Turbo or Casual Section?

The NaNoWriMists 2008: Turbo and Casual Sections

This year, as a trial run, the group is splitting into two sections: Turbo and Casual. This is intended not to destroy the community spirit but to allow for all levels and abilities within the group to be awarded and all achievements, no matter how comparatively large or small, to be recognised and celebrated.

As the names suggest, the aims of the sections are subtly but vitally different. In short, the Turbo section aim to reach a ridiculously high word count. The members compete against one another to get the highest possible number of words written during the month, and the person who achieves this goal will be duly awarded.

The Casual section's focus is support and encouragement. Although everyone is aiming for a high word count, there is no prize for getting the highest. Everyone is aiming for their own private word count goals and prizes will be given for achieving them. Perhaps you're aiming for 2,000 words a day; perhaps you're aiming for 20 words a day. As long as you're aiming for something, the Casual section will support you.

Below is a summary of how each section will function, and a handy (albeit rather small) flowchart to help you decide which one to join. The deadline for your decision is November 7th; after this point if you have not stated which section you are writing in, you will not be eligible for the specific sectional prizes. However, you can still enter for the whole group prizes. For more information see "The NaNoWriMists Prize List 2008" .

Once you've decided which section seems right for you, have a quick look at the information below and head on over to "The NaNoWriMists Writing Forum"  where you can have a chat with all the other group members and find the subfora.

The Casual Section

The Casual section is perfect for the standard NaNoer, who wants to write 50,000 words and needs a bit of encouragement when the going gets tough. With weekly goals and rewards for achieving them, and the possibility of setting your own word count goals if you feel that 50,000 might be unachievable, this is a good group for anyone just starting out or anyone who doesn't want to get competitive.

The Turbo Section

If you want to get your teeth into something even more challenging than 50,000 words in 30 days (are you totally mad?) then this is the section for you. With members battling it out to write ever-increasingly huge quantities of words each day, and prizes for the ones who make it to the most breathtaking final word count, this is a good group for people who can write faster than they think and want to compete, compete, compete.

Please note: Neither of the sections is "better" than the other, and both of them are subject to "The NaNoWriMists 2010 Contest Rules" . There are no entrance requirements and no need to prove that you "deserve" to be in either group, but choose carefully since you will not be able to change after November 7th.