The Qld Writers Centre put me onto this:

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and -- when the thing is done -- the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

In 2004, we had over 42,000 participants. Nearly 6000 of them crossed the 50k finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.

Find out more on their website http://www.nanowrimo.org

Already joined. Have a plot and words in my head ready to go and am now counting the hours.

The Brisbane group has a meeting on Saturday I hope to be able to attend. And they are planning a Write-In as well.

I don't know how I'll go, but will try - depends on the hours I can spare to sit at the PC. Actually it will be more like having to force myself to do work, rather than write. Very difficult when I work on the same PC as my writing is on.

It's crazy but should be fun.

Catrin

Will be signing up for this year. This may be just the kickstart (or is that kick up the bum) I need to get motivated again.

Kylie

That's great news guys! I'm sure the discipline of writing every day will carry over when the month is done. Sometimes having a motivation head-start is all people need to get into a rhythm and get that book happening.

Do keep us posted with how you go.

I've done it - signed up and excited. I had no intention of writing very much in November - exams in full swing for over the first half of it - but I saw your post Louise, checked out the site, and figured Why Not? It's going to be a real boost to a young-teens novel I've been thinking about. Yay - shaping up to be a fun November!

I went to the meetup for NaNoWriMo yesterday. Was huge in the fun stakes.

For those girls who have joined up, join into the region closest to you so you can check out for any meetups in your area. They are well worth the effort. Not only did I met 15 other crazy writers (there was no lacking in talk, as you can imagine) I also got a few more ideas.

One thing we decided was that on Tuesday, since it's Melbourne Cup, we MUST all write a part that includes a horse. Doesn't have to be much, and it doesn't have to be in the first chapter (can write it to include later), but it has to have a horse in it.

Just that one idea has given me a whole new chapter.

Can't wait until Tuesday

Catrin

Today is preparation day, get the house in order so I don't have to think about it again until Friday afternoon (having guests over to help a girlfriend get started with Tupperware - not my type of thing, but figured I could suffer through it once). Catrin (and any other Brisbanites), if you want a break Friday evening about 7.30pm, let me know.

Dh laughed at me that the first people I invited were some friends I met up with through chatting on a dog forum.

I told dh about it today and I think the concept scared him a little.

Kylie

My plan tonight (actually sugested by my boys) is to go to bed early (9pm after they have gone to bed) and set the arlam for midnight. Get up and start writing.

Dh rolled his eyes at me, but agreed that it was better than staying up til midnight and then start writing. He has banned me from coming to bed after 3am, more than 3 nights in the week.

Hopefully I'll be able to sleep early, not think.

Catrin

I will get started about Midday tomorrow. I've set aside one hour before picking the kids up and then more time in the evening.

Kylie

Sorry guys I wish I could join in but I have something a little more important to do on the book. An agent in America had asked for the manuscript after reading the synopsis so they can consider wether to have me on their books.

I want to make sure the last piece to Crystal Dreams(tecnical stuff for a character) is worked out.

Ooh Nancy, I think you can be excused for that! LOL How exciting!!!

Kylie

Cool, Nancy. That is definately more important.

I started with a solid 1760 words last night even though I go out on Tuesday evenings. If I can put that many in during the day and on those evenings I'm home get in another 1000 I should be well on my way for the month. I don't think I'll get much done on Sundays, so need to be a little ahead each week when that day comes around.

Kylie

Another 1740 words today, yet another evening where I'm not home so I'm feelign pretty good about it all.

Kylie

Woohoo! Past the first 5000 words!

And actually ahead of schedule.

Kylie

Glad to hear you guys all enthusiastic and going for it. Anything that spurs productivity is a good thing!

And Nancy, that's great news about the agent in the US. You go girl! Let us know how it pans out.

You guys are doing great! I've written nothin in two weeks since sending away my book. Time to get back to it I reckon!

Nancy, fingers crossed you get good news soon!

Ally

Wow Nancy that's fantastic!!

I've written little over 6000 words so far...it's quite exciting to have a real dead line...something I have never had before.

No writing for the past two days. I've been really sick, to the point I didn't even go to church this morning and I was supposed to be singing.

Kylie

Hope you get better soon, Kylie. And well done, Dale! Glad to see the motivation working. Hey, Ally, I think you deserve a fortnight off you super-productive girl

Dale and Kylie, Have you joined a region in Nano? If so which one and what are your names. I thought we could meet there too as well as here.

I'm upto 9100, but had a weekend full of work so got nothing written over the weekend. Just lots of thoughts and ideas - all in my head.

Catrin, I'm RuthKylie there too, and I think (although not sure if successfully) I joined up in Brisbane.

I'm just over 5000 words, got really sick on the weekend and couldn't work and even today my heads foggy, so hoping to get an early night tonight and really put in a solid effort while J and X are at school tomorrow and do some catching up.

Kylie

I go by 'silentfoundation' - I haven't joined a region (I'm too remote....I just post on everyone else's boards ).
I too am over 9000 but exams are putting a hold on fun. I'm determined to reach the word limit!!

I am way behind in the schedule I set for myself, but I did write something today which is a positive, despite having disruptions.

I finished my 50k for Nano. Haven't finished the book, but did actually write the end. I'm just missing quiet a few chapters in the middle. Got a block on them or needed to do timeconsuming research so skipped them, in order to achieve 50k. Plus I found that I need to write some fill ins because of chapters I have written.

I know what I am doing in the next few months, and in March - National Novel Edit Month.

So I'd be interested in an editting chat on Sunday.