NaNoWriMo Q&A
In preparation for National Novel Writing Month next November, I thought it would be fun to look back at previous NaNo’s and answer some questions about how I take part in the event.
These questions or this meme as you might call it is totally meant for people to use on their own blogs, Livejournals, Facebooks etc. Leave links in the comments section and I might compile a list.
Double points if you post a photo with your answers in some NaNoWriFic action shot like I have so awesomely done.
When and how did you find out about NaNoWriMo? How did you go?
I made my NaNo debut in 2004 after finding out about it from Karen Lee Field and it was right in the middle of my final high school exams. Needless to say, I didn’t write that much; probably less than 2,000 words in that month.
How many times have you done NaNoWriMo?
I’ve done it 5 times (2004-2008) so this will be sixth attempt, and second in Melbourne.
How many times have you won? If you haven’t won, what was your best result?
I’ve never won before. The closest I got was around 30,000 words in 2005 writing a sword and sorcery dark fantasy about revolution. The strength was in being unemployed.
How did you go last year?
Last year I got off to a blistering start, getting down 8,000 words in the first couple of days. But my first Melbourne Cup Public Holiday was my undoing, going out and getting fairly intoxicated the night before, making the next free day off totally wasted and I never managed to catch up.
Where do you write and with what do you write?
I do most of my writing either at home or at work, though this year I’d like to try cafes, libraries and other public places which would make it a bit more serious like going to work, except not.
I write with my laptop or my work computer. I’ve tried pen and paper once and it wasn’t that bad but I prefer typing. I’ll either use Word 2007 or OpenOffice this year though dream of owning a Macbook Pro and writing with Scrivener.
How do you find time to write?
I plan to do a lot of my writing at work, as it’s where I get most of my non-interrupted computer time. I haven’t tried early mornings and don’t like the idea of it, but perhaps should try it. I usually try to cut out social things during November but there are some things I’m not willing to give up even for writing – like political meetings and protests.
Are your partners, friends and family allies or enemies?
My partner is a supporter and will probably help to push me along. I have a few friends doing it this year, in real life and online. I think my family is mostly bewildered by the whole thing except for one of my sisters. The only enemy is work.
What are you strengths and what do you use to help you get to the end?
My strength is the fact that I can actually write half-decently and am a seasoned writer, not one of the people who just does it one month of the year. I always have a mass of enthusiasm, excitement and ideas from October onwards. I’ve become pretty good at just sitting down and writing, rather than thinking about it too much.
What are you weaknesses, obstacles and challenges that hinder you from finishing?
Time is certainly the biggest obstacle. Between work and politics, I don’t have a lot of free time to write as much as I’d like and really need to overcome this. I’m doing this by writing during work, but politics is something I need to work around not miss out on during the month.
In the past, missing a day or two has meant I fall behind and catching up makes it even harder to keep going.
Procrastination with Facebook, reading blogs and such tends to hold me back and I can tend toward being more into the social aspect of the month rather than the writing part.
Do you plot/outline/plan or do you write by the seat of your pants? How much do you plot or how unprepared are you?
In the past, I’ve swapped between just writing and actually planning. By far the best years have been planned novels, like the fantasy. Last year’s was planned really well and I want to do a similar level of planning this year.
I used the snowflake method last year, expanding the idea from a sentence to a paragraph, to a scene by scene outline. This year I plan to do this, plus character profiles and other cool stuff.
Do you participate in the real life community, go to write ins and meet ups in your area?
The community aspect of NaNo is one of the things that gets me coming back year after year. The excitement and motivation from people doing it with you is such a powerful tool and something you can’t replicate.
I’ve been to the kick off parties the past two years, and last year went to a few drink nights. This year I hope to try to get to some write ins before I throw in the towel.
What are your writing aids? Special snacks, music, totems, rewards or punishments?
Every year I plan to find chocolate cover coffee beans and every year, I can’t find them. Last year saw the biggest tub of lollies ever that we ate anyway after not writing. This year I think I’m planning on ginger ale and those soy crisp things known as ‘hippy snacks.’
I’m quite fond of music to shut out the world around me, especially music that captures the mood which is usually angry metal.
I wear my NaNo t-shirt so much it smells and perhaps might buy a hat or something to wear whilst writing.
And rewards have never worked for me because I just give myself the reward anyway. This year I’ll buy a Macbook Pro in December, but the reward for finishing is less guilt because I’ll deserve it.
Feel free to suggest punishments for failing.
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Punishments? Hmmm…. sorry ben, my horror brain is on hiatus at the moment. But I can always get back to ya!
This is really interesting, esp for those of us who don’t know all about the blogging world yet…. (I’m pretty shiny and new to the blog world) Thanks for sharing!
Happy writing
Hinny
Looks like I may be the first one to take this. Cool. Great blog meme. I love memes and I love writing, and I love NaNoWriMo, so this was just the perfect meme for me. Linking back to you btw.
I posted my answers on my writing blog here: http://eknano.blogspot.com/2009/10/nanowrimo-q-blog-meme-consider-yourself.html
and reposted them on my personal blog here: http://eelkat.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/nanowrimo-qa-a-blog-meme-consider-yourself-tagged/
EelKat´s last blog ..Former Overachiever Going Back to Basics and Warning for First Year NaNoWriMo Writers
hey Ben!! It’s me again, I just signed up for it… thanks for the info! I’m pretty excited!
Excellent point about being a seasoned writer. In my opinion NaNo works best as part of a calorie-controlled diet. No, wait. I mean as part of a regular routine of writing. Rather than a one-off burst of energy it should be but one month out of your regular, scheduled writing.
I’ve signed up now, so I’ve gotta do it!
(Oh, and I stole this meme for my blog, of course).
You mean you seriously don’t have a shirt for each year? I’m ordering this year’s soon…that will make 6. Almost one for every day of the week!
Great meme – I enjoy reading about how others approach NaNo each year.
Jamie D.´s last blog ..Goals & Reading List 10/4/09
Geez, that’s a hard task and yet….and yet, I’m tempted to join in – despite having NO ideas for a novel!
The closest I came to it was running my own ‘Appreciative August’ back in 2008 where I wrote a post every damn day of the month. In the end, it totalled 36,000 words, but on reflection it was all about being appreciative, so surely a Nanowrimo might be easier to write, wtih grit, gripes, flowery descriptives and negatives included?
Kath Lockett´s last blog ..
To be honest, I found out about NaNoWriMo from you. I saw the icon you put up top and just had to click it.
I want a MacBook Pro too, but it’s going to have to wait. I’m done with Windows, man. Unfortunately, all my money is going to getting my cruisin’/hot rod/show/drag car back on the road. I’m going to get the 13″ when I do; I want something smaller than my 14.5″ and I always have my 22″ widescreen monitor hooked up when I’m at my desk anyway and just use the laptop screen for e-mail.
I think I’m going to participate.
John Pender´s last blog ..
[...] I was going to write about something else, and the draft is on this blog post folder, but I decided to “borrow” a meme from Bejamin Solah about NaNo: [...]
woo! macbook pro i looove you. (;
good luck Ben.
[...] a link back in a comment on the guy who made it up in the first place’s blog! The dude is: Benjamin Solah – I have taken his question and put them in a list here so you can just copy and paste the whole [...]
Ben – you hit the word count each week – I will post you a bag of chocolate covered coffee beans. I have found a Brisbane supplier … and will happily do that for you … I have always found enticement a far better motivator than punishment.
I got so inspired after I read this last night that I forgot to comment. So here’s the lengthy reply I came up with (and looking forward to coming up with something of my own shortly!) http://jodicleghorn.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/nanowrimo-2/
Scarlett I wish I could say that every other month is like November for me but it isn’t. I strip back where possible all the other responsibilites so I can focus on NaNo. My intention is always to keep it going once it is over – but 07 I collapsed over the finish line and didn’t want to go back near the keyboard (if you read my post you’ll understand why!) and last year we went away four days before NaNo ended and it broke again my momentum.
Maybe this year, given all the projects which will be continuing, NaNo will be boot camp for getting a sensible and sustainable writing routine downpat – after all they say it take 21 days to form a new habit!
Jodi Cleghorn´s last blog ..#16 Flat
Hey Ben, loved this meme so much I posted it on my blog with a link back to you. Does my picture count for the double points?
Carol´s last blog ..NaNo Tuesday
Hey! This is a great meme and an awesome recount of years past to get people excited for what’s to come. We snagged it for the Washington, DC NaNo community (currently based at LJ as we prepare for write ins) if you’d like to check out the conversation!
Heya Benjamin! I played along, thanks for the questions! http://wp.me/pd6I-3qh
Oh man, I should have done what Jamie D did and bought the t-shirts. What a great way to remember years past.
I’ve done NaNo twice and finished both times – I type quick. The quality is pretty poor though. One of them was chick-lit!
lisa´s last blog ..Giant Neon Pilgrim poster: a story
Great post; I had fun doing the meme. I wasn’t sure if NaNo was in the cards this year, but I changed my mind. I’m looking forward to participating!
Beth´s last blog ..Yet another NaNo Meme
[...] Ralfast’s Sturm und Drang blog the other day and saw this meme about NaNoWriMo (created by Benjamin Solah). While I’m still kind of on the fence about participating this year (and if I do, it may or [...]
Great meme Ben – I’ve posted my answers here:
http://www.paulanderson.org.uk/2009/10/nanowrimo-q.htm
Just posted your meme, Ben – I’m really enjoying reading all of these as they come up!
Jamie D.´s last blog ..Wildcard: NaNo Meme
[...] last week I created a question and answer meme/quiz/what-ever-you-call-it about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and how people have done it and do it. I invited [...]
[...] on my friend Benjamin Solah’s blog he posted a link to questions about nanowrimo and how you participate in the event. So [...]
Finally got around to doing this on my blog, picture and everything.
http://www.merindabrayfield.com/?p=150
Mine is here, sadly no photos:
http://www.quantumtea.com/blog/?p=3646
Ali´s last blog ..NaNoWriMo meme
[...] creator of the meme and leave a comment on his post (he’s compiling a list of the answers!) NaNoWriMo Q&A In preparation for National Novel Writing Month next November, I thought it would be fun to look [...]
[...] meme is brought to you via Benjamin Solah and his blog. Hopefully it will introduce you to some of my writing habits and other NaNo-related [...]
[...] NaNoWriMo Q&A – In preparation for National Novel Writing Month next November, I thought it would be fun to [...]
Very very interesting. I love reading memes like this and looking into other writers’ processes.
I’ve posted mine here: http://katenator.livejournal.com/191336.html
Katenator´s last blog ..#723: And we’re back to the beginning again
[...] For the Questions on there own go here! And don’t forget to post a link as a comment on the originators blog here! [...]
[...] meme is brought to you by the blog of Benjamin Solah, and the letter [...]
Thanks
http://purple.monsters.wigglypets.co.uk/?p=108
Sarah/Saffy´s last blog ..Henry Carey
[...] I borrowed this little Q&A meme from Benjamin Solah. [...]
Great meme
Rhi´s last blog ..NaNoWriMo Meme
[...] work done (more on that in another post). In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I have decided to do the NaNoWriMo Meme, which I first saw in Nicole’s It’s All About Writing blog. To be quite honest, I had [...]
[...] writing — by Rhi @ 3:47 pm Tags: meme, nanowrimo, writing A NaNoWriMo Q and A created by Benjamin Solah that I found n a roundabout way. Not sure how. I like a good [...]
[...] has posted his own answers, with links to other participants, on his blog, so please click through and have a read of those [...]