NaNoWriMo Preptober: Final Preparation for the Big Push
If you’re planning to do NaNoWriMo, or any other big writing sprint, you can’t just think about the actual writing. Unless, that is, you have a bevy of servants at your beck and call, ready to bring you sustenance (and coffee!) on demand, clean your house, and guard your writing space like Cerberus.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Main Tentpole Scenes
This week, we’re going to tackle the basics of your story structure. I say basics because when I work with clients, this part alone can take weeks to nail down if we were to do all the pieces, including feedback. If you’re starting NaNoWriMo on November 1, you don’t have that kind of time. Hence, this quick-and-dirty introduction to figuring out the major story milestones you need to hit, which will at least give you some goalposts to work towards as you write your first 50K words.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Character and Their World
Beautiful language, exciting plots... those are great. But in the end, what we remember most from any story is the Characters. Especially your main protagonist, whose arc has to carry the story. We relate to them – or not. They intrigue us, inspire us, sometimes drive us crazy. The protagonist is the one we go on the journey with. Whether we like them or not, we feel drawn to either see them succeed, or we’re fascinated by how they get away with so much (and in some cases, we can’t wait to see their comeuppance).
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Questions to Consider Before Writing
Note: This month I’m reposting my annual NaNoWriMo Preptober series. Even if you’re not doing NaNoWriMo, it’s a great way to begin thinking about any novel you plan to write!
November is National Novel Writing Month – or NaNoWriMo. The premise is simple: write a novel in thirty days.
The Importance of Letting Your Work Rest Before Editing – and What to Do While You Wait
Some of you have no doubt just finished NaNoWriMo ‘22. Congratulations! The good news is, November is over.
The bad news is, your novel isn’t.
7 Tips to Help You Write Faster
If you’re nearing the end of NaNoWriMo and you’re not quite where you need to be in terms of word count, don’t despair! These simple tricks will help you write faster (and they’ll work whether you’re doing NaNo or not).
Fear is Part of the Process
One of the advantages of doing a writing sprint like NaNoWriMo is that, if you stick with the plan of writing 50K words in 30 days, it forces you to blow past any fears or doubts. You don’t have time to worry. You just have to hit your word goal, day after day.
Whether you’re currently doing NaNo or not, though, fear will eventually creep up on you. Why? Because you’re doing work that matters to you.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Final Preparation for the Big Push
If you’re planning to do NaNoWriMo, or any other big writing sprint, you can’t just think about the actual writing. Unless, that is, you have a bevy of servants at your beck and call, ready to bring you sustenance (and coffee!) on demand, clean your house, and guard your writing space like Cerberus.
You may have high hopes and determination to just sit down and make it happen, but a little preparation of your outer world will allow your inner world to do its thing much more smoothly.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Main Tentpole Scenes
This week, we’re going to tackle the basics of your story structure. I say basics because when I work with clients, this part alone can take weeks to nail down if we were to do all the pieces, including feedback. If you’re starting NaNoWriMo on November 1, you don’t have that kind of time. Hence, this quick-and-dirty introduction to figuring out the major story milestones you need to hit, which will at least give you some goalposts to work towards as you write your first 50K words.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Character and Their World
Beautiful language, exciting plots... those are great. But in the end, what we remember most from any story is the Characters. Especially your main protagonist, whose arc has to carry the story. We relate to them – or not. They intrigue us, inspire us, sometimes drive us crazy. The protagonist is the one we go on the journey with. Whether we like them or not, we feel drawn to either see them succeed, or we’re fascinated by how they get away with so much (and in some cases, we can’t wait to see their comeuppance).
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Questions to Consider Before Writing
November is National Novel Writing Month – or NaNoWriMo. The premise is simple: write a novel in thirty days.
Or at least, write 50,000 words of a novel (50K is not novel-length for any but Middle Grade novels). You can formally register at www.nanowrimo.org and get in on all the community aspect of things, which can definitely help during the challenge, because hello, 50K words in one month is more than most people write, myself included. It works out to 1,666 words per day. Which is doable, especially if you are writing fast and focused on just getting that first draft down.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of participating:
How (and When) to Start Your Story
“Lymond is back.”
It was known soon after the Sea-Catte reached Scotland from Campvere with an illicit cargo and a man she should not have carried.
“Lymond is in Scotland.”
Pantser, Plotter, or Somewhere in Between?
As many writers prepare for NaNoWriMo, the age-old question looms: to outline or not to outline beforehand?
Of course, this doesn’t come up only for NaNoWriMo writers. The debate over which works better rages on, with some writers swearing by one or the other, or some middle method. There is no right answer – only the way that works best for you, or even simply the way that works best for your story.
It’s Coming… How to Prepare Your Life for NaNoWriMo (or any writing retreat)
Hopefully by now you are on track with developing your characters, their world, and the major plot points of the story you want to write. Normally I would say, take your time, don’t be in a rush with this process because the more you have developed before you begin, the better chance you have of writing something that will be well-structured from the get-go, with less chance of getting to the middle (or the end) and realizing you left out a crucial piece of plot or character development. However, if you’ve taken this month to do the steps I’ve outlined, you will have a strong start to your revved-up novel-writing process.
NaNoWriMo: You Need a Plan Part III – What’s Your Story?
This week, we’re going to tackle the basics of your story structure. I say basics because when I work with clients, this part alone can take weeks to nail down if we were to do all the pieces, including feedback. If you’re starting NaNoWriMo on November 1, you don’t have that kind of time. Hence, this quick-and-dirty introduction to figuring out the major story milestones you need to hit, which will at least give you some goalposts to work towards as you write your first 50K words.
NaNoWriMo: You need a plan part II (Or, It’s a marathon, not a sprint)
Many years ago, before my knees and hips told me that running was not my best form of exercise, I did develop a running practice. I’d always hated running, because I was always the slowest person in any running group, from elementary school on up, but I found I liked competing against myself, to see how I could improve in terms of distance or time. I eventually worked up to a 5K race, but then ended up turning to other forms of exercise that didn’t involve potentially doing damage to already-fragile joints.
NaNoWriMo Preptober Part I
November is National Novel Writing Month – or NaNoWriMo, as it’s usually called. The premise is simple: write a novel in thirty days. Or at least, write 50,000 words of a novel (50K is not novel-length for any but Middle Grade novels). You can formally register at www.nanowrimo.org and get in on all the community aspect of things, which can definitely help during the challenge, because hello, 50K words in one month is more than most people write, myself included. It works out to 1,666 words per day. Which is doable, especially if you are writing fast and focused on just getting words down and not too worried about developing the story. If I’m cruising, I can write about 500 words in a half hour, so this can be done in 1.5-2 hours. Part of the challenge is to keep up that pace every day – including Thanksgiving.