For years I’ve thought about doing this. There has always been a reason to not do it. It happens in November. I always do Thanksgiving.
I have always started a writing project so it doesn’t count towards the goal.
I will be traveling…sleeping…having a life.
I have a job. A husband. A son.
But I always wanted to try. So I just signed up for NaNoWriMo. So the answer to the title posed in the Title is: Apparently so.
I may live to regret this.
Wish me luck. I can’t wait to tell my husband.
FiftyFourandAHalf 
Pingback: Advice from a Master | FiftyFourandAHalf
Hooray – I’m doing it again this year too. I found that if I can carve out 45 minutes, maybe an hour – everyday – that I can make it. Bravo to you.
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Great! I’ve been trying to find my buddies with no luck. I’d be delighted to be yours if you know how!
What you wrote last year was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed those stories. What I’ve written so far is , ummmmm, BORING! A lot of editing will be involved. But I haven’t been able to write much since Cooper died. It was time to start again.
Good luck to you, too!
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I’m Artsifrtsy on the site – what’s you name – I would love to add you. I think it was a great experience last year and now I’m trying to fill in the gaps and get enough useable material for a real book 50K is not really enough. Lots of editing still to be done from last year for me, but I know I will tackle it once I have all I need to make it work.
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I’m FiftyFourAndAHalf. Initial caps. The buddy finder wasn’t working but maybe it is now!
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I added you as a buddy – the search feature seems to be working again – there are always a few bugs the first week.
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Great!!!!
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Good luck to you. You are braver than I am.
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NO! Write on! CHEERING you on to the finish line, girl, you GO!!! lol 😀
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Thanks for the encouragement, Janice. I’m mostly just trying to get back to writing every day. Since my dog died, I haven’t had much heart to write.
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Awwwww. Our furry family members… I understand. The loss takes as long as any other to recover from. Sending you much loves and hugs from afar, my friend 😀
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Thanks, pal.
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Good luck! I haven’t gotten that brave…yet 🙂
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Thanks. I’ve thought about it for three years. But November is a terrible month to do it in! Oh well. I am back to writing every day which was my real goal.
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Yes. (and I love you for it – wish I wasn’t so lazy!)
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Thanks Peg. I think.
I am nowhere near the wordcount. Just trying to actually write again is my real goal!
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So glad you decided to join me!
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Me too. Maybe. Thanks for the inspiration!
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The idea intrigues me, but I’m way too busy to try. My novel just crested 90,000 words and it looks like I have several thousand more unnecessary first draft words to write before I can start editing before I give it to an editor.
Maybe next year…Happy writing to you, my friend! If anyone can do this, you can. I believe in you wholeheartedly!
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Thanks! I’m figuring that based on the crap I’m writing that there will be many, many drafts ahead!
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Good luck Elyse. It’s nice to have company in November’s big challenge.
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Thanks. I’m already waaaayyy behind, but I’m really just trying to get back into the habit of writing every day. I’ve been goofing off too much lately.
Good luck to you, too!
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Wishing you luck.
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If you’re a total idiot so am I (did the same today). Congrats Elyse and enjoy the ride! – Bill
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Misery loves company! Actually I was only miserable the first day. Now it is fine. I am writing crap but that’s an improvement overwriting nada.
Good luck to you too!
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Work through the crap. Can’t think it to be, you know!
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Thanks. I am doing that!
And if you know how to buddy someone in this attempt, I’ll be happy to be yours!
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My pleasure–let me know how I can support you and I’m happy to. I’m going a little slack on my writing but happy to help encourage yours!
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Oh lordy, good luck! btw Let John talk, there may be some dialog there you can use.
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!!!!
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Can I be there when you tell your husband? I always enjoy a good “deer in the headlight” face. All the best to you on this challenge. I have no doubt you will slay it like no ones business.
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Actually, he smiled and shrugged. It was fine. But he does start chatting to me whenever I start writing!
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Because you always wanted to try, why not! Then again, if it were during baseball season, maybe John wouldn’t notice your project. 😉 Good Luck!!!! 🙂
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Thanks, Frank. John wants me to support him with the earnings from my best seller, so he is game. He does always decide that we need to chat whenever I sit down at my computer, though …
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This is where Twisted Ties started years ago…and I also signed up this year – race ya….
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I am already behind, but if you want to be my buddy (and can figure out how) that would be great.
It is great to hear that it worked for you! I am mostly trying to get myself back into writing. I haven’t been able to since my Cooper died in August.
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just write anything – anything – it doesn’t even have to make sense at this point. it’s a first draft and the first draft of anything is crap. Just write without thunking about it…
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You know I follow that rule at work, and it always works out in the end. When i’mwriting for pleasure I expect more. Pbviously I need to reassess!
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you are not writing a finished product – -just get the ideas down on paper – even if deep inside you are saying “wow this sucks” ignore the voice and write it down – you’ll have plenty of time to go back and rewrite/revise after the story gets told.
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Good advice thanks Cooper.
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It’s fun. I’ve tried it. I didn’t make it through, but I also wasn’t accustomed to writing every day, or even often. Since you write frequently, it probably won’t be as hard as you think!
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Well, so far, I am finding all kinds of ways to avoid it (while figuring out angles and approaches, natch).
We’ll see. I really haven’t been writing much and really wanted this as a way to get back to it.
Thanks for the encouragement!
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February would have been a saner choice for this ‘book in a month’ thing. Nothing to do during that month except sit by the fire with a blanket, a snifter of brandy, and a laptop unraveling and re-raveling the riddles of the universe while trying to stay warm. I wish you luck.
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Thanks. And I can use you as an excuse to stop later in the month!
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I think the better question is “Is there a totality to idiocy or is idiocy an infinite state?” With the follow up of “Is total idiocy a curse or a sickness?” and “Is there a cure?” And then there is “Does it take an idiot to write about idiocy?” And not to be left out, “Can one recognize idiocy if one is an idiot?” Or what about the ever popular “Is there a little bit of idiot in all of us?” What I’m trying to say is The Existentialism of Idiocy could be your theme for the month. It has the added bonus of allowing you to do one of the things you do so well, which is rant about the idiocy we encounter everyday as we move ever more towards complete Idiocracy.
You’re welcome! And you’re a better blogger than I am since I can’t even manage a post a month and I have no husband, no kids, no job and lots of time!
Good luck, my friend!
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Thanks, Sandy for your unique perspective. We’ll see. I didn’t even manage the first day’s word count. And today’s a busy one too. We’ll see. I am in need of a kickstart and hopefully that’s what this will provide.
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Best of luck 🙂
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Thanks!
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All the best!!! 🙂
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Thanks, Shree
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Go for it. And no need to respond – by taking the time to type a comment in response, you’d be taking the time away from writing the novel. 🙂
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Just gutsy. Go for it, gf!!!
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I think stupid fits better.
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I’ve always wanted to do it too, but November, really? It’s just a bad time for me. January would be great. There’s never anything going on then.
Good luck! You can do it, you can do it!
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I agree. It’s an awful month. But I really need something to get me kickstarted again!
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I know. Hopefully it will give you that kick you need!
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Some of my very best decisions were made when I was being a Total Idiot! Go for it!
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Thanks. I think!
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Oh dear. Did that sound less encouraging than was intended?
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That’s ok. I’ll take it as good humoresque encouragement.
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Oh oh best of luck ! For the month of November all that stuff’s just gonna have to learn to adapt with you attached to the computer.
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Wait. You mean the world won’t stop?
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No m’am, The Apocalypse might just happen.
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Oh shit.
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I’ve done it a few times, and survived, but I surely don’t have the constitution to tackle it again this year. Best of luck to you as you grind your way towards increasing your word count. Since we won’t be seeing you for a month, I may as tell you Happy Thanksgiving right now. 🙂
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Thanks 99. We’ll see. I have hardly started and i’m already goofing off.
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Writing without rants? What is the point I ask you. I love your rants. I look forward to them in truth. But I will wish you luck and read every word you write.
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I will admit I considered writing a novel bumping someone off but there were too many attractive victims.
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I am thinking of following in your footsteps, trying my hand. It is only 1,666 (prox) words per day. Come on anyone can do this.
Outline first. Define your character. Write. Want to be my buddy?
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Val, that would be great. Misery loves company.
Of course I would love to be your buddy. But I haven’t figured out how to do that yet. Benze of Benzeknees is doing it too.
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I will try to figure it out….I signed up but I am going to wade in slowly. We shall see.
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Me too. It’s harder than I thought. I figured I’d just blurt it out, but I keep trying to write something decent. That is not the point, though!
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Me too. Don’t know quite what came over me. Signed up about an hour before the starting time… I’ve written almost enough words for today – but it’s utter drivel. Still, it was fun, so maybe I’ll keep going!
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Misery loves company!
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You are a braver man than me. Wait…are we men?
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I feel ore like a mouse right now.
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Yay, that’s awesome! I’m looking forward to following along as everyone does this… I couldn’t summon the bravery this year.
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Bravery is so often confused with foolishness. Probably like now!
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Well, we’ll know in a month!
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Sigh.
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Elyse, wishing you all the best!
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Elyse. You follow my blog, so you’re not COMPLETE idiot. There’s a bit a redemption in that.
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Some would consider that proof. Not me, of course …
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How rude.
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Some of my followers are like that.
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Not surprising. Lucky for you I’m here to balance things out.
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Good Luck!! Go for it!! 🙂
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Thanks Arindam!
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Congrats on taking the big step!
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Thanks, Cutter. I am already goofing off though. That and I can’t decide on a plot or characters or theme. But I have the font DOWN!
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Comic sans???
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Absolutely. It fits my personalty.
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Absolutely. I do consider myself to be quite comedic.
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Have you thought about plagiarism? It might make the workload a lot easier.
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Maybe if I do plagiarize I can become Senator from Kentucky!
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Good luck! You have my admiration. (Of course, you’ve always had it. 🙂 )
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Me????you’ve actually finished something! I’m really just trying to Jim start it!
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All it takes is that first word. Then the second, and the third, and before you know it, you’re off!
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Or the first line … shit. I have to do a first line …
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I am determined to do this someday. But not this month.
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I wish I had thought of that at lunch time. Really I do,
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Yeah, but I say that every time. (although in my defense, I am 2/3 of the way through the second draft of my novel… and going pretty well….so I don’t want to stop now.)
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A conscious decision to do what you have always wanted to do is not idiotic and I wish you well.
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Thanks, Tex. See you in December
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Oh, my God. Just googled it. Yes, you are an idiot. Also a talented, funny, courageous idiot. You can do it!! Good luck, you inspirational blogger, you!
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Thanks. It’s worth a shot, anyway!
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I thought about signing up..for about ten seconds….I truly admire you, Elyse! What a cool adventure to undertake.
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Just as long as I don’t end up needing an undertaker
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OK, I’m hooked….I have no idea what NaNoWriMo is…..but I hope its a good thing and I hope you succeed at it!
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Thanks, Moms!
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I started one last November, think I’ll pick up on it again.
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Good! I don’t want to be the lone looney in the bunch.
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Lol, when I reread what I wrote last year, I realize how disjointed my ideas were. I hope I can organize them into something readable.
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Mine probably will be too. But I’ve been at a stop. So I need to do something!
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Oops! My reply to your comment ended up elsewhere on the page — sorry to have ignored you. What I’ve written makes me cringe — every word. They say that the trick is to just write and then go back and edit, edit, edit. I hope “they” are right!
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Oh I know what you mean! I get bogged down in punctuation, lol, of all things.
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Tonight I’m really going to get to work. I am 5,000 words behind already!
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I signed up too. I can’t believe I did that. I have all the same stuff, plus my kid’s applying to college. It will be the worst bit of writing in the world. But I still think I’m gonna try to get it done. Clearly I’m insane.
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Maybe we can share a cell at the asylum.
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Are you punishing yourself for some reason? If so, don’t. If not, then I wish you luck 😀
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I’m just trying to get back into writing sans rants!
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You can do it! Good luck!
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Ahhhhhhhjhhhhhhhhhh
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Good for you! Best of luck.
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Thanks. I think!
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