[Jason Snell]

This year, Macworld encourages its readers to give National Novel Writing Month a try.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

As we get closer to November 1 we'll be providing articles about the process and about great Mac writing tools to assist you in the awesome creative marathon that is writing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days.

I'm editing a story that will appear in our December issue (which, in the paradoxical way of magazines, will appear in mailboxes in mid-October) that will recommend that readers check in here and ask questions or declare their intention to try to do this year's NaNoWriMo.

Several Macworld editors and contributors will be joining us on this journey, too. I plan on being one of them. (I've completed NaNoWriMo the past two years.)

I'm user number 173011 over at NaNoWriMo, so you can add me as a writing buddy once the new season kicks off. Here's my user page at NaNoWriMo.org.

UPDATE: There's a lot more information in my NaNoWriMo blog post, Nathan Alderman's how-to article, Dan Moren's blog post, and Nathan's blog post.

[6555]

Jason, thanks for writing about the Novel Writing, and for starting this thread. I had forgotten about the project until I read your article this evening. And actually, I bought a copy of No Plot? several years ago, but I've never undertaken the project. Maybe it's because I don't read novels like I used to. But anyway, for some reason, I might give this project a try this time around. If for no other reason, that writing goal itself could be very liberating and something inspiring to look back upon when I'm finished.

[Jason Snell]

I'm glad it reminded you! I figured there would be some people who had considered doing it, but just hadn't thought of it recently. One of the reasons we posted it the week before November 1. ;-)

[kbradnam]

A week ago I think the last thing on my mind was the idea of writing a novel. A week later, and I'm a mere 7 hours away from somehow being involved in the madness of trying to write 50,000 words in a single month! I have to thank (or curse) Macworld for this. If you hadn't of ran these articles about National Novel Writing Month then I would be blissfully ignorant of this.

Still, it gives me the opportunity to try out a new writing app for the mac which can only be a good thing (I'm trying out Jer's Novel Writer which I have taken an immediate shine to). Whatever happens over the next 30 days, I'm sure it will be an interesting and rewarding experience either way.

Good luck to all those who are taking part.

Keith

[iamac]

Nearly 2,200 words written today -- my most prolific Nov. 1 in the five years of trying (and failing!) to win NaNo. Between my recent discovery of Scrivener and this friendly cajoling from you guys, I'm inspired like never before. Thanks, Macworld dudes!

[joeyschwartz]

Jason, thanks to your article, I've signed up for NaNoWriMo. I'm preparing my writing schedule right now. I think this might just be the kind of event that will make me hunker down and actually put keyboard to disk. It'll likely be crap, but most first drafts are anyway. Thanks again.

[6555]

Well, I got to 3,317 words late last night. Off to a good start, but I can tell it's going get harder.

[kbradnam]

I'm just about staying on top of the daily target, which makes me feel concerned that I'm building up any excess words now to see me through any slump. I'm finding it pleasing though to see the story develop in some ways that I had never imagined. The novel is slowing starting to take on a life of its own.

[Jason Snell]

Approaches vary. Generally I have finished well before the end of the month. This year I haven't built up any padding yet, but I skipped a day and caught up the next day. Other people get way ahead. Some people just jam at the end of the year. I think the going gets easier once you get going... sometimes getting started, you have to use a lot of brainpower figuring out details of your world, which slows you down.

[iamac]

Apparently I'm having the prototypical Nano experience this year, because so far I've gone through everything Chris Baty mentions in all of his pep talks. I flew out of the gates in the first week as I got acquainted with my characters and the setting. I was damn near euphoric on Friday, the last day of Week 1, because it felt like I could write forever. When I sat back down to write on Saturday, however, the Week 2 blues hit me hard. I felt overwhelmed by the sudden realization that these characters had to start doing stuff and, even more important, reacting and evolving in the process. And all of the sudden, adding significantly to my word count began to feel nearly impossible.

I'm happy to report, though, that I'm still plugging away. Just passed 20,000 words. The key for me has been to find a few writing buddies and engage in an unabashed word-count competition with them. As long as you keep those fingers moving and your brain engaged on the piece, stuff starts to happen -- and some of it doesn't completely suck.

[Jason Snell]

Chris knows his stuff.

And yeah, peer pressure really works. It's what got me through my first year, no doubt. It helped that my peers all were writing the pants off of me, too... by tens of thousands of words.

[dzineprof]

I've been happily noveling all month getting deep into my story when I decide to give myself a break and open my MacWorld which has been sitting around since the beginning of the month. Yes, I should have read it right away, but the pressure and pleasure of writing has me ignoring just about everything else. Of course, I should have opened the latest issue because you have a wonderful article devoted to NaNo. Thanks so much for the write up. NaNoWriMo has been one of the best experiences I've ever had (won the last 2 years and just crossed 50k yesterday! whohoo!). It's wonderful that MacWorld is promoting such an amazing challenge and I love the support references you list in the article. Thanks and best of luck to all those there who are NaNo-ing.

[Jason Snell]

VICTORY!!!!

(Sorry, I just had to share that with everyone. Tonight I crossed 50,000 words for the third straight year.)

[iamac]

Nice going, Jason.

I actually hit 50,000 on the 25th after sticking all month to my vow to myself that I would do 2,000 words a day. My first time to 50,000 in five tries. It's a great feeling.

Now I'm off to write a play...