A brief mo-ment

November 1, 2006 3:14 AM

It's movember again at last. As well as being National Novel Writing Month this month is the month to let your mo grow and express your inner 70s self to the world. An Australian tradition since, well, 1999 that is going global. The official site has more about this year's event. There results tend to look like this.
posted by sien (38 comments total)

Mefite NaNoWriMotes, raise your hands, be proud! This is my first attempt, and I haven't written anything serious in probably six or eight years. I'm excited to do it regularly again, whether I win or not. Any past winners here? I need a support group.
posted by Plutor at 3:37 AM on November 1, 2006

Obviously a gay conspiracy. I can live without the Ho-Mo, thanks.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:41 AM on November 1, 2006

On day "Mo-1" (October 31), the complete moustache region, including the entire upper lip and the handlebar zones, must be completely shaved.

For the entire duration of Movember (Movember 1 - 31 inclusive), no hair shall be allowed to grow in the goatee zone - being any facial area below the bottom lip.

Well, to hell with that.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:33 AM on November 1, 2006

Yeah, I'll probably give it a shot again.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:44 AM on November 1, 2006

I have friends that call Nanowrimo the month that can break up the strongest of relationships.
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:58 AM on November 1, 2006

this will be my 3rd year attempting this. i never make it very far. last two years, i tried to write a story that actually made sense.

now i'm going for the absurd.

lets see if that works.
posted by Stynxno at 7:17 AM on November 1, 2006

I'm writing my second novel this NaNoWriMo. Last year's turned out pretty well and this year I've got a great theme for the book, so we'll have to see how it turns out.

Still, I'll be crossing the finish line come what may with 50,000 words on the 30th.
posted by DragonBoy at 7:30 AM on November 1, 2006

I think the only way to do this and maintain any semblance of a life would be in a collaborative effort. That way I could get away with writing a hundred words a day, so long as there were 20-30 people doing the same thing. Of course, the resultant text would be gibberish but most novels are anyway.
posted by fenriq at 7:41 AM on November 1, 2006

I'm trying NaNoWriMo this year for the first time. I'm kinda nervous for some reason.

That movember site is HIDEOUS. Ow.
posted by owhydididoit at 8:49 AM on November 1, 2006

slen, were you intending your post to be primarily about facial hair or novels? 'Cuz if it was the former, you totally screwed up by even mentioning the latter, as evidenced by only 2-2.5 out of the 9 comments thus far being related to moustaches :(

As for me, well, I'm afraid my propensity for growing non-awful-looking facial hair is about as great as my propensity for, well, writing novels.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 9:14 AM on November 1, 2006

Thoroughput has never been a problem for me. Consistent, good thoroughput has been though. Maintaining motivation when you feel like what you're writing is fried ass is just not easy.

Of course, NaNoWriMo helps, because you know there are thousands of other people right down penning fried ass as well, planning to maybe go back later and fix it.

But 2000 words a day, that's what... 4 typed pages, maybe five? Christ, that's not strenuous at all.

I can't remember who it was I heard this about, but I'd heard that for her first three books, she worked a 9-to-5 job, raised children, cooked meals, cleaned house, did laundry, and wrote ten pages a day.

(All that said, ask me to re-read this comment on the 19th and see how much of an ass I look like.)
posted by Imperfect at 9:25 AM on November 1, 2006

I'm also trying NaNoWriMo for the first time.

I'll have to write more each day than I ever have, really, so I'm feeling pretty surreal about the whole thing.
posted by Merlyn at 9:28 AM on November 1, 2006

cyrusdogstar, I think you get to choose to comment about either moustaches or books.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 10:12 AM on November 1, 2006

awesome. i didn't read the FPP correctly at all.

anyways, i'm not growing a stache this year. i had a goatee for 8 years. staches and the like are overrated unless you are the evil twin. and once your twin moves to another state, wth is the point in keeping it?
posted by Stynxno at 10:47 AM on November 1, 2006

That ain't how I read it, Samuel ;) I see three links related to moustaches and only one related to NaNo, and the entire FPP save for the sentence fragment linking to NaNo is clearly about moustaches.

I'm not usually this pedantic but for some reason this gets my goat. I expected better of you guys :(

on preview: Stynxno has been vindicated! yey
posted by cyrusdogstar at 10:49 AM on November 1, 2006

Those photos feature New Zealand cricket fans, it would seem.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:52 AM on November 1, 2006

This will be my third Nano! I am behind on my wordcount already!!!
posted by verveonica at 11:29 AM on November 1, 2006

Since I'm not hormonally equipped for Movembering, and after failing NaNoWriMo for three years, I have finally found a November challenge that suits my low committment threshold self: NaBloPoMo

It is all about the Baby Stepping.
posted by monopas at 11:59 AM on November 1, 2006

I am going for both...my moustache will grow with my novel
posted by batboy at 12:09 PM on November 1, 2006

Signed up for NaNoWriMo. I can't decide if I want to write about changelings or psychics so my first page had both. Movember I only heard about yesterday, and while I purposefully kept my options open this morning, I'm not sure I really want to. Everyone knows the only people with moustaches are policemen and homosexuals.
posted by Sparx at 12:27 PM on November 1, 2006

I already have a mustache.
posted by cortex at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2006

"I have friends that call Nanowrimo the month that can break up the strongest of relationships."


Heh. I LOVE being single in November. The one year I lost NaNo was my first year doing it with a boyfriend.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:56 PM on November 1, 2006

It was intended to be a NanoWriMostauche post, all about us ending 'Rocktober' and entering the new month, the Mo pictures just seemed to want to be posted is all.
posted by sien at 2:00 PM on November 1, 2006

I've signed up for the Nanowrimo thingy as well, and I have a Title! So yeah.
posted by dhruva at 2:44 PM on November 1, 2006

I think anything that may help us find less invasive methods of checking the prostrate must be a good thing.

I do a lot of good work for charity (but I don't like to talk about it).
posted by Samuel Farrow at 4:01 PM on November 1, 2006

Since I'm not hormonally equipped for Movembering, and after failing NaNoWriMo for three years, I have finally found a November challenge that suits my low committment threshold self: NaBloPoMo

I might have a go at MeFiCoMo - the MetaFilter Commenting Month.

To be named a winner of MeFiCoMo, every single FPP for the month must receive a comment, regardless of whether or not you have any interest in, or knowledge of, the subject matter.

Awards are also given for AskMeCoMo & MeTaCoMo.

If you achieve winner status for all three competitions - the blue, the green & the grey - a Grand Slam is achieved, entitling you to wear the presitigious blue, green & grey jersey to meetups & other ceremonial occasions. You also receive the honour of being allowed to design, produce & pay for the jersey yourself.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:31 PM on November 1, 2006

Since I'm not hormonally equipped for Movembering, and after failing NaNoWriMo for three years, I have finally found a November challenge that suits my low committment threshold self: NaBloPoMo

I might have a go at MeFiCoMo - the MetaFilter Commenting Month.

To be named a winner of MeFiCoMo, every single FPP for the month must receive a comment, regardless of whether or not you have any interest in, or knowledge of, the subject matter.

Awards are also given for AskMeCoMo & MeTaCoMo.

If you achieve winner status for all three competitions - the blue, the green & the grey - a Grand Slam is achieved, entitling you to wear the prestigious blue, green & grey jersey to meetups & other ceremonial occasions. You also receive the honour of being allowed to design, produce & pay for the jersey yourself.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:33 PM on November 1, 2006

I'm going for MeFiDoCoMo, myself.
posted by cortex at 4:41 PM on November 1, 2006

My husband's doing Movember. He's been growing out a full beard for the past few months (for his Halloween costume) and he's just shaved it off. It's a big change. Now he's considering his "mo" options. Currently I think he's planning a "Morgan Spurlock" style with the long side pieces. I'm trying to sway him into a bushy "My Name is Earl" look instead.
posted by web-goddess at 4:44 PM on November 1, 2006

Huh, I just shaved my beard too (which was also supposed to be for a halloween contest) and as a result I'm hesitant to start growing a stache again. I guess it just depends on whether I can get enough of my retarded friends to do it with me.
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:55 PM on November 1, 2006

I actually signed up this year.

Now, it's 1 Nov. and I've got an opening sentence, and (maybe) a closing one. About 49,980 words to go.

Of course, I suspect I've already written about 1000-1500 hundred words of non-NaNoWriMo stuff today. Dammit!
posted by teece at 5:57 PM on November 1, 2006

I'm going for MeFiDoCoMo, myself.

What's that? MetaFilter Don't Comment Month?
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:11 PM on November 1, 2006

No, it's Metafilter Double Comment Month.
posted by cortex at 6:14 PM on November 1, 2006

No, it's Metafilter Double Comment Month.
posted by cortex at 6:14 PM on November 1, 2006

Plugging away here. *Phew*, this is hard work!

Don't think I'll rise to the AskMeCoMo or MeTaCoMo parts of the challenge this year, though...
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:48 PM on November 1, 2006

Moi, moi, moi!

Unfortunately though, like last year and the year before last, November is also the time I tend to travel, so I don't know how it'll go. Besides, I have this big exam slated for next Monday.

That said, I'm full of ideas, and am looking forward to spending quality time with my word processor once again!
posted by the cydonian at 9:50 PM on November 1, 2006

I helped out a mate with movember fundraising last year. This year I'm having a go myself. Anyone care to sponsor me?
posted by d-no at 1:49 AM on November 2, 2006

As much as I love mustaches, I can't grow one worth a damn, but I'm nanowrimoing yet again this year. If any of you need any of us to remind you that writing in November is all about the fun of it or to kick your butt when you fall behind on your word count, drop by "Janet Kagan's Little Corner of Hell Room Party" in "Off Topic." BYOB.
posted by realjanetkagan at 12:54 AM on November 5, 2006