I loved doing this the first year I did it (2006) and felt horrible when college prevented me from completing the second attempt (2008). Therefore, I shall try again this year. I rejoined the forum as shastastwin, mostly because I couldn't remember or find any of my old log-in info.

I'll probably do something in either sci-fi or fantasy. Possibly an idea out of my long list that's been sitting at the back of my mind for the past ten years or so.

viridan_hues, typically, I write without an outline. I don't know if it's best, but I tend to like it better than planning. My sister is the direct opposite, so we'll probably be planning our story together.

But in general, I think it's fun to write without extensively planning (like, how things are going to happen. I like planning characters and then seeing where I can put them as the plot progresses. )

Yay! I love this "community feel" of the thread. The one fun thing about NanoWrimo is... you get to write a book. The second fun thing about NaNo is that mutual-ness between others NaNo-ers. (I'm sorry, my brain feels kind of fried tonight. ) Ah, I can just feel it now. The taps of the key-board, the delightful cup of cocoa, some soundtrack music to set the mood, and the cold and hard WordWars. Oh, November when will you come?
Anywho, it's been real nice looking at everyone's basic plots and stuff. This year, I'm going to be a "rebel" (Ooooh. ) As my sister as mentioned, we'll be working on the Winni-the-Pooh/Beatrix Potter-like book. I've been working on a fantasy story for four years now, so... I'll be editing the cheesiness and adding more to the poor thing. And, I'm working on trying to get a foundation for an anime series that I thought would be nice, so I thought I'd write it as stories (or books) first. This should be an interesting November.
Well, a hearty 'Hurrah' to everyone!

~CSLN

But in general, I think it's fun to write without extensively planning (like, how things are going to happen. I like planning characters and then seeing where I can put them as the plot progresses. )

I'm similar. I usually have a general, overarching view of the plot in mind, but the details often come out when I finally start writing. More often than not the characters dictate some of the twists and turns in the story.

Sometimes unexpected external influences show up too. At one point in the 2009 story I had a bit of writer's block, but while driving I heard a song that fit perfectly into the scene I was stumbling over; including it helped me get going again. Not to mention it added several hundred words to the final outcome.

What's a word war?

Yay!! NaNoWriMo!!!

I participated in Camp August.... and unfortunately failed quite miserably with 13,000-something words.... My sister, wild rose, managed to finish both July and August Camp with 50,000+ words and gazing on her certificates hanging on our bedroom wall (she printed them out) I am DETERMINED to do and finish November NaNoWriMo!!!!!! Hope it works!!!

What's a word war?

Firstly, welcome to NarniaWeb, Hien!

Now, in answer to your question. A Word War is when two or more people get assemble (via online, mainly) and try to write as many words as possible in a certain amount of time, say fifteen minutes. The person who has written the most words at the end of that time, wins the "war".

Question: if I am in the NaNoRebel category, either for having a few (like 4, I think) pages of manuscript I wrote a while ago, or if I'm co-authoring something entirely new, but still co-authoring, and if I win, can I still get the manuscript? Or do NaNoRebels who won not qualify for a free copy of their book?

I'm InkRain (wish I picked a better username!) on there, if anyone wants to friend me.

If we are Rebels (as I was one year), we shouldn't really validate our texts to become winners. Even if our word count passes 50 000, we're not registered as winners unless we send in our texts to the Validator - and only the registered winners qualify for a free copy of their book.

It's technically no problem to cheat, though. As someone else said, no-one reads what you validate, and the firms who offer prizes (like the free copy) to the winners, do not check whether you're a Rebel or have been following the rules. I'm sure they don't mind - they are doing this to promote their paid services anyway, so it doesn't hurt them if more people get a sample of what they can offer.

There are always discussions on the site where people ask, "I'm writing so and so, does it qualify as a novel?" And the mods usually answer, "If you feel it is a novel, then it is. This is mainly about your personal achievement anyway - if you feel you have achieved what you attempted, that is your victory, whether you validate and become a registered winner or not."

If you write 50 000 words and validate, then you can get your copy (and other prizes).
Whether you validate, is up to you.

*waves enthusiastically* It's about time I dropped in the NaNo thread.

I'm planning to do NaNo this year, hopefully, if my schoolwork doesn't get in the way. This'll be my third year, but only my second year attempting 50k (confusing, I know). My first year, I did the NaNo YWP program, which allowed me to set my own goal. I think I finished with around 30k.

Then, next year, I decided to do the YWP as well because I had such a busy month. Except... I ended up being highly encouraged by people in this thread (Orious, especially), and decided to shoot for 50k. I wrote about 25k in 5 days. That's not an incident that I'd like to repeat, but since I have discovered that writing 50k in less than a month is indeed possible, I think it's pretty reasonable to do the full NaNo this year.

As for a plot... I'll get back to you on that. Like many of you in this thread, I don't outline. Well, I try, but it ends up not going so well. Either I come up with completely different ideas and change the story halfway through, or I get so tied up by the outline that I hit a wall and have a severe case of writer's block.

That said, I'm still trying to figure out my plot, but I have a vague idea. Expect more updates in the near future.

I'm so excited for NaNo! We can do this, people! It's going to be the most amazing year ever!

Oh, and if anyone wants to add me on the NaNo site, my username is ScarlettGamgee.

Somehow, even with all the angst in the chatroom about this thread, I totally forgot about it until today! So glad it's up!!

Like Wild Rose, this is my first year of NaNo. I did Camp, but failed. I think I was at 35k? Life was CRAZY and stressful and the story was depressing and difficult and... So I think that's what happened there. But this NaNo, I'm doing a much more light hearted story that's a bit more up my alley. I've already started it, but didn't get very far. 2368 words exactly.

I'm really excited about all this! My family thinks I'm nuts and except for one sister, none of them understand it. But I don't care. Maybe, for the first time in my life, I'll finish a story of decent length. I will, at any rate, make 50k words this time.

I'm really excited about all this! My family thinks I'm nuts and except for one sister, none of them understand it. But I don't care. Maybe, for the first time in my life, I'll finish a story of decent length. I will, at any rate, make 50k words this time.

My family is convinced I'm off my rocker, too. Try explaining to your mom how you're going to co-author one novel and try to write 50k in another. In one month. On top of school and other duties. Yeah. Mom just stared at me in shock for awhile. Then she told me that we're all going to be out of town for the first weekend in November.

I'm about a third of the way through my planning and plotting, hopefully I'll be finishing within the next two weeks. How's planning coming along for all of you?

Oh, and I'm Melian on the site, in case any of you want to add me.

Now, in answer to your question...

Thanks, ForeverFan! For both the answer and the welcome -

Thanks, ForeverFan! For both the answer and the welcome -

You're welcome. I am glad to be of help. Will you be doing NaNo this year with us?

Count down till NaNo!! Only 25 days!!
I'm literally getting more excited each day. I feel all squiggly inside thinking about curling up with a laptop and writing and writing. I believe I've got all the names figured out, but I think there's another character I have to add. He'd be really boring, but I need him.
Beth Szilard: My MC's aunt.
Hester Pierce: My MC.
Aubrey: Other MC, a guy. His last name isn't mentioned.
Carroll Ainsworth
Rori Ainsworth: Married to him.
Diana Clarke.
I always laughed at people who did silly names instead of normal ones, but now I'm doing it myself. It's so much fun!!

Hello everyone! As I said before, this will be my first year of NaNo, and I'm very excited. My novel this year will be a sort of gritty suspense novel set in modern day.

As for outlining, I always outline my stories to death. I don't have any regrets about that though, since that's the method that has always worked best for me.

Okay, so since I'm new, I have some questions. Three to be exact.

1. What is this I hear about a "free copy" when it comes to prizes?

2. When will the site be reset, so I know when to post my novel info?

3. What is the Night of Writing Narnianly? I've heard both that and Word Wars mentioned quite frequently by you NaNo-ers; and, although I know what Word Wars is, I'm not quite sure what the Night of Writing Narnianly is.

~Riella