Friday, October 8, 2010

NaNo Nannering

The past week, I have really been getting into the NaNoWriMo spirit. Um, probably too much. Yesterday, I'm pretty sure I spent at least 4 hours on the forums. *shame*

But last year, NaNo really helped me out. It was the month before my wrist surgery, I was not at all used to the inactivity of being out of work, injured, and my husband gone for 12 hours a day.

Then NaNo rolled around, and not only did I suddenly have purpose every day, but I also had this enormous community of the like-minded right there with me. We laughed, we cried, we binged on too much food and too much tea/coffee, we updated our Facebook page way too often, we updated our wordcount every 10 words... It was fabulous.

Evan's extended family came into town for Thanksgiving on the 24th, so I had to be done by then, and by George I was! But then I was sad. And feeling withdrawals. I still lurked on the forums, but it just wasn't the same...

December was an extremely dark cloud; I had my surgery on the 8th and had my right arm cast at a 90-degree angle for 5 weeks. Try finishing your novel with one hand! I used the netbook, since the keyboard is so small, and I eventually gave up on proper punctuation or capitalization. And finally, I just gave up.

Anyway, of course I joined the happy Blogger world January 1st and after that, it's all history...

So NaNo means a lot to me. And I am so, SO thrilled to know so many more people doing it this year! My buddy list is wonderfully long, and I foresee many NaNo-related blog posts and Tweets to come. Can't wait!


This is the signature banner I made for this year. I'm actually writing the sequel to last year's novel, so it's technically the same banner...just a different date!


Anyone else been all over the forums? Got any good NaNo stories to share? Started outlining yet? 

18 comments:

Lola Sharp said...

I wouldn't know how to make a banner if you put a gun to my head. But I like yours. :)
I've never gone to the nano forums. Never have the time. But I do love doing Nano. I love the competitive/goal aspect of it and always race and cheer on my Buddies for word count.

As for what I'm writing for Nano this year? No clue. (my usual way) I'm still trying to focus on revisions of my current WiP. I'll worry about what I'm going to write for Nano on Nov. 1st. ;) But I am super excited to do it with you (and the rest of our gang)! :)

I did do one little planning thing...because it's what I'm good at (festive shopper that I am)...I ordered/bought and made little Nano prizes and other goodies to send to my Buddies when they hit goals. :)

Will you make me a banner when I come up with an idea/title?

Love,
me

Christine Fonseca said...

FUN! I am still not certain if I'm doing Nano...but I am leaning towards it.

Crystal Cook said...

I'm so excited for Nano! I've never done it before and I'm REALLY looking forward to being pushed to finish a novel in one month!! I have an idea of what I'm doing (just barely) but now I need to outline and get it all figured out.

I love your banner, I don't think I ever asked you what Eternal Spring was about, but it sounds awesome!

Stina said...

I've noticed a lot of people are participating this year. I'm not since I'm working on my new wip NOW. :D

Good luck with it! I'm looking forward to all the NaNo posts.

Tara said...

I think I've just written myself into a new WiP with my October exercise at Compuserve. Usually takes me 4-6 weeks to finish one, but I'm deep in revision hell now. Probably put it off.

Have fun with Nano :)

Matthew MacNish said...

I have a lot of respect for people who get involved in NaNo. I could never do it. It sounds totally crazy to me. But awesome for those who can.

Jules said...

Well I signed up through another blog and it is called NaBloWriMo, so I'm not sure what I'm doing :D
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

My outline is ready to go, but I haven't visited the forums yet.

Sarah Ahiers said...

ohhh i'm so excited!!!!
This year is going to ROCK!

The twin cities forums are only OK, so you can really only spend like 15 minutes there, tops, before you've read everything.

No outline yet, but i've done the first 5 steps of the snowflake method (my usual process) and am EXCITED! Next step is to write a query and then a list of scenes. And then i will be READY TO GO!

Boosh!

Meredith said...

Good luck with Nano! I'm not doing it, but I'm excited for everyone--should be an amazing, productive month!

Old Kitty said...

Awwww what an amazing memory with your last year's Nanowrimo!! Brilliant!!! I hope you have just as much if not more fun this year! Good luck and all the best - glad it helped you!!!

Take care
x

Rebecca Wells said...

I'm doing it! Will be my fourth year, I think...?

Hannah said...

This is my second year. I'm excited that I have many more buddies to track and race. :D I have been world building a bit and writing a synopsis. Also a bit of research for a few things. I'm excited!!! I've been wanting to write this book for a few months now and it will be good to finally get it out. although, I don't think it's going to be good as I want it to be. The revision process will be long and arduous.

Guinevere said...

Love your banner! I want to make one.

Honestly, I never know where to go on the forums - I'm used to hanging out on message boards for months/years so I get to know people well, so it feels weird to me. I want to use them more, though - I think it'd add another level to NaNo.

DL Hammons said...

No NaNo for me, but I'm glad your pumped about it! Have fun!! :)

Katie Anderson said...

I'm SO looking forward to NaNo this year - although I am aiming to get my current WIP query ready before November 1st so as to be able to give it my full attention. It sounds like NaNo was the perfect project for you this time last year!

I've just started following your blog, and look forward to reading your NaNo updates.

Katie

Jamie Gibbs said...

I'm looking forward to my first NanoWriMo this year :) It's gonne be crazy hard but by god I'm looking forward to it! After doing a 20,000 word dissertation on Ancient Egyptian vampirism (yea, that's right), a 50K novel should be no probs :P

Elle said...

Love the banner! I'm on the forums but haven't posted yetm as I'm still debating whether to do it or not! I've just got an agent who loves an original project of mine and I've just started the first draft of the rewrite, so I'd love to do that for NaNo. Need to decide soon, but I really want to take part.