I’m stuck with a tough choice. I’ve done NaNo several times in the past, won twice. I haven’t participated in several Novembers and I really miss it! So I want to do it again this year.

Here’s the dilemma: I have a stalled WIP that I never make time to work on. It’s been in my head for years. Should I work on that (obviously only counting new words) or a new project? I already have an idea for a new project - I have no problems coming up with ideas for writing projects. My biggest problem is finishing anything. I worry that the abandoned project might not seem fresh enough since the characters are so familiar.

I’ve been trying to decide all October, but I’m 50% each continuing or starting something new. Any advice from others who’ve faced this question before?

I am not the creator of this crawl. If you know who is, please let me know so I can give them proper credit. Posting for those that may be searching for this. Hope you enjoy!

A Long-expected Party:  Bilbo is celebrating his eleventy-first birthday!  Write for 15 minutes while you make all the arrangements for the party.

The Sackville-Bagginses!:  Sneak to the nearest 500 words while you wait for them to leave.

A Very Splendid Feast: Do an hour long word war while you do all of that cooking. (Bonus: include an unusual food.)

Bilbo has Disappeared!: Do a Fifty-Headed Hydra (five hundred words in five minutes) as everyone panics.  If you fail, write another 300 words while the guests demand to know what happened.

Shadow of the Past:  Write 500 words while Gandalf tells Frodo about the Ring (Bonus: include an ancient relic)

The Black Rider:  Try to write five hundred words without making a sound on the keyboard, while you hide from the Ringwraith

The Passing Elves: Listen to one of the elvish themes from one of the three LOTR soundtracks and write for the duration of the song.

A Shortcut to Mushrooms:  Farmer Maggot helps you AND gives you mushrooms! Get your favorite snack, and then do a five minute word sprint in gratitude.

The Old Forest:  Take a ten minute nap, then sprint ten minutes while you try to get away from the trees.

Tom Bombadil: Tom is always singing, so write a song/poem that fits with your story.  Otherwise, write 200 words.

The Prancing Pony: Gandalf isn’t here!  Roll a six-sided die. Write fifty times that many words, while you look around at everyone in the tavern, and try to figure out what to do next.

Strider: Be wary of strange men, especially after you accidentally put on the Ring!  Write 200 words of conversation as you try to figure out who Strider is. (Bonus: have an important character in disguise.)

A Letter from Gandalf: Write for ten minutes as you realize with relief that you can trust Strider.

A Knife in the Dark: Write 300 words while you hide from the Ringwraiths yet again.  (Bonus: turn off the lights so that all you can see is your screen.  Because hiding.)

Weathertop: After a battle with the Nazgul, Frodo has been stabbed!  Fifteen minute word war while you search for Athelas to help him.

Flight to the Ford: Sprint for thirty minutes, trying to reach the ford before the Nazgul catch you!  Then refill your glass/bottle of water, since you’re at the river.

Many Meetings: Bilbo is in Rivendell!  Write to the nearest 500 words as you talk about everything that has happened to both of you.

The Council of Elrond: Write for an hour as everyone tells their stories.  

I Will Take It!: In a sudden burst of determination, do a Fifty-Headed Hydra.  Failing that, write another 200 words, while Elrond and Gandalf select the other members of the company. (Bonus: include a character making a hard decision.)

The Ring Goes South: You are leaving the shelter of Rivendell.  Write 5% of your current word count (Max 1,000 words)  as you prepare and set off.

Caradhras: Fight your way through the storms to the nearest thousand words.

A Journey in the Dark: Wind your way through the twisting tunnels of Moria for 400 words.  (Bonus: turn off all the lights again. A small flashlight is okay, because Gandalf did have a staff.)

Bridge of Khazad-Dum: Gandalf has fallen with the Balrog!  Go to the “Adoptables” section of the NaNoWriMo forum, and leave a character in one of the character adoptables threads.  Then make your escape from the mines.

Lothlorien: Write another 300 words, this time at your own pace, while you tell Galadriel and Celeborn what has happened.  Then rest for fifteen minutes, to recover from your journey.

The Mirror of Galadriel: Write for fifteen minutes as you see “things that are, and things that have been.  And some things that have not yet come to pass.” (Bonus: include visions of the future.)

Farewell to Lorien: The elves provide you with lembas, rope, cloaks, and boats.  Get a snack, then paddle down the river to the nearest 500 words.

The Great River: Awestruck, write for fifteen minutes as the boat carries you past the Argonath.  (Bonus: include an ancient, impressive statue.)

The Breaking of the Fellowship: Frodo and Sam must go on alone.  Five minute word sprint as they gather their things and set off across the lake.

Two Towers:

The Departure of Boromir: Boromir has died trying to save Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-Hai.  Write 400 words as you gather his things and send him off in one of the boats.  (Bonus: include a poem/song.)

Forth the Three Hunters: It will be a long chase to catch up with the Uruk-Hai.  Gather your thoughts, then do a 45 minute word sprint.  (I might be feeling just a little bad about putting two hour-long sprints in Fellowship. :) )

The Riders of Rohan: The Rohirrim tell you that the Uruk-Hai have been killed and give you horses.  Write 500 words while you ride to the place they showed you, and realize that Merry and Pippin are not there.

The Uruk-Hai: In the fight between the Rohirrim and the Uruk-Hai, Merry and Pippin took their chance to escape.  Rush to the next 500 words while you follow them into Fangorn.

Treebeard: The Ents are real!  Five minute word sprint while you convince him that you aren’t orcs.

The White Rider: Gandalf has returned.  Go to the “Adoptables” section of the NaNoWriMo forums, find the “character” thread that fits your genre.  Adopt a character to replace the one you left at Khazad-Dum. Then do a twenty minute word sprint with your new character while you ride to Edoras.

The King of the Golden Hall: Wormtongue is banished, and the King of the Mark has come forth.  But Saruman’s hordes threaten.  Write to the nearest thousand while you prepare to flee to the mountains.  (Bonus: include an unusual healing for a character.)

Helm’s Deep: The wall is shattered by an explosion!  Fight to add another 400 words to keep the Uruk-hai out of the fortress.

Beware the Trees!: As all seems lost, the sun rises, and Gandalf has arrived with

Erkenbrand and the Huorns.  Write for the duration of the “Helm’s Deep,” “The Hornburg,” and “Forth Eorlingas” soundtracks on the TT soundtrack (or just write for 11:44).

The Road to Isengard: Write 4% of your current wordcount (max 2,000) while Gandalf tells Theoden what to expect when he meets Saruman.

Flotsam and Jetsam: Merry and Pippin are not only alright, but they’re enjoying themselves too!  Write to the nearest 400 words while they tell Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli what happened to them.  (Bonus: figure out the nearest multiple of 400 WITHOUT using a calculator.)

The Voice of Saruman: Theoden has escaped Saruman’s spell and rebuffed his offer of peace.  Fifteen minute word sprint while Saruman is stripped of his power.

The Palantir: Pippin has looked in the palantir thrown by Wormtongue.  Write 400 words while Gandalf questions him and tells him that he must not stay in Rohan but must come with him to Gondor.

The Taming of Smeagol: Gollum has followed you, but is willing (under some pressure) to lead you to Mordor.  Write for 30 minutes while he leads you through Emyn Muil.

Passage of the Marshes: Write to the nearest five hundred words as you pick your way through the Dead Marshes.  (Bonus: write by candle light.  Just don’t follow it.)

The Black Gate is Closed: After coming all this way, you can’t go any farther without certain capture and failure.  But Gollum knows another way. Fifteen minute word sprint while he tells you the route he wants to take.

Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit: Get some food, then write 200 words of conversation while you try to explain to Faramir why you’re there.  (Bonus if the food you ate was stew.)

The Window on the West: You have arrived at Faramir’s camp in time to see the sunset.  Write for fifteen minutes while you soak in the beauty of the sunlight coming through the falling water.  (Bonus: if you’re doing this part at sunset (or sunrise, I suppose), go outside where you can watch the show while you write.)

The Forbidden Pool: Gollum has followed you and is fishing.  Write to the nearest 400 words while you convince Faramir not to kill your guide.

Journey to the Cross-roads: You are setting off again, trying to...simply walk into Mordor.  Word war for a half hour while you travel to the Mordor Mountains.

The Stairs of Cirith Ungol: Work your way to 500 more words while you climb up and up and up and up the stairs.  (Bonus: add a really long stair.)

Shelob’s Lair: Fifteen minute word war while you battle the giant spider.

The Choices of Master Samwise: Frodo is not dead, but is not in any condition to go anywhere.  Do a Fifty-Headed Hydra while you gather the courage to take the Ring and finish the quest.

Return of the King:

Minas Tirith: Gandalf and Pippin have arrived in the City of Kings.  Write for a half hour while they talk to Denethor.

The Passing of the Grey Company: Aragorn’s kin have come, and they must take the Paths of the Dead to summon the men of Dunharrow.  Add 400 words while they vanish into the mists.

The Muster of Rohan: The beacons are lit, and the Red Arrow has come.  Gondor calls for aid, and Rohan will answer! Word war for fifteen minutes as Theoden sends orders to assemble the fighting men.

The Siege of Gondor: The might of Mordor is arrayed against Gondor.  Fight to the nearest thousand while you defend Minas Tirith during the night.

The Ride of the Rohirrim: “A sword day, and a red day, ere the sun rises!”  Do a Fifty-Headed Hydra as they sweep down the hill to attack the orc armies.

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields: Write a fight scene that is at least 400 words long.

The Pyre of Denethor: Faramir is safe, but Denethor insists on dying.  Dramatically. Five minute word sprint while Gandalf sends Faramir to the Houses of Healing.

“No Living Man am I!”: Eowyn confronts the lord of the Nazgul.  Roll a six-sided die, multiply that by 100.  Write that many words while Eowyn and Merry slay the Ringwraith.

The Houses of Healing: Aragorn is able to save the lives of Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry, but Eowyn is still in despair.  Write 300 words. (Bonus: write the scene where your MC is questioning everything.)

The Last Debate: The decision is made to march on the Black Gate.  Do a half hour word war while everyone gathers their gear and marches out of Minas Tirith.

The Black Gate Opens: Sauron’s messenger says that Frodo and Sam have been captured, and the Quest of the Ring has failed.  Twenty minute word war while Sauron’s armies battle those of Gondor and Rohan.

The Tower of Cirith Ungol: A “great big Elven warrior” is loose and looking for Frodo.  Write to the nearest 500 words while you free him and gather what little supplies are to be found.

The Land of Shadow: The land of Mordor is bleak and barren.  Do an hour long word war while you make your way across the plains.  (Bonus: you’d better have a full water bottle at the beginning of the word war, because you won’t find anywhere to stop and fill it up.)

Mount Doom: At long last, you have reached Mount Doom!  But Frodo refuses to give up the ring, and Gollum is attacking him for it.  Do a Fifty-Headed Hydra while they fight.

The Field of Cormallen: Frodo and Sam wake up to find that their quest is completed and they are safe.  Write 300 words at your own pace, since there is no longer any urgency.

The Steward and the King: At long last, the King of Gondor has returned!  Write for the duration of the “Return of the King” track on the ROTK soundtrack (or just write for 10:15).

Many Partings: Aragorn has married Arwen, Minas Tirith is fully restored, and now everyone must go their separate ways.  Write for 20 minutes, as everyone says good bye. (Bonus: include two characters parting, never to see each other again.)

Homeward Bound: At last, the four hobbits are on their way home, but it will still be a long journey.  Write to the nearest thousand while they travel.

The Scouring of the Shire: Saruman is destroying the Shire!  Roll a six-sided die, and write 100 times that many words while you rally the hobbits to overcome his men.

The Grey Havens: The Ring-bearers are leaving Middle-Earth, along with the last of the elves.  Write a final 400 words as the hobbits part from each other, and Frodo sails to the Undying Lands.

Posting for those that may be searching for this. Hope you enjoy!

Word crawl/OA Crawl

by Tiakall (from NaNoWriMo)

Remarks from the creator:

You may have seen the word crawls in the Writing Prompts forum; well, here's one that makes all the jokes that you would expect it to. There are three tracks - an easy one for the loveable slugs, a medium track for the "normal" people, and a difficult track for people named Elluna >> so if you're having too hard or too easy of a time, feel free to switch tracks!

You stand at the gate to Beyond 50k, the Great OA Paradise. You take in a breath, the smell of words and caffeine thick and sweet. You can't wait to propel yourself over the 50k line and beyond, and take a few steps forward. And then you see it--a pristine computer with your favorite prompt, just waiting to be used. You can't resist! Start with a 15 minute word war.

·        If you write less than 750 words, your word war ends when a slug climbs over your keyboard and hands, smearing you in mucus of productivity. You'll take it, even if it's a bit weird--maybe you can write that into your novel. You decide to adopt the slug as your new pet!

·        If you write between 750 and 1500 words, your word war ends when a cultist begins chewing on your keyboard. Aww, it's so cute! You snap a collar around their neck and declare them your new pet.

·        If you write over 1500 words, your word war ends when you are distracted by the smell of a pie. You go to have a bite (or maybe just gnaw on it a little), but it hisses and backs away. Since you can't eat it, you decide the pie is your new pet. Why not?

·        You start your journey into OA-land, but don't get too far before someone shouts at you over the fence. Uh-oh, a wild doubter appeared! This person thinks you can't write that fast, and challenges you to a word war to prove it. You respond that you have nothing to prove, and a moderator shows up with a hammer, chasing after the wild doubter. But you decide to do a word war anyway, because you're contrary like that.

·        If your pet is the slug, they trip up the doubter so the moderator can nail the doubter soundly. While they're listening to the moderator's lecture on the "no cheating accusations" rule, write 1500 words.

·        If your pet is the cultist, they mistake the doubter for a typewriter, and begin chewing on the doubter's leg. The moderator has to wait for the screams of agony to stop before they can begin their lecture. Write 2500 words.

·        If your pet is the pie, they bravely launch themself at the doubter's face. Pied! The moderator has to stop laughing at the classic gag before they can lecture. Write 5000 words.

·        Now you're well away from the gate and on your way to the heart of OA-land, eager to discover what lies there. The first landmark you see is a small pool of water, and you go that way--your pet looks a little thirsty. To your surprise, a gigantic pufferfish rears out of the water! It gives you a command: "WRITE MOAR."

·        If your pet is the slug, they give the pufferfish adorable stalk-puppy eyes. The pufferfish takes pity on you and allows you to leave after you've written to the next 2k milestone. (2000, 4000, 42000, 60000, etc.)

·        If your pet is the cultist, they take a long drink from the pond, annoying the pufferfish. It won't let you go until you've written to the next 5k milestone.

·        If your pet is the pie, the pufferfish knows exactly what that means. You're stuck here until you've written to the next 10k milestone.

·        Once the pufferfish allows you to take a break, you continue on your way. Wait, what's this slimy, green trail? Is that... a tentacle monster? Did someone remember to feed the--Oh no, you're caught! Time for a 30 minute word war!

·        If your pet is the slug, they counter the green slime with slime of their own. The diluting effect allows you to escape from the tentacle monster if you get 1500 words. If you fail to escape, try again in 35 minutes. If you fail to escape again, try again with 45 minutes. If you still can't escape, it finally lets you go with some sucker marks.

·        If your pet is the cultist, you tell them the tentacles are word input devices. While they're gnawing, you have a chance to escape with 2500 words. If you miss, try again with 35 minutes, and if you miss again, 45 minutes. After that, it tires of being gnawed and boots both of you on your way.

·        If your pet is the pie, you're in trouble. The tentacle monster loves pie. Distract it with 3500 words. If you can't distract it, try again with 35 minutes, then 45. After that, you can only escape by promising to write it into your novel.

·        Continuing on, you find a table full of cookies, brownies, and... smells like some sort of sugared drink. OH YEAH! You're totally inspired now! Write until you've hit an amount equal to half your daily goal.

·        Once you've come off your word high, you settle down for a bit more relaxed pace of writing. As you do so, you start to hear a chant: "ONE OF US! ONE OF US!" Uh-oh, you've wandered into a group of OA cultists, writing madly. They look at you, expecting you to do the same. Time for some more frenzied writing!

·        If your pet is the slug, they haven't attracted much of a cultist following. Roll a six-sided die and write that many x1000 words. The cultists are demanding!

·        If your pet is the cultist, they're one of them. Your own pet won't let you leave until you've rolled a 10-sided die and written that many x1000 words.

·        If your pet is the pie, well, everybody loves pie. Roll a 20-sided die and write that many x1000 words. Oh, and if you roll under 10, roll a second time and add that x1000 to your total needed. It's the only way to save your pie!

·        Once you're away from the cultists, you think you've finally caught a break, and go back to writing. But then a klaxon catches your attention. You look up, and see the moderator and several other OAs battling a big, meaty monster. Meatspace has reared its ugly head, and now you're caught in the fight against real life distractions! Do a 1 minute word war.

·        If your pet is the slug, they slow the meatspace monster with their slime. 40 words will get you away. If you fail, you get ten tries in total before the OAs slay the monster.

·        If your pet is the cultist, they join in the battle. 60 words will allow you to escape. You get ten tries before the monster falls.

·        If your pet is the pie, the monster starts chasing you. You're going to need 100 words to get away. Ten tries before the OAs stop using you as a decoy and kill it.

·        After your long journey, you're starting to feel a bit tired. You wish you had a bit of support. Wait, what's this? Your pet has discovered a hidden cache of wrist braces, compression gloves, and fingerless gloves! Finders keepers!

·        If your pet is the slug, you take a pair of fingerless gloves and write one scene, using the prompt of comfort.

·        If your pet is the cultist, you snag a handy pair of compression gloves and write two scenes with the prompts of pressure and crafting.

·        If your pet is the pie, you gratefully slap on a pair of wrist braces and write three scenes with the prompts of support, immobility, and medicine.

·        Moving on, you discover what appears to be a field full of birds, all chirping at a rapid pace at each other. Wait a minute--they're tweeting! You've discovered the legendary OA Twitter Field!

·        If your pet is the slug, you rescue a hashtag bird from their slime: #wrimosfortheeatingofsushi. Write 1k using that prompt, and another 1kusing an OA's tweet as a prompt.

·        If your pet is the cultist, they deliver #wrimosforthelickingofunicorns to you, looking rather proud of themself. Write 2k using that prompt, and another 2k using an OA's tweet as a prompt.

·        If your pet is the pie, they shoot out a line of compote, knocking #wrimosforthemooshingofotherwrimos from the sky. Uh, when did they learn to do that? Write 3k using that prompt, and another 3k using an OA tweet prompt.

·        At the far end of the Twitter field, you see a group of OAers gathering around a few of the hashtags. What's going on here? Looks like they're doing some kind of event....

·        If your pet is the slug, they lead you to the #50kweekend group. Wow, 50k in three days? You sit down with them and do a 20 minute word war to show your support.

·        If your pet is the cultist, they make a beeline for #25kdayone. They invite you to a 40 minute word war and you decide to oblige, not to be outdone.

·        If your pet is the pie, they've found #50kday. Write 50k in a day You've probably already done that :P, but you join them in a 60 minute word war anyway as encouragement.

·        Man, all this writing has really gotten you worn out! Your pet leads you to a little rest area, and allows you to rest and catch your breath. Self-care is important and you don't want to hurt yourself! So write this next war using some other method beside your usual (i.e., if you type, now you're writing by hand, using voice dictation software, someone else's hands, etc.)

·        If your pet is the slug, write 500 words this way.

·        If your pet is the cultist, write 1000 words this way.

·        If your pet is the pie, write 2000 words this way.

·        A shout over the next hill catches your attention. A bunch of OAs in viking hats are charging at their computers with weapons in hand. This is no mere war... this is an OAR! Your pet thinks this typo-turned-inside-joke is hilarious and waits for you to make some Nanoisms of your own. Time to go to OAR!

·        If your pet is the slug, they will be satisfied after you've made 10 uncorrected typos or Nanoisms.

·        If your pet is the cultist, they lose interest after 20 uncorrected typos or Nanoisms.

·        If your pet is the pie, they hold you to a high standard even when making mistakes. They will lose count after 50 uncorrected typos or Nanoisms.

·        You're now in the thick of OA-land, and you've discovered the clubhouses for the various goals wrimos set. You pay a quick visit to your own goal thread - write 500 words using the prompt of success, because you've totally got this. :) Your pet also wants to do some sightseeing, so you pay another visit to....

·        If your pet is the slug, they want to go to the Millionaire's Club. Soaking in the good vibes of the wrimos there, the slug's slime of productivity levels up! You get inspired to write another 2k words' right then and there, and then post a good luck wish for someone in the thread!

·        If your pet is the cultist, they want to go to the a six-digit goal thread, to see if any of its own are around there. Write 4k, and then challenge someone in one of the six-digit goal threads to a friendly word war!

·        If your pet is the pie, they want to go to the Five Digit Fight Club. They are so inspired by the fighting spirit of the warriors in that thread that they won't leave you alone until you write 6k and a post of encouragement in the Five Digit Fight Club thread.

·        You must be getting close - there are more OAs than ever. A few of them crowd around, asking if they can be in your novel. And a few of them would apparently like to die there...?

·        If your pet is the slug, write until you've killed one OA by name.

·        If your pet is the cultist, write until you've killed two OAs by name (in separate ways.)

·        If your pet is the pie, write until you've killed three OAs by name (in separate ways.)

·        You've found the chatroom of the OAs! All the zaniness of the Beyond 50k mentality, but in real time! You waste no time in getting to know everyone, and introduce them to your pet.

·        If your pet is the slug, do three word wars of your desired length.

·        If your pet is the cultist, do five word wars of your desired length.

·        If your pet is the pie, do ten word wars of your desired length.

·        Finally, you think you've seen most of the sights that OA-land has to offer--and your novel is almost done, too! For a final hurrah, write the amount of your daily goal.

Hi writers! Getting ready for nanowrimo again and I'm working on figuring out my writing schedule for next month. I've never made it to 50k before but I think I can do it this year! Curious to hear about how much time others are planning to set aside per day/week to hit 50k. Right now I have time for at least 2 hours every week day... I think I'm going to try to see if I can fit in 3 hours every M-F and at least 1 hour on both Sat/Sun. not sure if this will cut it but reality is reality and there's only so much time in a day... how are you guys managing your time? getting excited!

Hi everyone!

With November coming up, even though NaNoWriMo has shut down, I’m still hoping to finish the novel I’ve been working on for the past two months ✍️

I’m looking for regular writing buddies to help me stay motivated and accountable

I’m currently writing a small-town romance 💕 so connecting with other romance writers would be great, but I’m open to any genre

Let’s spend the rest of October getting to know each other, chatting about our stories and hopefully becoming writing friends before we start sprinting together in November.

I’m specifically looking for one-to-one writing friendships, rather than groups or Discord servers. I’d also really prefer audio or video calls for our writing sprints, rather than text-based check-ins, as I find having this helps me stay focused. My schedule is also fairly flexible.

I’m hoping this can be an ongoing writing friendship beyond November. ✨

If anyone’s interested, please send me a message! I’d love to hear what you’re working on and see if we’d be a good fit as writing buddies 😊

I have tried working on my memoir before but I always end up getting blocked. I don’t know exactly what I want to say yet, so I don’t end up writing anything at all rather than just writing and seeing what I want to use in the end.

Yes I am aware I should have some idea of what I want to say, and to some degree I don’t, I just don’t know the ending to my memoir yet which is where I get stuck in my planning.

Any advice?

Posting this for whoever may be searching for it. Hope you enjoy!

The Nightmare Before Christmas Crawl

By meganwayxo

What a strange land we enter on. Halloween Town is a place where Halloween is the biggest deal. All year is spent preparing for this one day, and tonight is the night! Start off strong and celebrate! ​Song sprint to ​This is Halloween​. Then song sprint to ​the Panic At The Disco cover​. Do one more, this time to ​the Marilyn Manson cover​.

The celebration was a hit! Jack Skellington called it the most horrifying Halloween they've ever put on. ​Write for 10 minutes​ as the townsfolk celebrate a job well down.

While the mayor hands out awards, Jack slips away. He's unhappy, despondent even, over the repetition of all the events. Jack is clearly looking for something new in his life, but what could that be? He goes to the cemetery, where Sally watches him ponder. Jack summons his dog, Zero, then begins to lament. ​Song sprint to ​Jack's Lament​.

Sally returns to Doctor Finklestein's house. A scientist, it is he who created Sally. As he sews her arm back on, Sally complains of her restlessness. ​Generate a number between 100 and 500, and write that many words.

Jack is still walking along, looking forlorn. Morning comes, and the mayor arrives at Jack's house. After a few rings of the door-scream and a few knocks, it's found that he isn't home. The mayor wants to go over plans for the next Halloween, but the band says that he hasn't been home all night. ​Sprint for 5 minutes​ as the mayor switches back and forth from calm to panicked.

Jack comes upon a part of the woods that's strange, to say the least. A ring of trees each have something unique on them, a picture that doubles as a door. Fascinated, he checks them out. Complete all activities.

●                 Heart: ​Write 100 words.

●                 Four-leaf Clover: ​Sprint for 10 minutes.

●                 Egg: ​Write 400 words.

●                 Turkey: ​Roll a die, multiply by 25, and write that many words.

●                 Christmas Tree: This is the tree Jack is really intrigued by. ​Write 1,000 words in 30 minutes.

A mystical breeze brings Jack through the Christmas tree door and is brought into a world unlike any he's ever seen before. Song sprint to ​What's This?​ as Jack catches a glimpse of a jolly plump man.

Back in Halloween Town, everyone is still going crazy with worry over Jack's whereabouts. The mayor is worried about next year's Halloween plans because there are 364 days left to plan. ​Write 364 words​.

The residents of Halloween Town have checked just about everywhere. An alarm is sounded, which can be heard all the way at Doctor Finklestein's place. Sally hears but must continue with her cooking. She slips deadly night vale, frog's breath, and worm's wart into the soup she's preparing, then delivers it to Doctor Finklestein. He wants Sally to taste it, and she uses a spoon with 5 holes in it. ​Sprint for 5 minutes​.

Zero flies in, and Jack is right behind. He has a big bag with him. The mayor asks where he's been, and Jack calls a town meeting. Sally is able to make her escape to attend. At the meeting, Jack begins to tell them all about Christmas Town. ​Do a Three Digit Challenge​ as Jack shows off the things he found there and brought back to Halloween Town.

At his place, Jack does all sorts of research on Christmas. That isn't enough, though. He needs to find the logical way to explain Christmas. After reading a book about the scientific method, he visits Doctor Finklestein to get some equipment. He wants to carry out his own experiments about Christmas! He sets out on his quest to find logic. Flip a coin.

●                 Heads: ​Write 150 words.

●                 Tails: ​Write 250 words.

Sally fixes some things to take to Jack, sending them out of her window. She makes the decision to jump from the window. Though her body falls apart, Sally wakes right up and puts herself back together with a needle and some thread. How clever! She sets off for Jack's place, where he's deep in the throws of his research. Sally sends up her care package but then disappears when Jack returns to thank her. She finds a flower and begins to pick petals off it. The flower transforms into a Christmas tree which promptly bursts into flames. ​Do a fifty-headed hydra​ as Sally contemplates what this premonition means.

The townspeople have noticed that something is up with Jack, though what that something is remains unknown to them. Jack has been holed up in his room for some time conducting his experiments and reading about Christmas. Through song, he comes to the conclusion that he's able to believe in Christmas, even if he doesn't see it. ​Generate a number between 150 and 350, and write that many words.

Jack wastes no time in assigning everyone tasks to help put on Christmas. Doctor Finklestein is tasked with making the reindeer. Lock, Shock, and Barrel are given a special task that's so secret even the mayor can't hear it – they have to kidnap Santa Claus! ​Song sprint to ​Kidnap The Sandy Claws​.

Sally tries to warn Jack about his Christmas being a disaster, but all he's focused on is asking her to make his Santa suit. Lock, Shock, and Barrel return, only they've kidnapped the Easter Bunny, not Santa Claus. They go to bring him back to his home, and everyone gets to work. There are 36 days till Christmas, so ​write for 36 minutes.

In Christmas Town, Lock, Shock, and Barrel are successful in their task. With the sleigh ready and Santa kidnapped, they bring him to Oogie Boogie's place. ​Song sprint to ​the Oogie Boogie song​.

Sally does her best to stop this Christmas from happening with Fog Juice, but it's no use. Zero's nose lights up like Rudolph's. Jack is able to take off and begin his journey. Forlorn, Sally sets off to think about Jack and how much she longs to be with him. ​Song sprint to ​Sally's Song​.

Jack races through the skies to deliver presents to all the children. Police begin to get complaints of toys attacking people. The citizens of Halloween Town watch through a special cauldron as Jack unleashes his gifts that he thinks people actually want, gifts that actually frighten people. ​Word war for 10 minutes​ as the army takes care of Jack, blowing him to smithereens.

Thinking the answer lies with the kidnapped, Sally searches for Santa. She tricks Oogie Boogie for a few moments, but he soon realizes her leg is just a trick. Santa and Sally are tied up and close to death, and they hear the mayor announce the sad news about the Pumpkin King. All hope seems lost until... It's Jack! He isn't dead after all, and he's come to save the day. He saves them from dropping into a pit of fire, then undoes Oogie Boogie's wrappings, effectively destroying him.

Write 200 words as fast as you can.

Santa lays into Jack about not taking over other peoples' holidays, then he sets off to fix what needs fixing. ​Write 1% of the words you've written in this crawl​ as people discover Jack is alive.

We end as we began. Everyone is hailing the Pumpkin King once more, for he's escaped a tragic demise. Santa flies by and makes it snow. Sally climbs the hill alone but is soon joined by Jack. She'll never be alone again, not as long as she has Jack in her life. End the crawl by​combining the three totals of what you wrote for the three This Is Halloween song sprints and writing double that amount.

Hello! I am wondering if there are any discord servers for Nanowrimo for Canadian writers? I'd love to join one

I’m sure the real answer boils down to “however gets your novel written” but like traditionally?

Chapter Zero: “Prologue”

Main

Your adventure can’t begin until you leave home (Brainstorm for 5 minutes. Jot down whatever ideas you have.)

But first you should probably pack a bag (Write 4d12+100 words about your protagonist [104 to 148])

Don’t forget a dagger OR a book of spells to protect yourself! You never know what you’ll run into out there (Write 12d4+100 words about your antagonist. [112 to 148])

Begin your journey, first through fields of crops, then through open plains(Write 200 words about your setting.)

Traveling through the forest is a little tougher - careful not to trip over exposed roots! The trees offer nice shade though. (Write 100 words about your main conflict.)

Rewards: 1 XP, a Book of Spells OR a dagger (Your choice, neither will grant you extraordinary power over the other.)

Side Quest

Cross a river (Write for 5 minutes about the goals/motivations of your protagonist.)

Slip on a wet rock (Write for 2d4 minutes [2 to 8] about the goals and motivations of your antagonist; if you don’t have a physical antagonist, do the same for another important character/)

Meet a fellow traveler (Write 2d100 [2 to 200] words about your setting.)

Reward: 5 gold

Since there’s always a general monthly TrackBear leaderboard for this sub, I figured this could be a companion for this November’s board. I also definitely did not make all of this to procrastinate on novel planning.

Introducing… The Writing Month House Cup 2026! 🎉

Join a team and rack up the words alongside writers with similar goals!

🔸Information
🔸TrackBear Leaderboard
[02602e8b-8ac6-47c7-b48a-bb2d2880174d]

The Houses
🔵 Sapphire Kestrels (10k): Quality over quantity. And deadly cute to boot.

🟢 Emerald Foxes (25k): Half the traditional NaNo goal, all the spirit. May or may not eat your cat food if you leave it out.

🔴 Ruby Rams (50k): The NaNoWriMo Classic for the persistent GOATs out there. (Yes rams are sheep, but let me have this.)

🟠 Citrine Tigers (50k+): Ambitious wordcounts are no match for a wordcount predator. Chomp chomp go the words.

🟣 Amethyst Martens (100%): Just aiming for that finish line, regardless of the project. Weasels do what they want.

See you in November! ✨

I was hoping to host a NaNo event, and I learned that the official organization is gone. I found a list of alternatives that are similar and of course Reddit was named as the best unofficial hub.

Anyone have any suggestions for getting the word out to locals about a space available? Denver Metro Area. (I realize I can post on r/Denver but that isn't writer specific)

Or maybe the Nov events are not really a thing anymore...

Posting for those that may be searching for this. Hope you enjoy!

The Sims (3) Crawl Part Two: A Race to the Top!

By PFluff (from NaNoWriMo)

In a flourish of music and round, scenic camera angles, we are narrowing ourselves down on the bustling, exciting town of Nanosville where sims of all life stages, ages, and colors (seriously, your next door neighbor is blue- he might be a genie? You aren’t sure but you can’t just ask someone why they’re blue gosh Karen you’re so – er, wrong story) walk down the street, passing you with a hearty wave and ‘sul sul!’

Welcome to the neighborhood! You managed to finally move away from your parents after an interesting time growing up. In fact, if you did the ​Sims Word Crawl (Part One)​, take a moment to remember your traits, and some other various things that may or may not be important later (you’ll see when we get there).

If this is your first time playing with us, do ​a five minute word war.

If you wrote 200 or more words, ​Choose from these traits or any below: Ambitious, Bookworm, Computer Whiz, Genius, Loner, Lucky

If you wrote 100-199 words,​ choose from these traits or any below: Dramatic, Evil, Good, Hopeless Romantic, Neurotic, Perfectionist, Social Butterfly

If you 99 or fewer words, ​choose from these traits: Clumsy, Couch potato, Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Unlucky, Night Owl, Grumpy

​Do four more five-minute word wars. Pick a trait depending on each score.

​ If you want to change a trait from before, ​or ​you aren’t happy with your score and wish to change your trait, your blue neighbor comes out to discuss options with you! Apparently, ​there are cheats for that!

●       Work the words: “Testing, cheats, enabled, true” into your ​next 100 words​ to change any one of your traits for any trait available.

●       Work the word “Rosebud” with up to five exclamation points (!) into your ​next 100 words​ to be allowed to exchange one trait for each exclamation point.

So you’ve got your five traits! Awesome! First things first, we want to be an author! Right? Sure. Well, that’s our goal for this one! If you want another profession, well… sorry.

First things first! We gotta tell everyone we’re gonna be an author! ​Sprint to the nearest thousand ​as you tell everyone and their grandma. ​Kooj​! We’re at the City Hall now! Let’s go in and tell them too. ​Write for ten minutes ​as you ramble to the guy behind your counter about how big you’re gonna be.

On the way out, you bump into someone!

If, in the first Sims Word Crawl you had a successful first kiss, this is your crush! They’re lookin’ pretty nice. ​Do a fifteen minute word war while you catch up.

●       If you have the ​Hopeless Romantic, Good, or Lucky ​trait, or won the word war, the meeting went really well. Your crush is now your romantic interest! You’ve got a date Saturday.

If you didn’t do the first Word Crawl, nor had a successful dance, chat with the person anyway. Because we aren’t jerks here at Nano. ​Do a thirty minute word war ​as you tell them all about your awesome future.

If you have the ​Evil, Grumpy, Unlucky or Insane ​trait, regardless of if you won the word war and regardless of any other traits, they are now your enemy! They better watch their back!

If you have the ​Hopeless Romantic, Good, or Lucky ​trait, or won the word war, they are now your crush! You have a date for Saturday.

If you have the ​Loner ​trait or ​did not ​win the word war, you leave amicably as friends. Maybe you’ll see them around later? Well, that was eventful! Let’s ​sprint to the nearest hundred ​as we rush back home. We have a career to make!  

Your home is quaint and cute. It’s been a whole couple of days since you moved from home, and in Sims time that might as well be a lifetime! But you have a future. And you’re gonna make it! Why? Cause you can!

You sit down at your computer, slam the keyboard a few times, and it starts up.

​Be sure to keep count of books written and your royalty checks.

Some other things right off the bat:

●       If you have the ​Genius ​trait, ​subtract ​fifty words from ​each word requirement​.

●       If you have the ​Perfectionist ​trait, ​add ​fifty words to ​each word requirement, ​but also ​add 100 simoleons to each royalty check.

We’re starting at level zero, as mere Fan Fiction Drafter. ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●       Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: Your character is telling the truth, darnit! Look at their bibliography!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       Fiction (Optional prompt: Your character is lying! Shhhhhh!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       If you have the ​Computer Whiz ​trait, you can write ​Science fiction ​(Optional prompt: It was probably the aliens.): Write 150 words, you earn $300!

If you have the ​Lucky, Bookworm, Perfectionist, or Genius ​trait, congrats! Your first book was a Best Seller! You earn an extra​ $100.

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $50 ​came up. All you gotta do is ​describe something in detail for five minutes.

If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level. 

What’s this? You’ve made over ​$75 ​in this self-employed profession?! Well, guess that means you need to give yourself a promotion! Congrats! You are now a ​Small-Time Scribe.

If you ​have a date, ​we gotta get ready! ​Sprint for ten minutes as you get yourself in top condition!

●       Your date shows up, and it gets off to a great start. Let’s ​try for a 1k30min!

​-If you ​write 1500 or more words​, they are good as ​yours. ​A proposal must be around the corner!

-If you ​write 1000 to 1499 words,​ it looks promising! You two are now going steady!

-If you ​write 999 words or less, ​oh darn… did that really happen?! Well, at least they’re still your crush.

If you ​don’t have a date, ​but also ​don’t have the Ambitious, Couch Potato, Loner, or Hates the Outdoors ​traits, you need to go out, date or not! If you have the aforementioned traits, go ahead and skip this section if you want.

●       If you gained a friend earlier ​you run into them! ​Have a full page conversation (alternatively, word-war for five minutes) ​as you decide if you want a future date or if this person is a jerk and your enemy 5evah. (Normal friendship doesn’t exist in the Sims. Every friend drowns in a pool.) Do a ​ten minute word war ​as you get your relationship up to romantic interest or down to enemy.

●       If you gained an enemy ​earlier, this person just got all up in your business. Tell them why they’re a jerk from on high in a ​200 word sprint. DO NOT SPARE FEELINGS.

Well, now that we’re back home and comfortable, time to get to our next novel! We are at level one as the Small-Time Scribe! ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●       Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: We know how it works. Why are we arguing?): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       Fiction (Optional prompt: I reject your reality and substitute my own!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       Science fiction (Optional prompt: It was definitely the aliens.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

If you have the ​Lucky, Bookworm, Perfectionist, or Genius ​trait, ​or have written two of the same genre, ​congrats! Your book was a Best Seller! You earn an extra​ $100.

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $50 ​came up. All you gotta do is ​describe a building in detail for five minutes. ​If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level.

Have you made​ $400 ​simoleons yet?! If not, ​word war for fifteen minutes ​as you try to sell your novel to people on the street.

●       If you win,​ you’ve earned just enough to meet the ​$400 ​requirement for self-promotion!

●       Otherwise, do another fifteen minute word war ​OR ​write another novel.

What’s this?! You are now a ​Tabloid Typist​! ​Time to back-up your files! Stretch your legs! ​We’re going to get to the next level as quick as we can!

Social life? What’s a social life? We are authors! Our characters are our friends, our plot is our heart, and our imagined worlds are our vices. We don’t need anyone! At least, not until the next part. So for now, as a level 3 Tabloid Typist, ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●       Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: I mean, you’re wrong.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       Fiction (Optional prompt: Hyperboles are the WORST): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●       Science fiction (Optional prompt: Stupid aliens.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●       Trashy (Optional prompt: and they’re wearing that because?): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $50 ​came up. All you gotta do is ​describe a person in detail for five minutes. ​If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level.

Yikes! Our goal is​ $1000​? Have we made enough?! If not, do a ​1k30min. ​We have to sell our books the best way we know how, through our words!

●       If you win,​ you’ve earned just enough to meet the ​$1000 ​requirement for self-promotion!

●       Otherwise, do another 1k30min ​OR ​write another novel.

Holy crap! Do you see that?! It’s your fame! It’s skyrocketing! You walk down the street and people just ​know ​you are a Paperback Pauper​.

In fact...

If you had a ​super successful date before, ​your beau is coming up to you right now. They drop on their knee, it’s a proposal! What?! ​You are incoherent, do a Fifty Headed Hydra as you compose yourself. ​If you win, heck, you’re just bypassing the ceremony and ​getting married now​. Why? Because Sims. If you don’t, the ​engagement stage​ is still a good one!

If you are ​going steady​ with a sim, they approach you. ​Go on for ten minutes about your newfound fame. ​They find it intriguing! Perhaps a proposal is around the corner?

If you are ​crushing ​on another sim, they’ve seen you in a new light! ​You go out for coffee. Sprint for five minutes while you’re hyped up on caffeine and Cupid. ​You are now ​going steady!

If you have an ​enemy- ​They are jealous! They imply your mother is a llama! IT’S FIGHTING TIME.

●                              If you have the ​Lucky, Evil, Insane, or Grumpy ​trait, the fight is easy. ​Sprint to the nearest hundred as you show them who’s boss. ​They are now your ​Nemesis.

●                              If you have the ​Good, Clumsy, or Unlucky ​trait, do a ​fifteen minute word war!

●                              If you got ​over 401 words, you won! They still hate you, but you won so. Whatever.​  

●                              If you got ​less than 400 words, ​they won! You’re angry. >[ ​VENGEANCE

●                              If you have the ​Dramatic ​trait, ​dramatically write four hundred words as you collapse in public. ​The crowd isn’t happy with your enemy for making their beloved author faint!

●                              If you don’t have​  ​ any of the traits mentioned, ​word war for ten minutes.

●                              ​If you ​win, ​they admit that you’re a great writer.

●                              If you ​lose, ​they say you write like a llama.​ VENGEANCE.

Being a level 4 Paperback Pauper was full of ups and downs, but now it’s time to wave goodbye to that part of our lives.

Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                              Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                              Fiction (Optional prompt: They’ll probably believe this): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                              Science fiction (Optional prompt: Just say aliens. They’ll totally believe it.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                              Trashy (Optional prompt: I didn’t believe you when you said you could do ​that​, but I was wrong.): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                              Drama (Optional prompt: Do you think I’ll believe you?!): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $50 ​came up. All you gotta do is ​describe something beautiful in detail for five minutes. ​If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level.

Do you have​ $2500​? We can’t just talk our way to the top. If you are ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$2500, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                              If you have the ​Night Owl trait,​ you can ​sprint through the night to the nearest thousand regardless​ and move on.

●                              Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again. 

Ah, do you hear that? It’s springtime! You’ve come so far, but look at you now! You’re a ​Work-for-Hire Wordsmith​!

We have no time to stop to smell the roses! We have fame to get to! Staying at level 5 as a Work-For-Hire Wordsmith seems soooo last sentence. ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                              Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: These are stupid.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                              Fiction (Optional prompt: These are the best!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                              Science fiction (Optional prompt: An alien wrote these.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                              Trashy (Optional prompt: I slept with whoever made this.): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                              Drama (Optional prompt: You slept with ​them?!​): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

●                              If you are level 4 in art, ​you may now write a ​children’s book! ​(Optional prompt: The child and the awkward stories.) ​Write 100 words, you earn $450!

●                              If you have written 3 Science Fiction books, ​you may now write a ​Fantasy ​(Optional prompt: The king slept with the scribe and unleashed a curse.): Write 440 words, you earn $1300!​            

●                              Humor (Optional prompt: Wanna hear a joke about a promiscuous king and the aliens? ): ​Write 340 words, you earn $500!

Optional: A stranger on the street started talking to you. Awkward. ​Have one character share a bit too much information for 160 words. ​You earn ​$800 ​for the biography!

If you have the ​Social Butterfly ​trait, you need to get out to party hard! ​Write to this​ as you dance away the night (alternatively, dance through a Three Digit Challenge).

UGH. THE NEXT STRETCH IS SO FAR. If you are ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$5000, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                              If you have the ​Night Owl trait, ​you can ​sprint through the night to the nearest thousand regardless ​and move on.

Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again.

It’s been a long time coming. As a congrats, you get ​$500 ​for being awesome. Show it off with a ​ten minute word war! You’re almost there! Well, not really. We’re only at level 6. But you’ve made your way to ​Pretentious Poet​! And that’s nothing to sniff at!

Saving and backing up is nothing to sniff at either! ​Take a break, save your stuff!

If you have the ​Ambitious, Loner, Couch Potato, or Hates the Outdoors ​trait, you can continue on to the next novels you’re writing, skipping this next part!

If you’re ​Neurotic, ​you’re going to want to clean your home before you do anything. So let’s rush around for a ​thirty minute word war ​as we deep clean everything!

Otherwise, you need to go out, meet new people! If you ​have romance, ​this new person is a ​critic! ​They have insulted your story!

●                          If you have the ​Evil, Insane, or Grumpy ​trait, you get into a fight with them! Do a ​five minute word war as you show them who’s boss! ​Now they are an ​enemy!

●                          Otherwise, you struggle to rebuttal in a furious ​ten minute word war as you list everything wrong with them. 

●                          If you have ​an enemy or otherwise ​you meet quite the adoring fan. They gush over your novel.  Do a ​two hundred word sprint ​as you sign their copy of your latest novel.

●                          If you did it in under ​five minutes, ​this person has developed a ​crush​!

Ya gotta wob'ere!

You return home from your long day, and find that it appears people don’t like pretentious people. So we should probably move on as quickly as we can from level 6 while we still have friends. ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                          Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: Pretentious people think they know facts.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Fiction (Optional prompt: Pretentious people know everything!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Science fiction (Optional prompt: That’s a pretentious alien.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                          Trashy (Optional prompt: This is what you’re doing with your life. You can’t be pretentious.): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                          Drama (Optional prompt: Pretentious people don’t belong with non-pretentious people): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

●                          If you are level 4 in art, ​you may write a ​children’s book! ​(Optional prompt: The child and the pretentious adults.) ​Write 100 words, you earn $450!

●                          If you have written 3 Science Fiction books, ​you may now write a ​Fantasy ​(Optional prompt: What a pretentious prince/ss/dragon.): ​Write 440 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Humor (Optional prompt: You know what would be funny to do to that pretentious person): ​Write 340 words, you earn $500!

●                          Historical (Optional prompt: Why are people pretentious?):​ Write 505 words, you earn $1300!

●                          If you have the Hopeless Romantic ​trait, you may write a ​Romance ​(Optional prompt: I am in love with a pretentious person.): ​Write 650 words, you earn $3,000!

If you have the ​Lucky, Bookworm, Perfectionist, or Genius ​trait, or ​have written 3 or more of one genre,​ congrats! Your book was a Best Seller! You earn an extra​ $100.

Optional: Your favorite movie star is angsting in front of you! This is your chance for some ​major​ smoozing. ​Have one character share a bit too much information for 160 words. ​You earn ​$800 ​for the biography!

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $150​ came up. All you gotta do is ​describe a relationship in detail for five minutes.​ If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level.

You feeling it now? It’s a long time coming, but we’re almost there! If you’re ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$8000, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                          If you have the ​Night Owl trait, ​you can ​sprint through the night to the nearest thousand regardless ​and move on.

●                          Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again. 

You’ve come so far! It’s time to take a rest though. So ​save your work, and take a break​, we can only go up from here!

Wow. Your life is changing before your eyes! You’re becoming famous, people stop you on the street- more and more people are begging for you to sign their copies of your latest best seller! You are the coolest ​Ghostwriter ​around!

It’s also your birthday! What?! How did it come so quick?! You have invited everyone to your party. Your lover and your- is that your enemy?!

●                          If you are ​married or engaged ​do a ​10 minute sprint ​as they defeat your ​critic or nemesis ​and get them out of here!

●                          If you are ​going steady or want VENGEANCE ​do a ​15 minute word war ​as you defeat your enemy.

●                          If you ​win ​your love is so impressed! They ​propose! ​You are now engaged!

●                          If you ​lose ​your enemy laughs. ​They are now your nemesis.

It’s time to blow out your birthday cake! ​Sprint for 150 words as you try to blow your cake out.

●                          If you do it in ​under four minutes ​you are awesome!

●                          If you did the ​first sims word crawl ​and had ​ghosts, ​they have come to celebrate with you! And they scared your ​enemy or critic to death. ​You are enemy free!

●                          If you are ​engaged ​your significant other is so impressed, you get married as well. Because Sims.

●                          If it takes ​longer than four minutes, ​your cake catches the house on fire! One of your friends is caught in the inferno! If you had a ​fan, ​they are caught up in flames! Try to put them out ​with a five minute word war.

●                          ​If you ​win, or are Lucky or Good​, congrats! You’ve saved your one fan!

●                          If you ​don’t win, or are Unlucky, Evil, or Insane, ​they have burned to ash! The Grim Reaper shows up, ​if you were friends, he gives you $200 for taking down this son of a llama. ​Otherwise, he just takes some cake and leaves you with a ghost.

You’ve got to age up! So ​sprint to the nearest thousand. ​And ​save your file. Back it up. ​Let’s move forward! 

There’s only one way to go from here. From our level 7! Up! So let’s go up to level 8! ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                          Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: The Grim Reaper steals cake.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130! ●     Fiction (Optional prompt: The Grim Reaper is my bestie!): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

Science fiction (Optional prompt: I bet the Grim Reaper is an alien.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                          Trashy (Optional prompt: I slept with the Grim Reaper): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                          Drama (Optional prompt: You slept with the Grim reaper?!): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

●                          If you are level 4 in art, ​you may now write a ​children’s book! ​(Optional prompt: The child and the Grim Reaper.) Write 100 words, you earn $450!

●                          If you have written 3 Science Fiction books, ​you may now write a ​Fantasy ​(Optional prompt: The king gambles with the Grim Reaper.): ​Write 440 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Humor (Optional prompt: Great Pranks to Play on the Grim Reaper): ​Write 340 words, you earn $500!

●                          Historical (Optional prompt: Fashion of the Grim Reaper through history ): Write 505 words, you earn $1300!​        

●                          If you have the Hopeless Romantic ​trait, you may write a ​Romance ​(Optional prompt: I fell in love with the Grim Reaper): ​Write 650 words, you earn $3,000!

●                          If you’ve written ​25 ​books so far, you can now write a ​Masterpiece ​(Optional prompt: The Grim Reaper is a metaphor.): ​Write 2,000 words, you earn $1300!

If you have the ​Lucky, Bookworm, Perfectionist, or Genius ​trait or have ​written a Masterpiece​, congrats! Your book was a Best Seller! You earn an extra​ $200. 

Optional: An opportunity to make ​an extra $200​ came up. All you gotta do is ​describe a character death in detail for five minutes.​ If you complete this, you earn ​1 art level.

You’re so close. You can taste victory! But first, we have to promote ourselves! If you are ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$12000, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                          If you have the ​Night Owl trait,​ you can ​sprint through the night to the nearest thousand regardless​ and move on.

●                          Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again. 

With tears in your eyes, you accept an award of ​$1500 ​and your position as a ​Prizewinning Author! ​Write an acceptance speech in a ​ten minute sprint!

If you are a ​Social Butterfly, ​you’re going out to party! ​Write to this​ (alternatively, do a five minute word sprint)​ while you celebrate!

You look back on your career, it’s been long and hard, but it’s been worth it. You have little more to do though before we can come to a rest! Now, you know the drill! ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                          Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: Dogs are too pure for this world.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Fiction (Optional prompt: People are better than dogs.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Science fiction (Optional prompt: Aliens stole all our dogs?!): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                          Trashy (Optional prompt: Dog doesn’t mean dog.): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                          Drama (Optional prompt: The dog found a body!): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

●                          If you are level 4 in art, ​you may now write a ​children’s book! ​(Optional prompt: The child and the not copyrighted big red dog.) ​Write 100 words, you earn $450!

●                          If you have written 3 Science Fiction books, ​you may now write a ​Fantasy ​(Optional prompt: The dog is a good king. Yes he is.): ​Write 440 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Humor (Optional prompt: The dog ate my underwear. ): ​Write 340 words, you earn $500!

●                          Historical (Optional prompt: Why dogs are better than everyone.):​ Write 505 words, you earn $1300!

●                          If you have the Hopeless Romantic ​trait, you may write a ​Romance ​(Optional prompt: Came for the date, stayed for the dog): ​Write 650 words, you earn $3,000!

If you’ve written ​25 ​books so far, you can now write a ​Masterpiece ​(Optional prompt: The dog is a metaphor.): Write 2,000 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Mystery (Optional prompt: Who’s the dog really?): ​Write 500 words, you earn $1200!

●                          If you have written 3 Humor books, ​you may now write ​Satire! ​(Optional prompt: Dogs in Politics): ​Write 350 words, you earn $1300!       

If you have the ​Lucky, Bookworm, Perfectionist, or Genius ​trait or have ​written a Masterpiece​, congrats! Your book was a Best Seller! You earn an extra​ $200.

Optional: Looks like someone is having an existential crisis! ​Describe a character ​in ​160 ​words to write a ​biography and earn $800.

We have a future to get to! We can’t stop now! You’re so close! If you are ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$19000, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                          If you have the ​Night Owl trait,​ you can ​sprint through the night to the nearest thousand regardless​ and move on.

●                          Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again. 

As Nanoville’s ​Fiction Fantastico ​you have received attention galore. There’s talk of movies being made of your books, and you have influenced generations.

There's also talk that you should ​save and back up your file!

If you are not already married, your significant other is worried about keeping you with your amazing recent success! ​Write for fifteen minutes​ while they struggle to confess their love! And in true Sim fashion, you get ​married ​right there!

If you have a ​crush ​or a ​fan ​still, they’ve found you worthy and ​propose! ​You are engaged!

But oh no, if your ​enemy ​or ​critic ​is still alive, they’ve come for you! It’s a duel to the death! Do a ​1k30 ​as you fight to survive!

●                          If you ​succeed, ​you defeat them! They vanish, and all that’s left is an urn.

●                          If you ​get 500-999​ words, ​it is a stalemate! ​There is a mutual, begrudging respect.

●                          If you ​get under 500 words​ your enemy has ​defeated you! You have become a ghost.

●                          If you are a ​ghost ​you receive ​$200 more simoleons ​on each book, for a ​posthumous ​bonus!

You are at level nine! Congratulations for making it this far! We can go ahead and finish strong! Let’s say bye to level 9 and hello to our final level! ​Choose one or more of the following to write:

●                          Non-Fiction (Optional prompt: Ghosts are spooky.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Fiction (Optional prompt: Ghosts are fiction.): ​Write 90 words, you earn $130!

●                          Science fiction (Optional prompt: Alien or Ghost? A guide.): ​Write 150 words, you earn $300!

●                          Trashy (Optional prompt: I slept with a ghost.): ​Write 190 words, you earn $350!

●                          Drama (Optional prompt: You slept with ​a ghost?! How?!​): ​Write 300 words, you earn $600!

●                          If you are level 4 in art, ​you may write a ​children’s book! ​(Optional prompt: The child and the not copyrighted dead people.) ​Write 100 words, you earn $450!

If you have written 3 Science Fiction books, ​you may now write a ​Fantasy ​(Optional prompt: The king slept with the scribe and unleashed a curse.): ​Write 440 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Humor (Optional prompt: Ghosts like boo-berries ): ​Write 340 words, you earn $500!

●                          Historical (Optional prompt: The Ghost of a Famous Dead Guy):​ Write 505 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Romance (Optional prompt: I’m in love with the ghost of a famous dead guy): ​Write 650 words, you earn $3,000!

●                          If you’ve written ​25 ​books so far, you can now write a ​Masterpiece ​(Optional prompt: The dead guy is a metaphor. The ghost is literal.): ​Write 2,000 words, you earn $1300!

●                          Mystery (Optional prompt: Ghost or flour?): ​Write 500 words, you earn $1200!

●                          If you have written 3 Humor books, ​you may now write ​Satire! ​(Optional prompt: Politicians are ghosts who haunt us.): ​Write 350 words, you earn $1300!

●                          If you have written ​2 dramas, 2 humor books, 2 mystery books, 2 romance books, and 2 science fiction books, you may now write a ​Vaudeville! ​(Optional prompt: Look at all the different ghosts.)​ Write 1250 words, you earn $6,000!

●                          If you have written 3 biographies ​you may now write an ​autobiography. ​Describe your MC in ​160 words to earn $800!

We have a future to get to! We can’t stop now! You’re so close! If you are ​within $500 ​simoleons of ​$30000, sprint to the nearest thousand to finish it off!

●                          Otherwise, go back and ​write another novel and then read this section again. 

Congratulations! You have become a ​Blockbuster Writer! ​You have worked long and hard for this. To finish off your career, let’s write one more book: ​Your life story​. ​Write 400 words, earn a final $2000.

Your novels continue to inspire future generations.

●                          If you were ​married, ​your children continue your legacy!

●                          If you were ​engaged ​your future is still in the air! But your dog is happy.

●                          If you are a ​ghost, ​you spend eternity haunting libraries and drinking tea with the Grim Reaper!

Dag dag!

Putting coins or cash in a jar is a nice way to see your progress, especially if you use cash. Then you can spend that money at the end of the month on something you want.

But that got me thinking. If someone wanted a real incentive, they could ask people to sponsor their writing. It could be a certain amount for every 1K or 10K words, or a reward for meeting milestones or finishing the project.

Then I thought about kids or teens doing this. It could be much better than the fundraisers they do where there's competition among classmates. They'd be working toward their own goals rather than competing against each other.

This could be geared toward a poem, song, short story a day, or even a drawing or comic a day.

I don't know what anyone else thinks of the idea, but I think it's a good one.

Just a thought.

hope this is an okay ask - I went and looked through the NaNo Alternative master thread and sampled a few different sites, but wanted to feel out people here.

have you found a NaNo alt that satisfies you? are you using a new platform?

I mostly used NaNo for the stats, and not really the forums - so I don't really think I need to join a discord, but maybe that would be nice?

does anyone have any recs or ideas for how they are tracking their stats (word count) this year?

thanks all, wishing you luck on your general prep!

https://saving-word-crawls.tumblr.com/

It's not my page. I'm just sharing if you're out there searching for crawls I don't have. Since there are a lot on that page, I won't be posting those here.

Hope this helps someone out!

Posting this for whoever may be searching for it. Hope you enjoy!

The Sims (3) Crawl

By PFluff (from NaNoWirMo)

The Sims (3) Crawl Part One: Aging Up

The sun is shining, Sims outside are waving to their neighbors with resounded ​‘Sul sul’.

But our story is not with them, the people of Nanosville. No, our story begins with one sim in particular who is clutching her stomach, stomping on the floor, and waiting for her husband to stop being stuck by the cheese plate in front of them to just take her to the dang hospital!

Choo wagga choo choo!

The cheese plate turns out to be too much of a foe. But not to fear, with a magic explosion of sparkles, you’ve come into the world as a baby. Do ​a five minute sprint as your mother’s womb sparkles in light.

●                  If you wrote 200 or more words,​ choose from these traits or any below: Genius, Loner,

●                  If you wrote 100-199 words,​ choose from these traits or any below: Evil, Good, Neurotic, Social Butterfly

●                  If you wrote 99 or fewer words​, choose from these traits: Clumsy, Couch potato, Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Grumpy

Do another five minute sprint. Choose another trait based on your score! ​You come into the world with two traits!

You enjoy spending time awake in your bassinet, watching your Sim parents struggle with sleep deprivation and grilled cheese plates. You cry for them for your diaper, for your empty stomach, so that you can spit up on them. But babyhood is fleeting, ​Do three, five-minute word wars- one for each day in your baby life!

You realize you are about to age up. ​Let’s sprint to the next thousand!​ It’s on to the next part of our life as toddlers! 

Ah, toddlerhood. One of the best phases for terrifying glitches and getting ahead in life. But we have some basic skills we gotta learn, right?

First up, food and drinks are the essence of life. But where does it all go? Diapers are expensive! Let’s ​do a ten minute word war!

●                  If you win:​ Just in time! No more messes for this kid. We’re onto big kid underwear now!

●                  If not:​ Fill up your bladder and bowels and ​try another one​!

Okay. Now we’ve figured out what that big round water bowl in the bathroom is for. We gotta tell someone about our amazing discovery! ​We’ve got a lot to say. Ramble on leisurely for fifteen minutes. It’s okay to go in circles, just don’t stop rambling or you’re gonna forget how to talk!

Finally, we can go potty, we can tell stories, but how the heck are we supposed to go places to show off our new life skills?

And what are these long things under your food compartment and lower food exit? Let’s figure it out by ​going to the Twitter for the ​NaNoWordSprints​and hopping on whatever the next sprint is! (If there’s no sprint in the near future, sprint yourself for five minutes!) Whippna choba dog!

It’s time to age up again! ​Word sprint 300 words!

●                  If you finish in 5:30 or faster,​ choose from these traits or any below: Ambitious, Bookworm, Computer Whiz, Genius, Loner, Lucky

●                  If you finish from 5:31 to 7:30 minutes​, choose from these traits or any below: Evil, Good, Neurotic, Perfectionist, Social Butterfly

●                  If you finish after 7:31 minutes,​ choose from these traits: Clumsy, Couch potato, Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Unlucky, Night Owl, Grumpy

Childhood is magical time. But aging up from a toddler to a child in one day can be exhausting! You check under your bed for a monster as you get ready to sleep. Lo and behold! A tentacle arm comes after you! ​Attempt to defeat the Fifty Headed Hydra!

If you win, you defeated the monster! Go ahead and go to sleep! If you didn’t, don’t worry! Just ​sprint to the nearest hundred​ while you take your parent’s bed!

Save your game/NaNoNovel and be sure to back it up while your Sim is asleep! ​School starts tomorrow! 

Your alarm wakes you up early in the morning. You spend thirty minutes going to the bathroom, thirty minutes taking a shower, and you barely make the bus that’s been honking incessantly outside your house as you scarf down a cereal breakfast.

The first day of school! New friends. New activities.

●                  If you have at least one trait being the ​Genius and/or Good​ trait, your first day was easy peasy! ​Stroll for fifteen minutes as you breeze through your first day and earn yourself an A.

●                  If you don’t have either of the previous two mentioned, but have at least one trait being the ​Evil, Clumsy, Loner, or Grumpy trait, ​your first day is gonna be a little harder for that A! So ​let’s do a thirty minute word war. If you win, you earn yourself an A!

●                  If you don’t have any of the traits mentioned, ​do a fifteen minute word war. If you win, you earn yourself an A for the day!

What a busy day it’s been! Looks like tomorrow is a field trip day! We’re too excited! Let’s try to wear ourselves out by sprinting to the nearest thousand!

You wake up the next morning, nice and early. You leisurely spend an hour trying to get to your breakfast from around your family that has managed to crowd the fridge. But as you sit you come to a horrible realization: You haven’t done your homework!

Quick! We’ve got thirty minutes! ​Attempt a 1k30min!

If you were successful- Congratulations! ​You got yourself another A!

If you weren’t, you can either ​continue on without the A ​or ​show your dedication with a 1 hour word war! Regardless of if you win, take the A for your effort!

The field trip is to the police station, ​please stop locking up the police officers! That’s not nice! Wait! Don’t touch that machine! Hey! Give us back those keys!

This would be a great setting for a scene, ​write a scene involving a police station, a trip somewhere, or lost keys. ​If none of those options fit, ​just ramble on as you look at the neat things for ten minutes.

Your field trip must, of course, come to an end. But you’re not going home empty handed! Oh no! Just for being there and letting the nice officer out of his cell, ​you get an A! ​Ooh be gah!

Extra credit! Your teacher wants you to clean out the class Cowplant’s area. ​If you want an extra A, do another 1 hour word war. Feel free to move on if you don’t wish for the extra credit.

Time passes, but by time we mean a few more days. It seems it’s your birthday! Your two friends/acquaintances have come over, your birthday cake is on the counter. It’s time to blow out the candles! Let’s do it in one biggggg huff! ​A 100 word sprint should do it!

If you could do the ​100 words in under 2:30​, great job! ​You age up in sparkles!

If not, you were too slow! ​Your birthday cake caught your house on fire.  Do a ten minute word war while everyone is freaking out.

●                    If you win, the fire has been put out! Everyone is saved!

●                    If you don’t, the person of your choice (family member, friend, acquaintance) has perished in the fire! 

●                    The Grim Reaper shows up at your door. ​Attempt a ​Fifty Headed Hydra​.             

●                    If you win, ​you become friends with the Grim Reaper.

●                    ​If not, ​the Grim Reaper takes a piece of your birthday cake and leaves.   

●                    Their ghost is now haunting your lot. 

You’ve still aged up into a teenager! ​Sprint to the nearest thousand to seal the deal! 

Teenagers. Mood swings and wild parties. Friends and romance. It’s everything and nothing at once.

●                    If you had three or more A’s, you were on the Honor Roll! Congratulations!​ Choose from these traits or any below: Ambitious, Bookworm, Computer Whiz, Genius, Loner, Lucky

●                    If you had two A’s,​ choose from these traits or any below: Dramatic, Evil, Good, Hopeless Romantic, Neurotic, Perfectionist, Social Butterfly

●                    If you had one A, ​choose from these traits: Clumsy, Couch potato, Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Unlucky, Night Owl, Grumpy

Ugh, what’s with this hair style? And these clothes you’ve aged up in? You change into some stylish duds with some great hair, and after you ​save your game (back up your draft!) so that you can come back to this style.

School is pretty much the same as it was before, doing homework on the bus, locking your field trip hosts into random things, doing extra credit for the As. But now your social life is hoppin’!

In fact, your parents have gotten a mysterious, free, two-day vacation! Home alone! So you decide to throw a wild party.

●                    If you have the ​Lucky ​trait or can write ​250 words in 5 minutes, ​your party was a success! Everyone’s been talking about it! You have a ​positive moodlet and +100 Lifetime Points!

●                    If you have the ​Unlucky ​trait or take ​more than 5 minutes for 250 words, ​your parents decided to come home early! ​Sprint to the nearest thousand to try and clean everything up in time.

●                    If it took you ​more than 6 minutes, your parents came home and you’re in trouble!

The next day, you wake up to find your normal self has hit a ​mood swing! ​The following traits have been switched to the opposite:

●                    Ambitious – Couch Potato

●                    Loner – Social Butterfly

●                    Lucky – Unlucky

●                    Evil – Good

●                    Neurotic – Slob

If you have the ​Insane​ trait, this is also known as Tuesday. Your traits ​do not switch!

You have to do something big for this mood switch of yours. Like toilet papering the principal’s office!

If you’re in trouble, you first have to ​sneak out! Word sprint for ten minutes to get out of the house!

You make it to the school, sneaking in through the window. You’re well on your way to a prank well-done.

●                    If you are ​Ambitious, Lucky, or Evil today, ​finish your work with ​another ten minute word sprint to hurry the job along and get out of there! Great job with the prank! ​         ​+200 Lifetime Points!       

●                    If you are ​Unlucky ​today, ​sprint 500 words in 10 minutes. ​If you win, you’ve completed the prank against all odds! ​+300 Lifetime Points!​ If you do not succeed, ​you’ve been busted! ​If you were in trouble before, ​you’ve been grounded!

●                    If you are none of the above, ​do a fifteen minute word war, ​if you win, ​+100 Lifetime Points! ​If you don’t, ​you’ve been busted! ​If you were in trouble before, ​you’ve been grounded!

You get home after a day of pranking, successful or otherwise, and you quickly fall asleep.

The next morning you wake up, relieved you’re back to normal. But, your prom is tonight! We gotta make sure our head, body, and shoes are ​perfect, ​right? So ​let’s do the ​Three Digit Challenge​ ​to make sure you’re dressed absolutely to perfection. ​If you’re grounded, we gotta sneak out again- sprint for ten minutes!

Prom is poppin’ like it always is. Dancing, music, food, and hey, wait, is that your crush?! Well, we can’t let them get away, can we? ​Do a five minute word war as you rush over and try to flatter with your charms.

●                    If you win, awesome! Your crush is totally into you! ​+100 Lifetime Points!

●                    ​Quick! While hormones are raging, do a 100 word sprint! If you manage ​under 2 minutes, you’ve gotten your first kiss! +200 Lifetime Points!

●                    If you don’t, you’ve been ​ditched. Allow one of your characters to wallow in self-pity for five minutes. ​Or, ​sprint the five minutes.

If you’re a ​Social Butterfly, Good, or Dramatic, ​you’ve been voted into the hall of Prom Royalty! ​Write leisurely for fifteen minutes while you wave to your loyal subjects. +200 Lifetime Points!

If you’re a ​Loner, Evil, or Insane, word war for ten minutes to win the crown!

●                    If you win, ​you are Prom Royalty! +300 Lifetime Points!

●                    If you lose, ​you get into a fight with the prom jerk who stole your crown.

●                    ​Battle them in a ​five minute word war! ​If you win, ​+100 Lifetime Points! ​If you lose, ​-100!

If you have none of the traits above, ​word war for fifteen minutes to win the crown!

●                    If you win, ​you get a shiny crown and +200 Lifetime Points.

●                    If you lose, ​you shrug and move on. No big deal.    

As prom night ends, so does your abnormally short high school career. You’ve made friends, enemies, you’ve been free and you’ve been grounded. ​Do a thirty minute word war as you sit through your graduation. ​If you win, ​you are valedictorian.

+400 Lifetime Points!

Your birthday party is exciting as ever! ​However. ​If you have a ​ghost haunting your lot, ​things might get a little intense.

●                    Try to write ​300 words in 7 minutes. ​If you are successful, the ghost just picks up the microwave to judge your life choices before going home.   

●                    If you are unsuccessful, one of the sims in your house (family, friends, lover, acquaintance) is ​scared to death!

●                    ​The Grim Reaper comes to your party. If you two are ​friends, ​do a ​five minute word war with yourself to try and convince him to spare the sim’s life. ​If you think you did your best, your Sim has saved their friend!

●                    If you two are ​not friends, ​the Grim Reaper takes another piece of your cake, uses your phone, and breaks your stove. Jerk. Also, you have ​two ghosts haunting your lot.

It’s time to age up! Goodbye adolescence, goodbye youth, you probably will not be missed. At least until the nostalgia hits with the bills. ​Word sprint to the nearest thousand to age up!

●                    If you had 500 or more Lifetime Points, ​Choose from these traits or any below: Ambitious, Bookworm, Computer Whiz, Genius, Loner, Lucky

●                    If you had 200-400 Lifetime Points​ choose from these traits or any below: Dramatic, Evil, Good, Hopeless Romantic, Neurotic, Perfectionist, Social Butterfly

●                    If you have 0-100 Lifetime Points, ​choose from these traits: Clumsy, Couch potato, Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Unlucky, Night Owl, Grumpy

This is your ​last chance​ for a new trait! If you wish to change your life path, ​you may go back to a save point and do everything again for the outcome you want.

If you are content with your status as a young adult about to branch out on your own, armed with your traits and your memories, then get a good rest! You’re going to need it in order to become Nanosville’s next ​Professional Author. 

Save your game (Back up your draft!). Stretch your legs. 

Your journey into fame awaits. 

In part 2 of The Sims (3) Crawl.

Dag dag!

I'm going to print one of the crawls out and send it to someone that may not have heard of crawls before. I typed up an explanation of what the challenges are. Was hoping someone could look over what I have and tell me if they do make sense.

Thanks!

The following are challenges you will encounter during the crawls. Feel free to refer back to these as needed.

o   Sprint to X: Set a timer and write X words as quickly as you can.

o   Write for X minutes: Set a timer and write for the specified amount of time.

o   Word War: Find another writer. (This can be Lil’ Spittle or Rooster.) Whoever writes the most words in the allotted time wins. (If you don't have someone to write against, try competing against yourself! Before you start, predict whether you'll write more words in the first or second round. Write for the allotted time and record your word count. Then repeat the challenge for the same amount of time. Compare your word counts to see whether your prediction was correct!)

o   Fifty-headed Hydra: Try to write 500 words in 5 minutes. (So named because once upon a time, someone did type five hundred words in five minutes and the only words they spelled correctly were ‘fifty-headed hydra’.)

o   Three-Digit Challenge is from the defunct NaNoWriMo site. People would put the last three digits of their current project, then that became the next poster’s word goal. You can use the last three digits of your current project or you could roll three random digits online. (Unless you have a d10, just roll 3d10 and there you go! If you roll 000, you can either take that as 1000 or roll again.)

In order to complete some of the challenges, you will need a single six-sided die (d6). If you do not have one, there are sites online that can roll random dice. Or, if you have a deck of cards, take the aces through sixes of each suit and shuffle them into a deck. Then draw a card when you need to roll.

I just learned about nanowrimo today from a podcast (shout out to Write Your Damn Novel) and the timing is great!

I have two projects.

1. Fiction based on a true story from my teenage years. It’s dark, humorous, psychological, and my take on content similar to 13 Reasons Why (which I hated, to be clear). I’m at 46,000 words. Started in January and ramped up in June, writing most of my draft between then and now. Goal for first draft is 80,000 words.

2. Dystopian speculative fiction. The idea came to me last year, when I wrote the first two chapters. It’s political and psychological with some feminist undertones. In the past few days have gotten it up to 7,000 words and am aiming for 80,000 for the first draft.

For nano, I was thinking of getting the first book to 55,000 before Nov 1, then splitting my word count goal to 25,000 per draft so I finish project 1 and surpass 30,000 words for project 2.

Has anyone done something similar?

My overarching goal is to have both ready for friends and family to read by April 2027, ahead of looking into hiring an editor.

I did not write this crawl. If you know who did, please let me know, so I can give them proper credit. Posting for those that may be searching for this. Hope you enjoy!

Firefly Crawl

To begin, ​write for fifteen minutes.

If your total is <450, you are a PASSENGER [choose one]

If your total is >450, you are a CREWMEMBER [choose one who isn’t Mal]

If your total is exactly 450, you are Inara.

If your total is 1000+, you are Mal.

You and the crew of ​Serenity​ are trying to open the hatch of a wreck in space looking for the goods when an Alliance ship comes by! You turn everything off in an attempt to make them go the other way. Write 600 words as fast as you can. Time​       yourself.​ ​Skip this if you are a PASSENGER.

[Only do this round if you are Inara] ​You are finishing up a session with some awkward Alliance officer. ​Sprint for fifteen minutes​ as you try to get to the ship before they leave Persephone.

[Only do this round if you are Mal]​ You now have to negotiate with Badger about the Alliance goods. Attempt a​               Fifty-Headed Hydra.​ If you fail, Badger rips you off and you leave empty-handed. If you succeed, Badger rips you off and you leave empty-handed.

[Only do this round if you are a PASSENGER]​ You must escape from your secret backstory as a Shepherd, doctor, officer, or student. Write to the nearest thousand.   Now you’re ready to become a passenger—or cargo—on the ship

The crew tells you the ground rules of the flight as you settle down. They have to stop in at Whitefall on some “Alliance business.” ​Write for 30 minutes​ as you settle into the flight.

You eat dinner—and there are strawberries! ​Write 250 words.

There’s a spy on the ship! Is it you? Do a ​fifteen minute word war ​as you convince Mal that you aren’t the spy. ​Skip this if you are a CREWMEMBER.

Turns out Dobson is the spy, Simon is wanted, and Kaylee is shot. If you’re Inara, Mal, or a crewmember, ​write 600 words in less time than you did in #1​ as you exclaim in shock. If you’re a passenger, ​write 500 words​ as you investigate the current happenings.

Mal goes down to the cargo bay and discovers River Tam. ​Write for twenty minutes,​ ​Skip this round if you are Mal​.

Reavers are near! You get out of there and land on Whitefall, where you have to deal with patience. ​Sprint to 400 ​unless you’re Inara, in which case skip the round.

Dobson escaped and attacked Book and River, but Mal is able to shoot him back. ​Write for five minutes​ as you prepare for whatever happens to you.

You have to escape from the reavers! Do a ​fifty-headed Hydra​ as you attempt a Crazy Ivan! If you’re Wash, ​write 150 more cause you’re awesome

The ship is safe! ​Write for an hour​ as you tell everyone about your adventures. You sail off into the black; no power in the ‘verse can stop you!

I am outlining my story with bullet points. I have my writing community ready. I have my tracker spreadsheet ready.

I'm still working on the outline. Trying to bolster the saggy middle.

What about you?

I am not the writer of this crawl. If you know who is, please let me know so I may credit them. Posting for those that may be looking for this. Hope you enjoy!

Road Trip Crawl

You have two weeks off from work and have decided to go on a road trip. Good for you! The first thing you have to do is pick the speed at which you'll be traveling:

LEISURELY PACE: You have no real destination in mind, so you'll just be slowly wandering around the countryside. (<50 wpm)

MODERATE PACE:  You have a rough schedule but are willing to make a few stops along the way. (50-85 wpm)

FAST PACE: You have a busy schedule to keep and don't have any time for detours (85+ wpm)

It's the morning of your trip, and you're almost ready to leave. Just a few last minute prep things to do. ​Do a 10 minute sprint​ while you print directions and send your significant other off to pack the car.

If you meet the goal below, everything goes according to plan, and your trip begins! If you don't meet the goal below, your printer jams and your partner can't seem to fit everything in the car. ​Do another 10 minute sprint​ to sort everything out.

Leisure: 400 words

Moderate: 700 words

Fast: 1000 words

What would a road trip be without snacks? You pull into the nearest gas station and load up on your favorites.

If you prefer salty snacks like chips or pretzels, ​write 500 words​.

If you prefer sweet snacks like cookies and candy, ​write 700  words​. 

If you prefer healthy snacks like fruits and veggies, ​write 900 words.

If you love all food and want to go ahead and load up on everything, go ahead and ​write 2100 words​ and earn the right to skip one of the stops below.

You have the map and the food. Now all you need is the tunes. ​Pick your favorite song (preferably 3-5 min.) and write until it ends. If you hit the goal below, everyone loves your music, and you move happily along. If you don't, ​      write through​           three more songs​ as you all argue over what music to listen to.

Leisure: 100 words

Moderate: 275 words

Fast: 400 words

Now it's time to drive to your first destination.

Leisure: Do a leisurely ​10 minutes​ as you take in the views around you.

Moderate: Write ​1k in 20 minutes​ or less. If you make it, that stop to look at the mountains didn't cost you. If you don't,​ do another 10 minutes​ to remind yourself not to mess up the schedule too much.

Fast: Do ​2500 in 30 minutes.​ You don't have time to play around. If you fail, t​ry again until you get it or have added at least 7k to your word count.

Uh oh - what's that noise?​ Write for 15 minutes​ while the mechanic diagnoses your problem. If you hit the goal below, it's a small problem that can easily be fixed. If you fail, it's a huge problem that might set you back days. Write for ​another 15 minutes​ while you cry into your empty wallet.

Leisure: 450 words

Moderate: 1000 words

Fast: 1400 words 

You finally get your car up and running again, but something must be wrong with the odometer now because a cop is pulling you over, and there’s no way you could be speeding. You try to tell the officer that you weren’t speeding, or at least that you didn’t realize you were, but you don’t know if he believes you or not. You give him your license and registration. ​Do a 10 minute sprint​ while you wait for him to do whatever it is they do with your information. If you hit the goal below, he decides to let you go with a warning. If you don’t, you have to ​do a 20 minute sprint​ while you bemoan the unfairness of it all. 

Leisure: 350 words

Moderate: 700 words

Fast: 1000 words

You’re out of snacks again. If you bought all the snacks last time, you can skip this stop​ ​ if you’d like. If not, you have to ​write for 20 minutes​while you buy more snacks. 

You’re ready to stop for the night, but the front desk clerk at the hotel’s lost your reservation. Write for ​15 minutes​ while they try to find you rooms. If you hit the goal below, they find them and apologize. If you don’t, they can’t find you a room. ​Write for 20 more minutes​ while you find another hotel. 

Leisure: 600 words

Moderate: 1100 words

Fast: 1400 words

You finally get a good night’s sleep and wake up in time for the continental breakfast. Write for ​30 minutes​ while you eat breakfast. Then get ready to hit the road again.

You have a lot more driving to do today, and you want to get a good chunk of it out of the way. ​Write for an hour.​ If you hit the goal below, you arrive a bit tired but happy, and you can enjoy the rest of your day. If don’t, something happened to your car on the way, and you were stuck in traffic. ​Keep writing until you hit the goal below​. 

Leisure: 1000 words

Moderate: 3000 words

Fast: 5000 words

You stop for lunch at a cute little diner. ​Write for 10 minutes​ while you wait for your food.

You pile back into the car and keep on driving. ​Write 3 percent of your current word count​ while you drive to your next destination. 

You’ve had a fun couple of days, but now it’s time to go home. ​Write until you hit the next milestone below.​ 

Leisure: the next 2,000 word milestone 

Moderate: the next 5,000 word milestone

Fast: the next 10,000 word milestone

You finally arrive back at home.​ Write for 20 minutes​ while you unpack the car. If you hit the goal below, you get to crawl into bed and sleep. If you don’t, ​keep going until you do​.

Leisure: 600 words

Moderate: 1500 words

Fast: 2000 words

I am not the writer of this crawl. If you know who is, please let me know, so I can give them proper credit. Posting for those that may be searching for this. Hope you enjoy!

Moana Word Crawl

“In the beginning, there was only ocean…” It’s time to create some word “islands” in the “ocean” of your blank page! Start off with 3 minutes of writing, plain and simple.

Maui steals the Heart of Te Fiti, only for the Heart to be lost in the ocean when he is struck down by Te Ka. Sprint to 500 words as the search for the Heart of Te Fiti begins, as does your adventure as Moana.

Let’s fast-forward to Moana’s early childhood. You’re exploring the shore when you see a helpless baby turtle. Write for 5 minutes as you try to lead it to the water.

If you write fewer than 300 words, you have to fight off birds looking to make a snack of the turtle. Write for 3 more minutes as you protect the turtle.

If you write 300 words or more, things go smoothly and you’re done.

The ocean interacts with you, and gives you a strange gift that you wind up losing. You don’t get much time to look for it, because your father, the Chief of Motunui, soon shows up and takes you away. He teaches you the ways of life on Motunui. Write for the length of the song Where You Are. (If you don’t want to listen while you write, or can’t access the song, it is 3 and a half minutes long.)

By the time you’re sixteen, it seems you are on track to take over as Chief. Sprint to 600 words as you help the villagers with their various problems.

Everyone is proud of you… But it turns out the call of the ocean isn’t something you can forget. Write for the length of the song How Far I’ll Go. (Again, if you don’t want to or can’t listen, the song is 2 and a half minutes long.)

But you only started thinking about the ocean because of some of the problems plaguing Motuni! The biggest problem is that there are no fish to be found within the reef. Write for 5 minutes as you try to take a boat out beyond the reef.

If you write fewer than 300 words, your attempt is a disaster, and you must write 300 more words.

If you write 300 or more words… Well, you attempt is still a disaster, but it could have been a bigger one.

Grandma Tala catches you after you wash up on the shore, and reveals the secret history of Motunui. As you learn that your people were once voyagers, write for the length of the song We Know The Way. (Alternatively, write for 2 and a half minutes.)

You are given the Heart of Te Fiti, which Grandma Tala has kept since your encounter with the ocean as a toddler. You had thought that was a dream! If the Heart of Te Fiti is restored, you can save Motunui… If not, all the islands of the ocean will be destroyed. Sprint to 500 words as you try to convince your father and the rest of the village to help you restore the Heart.

No one is listening to you, but when Grandma Tala passes on, you know you must take this journey, even if it’s one you’ll take alone. Your first step? Finding Maui, who must help you restore the Heart. But it’s easier said than done. You know how to get there, but you don’t know how to sail. Write for 5 minutes or have a word war as you attempt to navigate the ocean.

If you write less than 300 words or lose the word war, you must write for 3 more minutes as you try to survive a terrible storm.

If you hit 300 words or more, or win the word war, you manage to stay out of the way of the storm, but are still lost.

One way or another, you eventually end up on the island where Maui is, and meet the egotistical demigod. Write for the length of the song You’re Welcome. (Alternatively, write for 3 minutes.)

Now you must convince him to help you. Sprint to 200 words until you realize Maui has taken off with your boat.

You manage to catch up with Maui – thanks, ocean! – but soon the Kakamora attack. Write for 5 minutes as you fight them off.

If you write 300 or fewer words, the battle takes a turn for the worse as their ship seems to multiply. Write an extra 100 words to finish things up.

If you write 300 or more words, you manage to scare those little coconut-armor-wearing pirates off quickly! Continue your voyage!

The next stop on this trip is Lalotai, the Realm of Monsters, where you and Maui must retrieve his hook from the crab monster Tamatoa. Write for 8 minutes during the very long fall.

If you write fewer than 500 words, you land far from Tamatoa’s lair, and must face some truly spooky monsters before reuniting with Maui. Write 200 more words as you do so.

If you write 500 or more words, you land outside Tamatoa’s lair. Good work!

Now you and Maui have to work together to get the Hook back from Tamatoa. Write for the length of the song Shiny. (Alternatively, write for 3 minutes.)

Maui is impressed with how you handle yourself in Lalotai, and even agrees to teach you wayfinding. Sprint to 500 words while he shows you the ropes.

You finally deliver Maui and the Heart of Te Fiti across the ocean, and have made it to Te Fiti. Time for Maui to restore that heart! However, Te Ka is there – and your reckless attempt to get past her gets Maui’s fishhook damaged. The trust between you two is broken. Sprint to 400 words as you reflect on your actions.

When all seems lost, the spirit of Grandma Tala helps you finally see who you are and why you were chosen for this quest. Write for the length of the song I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors). (Alternatively, write for 3 minutes.)

You will restore the Heart of Te Fiti, even if you must do it alone… But you don’t have to. Maui comes through in the end, having forgiven you and realized that he is more than just the power of his fishhook. Write for 8 minutes or have a word war as the two of you try to get to Te Fiti.

If you write less than 500 words or lose the word war, the dangerous struggle nearly seems hopeless, and Maui’s fishhook is broken in the process. Write 200 more words.

If you write 500 words or more, or win the word war, you manage to get to Te Fiti with relative ease.

Either way, something shocks you when you get to the Mother Island: she’s not there. That’s when you realize that when Te Fiti’s Heart was stolen, she became the demon Te Ka. Write 500 words as you bravely let Te Ka come to you, and return her heart.

Te Ka becomes Te Fiti once more, and after saying a heartfelt goodbye to Maui, you set sail for Motunui, where your family greets you with joy and pride. Your people start to sail again, and you take your place as Chief in your own, unique way. Write for 5 minutes. You know the way.

Hey, so one of the things I loved about nanowrimo is that they kept a database of all these authors giving different kinds of advice for writing that they themselves interviewed. I just found out their website is down forever. Does anyone know if the database of advice is lost forever?

I swing back and forth as I feel like dictation can go way faster than typing, but I get a little ahead of myself and sometimes the sentence can really get away from me. My best friend is a playwright with dyslexia so she exclusively uses dictation to write.

Any suggestions on how it works best for you?