*Squees* It's getting closer and closer to NaNo! It starts in less than a week!

I'd better get busy. I still haven't finished those character profiles. I must get on that. Hopefully I can finish them today or tomorrow.

For all you peeps like me who have trouble sticking with the contest allll month loooong, here's an alternate plan for making your 50K. It takes advantage of the enthusiasm we all start out with on the first days of NaNo, and your word count goal gets lesser and lesser as the month goes on. I might just try that.

~Riella

Everyone's story ideas sound great! Lots of good, imaginative writers here on the forum.

stardf, nice to see you again as well.

Less than a week now! And for most of us in the US and Canada, there'll be an extra hour to write for NaNo, as we return to standard time ("Fall back") this weekend.

*Sneaks in slowly* Hello all!

I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year, I am attempting it for the fourth time. I only decide for sure to do it today. I succeeded once, failed once, and had my computer eat my novel halfway through once. Hopefully this year will be another win.

My novel is about a displaced princess who has to rally her people, reclaim the throne, and stop a magical plague. Should be simple. I have the plot outline half written and I plan to half wing it. I still have a few gaping plot holes to figure out and I haven't the foggiest notion what to do about them. I also have absolutely no knowledge of my characters. I sat down to write mini bios and got as far as their role in the story (Princess, farmer, etc.).

Everyone's story ideas sounds so amazing and the Portal Rim sounds so epic! It could be bigger then both Hunger Games and Divergent. That's something that I definitely want to read and pay lots of money to buy.

So there was a question I wanted to answer but never logged in because I was busy at the time (And I also have a lot of catching up to do as well.)

Anyways the question was: What is everyone's inspiration?

Music. My story that I'm writing takes place in 1985 so I have been listening to a lot of 80's music this month and will throughout next month as well. I've also been doing a lot of research on the 80's, like hair styles, fashion, cars, which songs and movies were out, technology, etc.

Another thing that inspires me is ordinary day life. I promise I'm not a stalker however I love to study humans when I go out. Their behavior and I catch what they say at times and most of the times you'll get good catch phrases by listening to others while at the same time minding your own business

Anyways I got the summary up on my profile and I'll add a link again in case if some want to add me as a buddy and I'll add back (The person in my avatar is Allan in the story)

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/hopelesswanderer/novels/caught-in-the-undertow

Also when does everyone tend to start writing? The night before Nov 1st or you wait till the 1st?

Also when does everyone tend to start writing? The night before Nov 1st or you wait till the 1st?

The night before. I like to think it gives me a head start. Especially since the competition will also end before Dec. 1, rather than on the day. So it's just taking advantage of all the time I'm given, in case I end up cutting it close in the end.

Then I write even more on the 1st itself, so by the end of the day, I have two days worth of passages.

~Riella

Hello my fellow crazies, yippee for the NaNo thread. I am indeed doing it, (more on that later.) I'm a pantser, but I certainly have an idea in my head that will guide me as a throw words down into the book. Favorite writing snack? Food. Favorite drink? Dr Pepper of course. For those of y'all who wish to friend me on the site, my username is a familiar jackalopeofevul.

As for my actual book, it's actually the second book in a spin off series of a greater world that Lady Arwen created, which is really cool because then the characters from our two book series have the ability to make cameo's in the the other person's books.

Anyways, continuing on. So it starts with a Native American whom is sent east by his father, the chief of a tribe who realizes that resisting the white man is an impossibility. In order to survive in the new world, the Indian must meld with modern society, that what the chief believes. So this native american lives his teenage years in New York City, growing up and becoming a pastor. Once he is an adult he comes back home work as a circuit pastor. That's when he realizes that his old tribe has been radicalized by his former best friend, who believes that they must fight the american ways. So the his former tribe is terrorizing the local towns.
This preacher wants to protect his people, but in order to do so, he needs help. So he hires this bounty hunter named Abigail McKinley who in turn recruits her friend, a sheriff named Jedidiah Moyer. Together, the three will fight to end the terror and bring peace between the peoples.

And yeah, that's 'bout it for now.

Ok I'll start writing the night before too. Also how does the word count work on the site too? I'm sure I'll figure it out but I want to go in prepared. I feel like I can start writing now haha

Nice summary narnianerd and I added you to my buddy list

I have finally finished my character profiles. *bows* What does that mean? Why, it means that my NaNo is ready.

... Kind of.

That is to say, it's prepared enough that this non-improviser will only have to improvise on the small details. So, my NaNo is... ready enough.

I'll use the rest of my time polishing the little details I was afraid I wouldn't get to in time, as well as cleaning the room my computer is in, so that the mess doesn't clog up my brain. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't write properly in a messy room.

As for my actual book, it's actually the second book in a spin off series of a greater world that Lady Arwen created, which is really cool because then the characters from our two book series have the ability to make cameo's in the the other person's books.

That sounds really cool. Is it based off an RP you did together, or did you guys collab on your own? Sounds like an interesting project.

~Riella

At this point, I'm think I'm definitely planning on participating, barring Real Life unexpectedly chucking a monkeywrench at my head.

I should've knocked on wood.

I always knew November was going to be a busy month for me, but I was pretty sure I'd be able to juggle everything... turns out, the month is going to be even more busy and unpredictable than I was initially anticipating. My plans about having a specific writing schedule have pretty much gone out the window.

In spite of this, I would still like to participate and am hoping I can, but I may get a late start, or have to play a lot of catch-up. We'll see. Anyway, just wanted to give y'all a head's up in case it seems like I'm AWOL for word wars.

Glad you guys are going for it, WinterStar and narnianerd!

Winter, your novel getting eaten by your computer must have been awful! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that your computer stays on its best behavior this year! Jackalope Joe, your plotline sounds very intriguing and cool. Good luck with writing!

NaNo is....the day after tomorrow I was so busy editing an older story of mine so I could send it to my friend that I never noticed how time flew!!!! I'll cram plannng tomorrow, I really want to have a finished plan before I start. I'm thinking of shooting for 100k this year, I think the novel will be as long as that, definitely more than 50k, that's for sure. I'll have a lot of studying in November, but I think I'll manage.

Joe, you story sounds really interesting, something I would certainly like to read
Rose: awwww, I'm so sorry November has turned out to be so busy, I'm really hoping you'll be able to find time

good luck to everyone as they finish up preparing and planning, only two days left

Welp, I've already hit a snag. I've been sick the past two weeks and thus had zero motivation for NaNo prep. Oh well. I've still got time. Maybe. Honestly, if I can just get over my previous record of 25K I'll be happy. Small steps to success sounds like a reasonable plan.

For all you peeps like me who have trouble sticking with the contest allll month loooong, here's an alternate plan for making your 50K.

I was already thinking of setting my daily word goals for 2500 a day, but I'm really liking that alternate plan. Getting in even 3000 words a day for the first week would give me some cushion room in case I get sick again.

So it starts with a Native American whom is sent east by his father, the chief of a tribe who realizes that resisting the white man is an impossibility. In order to survive in the new world, the Indian must meld with modern society, that what the chief believes. So this native american lives his teenage years in New York City, growing up and becoming a pastor. Once he is an adult he comes back home work as a circuit pastor. That's when he realizes that his old tribe has been radicalized by his former best friend, who believes that they must fight the american ways. So the his former tribe is terrorizing the local towns.
This preacher wants to protect his people, but in order to do so, he needs help. So he hires this bounty hunter named Abigail McKinley who in turn recruits her friend, a sheriff named Jedidiah Moyer. Together, the three will fight to end the terror and bring peace between the peoples.

And yeah, that's 'bout it for now.

Sweet! You're actually using Sagebrush Crossing as your NaNo? That's awesome! Can't wait to read it at the end, Joe. Hmm, we should schedule a weekend to meet and write! At a target range of course; I'm trying to practice regularly.

Also when does everyone tend to start writing? The night before Nov 1st or you wait till the 1st?

I wait. No sense in doing today what you can put off till tomorrow. Or next week.

I should've knocked on wood.

You poor, poor girl; you just can't get a break, can you? *offers gluten free chocolate lava cake* I'm praying for you, Rosie.

Welp, I've already hit a snag. I've been sick the past two weeks and thus had zero motivation for NaNo prep. Oh well. I've still got time. Maybe. Honestly, if I can just get over my previous record of 25K I'll be happy. Small steps to success sounds like a reasonable plan.

You too, huh? Yeah, this nasty cold/throat infection is going around my office. Bleh. I need to suck on a piece of raw ginger to fall asleep. I was pretty unhappy. But then I found this quote:

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.
- John Quincy Adams

And I felt better after that. Bring it on, November!

Heya WriMos! 8D How've you all been?

I'm jealous. I wish I had time to jump on the 50k train this year but unfortunately art school is destroying all of my free time. *drowning in homework and paint*

Nevertheless, I shall be here CHEERING YOU ON! WOOHOO!

Also, I'm hoping to use NaNoWriMo as motivation to finish editing work for my current novel project. I'm so close to being done - all that remains is for me to do another round of editing, reading it aloud to myself and correcting things that sound odd. And cutting out unnecessary rambling since my manuscript is longer than I'd like it to be. You'd be shocked how much reading aloud helps in regards to figuring out pacing issues...

ANYWAY I'm hoping to be more active around this forum so if anyone needs to bounce ideas off of someone, I'm happy to help!

It's already 1AM here so NaNo starts tomorrow. I'm too excited that I can't sleep and all I can think of are the first sentences I'm going to write. I haven't gotten a precise word count that I will do daily. Usually when I start it's hard to stop unless I get writers block.

How is everyone holding up their anticipation?

Annd, I'll be in chat all night tonight.