(Updated 2005-11-29)
Why was this FAQ started already in November?
Because I finished early, for once! Or at least I validated my novel at about 51000 words about half an hour past midnight on November 27th. The story wasn't quite finished at that point though.
Can I read your novel?
No. It seriously needs editing. When/if I manage to do that, I'll reconsider.
What is the novel about?
It might look like a fantasy adventure story at first, but mainly it is about friendship and love. Or at least it should be.
Were there any challenges this year, like the vampire hamsters last year?
Yes. This year's challenge was a "dala-cow", which would be like the traditional Swedish "dala-horse", but a cow instead of a horse. The dala-cow was featured on the very first page of my novel.
How many of the questions in The Fantasy Novelist's Exam did you fail?
12 or 13 (depends on interpretation - kitchen boy is almost the same as farm boy, isn't it?). I'm a bit disapointed, I thought I'd fail more. It was supposed to be that way - the king wants a traditional adventurer party (hero with mystic powers, warrior with sword, mage, warrior with bow, thief, bard) to fix the problems in his country, or at least look like they're trying, so that the people will see that he's doing something about it. There are a couple of magical swords too, and a prophecy. And somebody is manipulating our heroes into solving classic quests like destroying the bandits' lair and rescuing a princess from a dragon.
You were one of the two MLs in Sweden this year. How was that?
It was interesting. I would probably have done most of what I did as ML anyway, so it wasn't very hard.
Will you do it again next year?
I will definitely participate in NaNoWriMo next year. It's a tradition now. I might volunteer as ML too.
Will you continue writing after November?
I hope so. Writing is fun, and I have many stories I would like to write. Not all of them are suitable for NaNoWriMo, so I really need to start writing during the rest of the year too.
Did somebody actually ask all these questions?
I'll be surprised if anyone even reads all these questions.