NaNo and the guest Blogger Sidney Bristol

National Novel Writing Month-the True Madness of it all-with Guest Blogger-Sidney Bristol

For those who don’t know about NaNoWriMo, is one month, 30 days, of sitting in front of your computer and writing. The goal is 50,000 words, unedited, and completely insane writing. In its 13^th year, NaNoWriMo has been the culprit for sleepless nights, over-indulgence of caffeine, and a layer of dust on the stove. It’s madness, I tell you, but don’t take my word for it.

I’ve asked Sidney Bristol, a fellow NaNo inmate, to stop by and answer a few questions that may or may not prompt you to join the insanity.

Sid, When was the first time you sat down and joined NaNoWriMo, and WHY?

Well, I wanted to join NaNo years before I did. My best friend participated when she was in college and told me about it, but it wasn’t until ’09 that I finally joined. I needed something in my life that I loved. I had to retire from roller derby earlier that year because of injuries and family obligations.  Faced with way more spare time than I should be allowed, I fell back into doodle writing ideas. I remembered how much I enjoyed writing as a teen. I think I joined in June or July of ’09 and began practicing my writing and sculpting the troll that would be my NaNo ’09 book, which is The Book We Don’t Speak Of.

Aside from Chris Baty—the creator of this craziness—who was your inspiration to keep on the path of 50,000+?

I learned about NaNo thanks to my high school best friend, Zibby. No, that’s not her real name but her nickname that’s still sticking to her all these years later. She did NaNo while in college, and was the person who got me to write in middle school. I honestly started writing because I wanted to be like her. I loved it. When I started NaNo I thought that if she could do it, then I stood a good chance of doing it too.

We all, as in the NaNo inmates, know that the word count average per day is 1667, what was the largest number of word you’ve written in one sitting? And why couldn’t you just get up and shower?

Oh man, I hate answering this question. People always look at my hands to see if I’m sporting double rows of fingers or something. Okay, so my biggest day for totals this last year was November 1^st. I wrote about 5,000 a sitting and it took about three hours. Over the course of the whole day I wrote about 15,000 but the last 10,000 came slower, and I did get up and do other things. The reason I could do that 5K? Every year we have a midnight kick off at an IHOP, no internet so no distractions, and I knew where the story was starting and where it was going. I really had nothing else to do but write, so it did it!

After November 30, what was the first thing you did?

I planned my birthday party week. My friend Suz and I have back to back birthdays that first week in December. As soon as NaNo was over we were trying to contact scalpers for hockey tickets. I don’t think I wrote for a few days.

How many years have you checked in to the NaNo asylum, and how many years did you escape with your hair intact?

I’ve only participated in Nano for two years, but I think they checked me in for life. Something about talking to the voices in my head. I don’t know what that’s about. My hair has fared decently. There was an incident when this lady gave me a twenty-four inch “trim”, but we’re working past that.

Has any of your NaNo Novels been published? If so, would you like to share a little about your work? (web-site, buy link, cover art)

I submitted one of my NaNo projects from last year. Sadly it was rejected. I have hopes of revisiting it and reworking some plot points for my current publisher, Ellora’s Cave. My first release with them has yet to be scheduled, but I’m knee deep in the process.

Have you already planned what you’ll write this year? Or, in the case that we’re already knee deep in the insanity, what’s your word count to date?

I’m a notorious planner. Ask anyone who has seen my laptop what my planning notes look like and they’ll hide. I’m very goal oriented so I like to have concrete plans for what I’m going to write and how things will go. It allows me to gauge what I can do in a given month or year. I had about four or five projects in mind a month ago, and I’ve whittled it down to one. I’ve shied away from writing anything involving roller derby, but I think I’m ready to tackle it. So this year I’ll be writing what I hope is the first book in a new contemporary romance series involving the Derby Dames.

Any last words to someone just pondering stepping into the NaNo Pool?

Have fun. I got into NaNo because I was depressed and unhappy. I challenged myself to not only write, but go to writing events. I’ve met wonderful people, and others who I hope will be life-long friends. NaNo is more than just a writing event, it’s an opportunity to connect and have fun. Don’t forget to write, but have fun!

NaNo and the guest Blogger Trelk

National Novel Writing Month-the True Madness of it all-with Guest Blogger-Michael, or as he’s known in NaNoland Trelk

For those who don’t know about NaNoWriMo, is one month, 30 days, of sitting in front of your computer and writing. The goal is 50,000 words, unedited, and completely insane writing. In its 13^th year, NaNoWriMo has been the culprit for sleepless nights, over-indulgence of caffeine, and a layer of dust on the stove. It’s madness, I tell you, but don’t take my word for it.

I’ve asked Michael, a fellow NaNo inmate, to stop by and answer a few questions that may or may not prompt you to join the insanity.

Michael, when was the first time you sat down and joined NaNoWriMo, and WHY?

It was in 2006 one of my new friends (first semester of college) had been a participant multiple years and she had started to crow about it.  Naturally I asked 'Huh?'  The moment I knew about this wonderful little rabbit hole I've plunged in headfirst each time.  Simply because, well... I've neevr had so much fun as I do when I join up with so many other people to do something utterly psychotic.

Aside from Chris Baty—the creator of this craziness—who was your inspiration to keep on the path of 50,000+?

Honestly there have been a number of people.  Jasper Fforde has always been my primary inspiration from the moment I discovered him.  His Pep Talk that he gave last year was wonderful.  It backs up the first rule of writing: You must write.  So I have.

We all, as in the NaNo inmates, know that the word count average per day is 1667, what was the largest number of word you’ve written in one sitting? And why couldn’t you just get up and shower?

Twenty one thousand.  Yeah very nearly half of my NaNo word count last year was made up in a single sitting.  Why?  Because it had to be done.  I was ridiculously far behind.  If I hadn't managed that I would not have made it to the finish line.

After November 30, what was the first thing you did?

I slept. 

How many years have you checked in to the NaNo asylum, and how many years did you escape with your hair intact?

This year would be my fifth year to participate.  I don't know that I ever have.  The first three years I suppose I did because I didn't make it to the end thus I was obviously not doing enough crazy.  Last year though.  During my 21k word session I was writing all the way through the night and for about 3 or 4 hours nobody else was on twitter.  So using my account and the account I'd made for a character in my previous NaNo I challenged myself to wordwars.  Not what I would call sane.  I never even managed to win them just kept the other me from winning.

Has any of your NaNo Novels been published? If so, would you like to share a little about your work? (web-site, buy link, cover art)

No.  I would love to be able to say otherwise but alas this is not so.

Have you already planned what you’ll write this year? Or, in the case that we’re already knee deep in the insanity, what’s your word count to date?

I never really plan anything out in the typical sense.  I've been world building and a bit of character creating.  But if I ever touch plot until the minute that NaNo actually starts it'll just drag me down. 

Any last words to someone just pondering stepping into the NaNo Pool?

Come on in the waters fine.  If you do make sure to go to write ins.  That's when it truly becomes apparent that you are not the only crazy one.

Blog:National Novel Writing Month-the True Madness of it all-with Guest Blogger-Dawn Alexander

For those who don’t know about NaNoWriMo, is one month, 30 days, of sitting in front of your computer and writing. The goal is 50,000 words, unedited, and completely insane writing. In its 13^th year, NaNoWriMo has been the culprit for sleepless nights, over-indulgence of caffeine, and a layer of dust on the stove. It’s madness, I tell you, but don’t take my word for it.

I’ve asked Dawn, a fellow NaNo inmate, to stop by and answer a few questions that may or may not prompt you to join the insanity.

Dawn, When was the first time you sat down and joined NaNoWriMo, and WHY?

I found the NaNoWriMo site quite by accident in 2009. I was surfing for writer message boards and happen to find it a few days before November. I signed up under a pseudonym, told NO ONE what I was doing and jumped in.

To my surprise, I LOVED it!  I hadn't experienced that kind of support and camaraderie (which I know now is common in the writing community). I finally confessed to my husband what I was doing. He was extremely supportive.  I finished with about 54,000 words.

Aside from Chris Baty—the creator of this craziness—who was your inspiration to keep on the path of 50,000+?

I think the inspiration is in the community and in that little word count bar. I love watching that thing move! I am also not a quitter, ever, on anything.  So, I had to finish that first year, because, well, I am me.  After the first one, I was hooked.

We all, as in the NaNo inmates, know that the word count average per day is 1667, what was the largest number of word you’ve written in one sitting? And why couldn’t you just get up and shower?  I'm a quick writer. So, the 1667 word count isn't normally a problem for me. I can't remember the most I have written in one sitting, but I do know I have dedicated a whole day to "All I am going to do is sit here and write."

I think the freedom of the story is what pulls you in. In my case, I can't function without a shower (it is the first thing I do in the morning, no matter what I have planned for the rest of the day). But, I will tell you the dishes piled up, the laundry reached mountainous proportions and the kids got a lot of "just grab a granola bar from the pantry" because I was lost in the story. I wasn't worried about editing. I wasn't concerned that I hadn't chosen the exact word for that sentence. I was laying the foundation, getting the story out and that was all that mattered.  

After November 30, what was the first thing you did?

Feel kind of sad that I didn't have an excuse to dedicate at least an hour a day to writing.  I know you can still do it on your own, but it isn't the same.

How many years have you checked in to the NaNo asylum, and yow many years did you escape with your hair intact?

This will be my third year . The first year I finished a few days early with a solid amount over 50K. Last year, I had a slow start, but ended with 51,000 words.  I'm hoping to go in better prepared this year. Last year, I woke on Nov. 1st and thought, "Um, what was I going to write again?".

Has any of your NaNo Novels been published? If so, would you like to share a little about your work? (web-site, buy link, cover art) Both of my previous NaNo novels are in various states of revision. So, not published yet. Someday. I hope!

Have you already planned what you’ll write this year? Or, in the case that we’re already knee deep in the insanity, what’s your word count to date? I am a die hard pantser (see the question above about last year's novel).  But, I'm hoping to at least have the basic plot and character names( those can slow me down considerably if I let them) before Nov. 1st. I know I won't have an outline, story board or synopsis. Those kind of things make my eye start to twitch.

Any last words to someone just pondering stepping into the NaNo Pool?

Come on in! The water feels great and we are a super-friendly group.

 Get involved on the NaNo boards. They can be a wealth of information.  Last year, I posted: "Okay, so I need to blow up a boat..." and immediately had several responses about the how's and how-no-to's of incinerating a water craft.

You can also have some NaNo buddies on the website.  They are great for pushing you when your fingers start to drag.

Do Word Wars.  I had a blast doing those on The Night of Writing Dangerously last year.

National Novel Writing Month-the True Madness of it all-with Guest Blogger- Stephanie Ingram

For those who don’t know about NaNoWriMo, is one month, 30 days, of sitting in front of your computer and writing. The goal is 50,000 words, unedited, and completely insane writing. In its 13^th year, NaNoWriMo has been the culprit for sleepless nights, over-indulgence of caffeine, and a layer of dust on the stove. It’s madness, I tell you, but don’t take my word for it.

I’ve asked Stephanie Ingram, a fellow NaNo inmate, to stop by and answer a few questions that may or may not prompt you to join the insanity.

Stephanie, When was the first time you sat down and joined NaNoWriMo, and WHY?

November 2008 was my first year. Before then, I’d never heard of it before. I came across a small blurb about it in a magazine and thought wow, that sounds crazy but kind of fun. I’m always up for a challenge, although at the time I didn’t think there was any way I’d actually complete it. I signed up just days before it started and sat down with much fear and anticipation on day one. I’d always wanted to write a novel but didn’t think this was probably the best way to go about it. Boy, was I in for a fun surprise. ;-)

Aside from Chris Baty—the creator of this craziness—who was your inspiration to keep on the path of 50,000+?

I found the forums on the Nanowrimo site to be a wealth of support and information. I came across a posting for Nanowrimo participants on Twitter and promptly created my own Twitter account where I could connect with other like-minded people. As silly as it may sound, that sense of camaraderie is what kept me going even when I felt like giving up. I posted my word count every day and shared the triumphs and despair with many others across the globe enduring the same seemingly impossible enterprise as me. It gave me a sense of accountability and made me feel less alone in the journey.

We all, as in the NaNo inmates, know that the word count average per day is 1667, what was the largest number of word you’ve written in one sitting? And why couldn’t you just get up and shower?

Actually, I always plan to write at least 1725 words per day so that I can allow myself the day off for Thanksgiving if I don’t happen to finish my 50k before then.  I’m not sure what my greatest word count for a single day has been but I know there were many instances when I went well over 3,000 words. Usually those were the moments that I’d almost given up but kept plugging along until I got into a really intense part of my story that surprised even me and I just couldn’t let it go for anything!

After November 30, what was the first thing you did?

Celebrate!

How many years have you checked in to the NaNo asylum, and how many years did you escape with your hair intact?

I’ve participated three years and won all three years. The second year was the most challenging because I had a three month old baby in addition to my older two sons so I was already sleep-deprived as it was. Every year I start out by convincing myself that because of x, y, or z, I’ll never manage to complete the challenge but every year I keep writing and moving forward and I reach ‘the end’. My writing goals have changed over the years and (hopefully) my writing has even improved because of exercises like Nanowrimo. I always manage to surprise myself and I always manage to escape with all my hair intact. J

Has any of your NaNo Novels been published? If so, would you like to share a little about your work? (web-site, buy link, cover art)

In 2010 I expanded a short story into a novel with the help of Nanowrimo. I spent seven months rewriting and editing but earlier this month, I published it and it’s now available in both print and ebook form. 

http://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Stephanie-Ingram/dp/1461159571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316616166&sr=8-1

Have you already planned what you’ll write this year? Or, in the case that we’re already knee deep in the insanity, what’s your word count to date?

Planning would probably make life easier but I’m going out of my way not to plan for Nanowrimo. It makes the adventure more interesting. I might come up with an idea I want to play around with but when I sit down on November 1st, I won’t have much idea where that idea will take me. I write year-round so really, November is just my time to play and have fun with it.

Any last words to someone just pondering stepping into the NaNo Pool?

Don’t think, just jump! The water is warm and the people are friendly. If you’ve always wanted to write a novel then this is the perfect opportunity to sit your butt in the chair and get writing. Just have fun with it! You can always edit later.