popularity of pulp fiction today, I do find it odd we don't see a rising return of pulp magazines to prominence.

**Perkustin**

I totally agree, however i should make it clear that the 'delusion' part of that is purely personal to me. I would be deluded (and have been) to think i could complete a novel.

So i have come up with something that means i can fully complete a writing project without having to commit to a something of novel Length. It does require at least 20,000 words to get me started though, as a kick up the butt more than anything.

**master of ordinance**

Ive got a book i started a few months back. Time to break out the caffine and get typing

**LordofHats**

NaNoWriMo doesn't start for another month there Sir Ordinance XD

**purplefood**

I've tried it about 3 times. Each time I can't really get the story to carry on past 25,000 words without it turning into crap...
That said 25,000 is a decent length so I'm not too fussed.

**Ma55ter_fett**

I'll give it a try.

**DA's Forever**

purplefood wrote:
I've tried it about 3 times. Each time I can't really get the story to carry on past 25,000 words without it turning into crap...
That said 25,000 is a decent length so I'm not too fussed.

Yeah, 25k Is nothing to look down on. Its a good number. Last time I really tried to work on mine I only managed to make it 8k.

**Avatar 720**

My most ever (not for anything specific) is ~17,500 words, written 5 and a half years ago. It was a crap 40k fan-fiction involving my first custom Chapter, and detailed their fall into Chaos through a skilled mix of bad writing and fluff-murder.

**Jimsolo**

By the time I finished my first NaNo, I was so stoked I finished the whole novel early in the next year. (110,000 words.) I'm still working on the one I did last year, and I'm stalled at around 75k, but I haven't given up hope yet!

**DA's Forever**

Way to go! You all have a hardy constitution then mine.

Hopefully NaNo can do something about that.