NaNoWriMo - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T09:52:07Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:73844?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A73852&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI mostly write for kids so kn…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-02:537324:Comment:888622007-11-02T21:40:40.234ZGoldie Alexanderhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/GoldieAlexander
I mostly write for kids so know the benefits of stayihng short and pithy. Most contemporary novels need some cutting in my opinion. Bigger is not always better.<br />
Goldie
I mostly write for kids so know the benefits of stayihng short and pithy. Most contemporary novels need some cutting in my opinion. Bigger is not always better.<br />
Goldie Well said, Becky. Write On!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-10-03:537324:Comment:781602007-10-03T21:11:12.604Zterry bowmanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/foolesgold
Well said, Becky. Write On!
Well said, Becky. Write On! I finished Nanowrimo last yea…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-10-03:537324:Comment:781052007-10-03T16:49:20.665ZBeckyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/robotgirl
I finished Nanowrimo last year, and I'm really excited to do it again this year. I don't see it so much as the first step in an effort to get published; in fact, no one besides me even read my novel last year. As we all know, there are many rewards in writing beyond getting your book accepted by a publisher. I found that the Nano month made me feel more alive, more in touch with the world around me, more thoughtful, and more excited to write each day than I would be without a deadline.<br />
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I have…
I finished Nanowrimo last year, and I'm really excited to do it again this year. I don't see it so much as the first step in an effort to get published; in fact, no one besides me even read my novel last year. As we all know, there are many rewards in writing beyond getting your book accepted by a publisher. I found that the Nano month made me feel more alive, more in touch with the world around me, more thoughtful, and more excited to write each day than I would be without a deadline.<br />
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I have a feeling that many Nano writers are like me: they don't think of themselves as "serious" writers with a hell's chance to get published, they just like writing and feeling that they are racing toward a goal with thousands of other people. I don't see how this devalues literature. Instead, I think it celebrates the joy of creation and helps readers think a bit more about the creative process that underpins everything they read. There are some pretty good no…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-10-03:537324:Comment:780692007-10-03T13:19:25.599ZJackBludishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JackBludis
There are some pretty good novels at 50,000 words. Not many are being published lately though, and most of those trying to sell them don't know the market. I say most, not all.
There are some pretty good novels at 50,000 words. Not many are being published lately though, and most of those trying to sell them don't know the market. I say most, not all. Nice to see 50,000 words is c…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-10-03:537324:Comment:780632007-10-03T12:50:46.679ZJohnny Ostentatioushttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnnyOstentatious
Nice to see 50,000 words is considered a novel, since a lot of publishers won't look at anything under 70,000 words.
Nice to see 50,000 words is considered a novel, since a lot of publishers won't look at anything under 70,000 words. Very good observation Jack. I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-28:537324:Comment:766372007-09-28T02:31:41.631Zterry bowmanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/foolesgold
Very good observation Jack. I wouldn't really worry about logjamming the market, though. That happens during NaQueLetMo. Hacks get good at that and we are all in trouble. ;-)
Very good observation Jack. I wouldn't really worry about logjamming the market, though. That happens during NaQueLetMo. Hacks get good at that and we are all in trouble. ;-) The only thing wrong with NaN…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-28:537324:Comment:766262007-09-28T02:08:32.074ZJackBludishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JackBludis
The only thing wrong with NaNoWriMo is that out of it will come first novels that their authors consider masterpieces and only a handful will be even puplishable. Those manuscripts will clutter the market so that the serious writers, that is to say writers who work at it day in and day out, will have a more difficult time getting their work read by the bigger houses.<br />
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As for books in a month being crap? Hemingway wrote THE SUN ALSO RISES in 26 days. I'm not comparing myself to Hemingway, but…
The only thing wrong with NaNoWriMo is that out of it will come first novels that their authors consider masterpieces and only a handful will be even puplishable. Those manuscripts will clutter the market so that the serious writers, that is to say writers who work at it day in and day out, will have a more difficult time getting their work read by the bigger houses.<br />
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As for books in a month being crap? Hemingway wrote THE SUN ALSO RISES in 26 days. I'm not comparing myself to Hemingway, but when I was younger with more all around stamina, I could write and sell a book a month. That went on for 17 months, and then I was exhausted. I wrote nine books before those 17, selling only three, and I have written 37 books since then, selling 24. Are they all great? Hell no, but some of them are pretty good.<br />
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I do believe that NaNoWriMo is a good step for a serious new writer, but please be objective about your output. Let's face it, though, objectivity one's own work, even if we're experienced, is impossible It is a huge leg up and it co…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-27:537324:Comment:764592007-09-27T17:36:40.158ZTinahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Tina11
It is a huge leg up and it completely removed my inherent inertia. There was this wall that I couldn't jump over in my brain that stopped my from writing. Fear, lack of confidence, lack of work ethic, whatever it was it is not there anymore - Nano ran it out of town. (Now go back and read what I just said, can you tell I ride horses? You say leg up, I say...:) As far as rules go, I think outlining is fine as long as you don't cut and paste something already written. The actual writing has to be…
It is a huge leg up and it completely removed my inherent inertia. There was this wall that I couldn't jump over in my brain that stopped my from writing. Fear, lack of confidence, lack of work ethic, whatever it was it is not there anymore - Nano ran it out of town. (Now go back and read what I just said, can you tell I ride horses? You say leg up, I say...:) As far as rules go, I think outlining is fine as long as you don't cut and paste something already written. The actual writing has to be new. I think it helps to go in with at least a partial outline. I noticed that the ones that didn't finish usual started with just a character and no idea where the story was going. I know the Nano idea is that it is a complete novel, which mine definitely wasn't. So in that way I was not following the Nano edict. But I made a donation, which a lot of people don't do! I really think it is a worthwhile program and it also gets a lot of young people writing through their classroom section. I agree, Tina. It is a great,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-27:537324:Comment:763892007-09-27T14:56:57.741ZDennis Leppanenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TheWarbler
I agree, Tina. It is a great, supportive endeavor. My final edited version came in at a little over 80,000 words. So, a stepping stone it is, but rather a huge leg up. I have to go familiarize myself with the rules. I wonder how much research can be done ahead of time.<br />
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I have a plot line and a cast of characters, and am anxious to get started.
I agree, Tina. It is a great, supportive endeavor. My final edited version came in at a little over 80,000 words. So, a stepping stone it is, but rather a huge leg up. I have to go familiarize myself with the rules. I wonder how much research can be done ahead of time.<br />
<br />
I have a plot line and a cast of characters, and am anxious to get started. I did NANOWRIMO last year and…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-26:537324:Comment:762222007-09-26T21:27:05.448ZTinahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Tina11
I did NANOWRIMO last year and it is the best thing I ever did for my writing. I wrote the 50,000 in November and went on to turn it into a complete murder mystery, my first. I found it hugely motivating and it created discipline I found I was lacking. I went into it with a pretty complete outline which really helped. That said, the first draft needed a huge amount of work and it was pretty rough. The editing process has been tedious, but this is also the first long work I have edited of my own…
I did NANOWRIMO last year and it is the best thing I ever did for my writing. I wrote the 50,000 in November and went on to turn it into a complete murder mystery, my first. I found it hugely motivating and it created discipline I found I was lacking. I went into it with a pretty complete outline which really helped. That said, the first draft needed a huge amount of work and it was pretty rough. The editing process has been tedious, but this is also the first long work I have edited of my own and it was a steep learning curve. I am doing it again this year. Again I am going into it with a complete outline, and I should come out of it with half a book. 50,000 is too short for a full work unless you are doing a children's novel so I am using NANO as more of a stepping stone rather than trying to complete a full novel. But whatever anyone might think about it, it gets you putting words on paper faster. Whether people do it just for fun or more seriously it is a great program and you meet lots of incredibly supportive and fun people.