National Novel Writing Month Throwdown

[gurgeh]

In a few days, National Novel Writing Month will be upon us once again. One year ago, WillMagic posted a public challenge to OOT: Write a novel of 50,000 words or more within the thirty days of November, or die trying.

Many tried. Many died. November is almost here, and I don't see a NaNoWriMo thread for 2007. I'm starting this one for updates, questions, answers, excuses, and taunts, but obviously the most important reason is that I want in on the prop bets this year. If you don't want in on the prop bets but do want to show OOT how big your novel-writing junk is, that's fine too.

If you don't have the stones, I leave you with the wisdom of Stewie Griffin:

"How you uh, how you comin' on that novel you're working on? Huh? Got a a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Got a, got a nice litte story you're working on there? Your big novel you've been working on for three years? Huh? Got a, got a compelling protagonist? Yeah? Got a obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Got a story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yeah, talking about that three years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? No, no, you deserve some time off."

[Los Feliz Slim]

Roughly how many single-spaced pages is 50,000 words?

I'm going on the wagon and have been meaning to start writing again, this might be a good kick in the pants for me.

[gumpzilla]

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Roughly how many single-spaced pages is 50,000 words?

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100, I think, since I'm pretty sure double spaced is 250.

[Kimbell175113]

I am going to do it.

[gurgeh]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Roughly how many single-spaced pages is 50,000 words?

[/ QUOTE ]

100, I think, since I'm pretty sure double spaced is 250.

[/ QUOTE ]

I finished at just over 55,000 words, which ended up being 91 single-spaced pages, including a number of page breaks to separate chapters.

Obviously it depends on how dialog-intensive your novel is, but I think if you can get 100 pages, you definitely make the 50,000.

[jeffraider]

I'm going to do this.

[garcia1000]

I started a novel! I'm thinking of a good title for it. Anyway, I think this shows potential.



"Yes, sir. I will see to it."

With those words, Dennis quietly left, his long cape billowing behind him. Gareth, Eugenia, Sir Jacky and I remained clustered around the table, studying the faded map. Times were desperate. Outside our bunker, tanks rumbled by, their tracks beginning to rust from lack of repair. Our supply lines were precarious; while we were in no danger of starvation, our equipment was in a sorry state, and ammunition was low.

The scene inside the bunker was no better. Not only were the walls not coated with a luxurious patina of aged designer paint, but the ball bearings on our chairs were inadequately lubricated. Sir Jacky sighed.

"I don't need to tell you about our situation, men and women. We face impossible odds, for Sauron has the ability to raise the dead. Every soldier we lose becomes a lifeless doll for them to command. And the Chancellor has summoned all the knights of the land to a bowling competition. The fort is in your hands, Garcia."

I watched as Sir Jacky stood up and donned his platemail. With a heavy sigh betraying the great stress he was under, he pat me lightly on the shoulder. "You can do this, Garcia. You are a bad enough dude to save the nation."

Sir Jacky mounted his trusty Friesian warhorse, holstered his laser pistol, and rode off towards the Capital. Gareth and Eugenia looked at me uncertainly, waiting for my command. I hesitated. My decision would determine whether our fort would hold out heroically, becoming a beacon to the demoralised soldiers, or whether it would fall like a rum and coke served in a champagne glass to a drunk guy.

[bobman0330]

Why would anyone want to put so much effort into writing an awful novel? Wouldn't it be better to take six months or a year, work less hard, and write better?

[AJay2000]

I'm in - here is the first sentence of a short story I may stretch out into novel madness:

The not quite as yet warm spring air wafted into the church loft as the choir sang, the dark night and bright stars outside blanketing the parish in serene security as the dulcet tones of the singers drifted above them

[garcia1000]

Here's the next part of my novel!


I looked at Gareth, his platemail a shining beacon of order in the surrounding chaos. He seemed pensive, trusting my judgment but clearly hoping for a wise decision from me. Eugenia, meanwhile, had donned her apron and was busily cooking a hearty lunch. Today, we would enjoy penne in a white clam sauce, slightly softer than al dente, with an entrée of sun-ripened cherry tomatoes on the vine. The faint aroma of the clam sauce combined beautifully with the wail of the air-raid siren.

“Okay, soldiers. The outcome of this war depends on us. We must give it our all, whether it is in the trenches, in the hills, or any other terrain which provides us with defensive advantages. Let us take the fight to the enemy! To take arms against a sea of troubles! To arms!”

Gareth’s face burst into joy, as he had long wished to take aggressive action against the Doltians. Eugenia, too, was tired of being holed up in the fort, seeing it as a cowardly way to fight. They both smiled, stood to attention, and saluted crisply. “Yes, sir!”

Energized by their enthusiasm, I leaped onto the conference table, kicking away maps, markers, and other bric-a-brac. I pressed button twelve on the remote control, and as the equipment moved into place, performed Karaoke to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”. The strobe light spun wildly as the booming bass music electrified the room. Belting out the words, conviction building within, I now knew how Caesar felt when he crossed the Rubicon.

As the song ended, I considered starting “My Sharona,” but Gareth and Eugenia were gone, probably having left towards the end of my morale-building Karaoke. I dismounted and walked towards the armaments room to join them.


P.S. Am I doing this thread right