“Beware the Jabberwock… the jaws that bite, the claws that catch… And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! He chortled in his joy.”
~ Lewis Carol
Last year at this time, I was a few weeks into a novel, astounded to be there. It was also the first time I started to read online, beyond the barrier of basic news and entertainment. That was when I first heard of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.
What a wonderful concept; a marathon for our mind. I cannot run twenty-six miles in a day, but I can write fifty-thousand words in a month.
Upon my finish, I don’t expect the printer to spit anything other than a super sloppy copy. I imagine my ratio will be about one good page for every nine sheets of (shhhh… don’t tell anyone I almost swore on Writer Dad). At that percentage, the month might leave behind a thirty page outline; one for each day of adventure.
I was gung-ho well before the email which sent me salutations, arriving just sixty seconds after sign up, with seven hundred words of zealous advice.
The cliff notes:
- We don’t have to know where we’re going, so long as we get up and go. Not every adventure needs a map, but without a hunger to see beyond the bend, our desires are fire waiting for ash.
- Editing is for December. November’s an experiment in pure output; a time to embrace our literary imperfections. It’s for slipping off our shoes and wiggling our toes. Perhaps so we can shove our socks inside the mouth of our inner nag.
- We must inform anyone who will listen about our undertaking. If they laugh, then we must repeat ourselves in a stronger voice.
- Don’t even think about thinking of quitting. Those who listened to our bold declarations will be expecting a finish.
- Week Two can be hard. Week Three is much better. Week Four will make you want to yodel.
So I’m going to start writing a novel on Saturday, and will continue each day, writing without a map, until I reach my destination on the final day of the month. I’ll silence my inner critic, declare my diligence, and see the story through until the very end. Then, I will yodel.
I’ve set up a page for us nano’s to gather. A tee-pee inside the village for us to pow-wow about our pages, endlessly whine, and fish for compliments. More than anything else, the month should be merry. A successful November doesn’t mean we write the great American novel. It means we enjoy our moments, and end with a draft to diddle in December.
Writer Dad
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About Sean Platt
Brett/Friar: I need you guys to engineer me a way to make more minutes? Impossible!?!?!?! But what about string theory?
Vered: One day all novels will be blogs, blogs will be life streams, and we will be enslaved to the beam. But at least we’ll never have to leave the house! The desire may not be there, but the skill most certainly is.
Chris: Absolutely. Bring it along. Make it your goal to finish the rough draft in November. That’s what’s cool about the deadline. It kind of lights a fire under us.
Kyddryn: You could do it, Kyddryn. You’re totally a writer. You pump out a lot of words, most poetic. It doesn’t have to be good, and you don’t have to have an idea ahead of time. Just start writing. The story will emerge, and you will find yourself surprised.
Laurie: Us too. My favorite line is about the frumious bandersnatch. I just love the way that sounds. Thanks for wishing the force upon me; I promise I won’t succumb to the Dark Side.
Jarkko: Do it. Do it. Do it. Come on, Jarkko, all the kids are doing it.
Dave: I have to ask. Are the Simpsons in England dubbed with English accents or do they sound like boring Americans? I’ve always wondered. A while back I thought I’d listen to the audio tracks on my Simpsons DVDs in Spanish to help me learn, but it was WAY too fast, like machine gun español, so I stopped. I was left wondering (with a smile) if the English version sounded all proper.
EVERYONE: Don’t worry about the official rules of NaNoWriMo. I won’t cry if I don’t hit fifty-thousand words, but I will pout if I don’t have fun. If you hit ten-thousand words, then perhaps you’ll find out you can do something that you didn’t know you could do. Next year you’ll do it again times five. Regardless, it will be a fun place to post a few excerpts, and ask a few questions, and feed from the buzzing energy of various writers each doing their thing at the same time, like actors talking back stage.
Brett/Friar: I need you guys to engineer me a way to make more minutes? Impossible!?!?!?! But what about string theory?
Vered: One day all novels will be blogs, blogs will be life streams, and we will be enslaved to the beam. But at least we’ll never have to leave the house! The desire may not be there, but the skill most certainly is.
Chris: Absolutely. Bring it along. Make it your goal to finish the rough draft in November. That’s what’s cool about the deadline. It kind of lights a fire under us.
Kyddryn: You could do it, Kyddryn. You’re totally a writer. You pump out a lot of words, most poetic. It doesn’t have to be good, and you don’t have to have an idea ahead of time. Just start writing. The story will emerge, and you will find yourself surprised.
Laurie: Us too. My favorite line is about the frumious bandersnatch. I just love the way that sounds. Thanks for wishing the force upon me; I promise I won’t succumb to the Dark Side.
Jarkko: Do it. Do it. Do it. Come on, Jarkko, all the kids are doing it.
Dave: I have to ask. Are the Simpsons in England dubbed with English accents or do they sound like boring Americans? I’ve always wondered. A while back I thought I’d listen to the audio tracks on my Simpsons DVDs in Spanish to help me learn, but it was WAY too fast, like machine gun español, so I stopped. I was left wondering (with a smile) if the English version sounded all proper.
EVERYONE: Don’t worry about the official rules of NaNoWriMo. I won’t cry if I don’t hit fifty-thousand words, but I will pout if I don’t have fun. If you hit ten-thousand words, then perhaps you’ll find out you can do something that you didn’t know you could do. Next year you’ll do it again times five. Regardless, it will be a fun place to post a few excerpts, and ask a few questions, and feed from the buzzing energy of various writers each doing their thing at the same time, like actors talking back stage.
WD, Fortunately it’s not necessary as apparently we speak the same language. Yeah, I know. Crazy. Hehehehe.
I love it when Bart speaks with an English accent (on the occasions it’s called for by the storyline). It’s so stereotypically English, it cracks me up.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
WD, Fortunately it’s not necessary as apparently we speak the same language. Yeah, I know. Crazy. Hehehehe.
I love it when Bart speaks with an English accent (on the occasions it’s called for by the storyline). It’s so stereotypically English, it cracks me up.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Alas, if they had a National Novel Editing and Finishing Month, I’d be there.
You make it sound great — have fun and please put the yodel on YouTube, OK?
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Diagnosis: Amnesia — and we all have it!
Alas, if they had a National Novel Editing and Finishing Month, I’d be there.
You make it sound great — have fun and please put the yodel on YouTube, OK?
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Diagnosis: Amnesia — and we all have it!
Wow, this sounds like a wonderful fun adventure…more power to you and may the writer’s cramp not set in….may the words be set free.
I have two contests going right now…to write on a blog before Vered does, and to submit a write up to Amazon.com to win a free Kindle for someone? You came to mind…
I would need your full name, email address, home address, and all the names of your blog sites…to submit my voucher…The folks will pull your name out of the hat on Dec.1….Let me know via email if you would like me to submit your name and blog site? Thanks
Patricias last blog post..Factoid Friday: ANTS or Automatic Negative Thinking
Wow, this sounds like a wonderful fun adventure…more power to you and may the writer’s cramp not set in….may the words be set free.
I have two contests going right now…to write on a blog before Vered does, and to submit a write up to Amazon.com to win a free Kindle for someone? You came to mind…
I would need your full name, email address, home address, and all the names of your blog sites…to submit my voucher…The folks will pull your name out of the hat on Dec.1….Let me know via email if you would like me to submit your name and blog site? Thanks
Patricias last blog post..Factoid Friday: ANTS or Automatic Negative Thinking
I can’t believe it starts in less than five days! I’m not ready I tell you, not ready! But I will be… It’s going to be great fun, and I’m thrilled to see you use “marathon” to describe this feat, since that is how I describe it to my non-writing friends and family – a writing marathon!
Melissa Donovans last blog post..How Writers Can Stay on Top of Their Game
I can’t believe it starts in less than five days! I’m not ready I tell you, not ready! But I will be… It’s going to be great fun, and I’m thrilled to see you use “marathon” to describe this feat, since that is how I describe it to my non-writing friends and family – a writing marathon!
Melissa Donovans last blog post..How Writers Can Stay on Top of Their Game
That’s it – as Sean says, as long as we’re enjoying it – that’s the main thing. We may or may not hit 50k words, but we all succeed. If we entered a big marathon, some of us might finish, some only might go part way – doesn’t matter. We all tried.
Melissa – I’ll be running right alongside of you!
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays – tears in the rain.
That’s it – as Sean says, as long as we’re enjoying it – that’s the main thing. We may or may not hit 50k words, but we all succeed. If we entered a big marathon, some of us might finish, some only might go part way – doesn’t matter. We all tried.
Melissa – I’ll be running right alongside of you!
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays – tears in the rain.
No way I’m ever going to run into nanowrimo again. I’m always writing something, but best of luck.
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..11.5 Tips to read wisely: frugal and clutter free reading
No way I’m ever going to run into nanowrimo again. I’m always writing something, but best of luck.
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..11.5 Tips to read wisely: frugal and clutter free reading
Dave: I figured there was only like a one percent chance, but in that one percent, I imagined it just as Bart delivers it, perhaps with a few “Governers” thrown in. Do you watch the American version of the Office? If so, I imagine you watched the original. If both statements are true, which one do you like better.
Lori: I’ll save you the trouble and post it right here. Just remind me in case I forget.
Patricia: I’m not worried about writer’s block, or cramps, just time. But as Dave Fowler says, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. That kindle thing sounds awesome. I’ll send you an email in a few minutes, though due to a few wrinkles in the space time continuum, it’s perfectly possible that you will have already read the email.
Melissa: I don’t know of a better word; a marathon it is. Don’t feel bad, I’m not prepared at all. I just know I’ll kick myself if I don’t do it. I promised myself last year, and could feel my inner nag starting to whisper that I should keep it off my plate. I knocked him in the side of the head and posted the page here so I’d be less likely to back out.
Brett: True that. The more the merrier; even if there are no masterpieces.
Miguel: Your declaration tells a story. Will you tell us any more?
Dave: I figured there was only like a one percent chance, but in that one percent, I imagined it just as Bart delivers it, perhaps with a few “Governers” thrown in. Do you watch the American version of the Office? If so, I imagine you watched the original. If both statements are true, which one do you like better.
Lori: I’ll save you the trouble and post it right here. Just remind me in case I forget.
Patricia: I’m not worried about writer’s block, or cramps, just time. But as Dave Fowler says, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. That kindle thing sounds awesome. I’ll send you an email in a few minutes, though due to a few wrinkles in the space time continuum, it’s perfectly possible that you will have already read the email.
Melissa: I don’t know of a better word; a marathon it is. Don’t feel bad, I’m not prepared at all. I just know I’ll kick myself if I don’t do it. I promised myself last year, and could feel my inner nag starting to whisper that I should keep it off my plate. I knocked him in the side of the head and posted the page here so I’d be less likely to back out.
Brett: True that. The more the merrier; even if there are no masterpieces.
Miguel: Your declaration tells a story. Will you tell us any more?
Do you have ANY idea about what you are going to write?
Any hints? Something Tarantinoish with lots of dialogue? 50,000 words about pooing and peeing? Evil mutant spraying malathion on unsuspecting teenagers at band camp?
malathionmans last blog post..Raise That Bar
Do you have ANY idea about what you are going to write?
Any hints? Something Tarantinoish with lots of dialogue? 50,000 words about pooing and peeing? Evil mutant spraying malathion on unsuspecting teenagers at band camp?
malathionmans last blog post..Raise That Bar
Good luck with writing every day. If I did participate I’d probably have to resort to publishing the occasional grocery list…or maybe the nutritional information from a box of Captain Crunch. Not that I don’t have something to say, but I’m beginning to believe that I can’t weave a whole cloth of a wonderful blog post from a few threads of possibly-entertaining stuff that happens to me every day. Because mostly? My life doesn’t seem to attract the kinds of people who make for great blogging.
apathy lounges last blog post..Dear Parents of Casey: You’re blowing it. Very sincerely, The Sub.
Good luck with writing every day. If I did participate I’d probably have to resort to publishing the occasional grocery list…or maybe the nutritional information from a box of Captain Crunch. Not that I don’t have something to say, but I’m beginning to believe that I can’t weave a whole cloth of a wonderful blog post from a few threads of possibly-entertaining stuff that happens to me every day. Because mostly? My life doesn’t seem to attract the kinds of people who make for great blogging.
apathy lounges last blog post..Dear Parents of Casey: You’re blowing it. Very sincerely, The Sub.
“Just remind me in case I forget.” — I’m putting it in my Outlook calendar now!
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Looking eye to eye
“Just remind me in case I forget.” — I’m putting it in my Outlook calendar now!
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Looking eye to eye
Good luck with your writings. Sounds like an interesting idea. You write 5 blog posts a week, which is a challenge in of itself. You should be well suited for engaging such high demands.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Make This Halloween a Ghost Dad Halloween
Good luck with your writings. Sounds like an interesting idea. You write 5 blog posts a week, which is a challenge in of itself. You should be well suited for engaging such high demands.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Make This Halloween a Ghost Dad Halloween
Good question WD. They’re both different enough to stand alone in my heart. However if you put a gun to my head I’d pick the American Office. Ouch. That hurt.
Please don’t tell any of my fellow Brits, they’ll disown me and make me spell my words without the letter ‘u’.
Blimey Guv’nor.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Good question WD. They’re both different enough to stand alone in my heart. However if you put a gun to my head I’d pick the American Office. Ouch. That hurt.
Please don’t tell any of my fellow Brits, they’ll disown me and make me spell my words without the letter ‘u’.
Blimey Guv’nor.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
I wasn’t planning on doing it, I was thinking I wouldn’t have the time. But….I had to write a script for a full length play that we are doing at Christmas time. I just wrote it in 3 days and was surprised to find that it was well over 10K words. And I still had most….not all…but most of my life( I had to cut out a lot of my internet playtime) left.
I’m thinking about it a lot more seriously now.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Teeter-Totter Tribulations
I wasn’t planning on doing it, I was thinking I wouldn’t have the time. But….I had to write a script for a full length play that we are doing at Christmas time. I just wrote it in 3 days and was surprised to find that it was well over 10K words. And I still had most….not all…but most of my life( I had to cut out a lot of my internet playtime) left.
I’m thinking about it a lot more seriously now.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Teeter-Totter Tribulations
Malathionman: I’m not ready for my Tarantino book quite yet. I’m not a good enough writer. I’ll get there though. I have a title – Redbook – and a setting. I think I have a name for the main character. That’s about it. I’ll probably post a small excerpt each day. I was aiming at the twelve year old boy crowd, but now you’ve got me thinking about wordy potty talk.
Apathy Lounge: I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard that Steinbeck’s first draft of East of Eden was actually just a collection of Burma Shave ads. I kid. Seriously, if you just start spinning, you’ll likely be surprised at the web your mind produces.
Lori: I will yodel. Loudly. I will post it on the site. It will hurt your ears.
Bamboo: In full disclosure, I’ve wimped out on two of the days. A short introduction to an old post, and a short introduction to a Blogger I Heart a full post does not make. But something had to give. December’s almost here.
Dave: It’s just between me, you, and about three dozen others. Cheerio.
Wendi Kelly: You can do it. You can do it. You can do it. Don’t worry about editing, just ideas. Cut down on comments, and a few posts for thirty days. It doesn’t matter if we hit 50,000 words or not, we’ll all be drawing from the energy of others, and when the month is over, we’ll have a big hunk of clay to shape as we like. Hope to see you there.
Malathionman: I’m not ready for my Tarantino book quite yet. I’m not a good enough writer. I’ll get there though. I have a title – Redbook – and a setting. I think I have a name for the main character. That’s about it. I’ll probably post a small excerpt each day. I was aiming at the twelve year old boy crowd, but now you’ve got me thinking about wordy potty talk.
Apathy Lounge: I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard that Steinbeck’s first draft of East of Eden was actually just a collection of Burma Shave ads. I kid. Seriously, if you just start spinning, you’ll likely be surprised at the web your mind produces.
Lori: I will yodel. Loudly. I will post it on the site. It will hurt your ears.
Bamboo: In full disclosure, I’ve wimped out on two of the days. A short introduction to an old post, and a short introduction to a Blogger I Heart a full post does not make. But something had to give. December’s almost here.
Dave: It’s just between me, you, and about three dozen others. Cheerio.
Wendi Kelly: You can do it. You can do it. You can do it. Don’t worry about editing, just ideas. Cut down on comments, and a few posts for thirty days. It doesn’t matter if we hit 50,000 words or not, we’ll all be drawing from the energy of others, and when the month is over, we’ll have a big hunk of clay to shape as we like. Hope to see you there.
Hi Writerdad,
A story? Not really, only that when I write more than 1000 words a day in Spanish I write [word-a-Christian-should-not-say]. In English it is much less.
Besides I have already finished one novel. Not the best novel in the world, but still I like it, and several novelletes.
Last time I took Nanowrimo it severed my work and so I left one novel unfinished and tons of bad writing. I don’t like to be negative at things, but it has not worked for me at all. It might be a good idea for those who have never found the time or the courage to start a novel, though.
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..11.5 Tips to read wisely: frugal and clutter free reading
Hi Writerdad,
A story? Not really, only that when I write more than 1000 words a day in Spanish I write [word-a-Christian-should-not-say]. In English it is much less.
Besides I have already finished one novel. Not the best novel in the world, but still I like it, and several novelletes.
Last time I took Nanowrimo it severed my work and so I left one novel unfinished and tons of bad writing. I don’t like to be negative at things, but it has not worked for me at all. It might be a good idea for those who have never found the time or the courage to start a novel, though.
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..11.5 Tips to read wisely: frugal and clutter free reading
WD
I have not received the info I need to put your name in for the kindle at Amazon.com
email did not arrive…could you send it again? Since they don’t pay us for book reviews anymore this is perk they offer…I thought you could use one?
from write to done: roses are deep orange on the outside and vibrant yellow inside and now three days old they are changing to peach all over and opening up more…very high energy and our climber rose outside is in massive bloom (october ?) – it is called Josephs coat of many colors and it it going pink and purple at the edges.
Patricias last blog post..Halloween: A Celebration of Spooky
WD
I have not received the info I need to put your name in for the kindle at Amazon.com
email did not arrive…could you send it again? Since they don’t pay us for book reviews anymore this is perk they offer…I thought you could use one?
from write to done: roses are deep orange on the outside and vibrant yellow inside and now three days old they are changing to peach all over and opening up more…very high energy and our climber rose outside is in massive bloom (october ?) – it is called Josephs coat of many colors and it it going pink and purple at the edges.
Patricias last blog post..Halloween: A Celebration of Spooky
Miguel: Ah, yo veo. I’m excited to do it, but also a bit afraid that it’s going to demolish the careful balance I’ve set. I guess only time will tell.
Patricia: Sorry for being flaky. It’s done now. Let me know if there’s anything else I need to do, and Thanks.
Miguel: Ah, yo veo. I’m excited to do it, but also a bit afraid that it’s going to demolish the careful balance I’ve set. I guess only time will tell.
Patricia: Sorry for being flaky. It’s done now. Let me know if there’s anything else I need to do, and Thanks.