I think I broke my record on how fast I can come up with a basic plot, I had come up with a story line for my second NaNo novel but then I didn't like it and decided to keep the basic idea but change everything else. That was easier said than done. I nearly crashed my brain today trying to come up with a decent story, but at last I did It's not going to be as long as my first NaNo, I doubt it will even be 50,000 words, but It should be at least 30k or 40k. I gave it the title "Braces and Broken Wings" and it is set in England, 1948, and centers around two very different people but both a smiliar problem, one is a little war orphan and the other is a fairy, their problem is neither are accepted by their own, because the girl (Dulcinea) had polio and now has to wear leg braces and Daphne (the fairy) is missing a wing. I haven't come up with a synopsis for it yet, but I am working on it.

On my main novel for NaNo, I am finished with the planning and am ready to write *waiting impatiently for November to start*

I've decided to try to do NaNo. As long as it doesn't get in the way of my other preparations and activities. If it does get in the way, I'll have to stop. But I might as well give it a try.

I won't be doing the book I was originally planning on writing, though. I didn't finish the outline in time for that one, and that particular book is one which would be very difficult to write without an outline. I'm thinking of saving it for Camp NaNo.

Instead, I'm just going to wing it. I have a very, very basic idea for a book; and I'm just going to make it up as I go along. Since I came up with the idea for it a few days ago, I haven't gotten too attached to it yet, and so won't feel guilty for writing it without an outline and planning. (Yes, I do usually feel guilty for trying to write my other, well-loved books without planning them out first. )

~Riella

Ok, update on the team war situation!

I went to go create the war today, and I ran into a fairly large snag. The site that I use relies on NaNo's user ID's to collect information. However, with the site now redone, there's no such thing as a user ID anymore.

SOOOOOOOO. I'm not sure what to do. I guess team wars are canceled until I can find an alternate stat app; there is NO way I am manually imputing all sorts of information myself.

Well, even though I've been planning it out, I've decided not to do Nano anymore. I'm starting a new job this month and schoolwork is picking up. I'm afraid I just don't have the time. It would be wonderful but I really can't kid myself anymore. Plus, I know myself too well. When I'm in the middle of a good story, I'll keep writing despite all my other schoolwork that is waiting. I really just can't take the risk.

Oh my. One day. That's pretty much me. I've been gone the last few days, I have long, long rehearsals every night, and I'm completely and utterly exhausted from the 6 hour one last night.
But you know what? I'm SO excited. I can't jump around and shriek, but I lay in my bed and smile feebly. xD I don't have time to comment on everyone's post - but all the plots really sound fabulous!!
And the buddy system!! Heart heart!
Now I really need to figure out at least what I'm going to be writing the first day. The first 20,000 words are the confusing part.

Okay, I just got back from the Lost and Found to see if anyone has turned in my sanity, because I have legitimately lost it.

I will be working on not one, not two, but three different stories next month. At least, that's the plan. That way I'll always have something to write about, whether my moods are swinging like monkeys in the treetops or not.

I have no idea how long any of the stories will be, or how far I'll get with them, especially since two of them don't have an outline or any notes at all. I'm actually kind of excited, though, to see which stories finish first, third and second, word count-wise. If one really "clicks" with me, I'll probably run with it, but I'm not going to beat myself up too much if they all end up as unfinished blobs of words. Life is really insane right now, so I figure I need to ease up on the pressure a little bit.

The first story is my original Snow-White and Rose-Red retelling. (Something in me just can't scrap it completely after thinking about it all month. ) The second is a very character-driven tale set in a steampunk world by the sea. The third is sci-fantasy, a brand new story idea about a girl and her aunt moving into her botanist grandfather's old house, where they make some very strange discoveries in the overgrown greenhouses, the woods, and through reading his old field journals.

I really have no idea what I am doing here or what I am getting myself into, but hey, it's an adventure. And if there's ever a time and place for a crazy endeavor. . . it's definitely NaNoWriMo.

Just a few more hours 'til go time. . . I can't believe it's almost here! Hold onto your hats, everyone, and good luck!!

Well...it's the last few moments (hours) before the gun goes off, and we all go crazy. I'm sort of savoring the deep breath.

Moonlight Dancer, I'm sorry we're losing you. But I totally get it; I tend to prioritize writing over schoolwork sometimes, too...bad habit. Good luck with your job and the like!

And hooray for you, Ithie! Glad you're joining us this year.

And what is this? Is Gymfan, the all-powerful-churner-outer-of-many-words actually worrying about Nano? Now that has got to be a first. Hope your prep is going okay, Gymmie...and don't worry about the team wars. This new site is going to take some figuring out for all of us...

Goodness, Rose-Tree! That is a lot of writing going on! Hope you have the energy for it all!

winterlife...We're writers, dear. Everyone thinks we're crazy.

This year I actually have one person who seems excited to read my novel. After I got over the initial shock, I realized how good that is. Now I want my novel to be perfect for when I hand it over!

What about the rest of y'all? Got any readers lined up? And are any of you all planning on sharing your novels with one another? I know we did that last year, but I didn't join in. I'd honestly welcome the feedback now.

And now that the buddy system is FINALLY up, I want to make sure I'm buddies with all of y'all. My name there is the same as here.

Wow. 12 hours to go. And all I can say is, if someone asks us what scared us the most this Halloween, we can say, "The fact that NaNoWriMo was starting in a few hours." Such a huge endeavor. I can't believe it's almost here.

So exciting at the same time, though.

~Riella

*pauses for a moment in her frantic screaming*

Rose, I think you're crazier than most of us, but at the same time, what you're doing sounds easier somehow...anyway, I applaud you.

What about the rest of y'all? Got any readers lined up? And are any of you all planning on sharing your novels with one another? I know we did that last year, but I didn't join in. I'd honestly welcome the feedback now.

I have enough friends who want to read my novel that I'm not allowing myself to fail this year. I didn't know that NW NaNoers shared novels, though... I'd love feedback from other writers!

I haven't worked on my outline at all for the past several days.

And I realized today that I still haven't sent out my letters to my supporters telling them all about my mission trip this summer. So I have decided that I will not allow myself to start my novel until I get that done. I'm going to try to get it done today because I really want to be able to start tomorrow!

Gymmie. I was in kind of the same boat as you last night, but then I sat down and thought about what was motivating my characters, (as opposed to what was going to happen to them) and several things slotted into place.

(Also, the old user ID for my name redirects to the correct page, wouldn't those returning from last year still work? Or do you not have that info any more?)

Most excellent of Dryads, I thought I was crazy last year for doing two stories. But best of luck to you with yours!

ChristProclaimer, winterlife, come December I'm available to read novels and offer comments and opinions and any other author specified notations.

I have mostly siblings and my Dad lined up and waiting for this years offering; a couple of them seem excited about it because it's the sequel to 2009.

Who I'll let read my novel to be really depends on how good it is. I'll make my sister read it, Betsie will read it, and I may let my brother, parents, and any other friends, if I'm really happy with it. And any NWebbers who would like to, probably. I personally couldn't read a novel online, I just don't have enough computer time and stuff, but there are obviously some people who can.
Goodness. I wish it had started. I'm sitting here at the library and I'd love to start! 6 hours. Oh my.

Eeeeep! I get to start in 1 hour and 40 minutes! I'm sort of panicking because although I've done a ton more of outlining than is the norm for me, I feel like there's so much missing that I haven't figured out. The details of a quest-like plot are not coming to me in any way that'll make sense, and I feel like if I don't get this sorted beforehand, it'll really diminish the quality of my story. I just have to remind myself that things will come as I write, and that last year I had next to nothing and still managed it.

Of course, by 12 am my brain will likely be exhausted so any writing I do won't be that decent. But I'm determined to stay up, if only just to start.

Keep going in your impatient waiting/panicking, everyone!

I have a countdown going... I think I'm about to go insane.

I had an amazing revelation today that should have occurred weeks ago. When I'm in Anchorage, I can still write; AND THEY HAVE WRITE-INS THERE!!! I am really hoping I can go to at least one. I'd have to write on paper, but that's okay. I figured out how to beat writer's cramp. (It's amazing what holding one's pencil correctly will do for the hand. )

Anyone planning to stay up until midnight just so they can get started? I thought about it, but work judging by how work was today, I think I'd better aim for sleep rather than authorship. So I probably won't get to start until after my Bible study tomorrow night.