Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: So About This Whole NaNoWriMo Thing...

So About This Whole NaNoWriMo Thing...

Okay, y'all, I actually decided to take the plunge and participate in NaNoWriMo this year. As much as I love writing blogs, writing a book has always been a dream of mine. In middle school, my friend, Sammi, and I came up with an idea for a book, and while that didn't pan out, the idea of writing a book stuck with me. I've started writing two books and a children's book series since then and haven't finished, but I have a good feeling about this one. I'm going into NaNoWriMo with a completely new idea, and I'm really loving the direction that it's going so far in the planning stages.
So what is NaNoWriMo?
For those that don't know, NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place in November, and it's basically a way for aspiring novelists who have had an idea in the back of their minds for awhile but haven't had the time or motivation to actually take the plunge and write a book to join thousands of like-minded individuals in the same boat and take time to focus on writing and finishing your book (run-on sentence, much?). As a participant, your goal is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. If you do that, you become a winner, which is awesome. Everyone can win! And as great as it is to get to 50,000 words, the ultimate goal is to finish the first draft of a novel. 
I've loved the idea behind NaNoWriMo ever since I first heard about it, but this is the first year that I'm diving in and really doing it. I've already connected with some writing buddies through the website and Twitter chats, and it's amazing what ideas you come up with through creative conversations and brainstorming with people you've never met before. I've loved connecting with aspiring novelists who have participated in NaNoWriMo before and even those who are first-timers like me. It's also great to get an outside perspective on something you've been working on. I've pretty much had tunnel vision with my novel for quite some time, and by talking out plots points with both writing buddies on NaNoWriMo and also Jon, I've been able to create something that I'm really excited to write about and that I think will end up becoming something awesome.
So what have I been doing to prepare for November?
As I've said before, I've been connecting with people on the NaNoWriMo site. I have a few writing buddies, and I've also found a few fellow bloggers who are participating in NaNo as well. I've have also joined two Twitter chats and watched a webinar with NaNoWriMo's founder, Chris Baty. I've connected with fellow NaNo's in my area, Shreveport/Bossier. Hopefully I'll be able to attend the local launch party and bounce some ideas off of them.
Because I love music so much, I've created a playlist for each of the key characters in my book, as well as a playlist for one of my main settings and one with some slow, mellow songs for writing. It's amazing how much these songs have impacted my characters, because they fit them perfectly. 
I'm also a very visual person, so I created collages with pictures that represent my characters. Pictures include outfits that my character may wear, hairstyles, shoes, physical attributes (such as eye color, facial hair, etc.), and so much more. The combination of the music and these collages have really made my characters come to life. 
Of course, I've also made outlines for my book and even had Jon read over them to see if they made sense and if the general flow of it all was okay. I've run my idea past a few people just to see if they think it's even interesting and if it's something that they would like to read.
As you can probably tell, I'm getting really pumped about my book, and I can't wait to see what results come out of participating in NaNoWriMo. All that being said, my blog will probably be a lot less active in the month of November while I'm delving into this world of my own creation and hopefully coming out of it with something that I'm really proud of.

Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo?

51 comments :

  1. I am so Happy for you. I can't wait to read your book.

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  2. Props to everyone who takes this challenge on, I admire you all!

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  3. So happy for you for participating in this! Major Props :)

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  4. I'm doing it too!! However, my inspiration is totally lacking on WHAT I want to write about... really hoping it comes to me this weekend! lol If not, I'm just going to write some short stories.

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  5. I am going to do it this year too! I have a short story with 4 main characters and I want to expand on their lives. I like the idea of making a playlist for them! Then listening to the playlist while writing their parts will give me added umph!

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  6. I'm doing this too! I love the idea of planning a playlist for the characters, maybe outfits too?

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  7. I'm still on the fence. I have a few projects to complete but we'll see.

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  8. I've been considering of being apart of NaNoWriMo for some time now, but the idea of bashing out 50,000 words seems pretty daunting! I'd love to participate one day though. I might jump on it this coming month haha :D

    I love your ideas about creating visual mood boards for characters! I do exactly the same thing as well, tho mine is less structured than that! Very inspiring! I wish you all the success for NaNoWriMo! ^_^

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  9. It sounds like you are well prepared- I can't wait to hear how the process goes for you. I actually signed up (yesterday!) but am still on the fence of whether or not I'm going to participate- can't decide if I want to start fresh or revisit old stories.

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  10. Can't wait to read what you write. Good luck with this.

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  11. I'm trying my hand at it this year as well. I LOVE that you've made playlists and outfit choices. That's really awesome. I've made an outline but I'm gonna try to just go with the flow.

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  12. I participate every year, but I have yet to finish anything. I'm just never confident.

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  13. You are well on your way, Twitter chats, networking and webinars sound serious! Hard work does pay off. Keep it up! Proud of you :-)

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  14. This sounds amazing for you! especially since you've always wanted to, good luck and have fun!

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  15. I love this. This is exactly what I need to be doing. I write so many things for a living but a novel has always been something I ran from. I would definitely like to team up with you for moral support. :)

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  16. I'm excited to get started too, but I'm also getting nervous. I really want to get to my 50k words. I have a problem with psyching myself out, so I'm trying not to do that.

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  17. You should totally do this! We could definitely team up for moral support. I need all the positivity I can get!

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  18. Thanks so much, Janette! I'm excited to finally get started.

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  19. Thanks so much, Shirley! I really hope it all pays off in the end. I know there will be some frustrating moments, but hopefully it all works out.

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  20. I feel like that's how I'm going to be about mid-month. I really don't want to psych myself out. When I've written books before, I'll get a good ways in and then start hating everything I write. I don't want to do that this time.

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  21. Yay! I'm glad so many bloggers are participating in it this year. Good luck! Hopefully we'll both come out winners.

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  22. Thanks, Amy! I'm really pumped to get started!

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  23. I'm glad you're participating too, Carly! I had other book ideas that I already started on, but with this, I decided to start fresh. Hopefully that doesn't come and bite me in the butt. Good luck this month!

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  24. You should totally do it! Even if you don't get to 50k words in the month, you'll still have started something that you can revisit later. I'm glad you're a visual person too. Having the boards really helps! Thanks so much for your well wishes!

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  25. Yay! I'm glad that you're participating as well. The playlists have really helped me get in the mindset of each of my characters. I've been listening to their playlists and trying to get to know them better before I start writing about them. I've also made boards to get some outfit ideas for most of my characters. It just makes it so much easier!

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  26. I'm glad you're doing it too, Amber! That's awesome that you're expanding your short story. I bet it will be fun to get to know those four characters better. Making playlists has definitely helped me get in the mindset of each of my characters.

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  27. Yayyyy! That's so awesome, Rachael! I'm so happy that you're doing it too. I'm sure you'll find something brilliant to write about. Short stories would be fun to write too! Good luck next month!

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  28. Thanks, Heather! I'm getting nervous now that it starts in just two days!

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  29. Thanks, Skye! It's definitely going to be a daunting task, but hopefully I come out of it with 50k words written.

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  30. Thanks so much! I hope I finish it. I'm trying to go in with the mindset that I will.

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  31. MOMentous Mom; PerfectionistOctober 30, 2014 at 10:54 PM

    This sounds like such a great idea. I would love to participate in something like this eventually. Good luck you sound like you are well on your way to achieving your goal!

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  32. I've always been too nervous to do this. You got this girl! Would love to read whatever you write at the end!

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  33. I haven't checked up on Blogger for aaaaaaaaaages and just noticed all the HP tidbits on your layout!

    Does fanfictions count as novels? Haha, sooo embarrassing to even admit I write fanfics :(

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  34. Well just remember that The Night Circus turned out the way it did because she got bored with what she was writing halfway into Nanowrimo

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  35. I think I may you know. It's true! Though I think the hardest thing would be to just not edit what I've written the day before! Haha

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  36. WOW. This is amazing. I've never considered myself a writer... And then my fiance pointed out how much I look forward to writing for my blog. Which made me start thinking that maybe I do enjoy writing more than I thought I did? Anyway, NaNoWriMo is out for me this year with grad school, buttttt I really think I want to try it next year! I'll have to get with you for tips!

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  37. Luckily, it's an annual thing, so you should definitely participate in it one year!

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  38. Thanks so much! I'm pretty nervous too. I hope I get to 50k words!

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  39. Thanks, Jess! I'm obsessed with my new HP layout. It suits me. Writing fanfics is not embarrassing at all! I think it's so fun to take the characters that someone else wrote and continue telling their stories.

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  40. I was the same way. I never thought of myself as a writer either until I read a blog post about bloggers being writers, and then it clicked. I hope you get to participate in NaNo next year! Hopefully I get to 50k words this month.

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  41. I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year as well! I've done Nano for the past four years actually! Though, I only finished it once (the first year I did it) Hopefully I can finish it this year as well!

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  42. That's awesome!! i can't wait to see what your book is all about.

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  43. I know that you can do it!! if you need motivation just holler!!

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  44. Well that's interesting! I still haven't read The Night Circus. I need to get on that.

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  45. Yes! I've been trying to tell my inner editor to shut up, and it's been working so far.

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  46. Lucky! Me and my inner editor had a moment yesterday haha :D Time will soon tell I guess!

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  47. That's amazing! I'm already passed the daily word count, but who knows if I'll get unmotivated in the future and whatnot. I'm hoping my first year turns out to be a winning year like yours was!

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  48. Oh no! I caught myself going back and changing something yesterday, but it was a small thing, so it doesn't count! Haha.

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  49. Haha, I don't know how you can't resist! Though sometimes, editing can add more to the word count ... so little bit torn there haha.

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  50. I've participating in NaNoWriMo for the first time ever this year too! I'm so excited! I love the community of far! I've connected with so many people, I'm excited to finally get started <3

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