It's that time again! National Novel Writing Month! Who's in this year?

I'm doing a modified Nano, I'm not actually writing this year, I'm working on drawing out my comic that I scripted last year! Woo!

I’m in this year!

My project this year is a shorter story than my last three projects. It’s Youth ( not YA ) Fiction, set in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains and stars Griffin Redfern and Seamus Morrell,a black-footed ferret and an American badger. These two best friends are on a quest to find the meteorite that fell up on the high glacier and forge it into two Star Swords as their final project as apprentice blacksmiths.

The story is outlined and only needs to be fleshed out.

As of day 2, I have 3321 words.

- Ooo sounds fun! Did you manage to finish up your other series? The weasels one?

: Yea, in a way...all my little stories are about the weasels of the Central California Sierra Nevada...the ones that talk and wear pants, LOL! I got series one: Sparky and the Wheezles completely roughed out and will rewrite it later into a series of 4-6 books. That was NaNoWriMo year 1-4 for me The second series : Lady Frieda-Master Healer is also completely roughed and will be rewritten as a series of 6-8 books. (NaNoWriMo year 5-8) My third manuscript : Benji the Greaser is still in development as I have decided to divide it into two series, each approximately 4 books. (year 9-12)

The series I'm currently working on are one-off stories about Benji's seven remarkable offspring, Griffin being the first. This will be ready for publication by the first of the year. I'm going to either use Book Baby to publish, or self-publish on Amazon. I'll do the same for all the "offspring" stories.

- Ah, I see, so it's all the same universe, that's cool!

Mine's been an ongoing project for several years. for some reason I only seem to be able to really bunker down and work on it during nanowrimo! haha. Finally have the whole thing outlined, have gotten part 1 (of 2) beta read by a couple people. Have about half of part 1 scripted. I might hybrid draw/write/edit for this nanowrimo too, I'd like to get my beta readers to go over part 2, but it's still in editing phase, and I'd also like them to go over the script too, but that I kind of want to wait until I have the proofs of the pages so I can have the visuals for them as well. And that's what I'm working on currently! Turning the script into proofs, making sure the panels flow and the dialogue fits.

I'm learning so much, and still have so much to learn! I've only done short one-off comics before, like silly little things for my DnD campaigns/RPs etc. So this is mostly all new to me!

: That sounds so cool. I've always wanted to do a comic, but I just don't know how to go about to plan a graphic novel. I was toying with the idea of a 3-panel web comic strip based on Sparky and the Wheezles, where there was one gag per strip. I even sketched out a few strips, but alas... I admire you for doing a full story. Do you have examples on your Deviantart?

- I don't really either! That's what I'm learning! I'm mostly learning through trial and error, and what I feel like looks good/works, but I've read a few resources, and learned things like: if you want a 2 page spread, make sure you make it's on an even number page otherwise it gets split for printing! lol. Not sure I ever plan on printing, but still, those little things to keep in mind. Same with page resolution, it's gotta be bigger than I'm used to working with if it's ever going to be printed (but that comes later when I actually get to working on the final pages)

I haven't really kept my deviantart up to date, I mostly just post to discord these days, and on bluesky now. Here's a super old one: https://www.deviantart.com/kia-arra/art/Basilisk-Part-2-256784422 Here's a newer one, but it's more a gag one, I imagine when I get around to it, it'll look more similar to the first one, but digital (still just b&W tho). https://www.deviantart.com/kia-arra/art/Jotun-Armor-917660524

I had also planned to do a modified NaNo this year but lol November really snuck up on me and I'm already behind. Gonna try to use tomorrow to get it together.

I wish NaNoWriMo still had those little word count widgets..

I'm off to a good start, I have 11800 words done after day 4

I started out strong on day one and then have written about 150 words since. Oops.

- Yup, it does every year OTL. And subeta doesn't help with all the fun Morostide things I'm having more fun with than planning and prepping. OTL

- Same. Got good work done on day 1 and 2, but 3 and 4 were a total write off, now I'm trying to keep it together! It's like, I'm happy with my work, but there there's always that nagging feeling that it could be better >.< Anyone else get that?

- Oh man, yeah, I miss that!

Nothing today....I just don't have it in me. Paid bills...does that count?

Good Luck NaNos!

- Paying bills totally counts. OTL Adulting is the enemy of Nanowrimo. Conrgats on your second wind though!

I haven't done much of the drawing for the past few days (I'm having trouble with this one page) so instead I have been going back and editing some things on the outline so that it'll be ready later.

Hey NaNos!

Day 11: I hit 25,000 words. The action is heating up! Got my hero fighting wolves and falling down into glacial crevices.

I didn't think to look on Subeta, hey so I had my heart set on doing this this year, but life got in my way. I'm up 11 chapters in one story and three in a completely new story that -_- just came about. edited spelling and grammar in a few chapters in another fic.

Honestly with the support of my hubby I got more than I have in a long time. I'll be re-focusing come January, since I didn't finish either like I wanted to but I got over several arcs and a connecting hump. I know I got a mess to work out with a muddled thread line but this has been a seriously decent NaNo for me.

How did everyone else fair? (yes it's an early end for me. kiddo brought a bug home again -_- )

: Wow, that sounds great! It sounds like you have the right kind of support too. I'm fortunate that I also have a lot of support. I'm cheering you on! Yay!

Hey NaNos, I'm almost there, I have 49650 words and my story is almost done. My heroes have survived their quests, are putting the finishing touches on their mystical talismans and heading the call home. All that is left is the final battle. You all can do it! Two more days!!!

[edit] I did it, I finished. 55050 words total. Yay! My book isn't complete, I've still two epilogues to write, but it's mostly done. My little animals made their star-swords, used their weapons to bring peace to the Wolverine realm and healed their wounded king. The epilogues will detail their journey home ( you can never really go home ) and the legacy of their tale in the 'modern' world.

Good luck NaNos!

CONGRATULATIONS! That is an epic word count. You almost finished everything too! ^^ I hope you soak up that feeling of accomplishment. ^^ <3 <3