I have several ideas for NaNo this year, and I can't decide which to do. I figured I would post them here and ask for you guys' and gals' feedback.

Idea 1: A completely new story centered around a young man named Hazel (after the MC in Watership Down) and a band of people he meets who also have some sort of connection to famous literary characters. This would be literary fiction, meaning all of the fantastic elements I tend to throw into stories would be checked at the door. I'm toying with the idea of a quest story in which common fantasy tropes are spoofed.

Idea 2: An old idea tentatively called A Novel Time, which centers on one of my old Ditto Story characters, Xander. The premise in this story is that all the great classics are history rather than fiction (i.e. Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Beowulf, etc.) and someone has gone back in time and changed the stories so that the heroes die and the villains win. Xander has to retrieve the various heroes' sidekicks (in the above instances, Jonathan and Mina Harker, Watson, and Wulfgar) and with their help reverse the historical vandalism that has occurred. This would be a bit sci-fi/fantasy. As I've now read the first two Thursday Next books, I realize the plot is somewhat Nextian Universe meets League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Idea 3: A somewhat newer idea based on a short script I wrote as a pilot for a TV show called Kitchen with a View about a family in the suburbs whose lives seem to revolve around their kitchen. It's told from the perspective of the two sons, who have a code of Brotherly Laws which they constantly invoke with each other. This is again literary fiction, but leaning toward comedy; it would likely manifest itself as a series of stories and vignettes rather than a novel proper.

Well, after at least three consecutive years of being pestered about it ( ), I've finally signed up for NaNo.

I've already started using speech recognition, thus making me crazy prepared in case of wrist problems.

The NaNo page was supposed to reset today, right? It hasn't yet. At least, it doesn't appear to have whenever I go there...

I'm looking forward to putting up my cover and plot description.

I love making book covers. For myself and others. I've made 5 book covers in all so far. If anyone isn't the best at graphics, and would like me to make a book cover, feel free to ask! I love doing requests.

~Riella

Hurray, the NaNo site is up. It looks nice- not too different from the old site, which I like. I guess they had some extra bugs to be ironed out before launching it, or something like that? (<---- is that enough substance?)

ETA: Just wanted to say it's a bit slow at the moment, but no doubt that is because everyone is checking it out now and whatnot.

Ooh, yay! I'm so glad and excited that the NaNo website is up - though not quite all of it (buddies, customize forms, etc). I really like it, and I'm excited to try to put stuff up about my novel - maybe I can write a synopsis. That's a scary task. I did it a long time after my book was finished, last year, so I feel like I can probably put it off for awhile.

shastastwin, I really like your first idea, the others are really great too, but the first one was the one I thought was the most interesting

Elanor, writing a synopsis is scary, I am so terrible at it, I rarely can achieve it. For my first CampNaNo novel I still haven't been able to make a decent synopsis, the plot is so complicated that I just don't know how to do it

I have managed to write a synopsis for my NaNo novel, it's very patchy and I hope to improve it as I start writing, but this is it so far

my synopsis

The new NaNo is up! I'm so excited! I can't wait for November!

I was dissapointed that the word count widgets aren't available yet. I really want to put one in my sig on here.

They do have the new avatars available but I'm not sure I'll use them. I love my matching sig and avvie that I made so I'm debating keeping them.

So thrilled that the site has relaunched!

It's disappointing that some of the stuff still needs a bit more tweaking, but I'm kind of glad that the buddy system is down, because it gives me time to polish up my profile, make it pretty and, you know, actually coherent before many people see it.

Random NaNoWriMo-related question of the day: do you listen to music when you're writing, and if so, what kind?

This year I'm planning on listening to a lot of Anuna (they have so many songs that perfectly fit the tone of my story! Can't believe it took me so long to discover them) and other Celtic music groups. I think that'll really help inspire the slightly spooky, enchanted atmosphere I want to infuse in my fantasy novel. . . not to mention it's one of my favorite genres of music anyway.

Shall probably listen to some soundtracks, too, but I need to ask PrinceCor004 for suggestions on those.

Hellooo all!

Wow, I can see I'm a little late to this thread. Erm, well then. Better late than never, I guess? *passes around candy corn*

I'm going to try my best to do NaNo this year, although I can't promise anything because, as you might have noticed from my temporary absence from this forum lately, my life has gotten really...busy.

Still, I had so much fun writing with you guys last year, and I wouldn't dream of missing out, even if I don't win. Not going to put that kind of pressure on myself.

To make life easier, I'm going to be a NaNoRebel and finish the novel I started last year. 60,088 words and I'm probably only half way through. It's all planned out and stuff though, and it centers around characters I've been writing about for a long time, so I don't expect to hit writers block at all.

Well, I can't wait for everything to begin!

Oh yeah. And for when the writing buddy system comes back online: I'm Silvera on the NaNo site. Feel free to friend me.

I don't see a place to upload a Book Cover on the NaNo site... Will it be up later, or are they not doing that this year?

~Riella

Hello all! I think I'm the only one doing YWP, I'll have to check, I would do the regular NaNo but I would end up tearing my hair out from stress so, I'm not I'm doing a novel in the year 3025 about world war ten. (I was wondering what would happen if there was a WW with this day and ages technology and decided to write a novel on that!)

Any way, I'm aiming for 25,000 words this year. I hope that if anyone is on the YWP you will find me! My username is Mimsy101 since I was ten or so when I signed up, then effectively forgot to write! anyway I have to get back to the very interesting chat conversation we are having right now! Ta-ta!

~Jedi

Ok, as much as I stuggle with admitting this, I'm a terrible artist and have no concept of how computer graphics work... But I really want a cover for my NaNo book. Any chance someone could make it for me? I'd really appreciate it!

Ooh, sounds cool, Jedi Clone.

I know I'm buddies with a bunch of you from last year. However, I decided to re-sign up this year. I've lately grown more privacy conscious and have started switching my various accounts over from my real name to something more generic. So my new name is eaglewings51. Feel free to add me when the buddy function is working. I'll probably try to add most of you guys.

Right now, I'm trying to write a synopsis for my novel to post on the NaNo site.

Ok, as much as I stuggle with admitting this, I'm a terrible artist and have no concept of how computer graphics work... But I really want a cover for my NaNo book. Any chance someone could make it for me? I'd really appreciate it!

I can do it. I love making book covers, and I especially love doing requests.

~Riella

Random NaNoWriMo-related question of the day: do you listen to music when you're writing, and if so, what kind?

Most definitely. My personal favorites are Two Steps from Hell (when I really need to churn out a lot of words), the 2006 film Amazing Grace (quiet, thoughtful scenes), or for general situations scores like Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, or pretty much anything Pixar.

If anyone's interested, my username for NaNo is vaporinthewind.

For we are... the NaNoNaWeb!*

--Badger

*Silvy's idea: "National Novel Narnia-Webbers"