Comments on: NaNoWriMo Day 1 Update and Lessons Learnt on Writing My First Novel http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/ Writing, Self-Publishing, Print-on-Demand, Internet Sales and Marketing...for your book Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:07:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joanna Penn http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3082 Joanna Penn Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:08:53 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3082 Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone. I have tried not to edit as I go along today. I just got words onto the page and put comments in brackets where I forgot things (what's the child's name again? how is the office set out? can you hide here?!) Very exciting times! :) Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone. I have tried not to edit as I go along today. I just got words onto the page and put comments in brackets where I forgot things (what’s the child’s name again? how is the office set out? can you hide here?!)

Very exciting times! :)

]]> By: Shawna R. B. Atteberry http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3080 Shawna R. B. Atteberry Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:32:50 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3080 I'm off to a good start. I logged in 1712 words today. Like you I have a lot more research to do. In Chicago, I live in the building that used to be the main YMCA hotel and the 2nd largest hotel in Chicago, 1916-1979. The novel is set in the late 1940s, so I need to do some more research on the building and the area. A woman I go to church with stayed here in the late 40s when she first moved to Chicago (the upper 4 floors were for women and children after 1933); I'm going to be talking to her this week. I also need to contact the YMCA and see if they can tell me how the hotel would have been run. Then there's the South Loop History Museum, and the Museum of History. My protagonist is an old Catholic woman, Miss Madie, who I think is going to turn out to be a kick in the pants. It's going to be a ghost story/urban fantasy novel. Miss Madie thinks she is feeling and seeing saints, and she thinks this is because she is going to die any day. Actually the hotel has a few phantom-like residents as well. Now I just need a plot. I’m off to a good start. I logged in 1712 words today. Like you I have a lot more research to do. In Chicago, I live in the building that used to be the main YMCA hotel and the 2nd largest hotel in Chicago, 1916-1979. The novel is set in the late 1940s, so I need to do some more research on the building and the area. A woman I go to church with stayed here in the late 40s when she first moved to Chicago (the upper 4 floors were for women and children after 1933); I’m going to be talking to her this week. I also need to contact the YMCA and see if they can tell me how the hotel would have been run. Then there’s the South Loop History Museum, and the Museum of History.

My protagonist is an old Catholic woman, Miss Madie, who I think is going to turn out to be a kick in the pants. It’s going to be a ghost story/urban fantasy novel. Miss Madie thinks she is feeling and seeing saints, and she thinks this is because she is going to die any day. Actually the hotel has a few phantom-like residents as well. Now I just need a plot.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 Jonathan Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:38:15 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3077 Thanks for these updates. I contemplated doing NaNo at the last minute, but the raw ideas in my head have not percolated enough where I feel I could at least have a story arc in place. I look forward to hearing more about your writing and the things you learn this month. Just hearing what you've encountered in your first day is comforting because I've encountered those things as well (although not in a NaNoWriMo setting). Good luck! Thanks for these updates. I contemplated doing NaNo at the last minute, but the raw ideas in my head have not percolated enough where I feel I could at least have a story arc in place. I look forward to hearing more about your writing and the things you learn this month. Just hearing what you’ve encountered in your first day is comforting because I’ve encountered those things as well (although not in a NaNoWriMo setting). Good luck!

]]> By: Jeff Narucki http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3076 Jeff Narucki Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:34:16 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3076 Congrats! I'm excited to hear how it works out for you and love the tips. This will be my third year (going for my second consecutive win as we speak). Preparation and keeping a connection with others is important and it sounds like you've got a good handle on both. Also have faith that the more disjointed stuff that you've written may very work out somewhere in your novel, even if it's not in the way that you expected. Cheers, --Jeff Congrats!

I’m excited to hear how it works out for you and love the tips.

This will be my third year (going for my second consecutive win as we speak).

Preparation and keeping a connection with others is important and it sounds like you’ve got a good handle on both. Also have faith that the more disjointed stuff that you’ve written may very work out somewhere in your novel, even if it’s not in the way that you expected.

Cheers,
–Jeff

]]> By: Sandy http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Sandy Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:55:25 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3072 Great post! However, I think you need to shelve your inner editor a little during this part of the process. Don't worry about showing vs. telling or getting the details of Krav Maga just right. That stuff can be fixed later, during your first rewrite. As a novelist friend of mine said to me, "Don't worry about it getting it just right. Just write!" :) Best of luck! I hope this will be our year! :) Great post! However, I think you need to shelve your inner editor a little during this part of the process. Don’t worry about showing vs. telling or getting the details of Krav Maga just right. That stuff can be fixed later, during your first rewrite. As a novelist friend of mine said to me, “Don’t worry about it getting it just right. Just write!” :)

Best of luck! I hope this will be our year! :)

]]> By: Stef http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3071 Stef Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:32:09 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3071 First off, as an American I could just listen to you talk for FOREVER. haha Gotta love the British accent. :) Secondly, this is my first NaNo, and I'm actually really pleased with my progress thus far. I went to the first write-in last night for my region and began writing, and at around 2am (1am with the time change) I met my bare minimum quota at approximately 1700 words. I went home, slept for the night, and now I'm planning on getting my wordcount somewhere in between 3 and 4,000 words by the end of the day. I'm actually working on a story that's been brewing in the back of my mind for several years now (I never had the courage to actually sit down and write it.) so I have the benefit of knowing my characters and setting really well. It's just an issue of pounding it all out and not letting my inner editor get in the way as I do so. In the end, I've had to forcefully send my inner editor on a vacation. haha I'm sure you'll be successful. Your idea sounds really interesting. I want to hear more! :) -Stef First off, as an American I could just listen to you talk for FOREVER. haha Gotta love the British accent. :)

Secondly, this is my first NaNo, and I’m actually really pleased with my progress thus far. I went to the first write-in last night for my region and began writing, and at around 2am (1am with the time change) I met my bare minimum quota at approximately 1700 words. I went home, slept for the night, and now I’m planning on getting my wordcount somewhere in between 3 and 4,000 words by the end of the day.

I’m actually working on a story that’s been brewing in the back of my mind for several years now (I never had the courage to actually sit down and write it.) so I have the benefit of knowing my characters and setting really well. It’s just an issue of pounding it all out and not letting my inner editor get in the way as I do so. In the end, I’ve had to forcefully send my inner editor on a vacation. haha

I’m sure you’ll be successful. Your idea sounds really interesting. I want to hear more! :)

-Stef

]]> By: Joanna Penn http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3070 Joanna Penn Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:30:12 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3070 Thanks so much Trevor - you have a big job in front of you too! Masters in Creative Writing would be fun - I'll put that on the long term to do list! In the meantime, I have updated the mistake you pointed out :) Thanks, Joanna Thanks so much Trevor – you have a big job in front of you too! Masters in Creative Writing would be fun – I’ll put that on the long term to do list!
In the meantime, I have updated the mistake you pointed out :)

Thanks, Joanna

]]> By: Trevor http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/11/01/nanowrimo-day-1-update-and-lessons-learnt-on-writing-my-first-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-3069 Trevor Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:21:39 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3639#comment-3069 All the best - you can do it. Me - I have to finish of my WIP - a 40,000 word children's novel which is my thesis paper for my Master of Arts in Creative Writing - it's due at the end of the month! By the way when you wrote: "I have now written 3 non-fiction novels" did you mean "books"? All the best – you can do it.

Me – I have to finish of my WIP – a 40,000 word children’s novel which is my thesis paper for my Master of Arts in Creative Writing – it’s due at the end of the month!

By the way when you wrote: “I have now written 3 non-fiction novels” did you mean “books”?

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