Anybody taking part if NaNoWriMo this year?
I signed up yesterday for this November's which will my fourth year trying. I won the first year I took part, but failed the last two, due to an inspiration fail and starting uni.

For those of you reading this saying "huh?" National Novel Writing Month is an online writing 'competition' with the aim of writing a 50000 word novel in a month (November, to be exact). If you do it you win nothing, it's all about the satisfaction of writing something. It's insanely fun.
www.nanowrimo.org if you're interested

I have always wanted to do that, but I am nervous of myself. I am more of a play writing sort of person usually. But... I might actually give it a go. Hmmm. PONDER PONDER...

Go on, go for it. Somebody put together a list of reasons to do it, I'll track it down for you and post it here.
It really is fun and no pressure at all. We can NaNo together!
EDIT: Here it is.
Thirty Reasons for Thirty Days: Why you [yes, you!] should participate in National Novel Writing Month, Version 1.2005
By sushimustwrite

1. Completing a novel (or for some, even starting a novel) is one more thing to cross off the life goals list.

2. Nanowrimo offers camaraderie with fellow novelists via the forums.

3. It's another excuse to sit in front of the computer (or notebook) and gulp mass quantities of caffeine.

4. Nanowrimo offers the realization that, contrary to popular belief, you are not the busiest person in the world, even with Nanowrimo.

5. If you've never written a paper in one night (or two, or three) before, you eventually will. Nanowrimo is good practice.

6. If you're still in school, you can procrastinate writing by doing homework. The opposite procrastination technique works equally well. If you're not in school, you can procrastinate in this way by doing something that you should actually be doing, such as laundry or taking out the trash.

7. You can buy Nanowrimo t-shirts to declare your insanity to the world.

8. If you break 50,000 words before 30 November and get it verified, you get a super-cool certificate and winner's icon.

9. Even if you don't finish, you can still brag by saying, "I'm writing a novel this month. What are you doing?"

10. Haven't you ever wanted to answer "How are you?" with a number? Now you can.

11. Most people [cough...teachers] say, "Write about this topic." With Nanowrimo, any imaginable topic can be your novel, even butt-kicking pirates from Jupiter. [Hey, there's an idea...]

12. It's a chance to let your inner critic loose for thirty days. Let a typo become a part of your novel. Invent swear words for your characters to use. Watch what comes out when you don't have an inner critic to stop you.

13. It costs only time, sanity, and social life.

14. How long does cyanide take to kill someone? What kind of knives did the Greeks use? Get the answers from fellow Wrimos.

15. The number one reason that people don't pass 50,000 words is because [surprise!] they don't begin. If you write just one measly word, you're already ahead.

16. Thousands of people around the world--different everything--participate. They share a love of writing...and their ideas with you.

17. Just because your character is stuck doesn't mean that you have to be. Use a deus ex machina or a snide reference to whatever you want. Kill your main character if you want to. Just get your novel out of that block!

18. Your participation will mock those authors who take a lot more time writing novels. Those novels are typically much better novels, but it really is possible to write a draft in a month.

19. Allow others around you to question your sanity [assuming they don't already question it, that is.]

20. You can become a hermit for thirty days...or at least while you're writing. This excuse will work only for a month at a time, though.

21. You can threaten someone with, "If you don't [annoying action], I'll write you into my novel and kill you there!"

22. Nanowrimo helps you to realize the value of sleep.

23. Writing a novel is an excuse not to go out with friends or to that annoying event that you just can't stand going to.

24. The adrenaline rush that comes along when you've just written 1500 words in an hour is wonderful. Nanowrimo should be a drug.

25. Nanowrimo gives you an opportunity to improve your typing or scribbling skills without those boring lessons.

26. Even though you're procrastinating on something, you're also learning the art of time management.

27. There's a story in your head that must come to life. If it doesn't, those characters will hate you forever.

28. After writing a book in a month, nothing will intimidate you.

29. It's fun!

30. It really is possible.

-- Edited by AcidKitty on Tuesday 20th of October 2009 06:51:57 PM

Ho hum, any idea how many pages (roughly) 50000 words is?

I'd say somewhere between 80 and 100.

I'd love to, but university has me run ragged trying to find my feet!

They're at the end of your legs. Where you left your socks.

I might just make a personal goal to finish my play instead. Because otherwise it will never get done...

I think I will take part in this...... perhaps. I probably won't get it done, but I will try.

good upon thou.

Hooray, one other Mooky NaNoer. My username on the NaNo forums is LadyPenelope, so feel free to add me as a writing buddy if you do sign up.
50,000 words works out as 1667 words a day, which a reasonable typer can bash out in an hour and a half.
But NaNo really is fun, whether you write 50,000 words or 5.

One week to go! Jazztronic, did you sign up?

I'm doing it this year. I did it last year but didn't finish and lost half of what I'd written when my old computer crashed. :( Not letting that happen this year, though!

I've signed up for it, but I'm a bit nervous because I'm not sure if with all my school work, I'll actually have time to fully commit >.< I hope I do because I love writing!

I didn't sign up because I don't have time this month :( I'd really like to try it though, next year I guess!

Can you read peoples novels at the end?

I think this will be my first year failing NaNo. *SOB!*

I really love the story I've got, but I have no idea how to get to the part I planned out. Plus, out of all of November, I've had maybe one week at home? I think?

I'm only at 5000 words right now and I am absolutely guilt-tripping myself.