Thanks everyone for you opions! Yeah I'm going to write the novel and then worry about whether people will think I copyed another story later.

So is anyone getting ready for NaNoWriMo yet? I have a pretty good idea and I've been writing down every new thought and twist it could go as they come to me. I'm going to start working on an outline soon. I'm really looking forward to it this year!

Oohhh goodness. I've given it the occasional thought, but I haven't really given NaNo much attention at all yet. Last year I was able to get away with not actually making an outline (because I was writing something I'd envisioned for a while), but I don't think I'll be so lucky this year. I'll probably keep brainstorming for the time being, and then work on an outline when it gets closer to the time.

I was wondering what is NaNoWriMo, I've seen a lot of discussion about it, and I'm guessing it has something to do with writing, but what exactly is it?

wild rose

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place in November and is basically a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. People all over the world take part.

NaNoWriMo

How NaNoWriMo Works

What is NaNoWriMo?

Thanks for that info, narnian_at_heart.

wild rose, NaNo is a lot of fun. It's encouragement just to write a novel - not to worry so much about depth of plot, finely crafted sentences, editing, and all of that...these things can be done after November passes. Just sit down and write, when November 1 comes.

There is usually a specific thread here in the SO devoted to NaNo once we get close to November...to share questions, ideas, and experiences. Check out the 2010 thread here.

I've given some thought to this year's NaNo. Last year's almost wrote itself and was a lot of fun. My 2009 and 2010 stories were set in the same universe, and this year's may be as well.

Unfortunately (as far as NaNo is concerned), right after finishing last year's story I got an idea for a non-canon story in that same universe, and didn't want to wait a year to write it...the muse struck then, not later.

That story has been fun to write too, and has grown to about 32k words...not much by NaNo standards but not bad for the limited amount of time I've spent on it. It could easily reach 50-70k once finished. But it means that right now I've no clear ideas for NaNo 2011. (But there is still plenty of time to come up with something!)

wow sounds interesting *is thinking of participating*
The only thing is.....what if the novel comes out longer than 50,000 words?

I don't usually write outlines when writing.....although I know it is a very good idea somehow I never get around to it. I do usually have a basic outline in my head, but I rarely put it on paper. I did once make an outline for a novel but I never got around to using it and I think it got thrown away

Over 50,000 is fine! My complete stories seem to run about 60-100k, but as I recall some writers were well over 50,000 before last November ended. The 50,000 is just a minimum.

I usually have a general outline in mind when I begin a story, but often don't write it down (an exception is if I get a story idea that I want to use for NaNo, but November is still months away. Then I'll record plot ideas, character development notes, and the like, so I'm ready to hit the ground running when November 1 arrives).

I agree with Silver; I've though about it once or twice, and I'm excited, but I haven't been preparing. I get so many random idea's for it, but if they get to elaborate, I get bored. But I'd like to be a little more prepared than last time (I found out I was doing it the day after it started. ).
There is no limit to how long it can be, Wild Rose; it can be 100,000 words. Just it has to be 50,000.
And you don't have to do an outline. A lot of people just run with a small idea; including me.

Which reminds me, I should decide which idea I want to run with this time.
Oh, and I just ordered my NaNo novel from last year. Finally. I'm SO HYPER!

Hi...I'm new and I just found out about this thread from Silver from somewhere else on this huge world of NWeb! I like writing, so I thought I'd take Silver's suggestion and come check it out.

Sounds like a lot of people are involved in the NaNoWriMo here! I've heard people talk about it before and I know at least one person who successfully completed the month. And, of course, I've already stumbled upon the many writing projects in different sections of NWeb.

But me? I'm not much of a fiction writer...so I was just wondering: anyone on this thread interested in writing nonfiction topics?

I do have one more question about NaNoWriMo, it's okay if you aren't a citizen of the US right? Cause I think that's the only thing that is holding me back so far, I will be writing in English, I just wanted to know if it's okay to be from a different country

welcome to NW Jacqi and to our little writer's world. I'm afraid I don't write nonfiction, although I do enjoy reading it

You may most definitely be from any country, wild.

...so I was just wondering: anyone on this thread interested in writing nonfiction topics?

May I ask what type of non-fiction you write? History? Science? Current events?

I do write non-fiction, I guess, in that I like to record my stargazing observations in a logbook for later perusal. Some of that can get rather technical (though at times I may wax poetic when describing things in the sky, such as the Northern Lights or an eclipse).

But my fantasy prose tends to be my creative outlet.

May I ask what type of non-fiction you write? History? Science? Current events?

Well, Stargazer, I guess the answer to that question might be, "yeah."

I've blogged about everything from politics to personal items. I guess that's because I just have a wide variety of interests.

I like to journal, but I've also written work stuff and other practical things. A long time ago, I used to write for newsletters (pre-cyberspace-age) and even published one of my own. Now, I'd love to get published in a mag or online edition somewhere...but that is a dream to make into reality, maybe this year...

May I ask what stargazing observations you enjoy finding???

Just thought I'd run in and tell ya'll a little bit of news; MY NANO NOVEL ARRIVED TODAY!!!
Yup. I'm holding a book that is written by me. And it's beautiful, and I'm so happy!!