Is anyone doing National Novel Writing Month now NaNoWriMo is dead?

[Tallyfire]

Just curious. I've done it in the past, and I'd be tempted to do it again but I don't have the time for 1667 words each day. I might try for 30 minutes of writing each day.

I saw that @Luxuria suggested a possible 50k word event over in the Suggestions thread. If anyone else is interested in making November a Writing Month, we could make a little group progress/accountability thread.

 

[Trish]

If there's a thread for it, I'll participate.

 

[Luxuria]

Just curious. I've done it in the past, and I'd be tempted to do it again but I don't have the time for 1667 words each day. I might try for 30 minutes of writing each day.

I saw that @Luxuria suggested a possible 50k word event over in the Suggestions thread. If anyone else is interested in making November a Writing Month, we could make a little group progress/accountability thread.

Thanks for the mention! Yes, I would still be down for a 50K Event. I think maybe it could be better paced if it was in 3 months, not 1. I would love to be part of a 50K Group. The math comes out as: 555 words a day if you write 50,000 words in 90 days. The other reason I say 90 days, because the holiday season is upon us. One of the issues with NaNo, that would be brought up every year, was that it happened during Thanksgiving season.

If you have any thoughts, or ideas, let me know. I would be happy to brainstorm with you. Also, I was thinking that if we did a thread, at the end, I think we should post the first chapter of our work? Or make some kind of showcase? I donno. But I want to really support and grow the amount of novel writers on here.

 

[Tallyfire]

I think maybe it could be better paced if it was in 3 months, not 1.

I see your point, but I personally could not manage 3 months. I like the one month because I can focus on something for 30 days, but it takes time away from other hobbies and responsibilities. After those 30 days are up, I need to reign it in again to keep balance.

Everyone does this for their own reasons, though. If you want to reach 50k words, that’s great, and I imagine there are other people out there who’d like a gentler-paced writing marathon. (I did the 50k words while working 60-hour weeks and that was a fun kind of madness I won’t repeat!) What we could do is have a progress thread by month, and once November is up the ones who want to continue hop over to the December one.

Also, I was thinking that if we did a thread, at the end, I think we should post the first chapter of our work? Or make some kind of showcase?

I love the idea of a showcase! First chapters are cool by me - or even just a highlight of something written during the month. I often start out pretty dry and cool ideas spark in the middle of the month.

 

[Luxuria]

I see your point, but I personally could not manage 3 months. I like the one month because I can focus on something for 30 days, but it takes time away from other hobbies and responsibilities. After those 30 days are up, I need to reign it in again to keep balance.

I understand. What about 60 days? I am also down for 1 month, but I won't get it done as I am in college. But 60 days seems doable to me. But we can adjust and it doesn't have to be a set goal.

Everyone does this for their own reasons, though. If you want to reach 50k words, that’s great, and I imagine there are other people out there who’d like a gentler-paced writing marathon. (I did the 50k words while working 60-hour weeks and that was a fun kind of madness I won’t repeat!) What we could do is have a progress thread by month, and once November is up the ones who want to continue hop over to the December one.

Agreed. I think we should have a 50K goal, a 25K and a 10K. And each person when they sign up, commits to one of the 3 goals. (Yeah, that sounds like madness. I did 100K one NaNo and was 'banned' by family from doing it again.) I like that idea! We could have 1 progress thread every 3 months or something. I would say every month, but I want it to be special somehow. Any ideas? Also, can someone join in the middle of the month, randomly?

I love the idea of a showcase! First chapters are cool by me - or even just a highlight of something written during the month. I often start out pretty dry and cool ideas spark in the middle of the month.

I really want this showcase thing. Because so much of the writing on here is geared toward short stories. So, having a Novel Corner, would be wonderful! I like the high-light idea. You could also post your LAST chapter if you wanted, too. But you're right. Cool idea happen in the middle of writing. I do think though, only those who join and reach their goals should be able to post in the Showcase Thread. I think it would be gentle motivation and reason for people to actually write their goals. Thoughts?

Again, I think this whole idea might have to be passed by a Mod, but we could at least do our own 'Progress thread' and then just at the end of our time frame, share our chapters in that thread? Maybe? Or post them in the showcase forum. Not sure of all the rules, but I really want everyone to have a rewarding feeling after this.

 

[Homer Potvin]

I understand. What about 60 days? I am also down for 1 month, but I won't get it done as I am in college. But 60 days seems doable to me. But we can adjust and it doesn't have to be a set goal.

Agreed. I think we should have a 50K goal, a 25K and a 10K. And each person when they sign up, commits to one of the 3 goals. (Yeah, that sounds like madness. I did 100K one NaNo and was 'banned' by family from doing it again.) I like that idea! We could have 1 progress thread every 3 months or something. I would say every month, but I want it to be special somehow. Any ideas? Also, can someone join in the middle of the month, randomly?

I really want this showcase thing. Because so much of the writing on here is geared toward short stories. So, having a Novel Corner, would be wonderful! I like the high-light idea. You could also post your LAST chapter if you wanted, too. But you're right. Cool idea happen in the middle of writing. I do think though, only those who join and reach their goals should be able to post in the Showcase Thread. I think it would be gentle motivation and reason for people to actually write their goals. Thoughts?

Again, I think this whole idea might have to be passed by a Mod, but we could at least do our own 'Progress thread' and then just at the end of our time frame, share our chapters in that thread? Maybe? Or post them in the showcase forum. Not sure of all the rules, but I really want everyone to have a rewarding feeling after this.

I don't see why not. It would kind of depend what y'all produce and how you want it displayed, but there's nothing technically challenging about it.

 

[Luxuria]

I don't see why not. It would kind of depend what y'all produce and how you want it displayed, but there's nothing technically challenging about it.

YAY! Is it possible we could get a Novel Writing Corner forum? So we can have a section for our challenge threads and showcase events? And general discussion about novel writing? Because much of the content on here is geared towards short stories, which I feel is a different style than novel writing.

 

[Homer Potvin]

YAY! Is it possible we could get a Novel Writing Corner forum? So we can have a section for our challenge threads and showcase events? And general discussion about novel writing? Because much of the content on here is geared towards short stories, which I feel is a different style than novel writing.

We'll have to discuss, but I think something similar. We've been building out slowly as things come up. Are we still talking about a nano section or a general forum dedicated to novels?

 

[Tallyfire]

I understand. What about 60 days? I am also down for 1 month, but I won't get it done as I am in college. But 60 days seems doable to me. But we can adjust and it doesn't have to be a set goal.

Well, you have Thanksgiving in November, and I have Christmas in December (which I assume you do, too). I don't want to burn out on it.

Agreed. I think we should have a 50K goal, a 25K and a 10K. And each person when they sign up, commits to one of the 3 goals. (Yeah, that sounds like madness. I did 100K one NaNo and was 'banned' by family from doing it again.) I like that idea! We could have 1 progress thread every 3 months or something. I would say every month, but I want it to be special somehow. Any ideas? Also, can someone join in the middle of the month, randomly?

I like the idea with the various word counts too! (But 100k sounds masochistic, omg. That doesn't sound like an overreaction from your family.)

I think there should be space for both progress and then also post-NaNo discussion and celebration. I could picture this (under "Progress Journals" for now):

• The progress thread (lasts 3 months). People sign up either beforehand or just declare their goals (X words over 1/2/3 months) in the first posts in the threads. We could edit the top post to have an overview of everyone who's joined.
• The post-NaNo thread (appears after November). People hop over there once they're done to talk about the month and pass around beers.

That way there's space for both tracking progress and celebrating and everyone is a part of both at some point or other.

As to how often it happens, I guess it depends on how many want to join and how often they want it! I might join twice a year.

From my side, I think joining late is no problem as long as you pick a goal and go for it. (You reminded me that I actually joined my first NaNoWrimo on the 9th or something because I only heard about it late! That one was the rollercoaster month.)

YAY! Is it possible we could get a Novel Writing Corner forum? So we can have a section for our challenge threads and showcase events? And general discussion about novel writing? Because much of the content on here is geared towards short stories, which I feel is a different style than novel writing.

We'll have to discuss, but I think something similar. We've been building out slowly as things come up. Are we still talking about a nano section or a general forum dedicated to novels?

I mostly assume that the discussions in the general writing discussions are about writing novels, so I haven't really noticed a lean into short stories (except in the workshop). I would be happy with a thread for chapters/highlights in The Writer's Showcase, but maybe there are others who want a dedicated Novel Writing Corner.

 

[Luxuria]

We'll have to discuss, but I think something similar. We've been building out slowly as things come up. Are we still talking about a nano section or a general forum dedicated to novels?

I think I would personally want one for the novel format.

 

[Luxuria]

Well, you have Thanksgiving in November, and I have Christmas in December (which I assume you do, too). I don't want to burn out on it.

That's fair. So maybe November is the right month. (I celebrate both Christmas as it's a social holiday here and Solstice, which is more personal to me.)

I like the idea with the various word counts too! (But 100k sounds masochistic, omg. That doesn't sound like an overreaction from your family.)

Thanks! (Yeah, I guess it was. I did win, though. Hahah, I thought it was, but looking back, I think they were right to ban me.)

I think there should be space for both progress and then also post-NaNo discussion and celebration. I could picture this (under "Progress Journals" for now):

• The progress thread (lasts 3 months). People sign up either beforehand or just declare their goals (X words over 1/2/3 months) in the first posts in the threads. We could edit the top post to have an overview of everyone who's joined.
• The post-NaNo thread (appears after November). People hop over there once they're done to talk about the month and pass around beers.

That way there's space for both tracking progress and celebrating and everyone is a part of both at some point or other.

YES! I like this idea! The 3 Month window sounds lovely and we should also have a discussion thread for 'OMG, I can't name this character and I need help ASAP'. I like the idea of having everyone's wordcounts in the first post.
I like the post Nano-thread, too.

As to how often it happens, I guess it depends on how many want to join and how often they want it! I might join twice a year.

I think twice a year makes it special. I like this idea.

From my side, I think joining late is no problem as long as you pick a goal and go for it. (You reminded me that I actually joined my first NaNoWrimo on the 9th or something because I only heard about it late! That one was the rollercoaster month.)

Okay, that makes sense. I didn't join my first NaNo until like day 3 or something. But yeah, people should be able to join any time.

 

[Tallyfire]

I did win, though.

The option that you didn’t manage the 100k didn’t even cross my mind.

we should also have a discussion thread for 'OMG, I can't name this character and I need help ASAP'.

Haha, ohhh yes. The NaNoWriMo forums were so crazy. Like, “how can I use <random object> to murder someone?” crazy. It’s probably good to keep that madness somewhat contained.

I guess now we just wait to see who else is interested in joining!

 

[Homer Potvin]

I think I would personally want one for the novel format.

Regarding that, what are you looking to use it for? A simple area for novel specific discussions is fine--similar to Poetry Discussions--but not a recreation of character development, plot, setting, etc. All of that is covered already and there's nothing different between novels and short stories as far as those are concerned. Or at the very least, not enough difference to warrant a separate discussion area. I'm just trying to get a sense of what the necessity is before we build empty scaffolding.

 

[Naomasa298]

Weren't we doing this on the OG just before it closed? Or am I misremembering?

 

[Luxuria]

Regarding that, what are you looking to use it for? A simple area for novel specific discussions is fine--similar to Poetry Discussions--but not a recreation of character development, plot, setting, etc. All of that is covered already and there's nothing different between novels and short stories as far as those are concerned. Or at the very least, not enough difference to warrant a separate discussion area. I'm just trying to get a sense of what the necessity is before we build empty scaffolding.

That's fair. Maybe then, just creating a 'novel' tag for posts in the research, character, etc. forums. Because sometimes novel advice is different than what one would get for a short story.

 

[Luxuria]

Weren't we doing this on the OG just before it closed? Or am I misremembering?

Yes, we were. I proposed trying to do something like it here when NaNo Announced they were closing. I wanted to bring NaNoers to our forums.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Weren't we doing this on the OG just before it closed? Or am I misremembering?

The nano or the novel discussions? The former had a section but no participants. For the latter, I have no direct memory of it, but Moose remembers it being something we attempted and then abandoned do to redundancy. I'm not sure what the form of it was or anything, but definitely no need to subdivide the elements of novel writing from short story writing on anything but basic structural level.

Yes, we were. I proposed trying to do something like it here when NaNo Announced they were closing. I wanted to bring NaNoers to our forums.

We're entertaining the idea of providing an area for people to help each other with something Nano related, but creating a major Forum based initiative or providing infrastructure to onboard a slew of participants would be a different kettle of fish. I'm not opposed to any of that philosophically, but having gone through this before, the participation has never been there. Just getting 8 people to participate in a monthly contest or 3 people in a roleplay is a victory, never mind writing a full novel in a month. Tally and Luxuria are working on a proposal so we'll see what we can do. I'm all for anything that gets people writing and drives forum participation, but the juice has to be worth the squeeze.

 

[Naomasa298]

The nano or the novel discussions? The former had a section but no participants. For the latter, I have no direct memory of it, but Moose remembers it being something we attempted and then abandoned do to redundancy. I'm not sure what the form of it was or anything, but definitely no need to subdivide the elements of novel writing from short story writing on anything but basic structural level.

I thought we had started something for NaNo this year just before the old forum's demise, but I don't remember clearly.