by Pat S.
Member since:
January 27, 2007

Second Annual WoNoWriMo

December 31, 2008 12:31 PM EST (Updated: February 01, 2009 11:25 AM EST)
views: 504 | comments: 184

Welcome to WoNoWriMo, the Wombat's Novel Writing Month!

Many of us participated in the internationally recognized NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month. Four people who started actually met or exceeded the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Many more gave it a good run and came close. For others, real life intervened, the muse took a holiday, or the challenge wasn't what was really needed.

WoNoWriMo is a way to start the New Year off right. It is a time to resolve to write, to make a commitment and for 30 days, do something for yourself and your goal of being an author. Or at least to have fun trying! All your other resolutions may fall by the wayside, but this is one you can keep.

Unlike Nano, you set your own goal here. Continue on with what you began in Nano. Start something new. Pick any number you want to set as a goal. One hundred words a day or a thousand. Your choice.

Just state your goal, make it public, and for 30 days bask in the glow of Wombat love and support. Whine, complain, celebrate, and cheer your fellow writers.

We'll take off New Year's day, but from January 2nd through January 31st, we'll work together to meet our goals!

Send me your starting numbers based on the chart below, and each time you write, send me your new numbers (once a day, please, not hourly!)

Ready, set, WRITE!!

UPDATED: February 1, 2009

 

Name

Starting #

Current Count

Previous

Variance from previous

Goal

To go

WINNER!

Autumn A.

0

11,806

1,971

9,835

30,000

18,194

 

Barbara L.

0

51,020

45,427

5,593

51,000

0

**********

Beaker

0

0

0

0

9,000

9,000

 

Beth H.

54,000

57,715

55,200

2,515

94,000

36,285

 

Dale

73,400

73,400

73,400

0

99,400

26,000

 

Dana F.

0

50,600

12,000

38,600

20,000

0

**********

Jamie C.

0

0

0

0

8 labs

8 labs

 

ML S

0

0

0

0

1 poem

1 poem

**********

Pat B.

0

10,450

9,783

667

15,000

4,550

 

Pat S.

51,761

52,431

52,431

0

75,000

22,569

 

Queen Lisa

22,829

28,036

26,436

1,600

38,000

9,964

 

Sherrie S.

0

9,900

8,094

1,806

30,000

20,100

 

Sia

0

6,233

3,109

3,124

40,000

33,767

 

Wanda H.

0

246

0

246

6,000

5,754

 

Wendy

18,304

18,304

18,304

0

30,000

11,696

 



link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 184

Pat Bertram Dec 31, 2008, 1:07pm EST
Can I pick 100 words a day? I'm pretty sure I can do that! :)
Wendy C. Dec 31, 2008, 1:16pm EST
I'm in.. but we don't start until the January 2nd right?
Beaker (just Beaker) Dec 31, 2008, 1:28pm EST
I'm in. My goal will be to write -something- every day. How do I chart that?
Pat Bertram Dec 31, 2008, 1:37pm EST
Beaker -- that's my goal, too. I need to be pushed to write something every day, otherwise my poor ms will molder in my mind.
Pat S. Dec 31, 2008, 2:45pm EST
Starts January 2nd. Send me your starting count and goal and I'll update this. And 100 words a day is a fine goal!
Sherrie Super Dec 31, 2008, 5:58pm EST
Count me in!

I'll need to ponder my goal. I'd love to say 50,000 words, but that's just crazy talk. Maybe 30,000 words. Probably equally crazy though. But I feel emboldened by the ideas you all presented on the Wombat thread. Oh, how I'd love to actually create a novel in a month. I'd be smug. Smug, I tell ya!
ML S. Dec 31, 2008, 6:08pm EST
I have established a goal of 1.198467 words per day. I can only hope I will be able to sustain that pace.

Actually, I seriously considered joining in the fun(I hope nobody fainted. I can be serious you know. I can.) Health things are probably going to keep me from doing it. And I have nothing to write about.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Dec 31, 2008, 6:24pm EST
I'm in - give me a day or two to figure out how many words I have and what a realistic goal for myself is...happy New Year!
Wanda H. Jan 1, 2009, 12:18am EST
I'm in. I am commiting to 200 words a day on a new ms. I don't have any words Pat so just start me out at zero.
Beth H. Jan 1, 2009, 12:52pm EST
I'm trying to decide which of two mss I want to tackle. Will report in soon.
Pat Bertram Jan 1, 2009, 1:52pm EST
Okay, I'm in. I'm going to make this a challenge and set my goal at 15,000 words. That's a commitment of four hours every night. We'll see what happens. Pat S. start my count at zero. I will be adding to my WIP, but I have only a rough estimate on the number of words. I actually wrote last night, as since half of my words ended up being written after midnight, I have a head start of 300 words. Wooeee.
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 1:54pm EST
Autumn, 1000 a day, anyway you want to do it, works! Mike, I'll expect a bit more from you! I'll update this tonight so we'll be ready to jump in!
Barbra L. Jan 1, 2009, 5:45pm EST
Pat: Count me in! Is there a particular group we need to join first?


I would like to set my goal at 1700 words per day:


Total - 51,000 w/in 30 days

Beginning Word Count - 0
Barbra L. Jan 1, 2009, 5:52pm EST
Also, when we send you our daily numbers, do you want us to leave the count here, or email them to you? Thank you for your patience! This is my first experience with something this "BIG"! ;-)
Sherrie Super Jan 1, 2009, 6:53pm EST
Alright, I'm going to set what is for me a very challenging goal. An average of 1,000 words per day. (Yikes!!!!) My starting number is zero.

Thanks so much, Pat, for organizing this!
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 7:08pm EST
Barbara, you can just gather mail me. There's no group to join. We're just challenging one another to start the year off right! Glad to see you here! And that's a great goal, just like Nano! Good luck!

Sherrie, you can do it! I'll update the article later this evening, and try to make sure I do it once a day (warning, I'm traveling Saturday, so it may be late Sunday before I update for the weekend).
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 9:46pm EST
Updated January 1. You can jump in anytime. Also, if you find yourself doing better than expected, you can adjust your goal UPWARD anytime you want! Good luck everyone!
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 9:48pm EST
BTW, Jamie is working on non-fiction, labs for a biochem book. Here's her goal, taken from another thread:

All of my lab book stuff is at work, Pat. I'm writing something like 25 labs total and have 1 written in it's entirety and then bits and pieces of others, not sure on word count or anything. So let's set a goal of 8 lab exercises completely written. I'm not even sure if that's a challenging goal or not. I think so. :-P
Jamie C., Jan 1, 2009, 9:02pm EST
ML S. Jan 1, 2009, 10:01pm EST
I'll probably do more than 1.198467 words per day. :-) Just have no clue what it will be. I haven't been writing as many poems for a while now.
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 10:05pm EST
Mike, as elegantly as you write,you really should try something longer. You have a wonderful story to tell. But I'll leave it up to you. If you want to think in terms of stanzas, or maybe 5 poems in a month, or whatever count works for you. The goal is to focus on creation, however you define that.
Sherrie Super Jan 1, 2009, 10:10pm EST
That sounds like a challenging goal to me, Jamie!

And am I the only one who heard an implied evil laugh when Pat said we could adjust our goals UPWARD?
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 10:21pm EST
Sherrie, there was nothing "implied" about that evil laugh. MWAHAHA!!! I've been taking lessons from the ACA.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 1, 2009, 10:22pm EST
Okay, I'm starting at 22,829. My goal is...38,000. I'm keeping it easy because I know I don't write fast...
Beaker (just Beaker) Jan 1, 2009, 10:54pm EST
If I put down a page a day, but sometimes I'm writing poetry, how many words a day would you recommend? 350? Somethin' like that? I'm such an amateur....
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:01pm EST
I just scanned some of my pages. they average about 300 words a page. So the question is, how much do you want to challenge yourself? 350 a day sounds pretty good, and would be 10,500 new words by the end of the month, which is pretty darned good!
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:02pm EST
How about you start with 300, and if that's not enough challenge, you can move up? That's still 9,000 words!
ML S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:03pm EST
I already have 20000 words, give or take 20000. :-)
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:05pm EST
Wow, Mike, and the challenge doesn't begin until midnight!
ML S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:17pm EST
Well, the take part of the give or take has it much closer to 0. More like .15738 of a word...heh.
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:26pm EST
Mike, you have 10 minutes. Give me a real goal or I make one up for you!
Sherrie Super Jan 1, 2009, 11:26pm EST
Oooh, I like the idea that it begins at midnight. At the stroke of twelve, I'm going to start writing like a demon. Or I'll start drinking. Either way, I'll be happy.

(I'm so thankful for a good job, yet wishing I had tomorrow off. Dang!)
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:30pm EST
Thankfully, Sherrie, I DO have tomorrow off. Which means the drinkign already began!
ML S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:37pm EST
I don't have a goal other than to write a poem I've been thinking about for a couple weeks.
Pat S. Jan 1, 2009, 11:40pm EST
There you go Mike, 1 poem. Since you write lots of ditties (as opposed to this important poem) it will be up to you to let me know when I can put a star in the winner column for you!
Jamie C. Jan 1, 2009, 11:44pm EST
Eeeee! It looks so set in stone put in a spreadsheet all professional like. Feel free to kick me in the pants at will. I probably won't get much done in the first week. Meetings.... But after that I'll be off to the races!

Thanks for organizing, Pat.
Beth H. Jan 1, 2009, 11:49pm EST
I'm starting at 54,000. Hoping to add 40,000 to complete my romance. Almost midnight, so I can start.

Actually, I've been reading what I've already done for this story. And I like it. That should be incentive enough to finish the thing. I'd like to have this one done before the July Romance convention.

Good writing, gang! Pat, thanks for the kick in the pants.
Sherrie Super Jan 1, 2009, 11:53pm EST
It does look all official, and kinda scary. But I know we'll be so glad we did this. Of course, I might be whistling in the graveyard here a little.
Pat S. Jan 2, 2009, 12:04am EST
OK, NOW it looks scary and official! Good writing to all!
Dale C. Jan 2, 2009, 12:05am EST
It's still before midnight local time so hopefully I can still join the festivities. I'm starting at 73,400 and am setting a goal of 26,000 words. That should finish the rough draft of my Nanowrite novel.
ML S. Jan 2, 2009, 12:10am EST
I have 5 words already. The title for the poem...lol.
Pat S. Jan 2, 2009, 12:10am EST
OK, Dale, got you in there as well!
Sherrie Super Jan 2, 2009, 12:50am EST
I noticed some goober downrated the article. No word count for them!
Pat S. Jan 2, 2009, 12:53am EST
Well, shoot. I thought I turned ratings off. My limp weenie stalker already got his Christmas present. Didn't mean to give it another one!
Pat S. Jan 2, 2009, 12:54am EST
Honestly, unless someone points it out, it never occurs to me to look at ratings! Although by doing that, they hurt each and every person here. Wow. Sad life.
Sherrie Super Jan 2, 2009, 12:57am EST
HAHAHAHA!!! Limp weenie stalker. No words AND no Viagra for him!
Pat S. Jan 2, 2009, 1:21am EST
Yeah, Sherrie. It takes a real man to know the difference between UP and down. And my stalker, who's sort of like having a pet iguana (lumpy, stinky, and not housebroken), except with no redeeming social value, has been around for ages.
Sherrie Super Jan 2, 2009, 1:26am EST
I spit in his general direction! And because I have a nasty head-cold, he shall find the spit especially repugnant.
Wanda H. Jan 3, 2009, 1:45am EST
Pat, he doesn't hurt me a bit, glad he dropped by to give you another view for this article. Although I join Sherrie in spitting, no cold but it's the thought that counts! heh Take that LWS!!!

Actually I never learned to properly spit so it would have dribbled down my chin, so instead I ...um... can't think of anything nasty enough... I cyber spit at him. Since I have a computer cyber virus that should do the trick!!
Pat S. Jan 3, 2009, 10:04am EST
Ladies, I am laughing at the spitting!

Looks like several of you did very, very well yesterday! WTG Barbara!!

I will be traveling until late tomorrow, but send me your numbers and I'll update again as soon as I can! Good writing day to you all!
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 3, 2009, 1:52pm EST
Oooh, 248 rockin' words last night (Jan. 2). Well, it's a start. I have to get back into the MS and all. Plus there was the chili-making. And then I started procrastinating with TN3 (that's "Trashy Novel 3").

Tonight will probably be a bust, as I'm having friends over to eat the aforementioned chili.
Pat Bertram Jan 3, 2009, 2:32pm EST
I wrote 617 words last night -- still on schedule. 13,756 to go.
Jamie C. Jan 3, 2009, 9:13pm EST
Nada for me. But I do believe Mike has written about 25 poems on the Wombat thread already. No time to write. uh-huh, riiiiiiight.

I might get some done on Monday. Not much. I have a syllabus to write and some lectures and a couple of tests first.

If I try to spit on LWS I'll start coughing uncontrollably, so I'll just cough on said LWS and save myself a step.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 4, 2009, 4:37am EST
Okay, I need to clarify something. I'm not planning on writing an additional 38K of wurdz. This, my friends, will not happen. I'm just trying to get to 38K. So that's, like, erm...15K to write. Or something.

I have some piddling word count tonight, but I'm making myself do a little something, in spite of company, chili and football.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 4, 2009, 5:05am EST
And tonight...381 rockin' wurdz!!!

I'll do better tomorrow...but hey. This is what I've figured out. You do a little bit consistently, and eventually that leads to a lot more, consistently. Especially when you're a pantzer like I am, trying to figure out things on the fly, which really feels stressful sometimes. A lot like when I used to play in a band, actually - a form of performance anxiety...
Pat Bertram Jan 4, 2009, 1:22pm EST
Lisa, this is cool -- seems like it's a special novel writing month for us slow writers -- you're the only one I know who writes as slowly as I do. We also have the same goal -- 15,000 words.

510 words last night. 13,246 to go.
Pat S. Jan 4, 2009, 4:38pm EST
Everybody is doing well (except me, but my excuse is I just spent the last 24 hours in a car!) Numbers updated. Please check and let me know if anything is wrong. Please email me your numbers. It makes it easier to do all the updates at once. Way to go folks!
Barbra L. Jan 4, 2009, 8:13pm EST
I love this challenge, Pat. The chart is a wonderful idea. Thank you so much for all that you're doing. This is my first experience with this kind of writing, and your organized format has made it a very enjoyable one.

Barbra ;-)
ML S. Jan 4, 2009, 9:46pm EST
I'm not doing well with mine at all. Haven't felt like putting pencil to paper since Marie passed away. The poem I was going to write has slipped away.
Sherrie Super Jan 4, 2009, 10:42pm EST
Wow, Barbra, you are FAST. I'm in awe.
*Mentally cracking myself with a whip.* Hyah! Hyah!
Pat S. Jan 5, 2009, 12:56pm EST
I'm glad you're enjoying this Barbara!

Sherrie, you'll catch up. As will I. My only excuse is that I took a wholly unplanned vacation. I'll catch up when the weekend comes.

Mike, I'm sorry for your loss, and caught your ode to your aunt. There are many days left in the month; I'm sure the other will come tiptoeing back to you.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 5, 2009, 3:09pm EST
Okay, I'm putting this here instead of in an email. I did 558 words last night but they were for the MS I have out on submission (I juiced up a chapter). So they don't exactly count for my overall goal. But they are words written, nonetheless.

I, um, also did a little spot editing on Trashy Novel 3. Why? Because.
Pat S. Jan 5, 2009, 8:17pm EST
Yes, they are words written, Lisa, and they DO count. Do you want them included as counting toward your goal?

I'm still dopey from the trip and have gotten nothing written at all. But I know my patterns. Give me one good Saturday and I can catch up!
Pat S. Jan 5, 2009, 11:40pm EST
Updated. As an added incentive, I've included how many words you need to average per day from here to the end of the month in order to meet your goals! Good luck!
Wanda H. Jan 6, 2009, 3:59am EST
you're a peach! That average makes me feel a little better for blowing this so far.
Barbra L. Jan 6, 2009, 10:45am EST
Pat,

That really is a great incentive. Thank you! I appreciate it! ;-)
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 6, 2009, 9:22pm EST
Barbra, you gotta drop by the Wombat chat thread some time...

Sure, Pat. I think the wurdz should count. They are wurdz. And I may get tangled up in more rewrites for the MS on submission, and that has to be the priority should it happen.

Sherrie is cracking me up.
Pat S. Jan 6, 2009, 9:53pm EST
Updated. I get the nicest emails from all of you saying how much fun you're having. I'm so glad! Now, if only I could get inspired (I need to borrow Sherrie's whip!)
Sherrie Super Jan 6, 2009, 11:22pm EST
Ooooh, I like the additional info. That's really helpful Pat!

Whips for everyone!
Sherrie Super Jan 7, 2009, 1:53am EST
Well, I'm thinking my whip's defective.
Two nights in a row with zero words.

DANG!!! I've got some making up to do.
Barbra L. Jan 7, 2009, 3:58pm EST
Lisa:

Thanks for the Wombat Invitation!

Let me know where and when, and I'll check it out!
Dana F. Jan 7, 2009, 10:36pm EST
Hi, Pat,

I don't know how many words I need to do...er...about 20,000 total. I've averaged 3,000 a day for the last three days and 15,000 the two days previous... I have to finish my book by Sunday...so... I've done...12,000 so far?
Pat S. Jan 7, 2009, 10:56pm EST
Updated.

We have a new victim, er, um, player. Everybody say hi Dana (HI DANA!) Sunday? Are you insane? 3K words per day? Lady, you are seriously scary!!

And we have our first winner! Everybody syay woot to Mike! (W00t MIKE!!!) Ten stars for Mike! I'm hoping Michael is willing to share his poem with us, just as I hope everyone shares a snippet or excerpt when they are moved to do so. It's not a requirement, just a wish. I've been so very lucky to have seen Mike's poem. Eloquent, deeply from his heart, and quite moving.

I'm hoping all of you inspire me to get in the game this coming weekend! Keep writing! You can do this. I did 50K in November's Nano. This should be a piece a' cake!
ML S. Jan 7, 2009, 11:05pm EST
I did. It's posted here.
Sherrie Super Jan 7, 2009, 11:08pm EST
Holy crap, Dana! You've got to finish your book by Sunday????? Wow.

Dang, I'm SO out of my league here. This is probably a good thing, because shame at my own sorry performance might be a good motivator. I've finally shaken the crud, so I'm back in business, folks. I think.

Thanks for the words of encouragement to all of us, Pat! (Mmmmmm...caaaaaake...)
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 7, 2009, 11:14pm EST
Barbra - just go to our homepage: http://writingwombats.gather.com - and look for the most recent featured article with a roman numeral. You will find us!
Pat S. Jan 7, 2009, 11:26pm EST
LOL Sherrie! You crack me up! Yes, cake, although I'm usually more inspired by key lime pie! There ya go. Easy as pie! Though I know you. If I mention hot fudge sundaes, will you be inspired?
Dana F. Jan 7, 2009, 11:28pm EST
I want cake!

I'm at 3600 for today. I'm getting sleepy.
I LOVE Mike's poem!
Sherrie Super Jan 7, 2009, 11:29pm EST
Mmmmm...sundae.....
Sherrie Super Jan 7, 2009, 11:43pm EST
Sleepy, Dana? Dang, no wonder! 3,600 words in a day? Wow.
Dana F. Jan 8, 2009, 12:07am EST
Everything is blurring together now...and I'm trying to write a hot kissing scene and it's.. well, lukewarm at the moment. I think sleep will help.
Lisa "Queen Wombat" F. Jan 8, 2009, 3:14am EST
Mmmm...Rusten Cuvee Simone....
Barbra L. Jan 8, 2009, 11:28am EST
Thank you, Lisa!

Hi Dana!!

ML: Congratulations, on meeting your goal!! I read your poem. It is absolutely beautiful... a "must read".
Jamie C. Jan 8, 2009, 4:17pm EST
Okay, I've written 300 words of 1 lab. Now I don't feel totally inadequate, just mostly inadequate.
Pat Bertram Jan 8, 2009, 8:59pm EST
Every time I start to do a writing month, life gets in the way. The heck with that! This month I'm going to finish my goal. Write on.
Dana F. Jan 8, 2009, 9:16pm EST
2400 today... up to 40,700. My eyes hurt.

Hi, Barbra! And howdy Jamie and Pat too!

And now I must read upwards 'cause I can only see the last three comments. :-)
Pat S. Jan 8, 2009, 11:54pm EST
Updated! A couple of you are seriously burning down the house! Dana, you astonish me! I would die if I had to write at warp speed that way!!

The rest of us (yes, that means me too!) have some serious catching up to do! Hang in there. There's plenty of time to get in the game (so I keep telling myself!)
Pat Bertram Jan 9, 2009, 7:20pm EST
Still plugging away. Dana, I can't even imagine writing 2400 words in a day. Way to go!
Pat S. Jan 10, 2009, 1:06am EST
Updated. Please check your numbers. Barbara found an error in hers (thank you, and I apologize. Sometimes spreadsheets and I get in a tangle and disagree on things!). I've made the corrections.

In some parts of the country it is now the weekend. May it be a productive writing one!
Dana F. Jan 10, 2009, 7:35pm EST
Up to 45, 428.
Meh.
Dana F. Jan 10, 2009, 7:37pm EST
Yesterday was only 1666 words. I can't believe I say 'only' with that number, but my writing habits have changed a lot to make this deadline...

That's the Devil's Number plus 1K, btw.
Dana F. Jan 11, 2009, 6:54pm EST
Okay...I wrote approx. 5,000 words yesterday. Today I'm finishing I will post when done.
Pat S. Jan 11, 2009, 7:53pm EST
I've been crappy about putting in updates. I'll get one in tonight. Sorry. Real life is such an interference in my fun! And no, I have not written a word. The spirit is willing but the muse is distracted!
Sherrie Super Jan 11, 2009, 10:13pm EST
Well Pat, is wordlessness loves company, you're not alone, sister!

My month began with the crud and an unrelated distraction. I'm terribly behind. But I swear I'm goinna be better from now on. Now where, oh where, have you heard that before?

If nothing else, I'm thinking I can pilfer a few words from Dana. Surely with 5,000 in one day, she wouldn't miss few hundred, right?
Dana F. Jan 11, 2009, 10:37pm EST
Sherrie, I give them to you freely. I FINISHED!!!!! 50,600 words total. I am so proud of myself for making this deadline, I can't even tell you. I'm taking a couple days off, then have to jump on my chapters of What Women Really Want in Bed. Snort.
Sherrie Super Jan 11, 2009, 10:40pm EST
Dana, You SHOULD be proud of yourself. That's amazing!