Filed under: Software, How-tos, Odds and ends
5 ways for Mac users to get ready for NaNoWriMo
You've heard me talk about National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, before. It's the annual event aimed at getting potential bestsellers out of the minds of would-be writers and onto paper -- virtual or real. The idea is that most people have a couple of good novels hidden inside them, and that they just need a push to get those words written. NaNoWriMo involves starting to write on November 1st, and having at least 50,000 words written by the end of the month.Seeing that NaNoWriMo begins in about two weeks, I thought it would be a good idea to do some recruitment and provide some ideas on how you can get ready for this event. From what I've seen over my 25 years as a Mac user, those of us who "think differently" are more apt to be creative and participate in something like NaNoWriMo.
1) Sign up! If you haven't already signed up for NaNoWriMo, what are you waiting for? It doesn't cost anything, and it's necessary for you to be able to publicly track your word count and receive hints and tips along the way. Every year, the brains behind NaNoWriMo get a few guest writers (published and usually famous) who send out emails during the event, providing ideas and encouragement to the writers.
To sign up, just go to http://nanowrimo.org and click the Sign Up Now! badge at the top of the page (see scrennshot below). Just enter a user name, an email address, and a password, then agree to the terms and conditions, and you're ready to roll.
2) Choose your weapon. No, I'm not suggesting that you need to choose between a saber or shotgun for a plot point in your novel, but that you need to figure out which Mac application you'll be using for your writing. I've looked at a lot of writing tools over the past few months, so now you know my ulterior motive -- to get you writing in NaNoWriMo! What you use is up to you, but there's just one important thing to remember -- your tool will need to be able to give you a word count.
Last year I used Microsoft Word. It was perfectly adequate to the task, and I may just decide to use it again. You could use any tool that automatically counts how many words are in your document. You're going to need to write an average of 1,667 words per day to meet your objective of writing 50,000 words by the end of the month.
If you're undecided on what to use to write your tome, take a look at our earlier posts on Storyist, TextExpander, WriteRoom, myTexts, Ulysses, and Scrivener. Now is a good time to make the decision, as you'll want to be familiar with the tool before you sit down for your first writing session on the night of November 1st.
A couple of other thoughts about the tools you use. First, whatever you do, be sure to make a backup. The last thing you want to do is to get to 49,000 words and then lose your novel! I'm using Time Machine backups to a Drobo, putting a copy into Dropbox, and another copy into my iDisk. This is done each and every night when I'm done writing. Second, think about other features you may want in your tool. Storyist and Scrivener both include virtual corkboards on which you can pin photos of characters or locations, keep notes on specific issues, etc... I'm leaning a bit more towards the minimalist tools that just let me write, as I have a good idea of the organization of my story and the details of the characters. Your mileage may vary.
3) Organize your time. Here's where you will most likely fail in your attempt to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. Writers often underestimate how long it is going to take to write those 1,667 words every day. I recommend that would-be novelists use iCal, Things, OmniFocus, or other tools to block out time to simply sit down and write. I found that if I set up a time every night to grab my MacBook Air and sit in a quiet location, then I'd do the work. If you realize that you have a few days during which it will be impossible to write, you can plan on adding a few extra hundred words every night for the week ahead so you'll still be ahead of the curve by the end of the month.
4) Outline your plot. Once again, you can choose from a huge toolbox of outlining tools. Since I'm going to probably use Word again, it's logical to use its outlining tools to develop the major plot twists for my story. If you're the type that wants to have control over every aspect of the story, you can always use OmniOutliner or a similar dedicated outlining tool to create a very granular plot plan. Remember, you don't have to do detailed outlining. Last year, when I did my first NaNoWriMo, I had no outline at all -- I just built the story line as I went along. This year I want some more structure so I'm putting together an outline of the key points and the characters involved in each.
5) Get social and start writing. Part of the fun of NaNoWriMo is not only letting the world know how your book is coming along, but also getting to know other writers in your area and suffering through the process together! If you're not already on Twitter, join. If you are, let people know how you're doing by tweeting your total word count every day. Encourage other writers, or if you need encouragement, ask for it. You'd be amazed at how many folks will drop everything to help you over a particularly sticky point in a story.
Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. Get on the email lists for your local NaNoWriMo group, but be sure not to spend too much time keeping in touch with other writers; after all, you do have a book to write. When November 30th rolls around and you've written well over 50,000 words, you're going to feel like you've really accomplished something. Even if you never sell your book, you have done something not many people can say they've done -- you've written a book.
Let us know if you're going to be writing for NaNoWriMo, and we'll keep an eye open for tweets from you.
Last year I used Microsoft Word. It was perfectly adequate to the task, and I may just decide to use it again. You could use any tool that automatically counts how many words are in your document. You're going to need to write an average of 1,667 words per day to meet your objective of writing 50,000 words by the end of the month.
If you're undecided on what to use to write your tome, take a look at our earlier posts on Storyist, TextExpander, WriteRoom, myTexts, Ulysses, and Scrivener. Now is a good time to make the decision, as you'll want to be familiar with the tool before you sit down for your first writing session on the night of November 1st.
A couple of other thoughts about the tools you use. First, whatever you do, be sure to make a backup. The last thing you want to do is to get to 49,000 words and then lose your novel! I'm using Time Machine backups to a Drobo, putting a copy into Dropbox, and another copy into my iDisk. This is done each and every night when I'm done writing. Second, think about other features you may want in your tool. Storyist and Scrivener both include virtual corkboards on which you can pin photos of characters or locations, keep notes on specific issues, etc... I'm leaning a bit more towards the minimalist tools that just let me write, as I have a good idea of the organization of my story and the details of the characters. Your mileage may vary.
3) Organize your time. Here's where you will most likely fail in your attempt to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. Writers often underestimate how long it is going to take to write those 1,667 words every day. I recommend that would-be novelists use iCal, Things, OmniFocus, or other tools to block out time to simply sit down and write. I found that if I set up a time every night to grab my MacBook Air and sit in a quiet location, then I'd do the work. If you realize that you have a few days during which it will be impossible to write, you can plan on adding a few extra hundred words every night for the week ahead so you'll still be ahead of the curve by the end of the month.
4) Outline your plot. Once again, you can choose from a huge toolbox of outlining tools. Since I'm going to probably use Word again, it's logical to use its outlining tools to develop the major plot twists for my story. If you're the type that wants to have control over every aspect of the story, you can always use OmniOutliner or a similar dedicated outlining tool to create a very granular plot plan. Remember, you don't have to do detailed outlining. Last year, when I did my first NaNoWriMo, I had no outline at all -- I just built the story line as I went along. This year I want some more structure so I'm putting together an outline of the key points and the characters involved in each.
5) Get social and start writing. Part of the fun of NaNoWriMo is not only letting the world know how your book is coming along, but also getting to know other writers in your area and suffering through the process together! If you're not already on Twitter, join. If you are, let people know how you're doing by tweeting your total word count every day. Encourage other writers, or if you need encouragement, ask for it. You'd be amazed at how many folks will drop everything to help you over a particularly sticky point in a story.
Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. Get on the email lists for your local NaNoWriMo group, but be sure not to spend too much time keeping in touch with other writers; after all, you do have a book to write. When November 30th rolls around and you've written well over 50,000 words, you're going to feel like you've really accomplished something. Even if you never sell your book, you have done something not many people can say they've done -- you've written a book.
Let us know if you're going to be writing for NaNoWriMo, and we'll keep an eye open for tweets from you.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VixCummings said 6:00PM on 10-15-2009
This is great, thanks! Will be taking part this year for the first time and looking for new software to play with def a highlight so far!
Reply
John Metta said 6:06PM on 10-15-2009
For the LaTeX lovers and self-publishers, don't forget that LyX has a Mac version: www.lyx.org (I've written a couple books in LaTeX, though it may not be the choice for everyone)
Reply
oakie said 6:06PM on 10-15-2009
"The idea is that most people have a couple of good novels hidden inside them, and that they just need a push to get those words written."
just because your creative writing teacher said that on the first day of Creative Writ 210 about 20 years ago doesnt mean it's right, or even true.
and if anyone is reacting with something other than laughter at my comments all afternoon, stop taking yourself so seriously... you're not nearly as great as you or your momma told you.
Reply
Jansperus said 7:36PM on 10-15-2009
I didn't laugh, oakie. It just wasn't funny. Great attempt at garnering attention though!
Diffuse said 7:02PM on 10-15-2009
I hadn't heard of NaNoWriMo, but I'll definitely be signing up... if they take internationals.
oakie,
I can't decide, maybe you can help me. Would you call yourself a pessimist? Or a defeatist? Either way, your comment helps no one, why post it? As my momma always said: "If you've got nothing constructive to say, give yourself a hug".
I, for the record, am an optimist. I truly believe you are just having a bad day and you'll snap out of it. Perhaps you, of all people, should explore that inner novelist. Bettering yourself may lead to a brighter, more optimistic future.
Good Luck mon ami.
Reply
Level 5 said 7:09PM on 10-15-2009
Frank Zappa man, what a stereotype. Apple users are no more or less creative, are you :) serious? What about folks who have created, oh I don't know, more than 33 years ago; before there was an Apple Computer/Inc? Could it be said that Hitchcock would had been more creative if he was sitting in front of a 8-core MP workstation running FCP and 3 30" Cinema Displays? No, of blubbering course not.
Here's the only fact: Apple users love and use Apple products. I use Macs, Windows machines, and Linux machines, so what; am I only slightly more creative than a strictly non-Apple user, but less creative than a person who only uses Apple machines? Good grief, no WONDER people think Apple fans are elitist willywoos.
Reply
Jansperus said 7:32PM on 10-15-2009
Wow, Level 5, such hostility over an innocent comment that in no way suggested people can't be creative with Windows or Linux! Someone needs a nap!
Level 5 said 7:54PM on 10-15-2009
"Wow, Level 5, such hostility over an innocent comment that in no way suggested people can't be creative with Windows or Linux! Someone needs a nap!"
Actually, that's pretty much exactly what it says. It says "those of us who "think differently" are more apt to be creative". Learning to read would be a good start for you my friend. Think for a minute instead of trying to flex that e-peen of yours.
Would the greatest creators been more creative or creative more frequently if they had lived in the times of Apple, and not before? No, using Apple products has zero to do with your creativity or its frequency. Remember, before there was Apple, Jobs and Woz were not Apple users! Were they less creative then because they didn't have the very Apple machines they would only later on invent? See how dumb that generalization can be?
The key here is that it's pretty lame to make such stupid schoolyard assumptions, and that of course is where the unfortunate stigma of A ... More t says. It says "those of us who "think differently" are more apt to be creative". Learning to read would be a good start for you my friend. Think for a minute instead of trying to flex that e-peen of yours.
Would the greatest creators been more creative or creative more frequently if they had lived in the times of Apple, and not before? No, using Apple products has zero to do with your creativity or its frequency. Remember, before there was Apple, Jobs and Woz were not Apple users! Were they less creative then because they didn't have the very Apple machines they would only later on invent? See how dumb that generalization can be?
The key here is that it's pretty lame to make such stupid schoolyard assumptions, and that of course is where the unfortunate stigma of Apple users being elitist comes from.
Cam said 12:19AM on 10-16-2009
Yeah, I totally agree with you.
I was gonna recommend other people read this post, but I won't because of that comment. how on earth are you gonna be more creative by owning a Mac computer?
I guess it should go something like this...
"Wow, I'm having a bit of writer's block... I'm gonna go buy a MacBook!"
1 hour, and a trip to the Apple Store later
"WOW! I FEEL SO MUCH MORE CREATIVE!!!! Yay Apple!"
no.
rowan said 7:40PM on 10-15-2009
Are there any utilities that "watch" you type and measure how fast you're typing? If I'm gonna hit 1700 wpm I'd like to have an app look over my shoulder and tell me how I'm doing.
Reply
rowan said 8:34PM on 10-15-2009
>> If I'm gonna hit 1700 wpm
I meant 1700 wpd (as in, words per day).
Cam said 12:20AM on 10-16-2009
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3265606
dcfemella said 7:47PM on 10-15-2009
I have already registered and plan on using Scrivener. Great post!
Reply
Jansperus said 8:39PM on 10-15-2009
"Wow, Level 5, such hostility over an innocent comment that in no way suggested people can't be creative with Windows or Linux! Someone needs a nap!"
"Actually, that's pretty much exactly what it says. It says "those of us who "think differently" are more apt to be creative". Learning to read would be a good start for you my friend. Think for a minute instead of trying to flex that e-peen of yours."
Actually, it doesn't, but I understand that you're furious over this perceived insult.
"Would the greatest creators been more creative or creative more frequently if they had lived in the times of Apple, and not before? No, using Apple products has zero to do with your creativity or its frequency. Remember, before there was Apple, Jobs and Woz were not Apple users! Were they less creative then because they didn't have the very Apple machines they would only later on invent? See how dumb that generalization can be?"
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Reply
Level 5 said 8:42AM on 10-16-2009
Really buddy? Really? So.. you're trying to tell me that a direct quote from the article is not what's being said? And, go right ahead and flap your jaws about protesting too much, when it is YOU who had responded to what I had said in the first place; I'm only furthering this because it shows how ridiculous you sound.
Rudy said 8:42PM on 10-15-2009
this is going to be bad. let the rip offs begin...
Reply
Jason Rappaport said 9:25PM on 10-15-2009
This is my fifth year doing NaNoWriMo - and I win every year! Last year I did 122,000 words, but I'm cutting back this year. I'm actually trying to get last year's novel published - it's going to be a long and bumpy road to publication, but I'm totally geared up for the difficult work. I've been working on my second draft for quite a while...
That said, I'm still writing this year! I'd never miss a year, not for anything. For me, Pages does just fine. All other years I've used Office - either on Windows or Mac. This'll be my first time doing WriMo with Pages. I tried Scrivener for short stories, but my mind just doesn't work in chapters. I don't create chapters until after the story is finished.
Good luck to all newbie WriMos, though! :D
Reply
dstaley said 10:12PM on 10-15-2009
I'll be going for my third NaNoWriMo title this year! Wish me luck!
http://twitter.com/dstaley
Reply
CozartDono said 1:47AM on 10-16-2009
I think I will do NaNoWriMo this year. I heard about it half way through last year's, but now I want to try. I'll probably stop around 15,000, but at least I will try.
Reply
Sophielynette said 3:17AM on 10-16-2009
Scrivener is having a special promotion for NaNoWriMo. You can try the software for free from now until December 7th, and then after that, if you'd like to buy it, you get a 20% discount. Write 50k for NaNo and you get a 50%. I'm not a Scrivener rep or anything like that, but I thought the offer was too good to pass up, and in just a couple days of trying it, I've fallen in love.
This will be my second year doing NaNo and I'm aiming for 75k.
Reply