No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty

Aug 19, 2008 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: writing

This book is the companion monkey, printed tour guide, and pocket personal adviser on how to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, written by no less than the founding father of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) himself.

The official NaNoWriMo is November. But you can choose any month you'd like and follow the advice in this guide. However, it's bound to be more fun when you know there are tens of thousands of other people all over the country—the world even—doing the same thing. You

...more

This book is the companion monkey, printed tour guide, and pocket personal adviser on how to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, written by no less than the founding father of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) himself.

The official NaNoWriMo is November. But you can choose any month you'd like and follow the advice in this guide. However, it's bound to be more fun when you know there are tens of thousands of other people all over the country—the world even—doing the same thing. You may even find time to connect with some of them via NaNoWriMo's forums or in person through your local Municipal Liaison. This thing gets bigger every year. There were over 100,000 novel participants in 2007 and more than 15,000 of them reached The End.

The book itself is an example of a work that's 50,000 words in length. Others are The Great Gatsby, Brave New World, The Catcher in the Rye, and Of Mice and Men. These are short novels by today's standards. Current popular fiction usually comes in at 75,000 to 80,000 words. But Baty advises what you're really writing is the first draft or your novel. The rewrite you may choose to do after NaNoWriMo concludes will likely add considerably to the word count before it graduates to a finished, polished novel. Or, just do it for fun, or to rejuvenate your creative reservoir.

Most professional writers advise the single most important thing for the novice to do is write, and write some more. So NaNoWriMo may be just the therapeutic immersion opportunity your writing aspiration needs.

In many respects this guide is a sales pitch to entice you to join the horde in November for the annual write-a-thon. Baty does a good job of creating excitement and enthusiasm in his appeal to the inner author, who's always wanted to write a book. But it's also a very practical guide that walks you through the obstacles and challenges you'll face along the way. It's all here, inspiration, support, life logistics and time management, the sweet smell of success, and a week-by-week self-help guide to get you over the most challenging hurdles.

You can read the whole book upfront to gain insights and tips about this wacky exercise, or you can use it as a personal adviser during the NaNoWriMo event itself, reading the individual weekly chapters at the appropriate time.

Baty writes in a friendly, humorous tone, never taking any aspect of the process too seriously except the goal (50K words) and the deadline (30 days). He writes with the conviction of someone who knows this territory inside out. Which is no surprise, since he's completed an impressive eight consecutive NaNoWriMos since starting this crazy marathon in 1999.

The book also includes a healthy batch of asides that offer additional advice related to the current topic at hand. Many are useful observations from previous "winners" who successfully wrote their novels in 30 days.

If you've ever mused about NaNoWriMo or writing a novel yourself, No Plot? No Problem! provides a quick, useful backgrounder into the process. They say the first draft is the hardest, so this may be just the kick-start you need to begin.

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Oct 18, 2007 Pat rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

If you're thinking about doing nanowrimo in November or you want to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days...this book will motivate you to do it. Has a lot of tips and advice. It isn't a step by step guide to generating a plot. It is a book that will make you see you can write a novel even if you don't have a plot at the start. It will keep you writing until your plot just happens..and it will happen...last year I didn't have a plot but kept writing anyways and one emerged. If the only thing stop...more

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Aug 06, 2007 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: wannabe writers

Shelves: writing

Last year I was introduced to NaNoWriMo -- the National Novel Writing Month, but too late to actually participate. I've been mulling it over this year -- intimidated by the prospect, but considering participating this November. This book is written by the founder of NaNoWriMo and makes the idea of writing a novel in a month actually seem doable. Anyone who dreams of writing a novel should check out the website www.nanowrimo.org! If participating in NaNoWriMo is tempting, check out this book for...more

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Oct 15, 2007 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: To all Nanowrimos everywhere!

Shelves: books-on-writing

I laughed so hard I cried when I read this book last year. I even photo-copies the Novelist Agreement, signed it, and taped it to my desk to remind myself of the commitment. Chris Baty's humorous writing pulls you along for the crazy ride that is the month of November with numerous pep talks and advice. Filled with stories from Nano's over the years it was simply joy to read.

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Nov 30, 2007 Pierre rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: librarybook, writing

How to write a novel in 30 days. Poorly. Not terribly impressed with the author's writing style or ideas. Too bad I got distracted about 10,000 words into my horrendous novel. The problem with the book is that it is all peptalk, and no substance. Blech.

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Jan 13, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first time I started reading this book -- several years ago and before I had ever heard of this thing called NaNoWriMo -- I was disappointed to find that it was actually a guidebook to surviving this crazy annual event that Baty had started, in which writers commit to writing a novel of 50,000 words in one month.

What was this? I was not going to attempt something so ridiculous as writing a complete novel in 30 days. I was a serious writer.

Now, years later, I still haven't written a novel, a...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Jason Koivu rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: writing

No plot?...Yes, that is a problem! Free-flow writing is like having the shits: You feel tremendous relief, but it really stinks. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad concept - forcing yourself to write a rough draft within 30 days - which is especially good for new writers, who are often timid procrastinators too anxious or lazy to even begin. In essence, what you get if you follow Baty's program is a microcosm or truncation of the usual novel beginning, a laying down of the bare-bones of your int...more

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Oct 01, 2008 Marck Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Baty has a quick, light-hearted writing style, which is important considering the task this book promises to teach you. "Heavier" writing books (i.e., John Gardner's _The Art of Fiction_) call out for much thinking through your process. But if you're going to turn out a novel in 30 days, we have no time for that! So Baty's book moves along at a fast clip, which means you can get back to writing your masterpiece faster. I knocked out over 56,000 words in my month, and though the first draft has y...more

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Dec 06, 2007 Leippya rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: open-minded writers, writers up to a challenge

Shelves: writing

An alternative view to writing, very fun to read. If you tend to see writing as sacred, you probably should not read it. The idea behind the book is to write a first draft very fast, in thirty days, then spend a lot of time revising. Because this book is short and the author quite funny, it makes for a relaxing read.

On another point, if you're thinking of doing NaNoWriMo, the event that's behind the book, this is a good companion to have with you. The first half is about NaNoWriMo, writing and p...more

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Aug 21, 2007 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This book was the most useful book on writing I have ever read. Most of such books are chocked full of enough second-guessing tactics to completely immobilize any writer. This book was a very freeing, encouraging excercise in lowering your standards just enough to remove the fear from sitting down and working. It helped me realize that creating a less than perfect rough draft of a complete story is infinitely better than agonizing over an emacculate first chapter of a book that will never be com...more

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Dec 01, 2008 Debbie Petersen rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: aspiring novelists

Shelves: attempts-at-self-improvement

I wonder why the month of November is the chosen month for NaNoWriMo? Don't the authors have the upcoming holidays and such to take away writing time? The ideal time for me would be January, when it is too cold to go out and both of my jobs slow down for 30 days or so. Such is life, I failed to hit 50,000 words, but did get a lot of writing in before days of having to work and days of endless distraction made me fall too far behind and I felt overwhelmed. There's always next year...

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Mar 03, 2008 Lord Beardsley rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people going through writer's block

Shelves: read2008

This is a really good book to keep on hand to get yourself motivated to write. It has some great tips and is nice to pick up every now and again just to get the juices flowing. The tone of the book is really grating however and the author's voice is really annoying. It also has a sort of mentality of "let's do this craaazzzyyy, kooky writing thang to brag over the water cooler about at our yuppie job!" tone to it that gets pretty damned grating. If you can overlook that, and use it as a helpful...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a lot of fun to read. I used it this year to get me through NaNoWriMo, and it really helped! I started by reading the initial chapters which explain, in overview, how the whole novel-in-a-month thing is supposed to work. I stopped at the weekly chapters, and then during NaNoWriMo I would read each chapter at the beginning of each new week of the novel in a month process. Each of the weekly chapters gave me fresh inspiration, especially when I was feeling like giving up on the whole...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jennifer Haight rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm finding the book No Plot? No Problem! the perfect motivation for participating in my first NaNoWriMo event. I appreciate the reminders to go easy on one self when writing and to focus on obtaining the word count, leaving editing for later. It gives the constant reminder that the NaNoWriMo exercise of writing 50,000 words in a month is just the start of beginning the journey to becoming a writer. After one has disciplined themselves to write on a regular basis they can learn the craft of edit...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Traci rated it 5 of 5 stars

I, once again and undertaking the task of NaNoWriMo next month. Last year, I attempted Nano but sadly, I did not win. I put No Plot? No Problem! onto my wishlist last year before Nano thinking that it may or may not be helpful in my novel writing process.

I managed to get through about two weeks of my novel before I ended up giving up. Yes, two weeks. I feel into the trap that so many others fall into. I let my inner editor run around and critique everything that I wrote.

When I read No Plot? No...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

"The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a deadline."
-Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem!

I read this book several years ago and loved it. I had participated in NaNoWriMo several times and found it a thrill, even when I only managed to get 4500 words down on paper instead of the targeted 50,000.

I think some of the negative reviews of this book come from people who wanted or expected something something different. So let me begin by...more "The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a deadline."
-Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem!

I read this book several years ago and loved it. I had participated in NaNoWriMo several times and found it a thrill, even when I only managed to get 4500 words down on paper instead of the targeted 50,000.

I think some of the negative reviews of this book come from people who wanted or expected something something different. So let me begin by telling you what you will not find when you read this. This isn't a book on grammar or style. It isn't a book on how to get published. It isn't a guide to plotting or character development or world-building. It may touch on some (or many) of those issues, but that's not what the book is about.

No Plot? No Problem! is about getting your butt in the chair and putting some words on the page. After all, none of those other things matter very much if you never start writing. It's 50,000 words of pep talks and encouragement.

The books on writing that I love the most are the ones that inspire me to run to my computer and write something down. I firmly believe that lack of a deadline or goal can be a big problem for people. It's not that we're lazy, it's that there is so much else to do. Without a deadline, you can always start your novel tomorrow. I'm one of those people. I make a living writing non-fiction, so it's not that I don't know how to sit down and write. I always get articles written on time (after all, if I don't write them, I don't eat). But my fiction never seems to make it to my priority list for the day. Vacuuming the stairs always seems more important.

That's where the concept of NaNoWriMo comes in. Write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's a big target, but very doable (although I wish it didn't arrive in the heart of football season). You have a large community to write with and get support from. Perhaps this won't work for you. Maybe the idea of a deadline makes you want to curl up under your desk and cry. But for me, and many of the people I know, the pressure of a deadline makes me get up and do something. It has to be done. Someone is counting on me, even if it is only my writing buddy.

No Plot? No Problem! begins with lessons that author and NaNo founder Chris Baty has learned over the years. It covers topics like exuberant imperfection, the Time Finder, and getting your loved ones on board with the idea.

Read this book if you are looking for something fun and irreverent. Read it if you are participating in NaNoWriMo. Read it if you just want to laugh. Don't read it if you can't comprehend why people would write a novel for fun, instead of for publication or Art.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 David jones rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-books-of-2012

This is a good book. I haven't really technically read this book all of the way through, nor do I plan to, so I just thought I'd review the parts of the book I have read. I mean, it is a nonfiction book about how to write a novel in 30 days, which is very interesting. The author of this book is the person who created National Novel Writing Month, which I intend to participate in this next November. There is some great advice in this book that makes me wanna write some more. When I participated i...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: self-help

In 1999, Chris Baty and friends had an insane idea: writing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Only a few of them managed to cross the finish line. But the man had spawned a terrific notion. Now, after that fateful decision, every November, millions of people attack their computers, scribble on notepads and brainstorm for days at a time to churn out novels. It’s called National Novel Writing Month (called Nanowrimo by the cognoscenti) and this book tells you how you can do it, too.

The book gives y...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Alisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

This book was not what I expected at first. When I bought this book I thought it was going to be talking about story plots, the different kinds of plots, and writing in general. This is how I found out about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Chris Baty, who is founder of NaNoWriMo and this book, wrote the book in a very simple and understanding way. I love that this tells about the challenge of NanWriMo, and even have a chart on page 50 of him breaking down how many words per day you to...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Todd Russell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-writers, non-fiction

I bought this book several years back and it's not a book I'd recommend for writers who want to learn how to write a usable 50,000+ word first draft in 30 days. It is recommended for writers who need motivation to write every day.

Some writers need this kind of motivation, so the book shouldn't be discarded as nothing more than a glorified advertisement for NaNoWriMo. For those who need and want the daily writing goal motivation, this book has some useful tips.

Since NaNo came into inception in 1...more I bought this book several years back and it's not a book I'd recommend for writers who want to learn how to write a usable 50,000+ word first draft in 30 days. It is recommended for writers who need motivation to write every day.

Some writers need this kind of motivation, so the book shouldn't be discarded as nothing more than a glorified advertisement for NaNoWriMo. For those who need and want the daily writing goal motivation, this book has some useful tips.

Since NaNo came into inception in 1999 it has grown exponentially and there have been some good books that have come out of the event which motivates this writer (me) into trying to align a real project with NaNoWriMo 2011.

I am more interested in producing something good in a month that is 50,000+ words versus something that will have to be almost completely rewritten. I'm not saying writing a novel in 30 days that doesn't have to go through additional editing, but one that doesn't have to go through a significant amount of rewriting.

In 2011 I'll be trying for the first time to write the first draft from an outline in Scrivener for Mac. The novels I've written to date have all been pansters (written without an outline).

I don't remember No Plot No Problem providing much, if any, guidance for pantsers or outliners. You'd think a book with the subtitle "a low-stress, high-velocity guide to WRITING A NOVEL" would be more specific.

I'm going to try and re-read this book before November 2011 and see if I can glean more usefulness from it on a second read and then update this review. Maybe I missed more useful passages on the first read. In my memory, however, this was more of a self-help, motivational speech than a nails and bolts guide. Good for motivation writing words, but not good for writing useful words.

I tried NaNoWriMo with a panster manuscript years ago after buying Mr. Baty's book and failed the challenge and producing a good first draft manuscript. This year armed with an outline I'm going to try again to write a good first draft. So, I guess I've got two challenges this year: 1. write at least 50,000 words in November 2011 and 2. create a good, usable first draft.

I'll know on December 1, 2011 how it worked--or didn't.

If you would rather not read a motivational book on writing words (and less on writing a good, usable first draft), then look for other writing-related books.(less)

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Nov 30, 2010 Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you've always wanted to write a Novel, but have had trouble getting started, or getting it completed, then I highly recommend this book. Special thanks to Chris Baty author of No Plot? No Problem, and founder of National Novel Writing Month, and the crew at NaNoWriMo for providing the inspiration, guidance and wisdom for thousands of happy readers and writers on the road to becoming Novelists. I took the challenge and completed the first draft of my Novel in under the 30 days suggested, and w...more

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Jun 10, 2009 Cyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Ever heard of NaNoWriMo? Chris Baty came up with the idea of writing a novel in a month with some friends- this quickly became "National Novel Writing Month" (NaNoWriMo- celebrated every November.) Baty uses his experiences with with NaNoWriMo, or writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days for fun as a way to write. Serious writers may point out that it takes longer than a month to write. But for people who are hesitant, procrastinators, or just plain inspirationally crippled (like me) this can be a...more

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May 04, 2009 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is hard to rate because different writers will get different things out of it. But first, let me give some context:

I picked up this book a couple of weekends ago at a used book store at the LA Times Festival of Books at UCLA. It was nice to see that Chris Baty had managed to monetize the Novel-in-a-month schtick in this book. I met Chris in 2002 when he convinced me to join his NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) crusade and jump into my own novel. And for a crazy month that I sti...more This book is hard to rate because different writers will get different things out of it. But first, let me give some context:

I picked up this book a couple of weekends ago at a used book store at the LA Times Festival of Books at UCLA. It was nice to see that Chris Baty had managed to monetize the Novel-in-a-month schtick in this book. I met Chris in 2002 when he convinced me to join his NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) crusade and jump into my own novel. And for a crazy month that I still remember so long ago, I pumped out 50000 words and a nearly complete novel.

This book pretty much captures the whole experience for the thousands of novelists who have tried this approach. 50,000 words is the length of a short novel---say, the length of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. It describes the unforgiving goal of 1667 words a day. It describes the initial rush, inevitable blocking, and then the sheer relief of finishing. 1667 words a day is about 6 double spaced pages a day.

The idea behind the approach is that the sheer pace of this assignment will force the writer to steamroll over the usual problems related to writing the novel: the doubt, self-editing, and ultimately apathy that kills novels. This approach blows these problems apart because it forces the writer to keep going. Fall behind and you lose. The book notes that only about 1 in 6 writers who start this process actually finish their novel. Some come back in following years to keep trying.

This approach is endorsed by many writing coaches. The point is to get the words onto the paper as quickly as possible. That is the hard part. You can work on the polish in the edit. And most novels take thrice as long to edit as to write. So better get the draft down as quickly as possible. In addition, writing quickly taps into the intuitive subconscious part of the creative process. The book quotes Ray Bradbury on the plot: "the story knows where it is going, the writer's job is to get out of the way."

So does it work? Well it depends on what your goals are. If the idea is to get things going in your novel, I would recommend trying this method. The time pressure is---ironically---quite liberating. Things like nuance, grammar, punctuation, and even spelling are not that important. The plot really does work itself out as you go along, especially if you've had some experience with telling stories. But I note that 5 out of 6 writers don't finish this way. So it's not for everyone.

Is it any good? This book is. For this method. Yes. For my novel---"Nathan's Road"---not so much.

The book offers time specific ideas to get over the "humps" that a writer will likely encounter during the 31 days.

Any good?(less)

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Mar 11, 2013 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: WriMos

Shelves: kindle, nanowrimo-novels

Chris Baty is the founder of NaNoWriMo. In this book, he explains how the event came about, how it exploded, and what to expect when participating. I wish I had read this book two years ago. It may have helped me out, as it pointed out what I've done wrong each time I participated.

The writing is fun, funny, and so clearly NaNoish I had to stop several times to freak out about it. The wild metaphors, the nonsensical comments... NaNo. All NaNo. It's how I do NaNo, and apparently it's how Chris Bat...more Chris Baty is the founder of NaNoWriMo. In this book, he explains how the event came about, how it exploded, and what to expect when participating. I wish I had read this book two years ago. It may have helped me out, as it pointed out what I've done wrong each time I participated.

The writing is fun, funny, and so clearly NaNoish I had to stop several times to freak out about it. The wild metaphors, the nonsensical comments... NaNo. All NaNo. It's how I do NaNo, and apparently it's how Chris Baty himself does NaNo.

I've checked out some reviews on GoodReads.com and I was a bit surprised to see so many negative ones, but I guess I shouldn't have been. Most people just don't get it. I probably wouldn't have gotten it either if I hadn't participated already. They're mostly complaining about how this is not a good way to write a novel, but what they don't get is that NaNoWriMo isn't about writing good novels. As Author Baty talks about in the book, NaNo is for the "one day" novelists. The people who say, "I'll write a novel, one day." But one day never comes.

You know what? One day is November first. Sit down, write two thousand words, and repeat every day for thirty days, or shut the hell up. It isn't about writing a bestseller, or even something that anyone will ever, ever want to read. It's about finally doing what you've been talking about for the last five, ten, fifty years. It's about checking "write a novel" off your bucket list.

WHICH I CAN DO, BECAUSE OF NANOWRIMO.

Yes, some people polish up the horrible mess they spewed in that month and go on to get published and become famous authors. Most don't--but that's okay, because they've still written more than most people ever will, and that's an accomplishment, I don't care what you think. They've still stretched their imagination in ways they didn't know were possible, and they're better writers (and readers) for it. It's the kick in the pants they (we) needed. It's the deadline that gets things moving.

If you're a fan of NaNo and haven't yet read this book, I highly recommend it to you. If you've never done NaNo, or don't even know what it is, I highly recommend this book with the plea that, while reading, you keep in mind what the book is about. Context is everything.

Originally published on my blog.(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: writing-resources, nonfiction, read-in-2013

I'm such a huge fan of Chris Baty's, I'm surprised I'd never picked this up before.

I did NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2002 and had my first (and only) win in 2003 during the days when Baty was still at the helm. Nowadays, the pep talks are done by successful authors, some of whom first drafted their bestsellers during NaNo. But, back then, all the pep talks were done by Baty himself. They were encouraging, funny, clever, and caring, and for me they were one of the highlights of the NaNo expe...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Cari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, story-writing-prep, writing

Confession: I avoided this book for years due to an overwhelming aversion to the title and all the stupidity it implies. (No Plot? No Problem! Really? Way to reduce a creative endeavor into something minor, without worth, and to a level so low even imbeciles might try their hand at it, as if there isn't enough bad writing flying around as it is.) I couldn't stomach it, so I always rolled my eyes and left it on the shelf, perfectly content in my elitist ways.

Further confession: I was, thankfully,...more Confession: I avoided this book for years due to an overwhelming aversion to the title and all the stupidity it implies. (No Plot? No Problem! Really? Way to reduce a creative endeavor into something minor, without worth, and to a level so low even imbeciles might try their hand at it, as if there isn't enough bad writing flying around as it is.) I couldn't stomach it, so I always rolled my eyes and left it on the shelf, perfectly content in my elitist ways.

Further confession: I was, thankfully, so very, very wrong, and I'm glad another GoodReads member ventured the recommendation.

So the title does the book no favors, but the book itself is well worth a read. It's quick, it's funny, and above all, it will motivate you.

This is a companion volume to the epic NaNoWriMo efforts of the internet and the world beyond, presented with a great sense of humor and an eye on the goal of simply surviving the month with your sanity and word count intact. Baty breaks it down to the whys and hows, even going so far as to flag each week of the endeavor by just how broken your brain is going to feel. (My words, not his, but it's implied. And having taken a stab at NaNoWriMo myself, I remember the feeling well.) He has hit on the one thing that keeps so many talented writers from ever making any progress: the idea that the first attempt has to be genius. That's what editing is for, that's when the genius comes in, and a writer can't edit/publish what he never managed to get down on paper in the first place.

"Stop being so hard on yourself." I, along with many of my friends who write, would do well to remember this. We've preached it at each other for years, to no avail, but in NaNoWriMo--and thus in this volume--Baty hands any writer the key to at least getting the words on paper.

It doesn't have to be good, it just has to get done. Editing is for December.

Highly recommended for any writer, especially those who participate or are considering participating in NaNoWriMo. You won't learn any grand writing strateges or skills from these pages beyond "JUST WRITE, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" But sometimes, in the beginning at least, that's all you need to know.

(Although yes, the title cost this book a star. I still wince when I look at the front cover.)(less)

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May 22, 2013 Cindy Choi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

If you are a two-time NaNoWriMo loser like me, this book will blow your mind and possibly change your life. I know, I know, I sound hyper, hyperbolic, but even losing NaNoWriMo changed my life.

Both years, everyone in my write-in group won EXCEPT for me. My write-in mates gave me much helpful advice and encouragement. This book, however, gave me the experience of what it feels like to complete NaNoWriMo. I realized I wasn't "getting" it. I was going about it ALL WRONG!

For example, fellow loser, d...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-a-copy

SUM: Chris Baty walks his readers through the trials and triumphs of writing a novel in 30 days, most specifically linked to National Novel Writing Month, in November.

REV: I love Chris' humor, of course. His guilt monkeys and superhuman literary cyborgs. Certainly I don't think it's entirely necessary for people to read this book in order to succeed at NaNoWriMo, but it is a witty guide that will help you through the trickier parts of the month, where all you want to do is give up, or maybe curl...more

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May 23, 2012 Voss Foster rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-must-reads, rainy-day-books, sure-to-be-classics

I could have given this book four stars, or even three, for some of the bad advice it gives. But it's not bad advice--it's advice for the wrong person. A beginning author, deluded into thinking that you must slave away for years eating cat food and drinking whiskey needs this book. It reveals the big secrets. It's the reason I'm writing today.

Are there things I advise people against in this book? Yes. I think the strongest books come from plotting, not from blindly writing whatever you feel like...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: writing

Want to laugh while writing 50,000 words in 30 days? This book is for you. “No Plot, No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days” by Chris Baty puts your inner insanity to work for you.

Baty, who founded the National Novel Writing Month contest, writes this book assuming the following:

You want to write a novel.
Having knowledge of how to write a novel is optional.
The book’s writing style is engaging and casual with enough sarcasm and off-beat humor that made me smi...more

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title link	preview: No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days
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No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days

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