National Novel Finishing Month

NaNoFiMo FAQ
What exactly is the NaNoFiMo challenge? We're glad you asked. NaNoFiMo is a challenge to write at least 30,000 words on your unfinished novel draft and to reach a conclusion to the novel, between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31. Why 30,000? For one thing, the 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo plus another 30,000 words makes 80,000 words, which is on the low end of what's usually considered a real novel these days. Also, it's an ambitious goal, like NaNoWriMo, but not quite as ambitious, taking into account the need to relax after NaNo and to attend Christmas festivities. Also, we were going to say that it worked out to a nice, even 1,000 words a day. But then we remembered that December has 31 days. What counts as an unfinished novel draft? What if I want to start fresh? A novel with 0 words in it is certainly unfinished, so it's fine by us. Existing drafts with a beginning and ending are a bit more fiddly. We don't want to discourage writers who like to write out of order from using NaNoFiMo to add in the missing pieces and create a finished work, but if what you have is a mostly finished draft that needs a few scenes tweaked or added, you're a candidate for NaNoEdMo instead. Is editing allowed? Yes, editing is allowed. However, to fulfill the challenge, you need at least 30,000 new words. How will you know if the words are new? We won't, especially since we have no spiffy word-counter like NaNoWriMo does. We're entirely on the honor system here. OK, but how will I know? Take note of your original word count before you start and subtract it from your final word count. Or, keep the new writing in a separate document. Why is this FAQ so short? Shouldn't this be a hilarious yet informative masterpiece like the NaNoWriMo FAQ? Yes, it should, but we are a working mother of an infant and we have limited time and brainpower. You'll have to take what you can get. So when you say "we," you really mean "I," right? Yes. How can I find out more about NaNoFiMo? Can I sign up somewhere? We don't have much additional content yet, but you can sign up in the discussion forums. Exactly who or what is this "Pookel" character? My real name is Alice and I'm a news editor at a newspaper in North Dakota. I'm sticking with Pookel here because it's been my NaNoWriMo username for three years, and since I'm usually in the top ten most prolific posters there, just about everyone there knows me that way.

NaNoFiMo FAQ

What exactly is the NaNoFiMo challenge?
We're glad you asked. NaNoFiMo is a challenge to write at least 30,000 words on your unfinished novel draft and to reach a conclusion to the novel, between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31.

Why 30,000?
For one thing, the 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo plus another 30,000 words makes 80,000 words, which is on the low end of what's usually considered a real novel these days. Also, it's an ambitious goal, like NaNoWriMo, but not quite as ambitious, taking into account the need to relax after NaNo and to attend Christmas festivities. Also, we were going to say that it worked out to a nice, even 1,000 words a day. But then we remembered that December has 31 days.

What counts as an unfinished novel draft? What if I want to start fresh?
A novel with 0 words in it is certainly unfinished, so it's fine by us. Existing drafts with a beginning and ending are a bit more fiddly. We don't want to discourage writers who like to write out of order from using NaNoFiMo to add in the missing pieces and create a finished work, but if what you have is a mostly finished draft that needs a few scenes tweaked or added, you're a candidate for NaNoEdMo instead.

Is editing allowed?
Yes, editing is allowed. However, to fulfill the challenge, you need at least 30,000 new words.

How will you know if the words are new?
We won't, especially since we have no spiffy word-counter like NaNoWriMo does. We're entirely on the honor system here.

OK, but how will I know?
Take note of your original word count before you start and subtract it from your final word count. Or, keep the new writing in a separate document.

Why is this FAQ so short? Shouldn't this be a hilarious yet informative masterpiece like the NaNoWriMo FAQ?
Yes, it should, but we are a working mother of an infant and we have limited time and brainpower. You'll have to take what you can get.

So when you say "we," you really mean "I," right?
Yes.

How can I find out more about NaNoFiMo? Can I sign up somewhere?
We don't have much additional content yet, but you can sign up in the discussion forums.

Exactly who or what is this "Pookel" character?
My real name is Alice and I'm a news editor at a newspaper in North Dakota. I'm sticking with Pookel here because it's been my NaNoWriMo username for three years, and since I'm usually in the top ten most prolific posters there, just about everyone there knows me that way.