Current Works in Progress

Monday, October 31, 2011

NaNo minus 13 (hours)

As of right now I have exactly 13 hours before I am allowed to start hammering out my NaNoWriMo novels. I am nowhere near ready. I have yet to finish my scene list, or most of my characters for that matter. I do, however, have about 6 free hours today in which to sort out those piffling details and get the jet pack (metaphorically) strapped on. I thought I'd take this calm before the storm to fill everyone in on my plans for this November; what software I'll be using, what strategies I'll be employing, what goals I'll be setting, and all that sort of thing.

I have been using, and will continue to use, yWriter for my planning and desktop based writing. I like the way it deals with scenes and chapters. I also like that it's free, and that I already know how to use it. I will not be using Scrivener. It's not that I dislike Scrivener, it's just that I am already familiar with how yWriter works and I'd rather spend time planning my novels (and blogging about it) than learning a new software package.

In addition, I will be using Evernote and Dropbox. Evernote is where I keep bits of ideas that occur to me when I'm not actually writing, and links to resources I might find useful while writing. Dropbox is where I keep my yWriter project file. This means I can access my WIP from either home or work with equal ease. Dropbox rocks my world.

I also just ordered my new toy tool. I should be receiving my brand new, shiny Asus Eee pad (Transformer - TF101) either this evening or sometime tomorrow (tomorrow is more likely, but I remain hopeful for this evening). I am likewise hopeful that I will be able to do the majority of my writing on this bad boy and sync up to the desktop via Dropbox or Evernote. I will resist the siren call of Angry Birds until December, I promise.

So. I will be writing my novels primarily on an android tablet and compiling on a windows desktop using a combination of Evernote, Dropbox, and yWriter. I have a brand new 5kg (11 lbs for you disadvantaged Americans) bag of raw coffee beans ready for roasting. I am good to go.

The observant among you  may have noticed I've been pluralizing the word novel in this blog post. There is a good reason for this. I will be pluralizing my NaNovel this November. Rather than settling for the 50,000 word goal, I've set myself a slightly different goal. It is my intention to complete the first draft of not one, but two novels this November (the second is sequel to the first). I am not setting a specific word count goal, but I wouldn't be surprised if the two novels together clock in at over 200K. My best guess estimate tells me that I need to average about 7,000 - 8,000 words a day to do this, but I already write 3,000-4,000 words a day just with emails, blog posts, Google+ comments, comments on other people's blogs, comments and critiques on deviantArt deviations and so forth. If I forgo the majority of that and concentrate my attention on my novels, I am already halfway there.

So. I will be using my new Eee pad, Dropbox, Evernote, and yWriter to write two novels in 30 days. As if that weren't enough, I will also posting the first of my novels online as I write it. If you want to read along, you will be able to find it at my deviantArt group. You'll have to be a deviantArt member to read it, but membership is free. I may or may not post the last few chapters, though I haven't decided yet. I intend to publish it down the road and I'm leery of giving the ending away.

What about you? What software are you using for NaNo? Where will you do most of your writing? Have you set yourself any additional goals*, or are you happy with 50k? Do you have enough coffee? Yak back in the comments below!



* I have created a circle on Google+ for NaNoVerAchievers (more than 50k or faster than 30 days). If you fit that mould, let me know and I'll add you to the circle.


2 comments:

  1. Not one, but TWO novels for NaNo. Pure madness, but who said writing was sane?

    I'm using Scrivener - I started using it early this year and it has proven useful (and I know the software). My goal is to write through to the end of my story at 70k+ words, the idea being to have a skeletal first draft of the complete plot.

    Heading out today to stock up on coffee and snacks.

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  2. I'm using Liquid Story Binder. I've been using this program for about three years so I have it down. I'm using my desktop because my laptop is broken (screen is coming off). Hopefully, my sister will get around to fixing it. My goal is 250k (3+ novels) this year. I'm not allowed to have too much coffee this year but I am well supplied in snacks and bottled water.

    Good luck with your goal this year!

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