I was trying to work on my WIP today, because I have much to write and not much time to do it. And it's been going really badly. It's frustrating, when you want to write and can't seem to figure out the story or focus or anything. And it's especially sad when that time is during NaNo, a month devoted to writing. I went into this with high hopes and determination.
Then all the things started happening.
And guys, they are potentially good things - nay, great things - but I can't keep up. I start a new job tomorrow, move on Saturday to a new place, am adjusting to living with a whole new set of people, edits come back for my editing projects, and there's a whole bunch of additional stuff that I can't even talk about.
I'm feeling a little like I'm not going to win at NaNo. I was beating myself up about it today, when Patricia reminded me that I'm in transition - and I suck in transitions.
Usually, I find myself a) procrastinating b) unable to write c) reading a lot of books since I can't do 'b' d) watching too much TV to help with 'a' e) over-thinking everything.
This is where I am right now. While the transitions are exciting they are very distracting.
At only four days into NaNo, I'm trying to believe I can do it. I'm going to write when and what I can, and let go of the words I don't get. Either way, words are words. And participating in NaNo while all my friends and my community is part of it, that's a whole lot of fun. :)
Hope everyone's off to a great start!
Me, I'm off to transition. (Again!)
Showing posts with label NaNoWriMo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NaNoWriMo. Show all posts
11.04.2012
10.24.2012
Five Things I've Learned from NaNoWriMo
In six days that glorious month starts. The month of Thanksgiving, of celebration, of pumpkin-flavored everything, of shopping and of pre-holiday excitement. But nothing is more exciting than the biggest month for writers everywhere. The one time a year where writers open up about their projects and their progress and unite in a 30-day maddash to write 50k words.
Yes, I'm talking about NaNoWriMo.
National Novel Writing Month, whether you are a supporter or not, is upon us. This will be my third year participating, and it's an event I look forward to all year. (There's something about watching that little bar on the website get bigger that always keeps me motivated.) This year I'm really excited because I get to work on the sequel. In year one, I wrote FMTD; in year two, I re-wrote it. So, it's pretty cool, and I feel like I've come full circle after a lot of hard work.
If you are doing NaNo, you should find me! I love having new friends and people to cheer on. I'm DanielleEWrites there, so it shouldn't be difficult. (Plus, I linked it!)
I've participated in NaNo twice and "won" both years, so I want to pass on some of the things I've learned.
1. Have a plan.
You've probably heard this, but it's so much easier when you go into each writing session knowing what you're going to do. I'm not saying you have to outline, but you should definitely have a goal beyond the 1,700 words. The goal can be that your character goes here, or does this, or this scene happens and moves you to this point. It doesn't matter. Just make sure you know what you want to do each day--or each week--and do your best to stick to it. Obviously, things will change, but it's good to have a plan. It makes 50k seem less daunting, and you don't waste time.
On the wasting time note, you should always leave your story in a stopping point that isn't resolved, because I have found (personally) that when I have to think about how something will start, it takes so much longer than if I had left a small outline or a few notes or written a paragraph before I quit the night before.
One more thing--have a plan for the holidays or that weekend that you're out of town and you know you won't write. You can double up a few days to get ahead. Planning for events during NaNo and being proactive so you don't get behind will work to your benefit, and keep your stress level down.
2. Be flexible!!!
Not every day will be the same. Some days, writing will be so easy, and others you'll want to shoot yourself in the foot. This is probably the biggest thing that I've learned from NaNo. You have to be flexible. I know I just said to set a goal and have a plan, but sometimes those change as you go along. You need to be able to roll with the punches and do whatever the story is telling you.
Another thing about being flexible, and seriously, if you only take away one thing from this post make it this: Be easy on yourself. Writing is hard. Writing 50k in a month? Even harder.
Obviously, your goal is about 1,700 words every single day. Now, November is crazy month--especially if you think about Thanksgiving and Black Friday and all the prep for everything that comes with it. The one thing that no one ever, ever told me is that some days you won't have energy or brainpower or time to hit that number. Go easy on yourself.
If you know that you have a weekend when you are out of town, pre-write. Maybe you double up a couple of days (whether on accident or on purpose) and that's great. If you write 3k in one day, then you're allowed to have a day off. Or if you miss a day, you can be a little behind and catch up when the story allows you. And seriously, if you need to take a night off, no one will yell at you. You can do that. 50k is an end destination--not necessarily a rule.
Be flexible and realize you are a human, not a machine, so go easy on yourself. (See how I brought all that around?)
3. Don't quit.
There are good days and there are bad days. Don't quit. Write.
Even if the scene is complete crap, write. Even if the story isn't doing what you thought, write. Even if ten pages have nothing but dialogue---hey, those are words, too--so write.
Don't quit.
Even when there's a week left and you're only at 30k, keep going. At the end if you've only written 30k, that's 30k more than you wrote before.
Don't quit. Don't quit. Don't quit.
4. Celebrate
Find small milestones and celebrate them. I like to write a post every time I hit 10k, because that is an accomplishment to be proud of.
When that character does that one thing that changes everything, celebrate. When the story comes together, celebrate. When your NaNo buddy succeeds, celebrate.
And when you finish, when the month is over--whether you have hit 50k and "won" or hit 30k---celebrate. The month is about writing, and if you are writing, then you are winning.
So, always, always enjoy that and celebrate.
At the end of the month, you will need it.
5. Revise & Edit
If November is "writing month" then December and January and February and March should be "editing months" because there is no one that I have ever met who wrote a book and succeeded without revising that book.
When you finish your MS, you need to revise.
Don't query until you've read that thing and revised like a crazy person. Seriously. It's the most important part of NaNo and no one really talks about it. But writing a first draft is only a small, small portion of writing a novel. So, write it and then take time to revise. Get into crit groups, ask your NaNo buddies to read, find people who can help you revise your book.
As an editor, I can tell you first hand that the month after NaNo is really scary. We get these unedited manuscripts in our slush piles--and all that does is make us mad because we've wasted our time and make you look back for not editing. You want yours to stand out. It won't do that if you don't edit. Take your time and don't rush. We're not going anywhere, and neither is your book.
Anyway, those are five things that I have learned from NaNoWriMo. Do you have anything that you want to add? NaNo is a fun time, but it's a lot of work.
Find me, be my buddy on NaNo and let's WRITE.
Yes, I'm talking about NaNoWriMo.
National Novel Writing Month, whether you are a supporter or not, is upon us. This will be my third year participating, and it's an event I look forward to all year. (There's something about watching that little bar on the website get bigger that always keeps me motivated.) This year I'm really excited because I get to work on the sequel. In year one, I wrote FMTD; in year two, I re-wrote it. So, it's pretty cool, and I feel like I've come full circle after a lot of hard work.
If you are doing NaNo, you should find me! I love having new friends and people to cheer on. I'm DanielleEWrites there, so it shouldn't be difficult. (Plus, I linked it!)
I've participated in NaNo twice and "won" both years, so I want to pass on some of the things I've learned.
1. Have a plan.
You've probably heard this, but it's so much easier when you go into each writing session knowing what you're going to do. I'm not saying you have to outline, but you should definitely have a goal beyond the 1,700 words. The goal can be that your character goes here, or does this, or this scene happens and moves you to this point. It doesn't matter. Just make sure you know what you want to do each day--or each week--and do your best to stick to it. Obviously, things will change, but it's good to have a plan. It makes 50k seem less daunting, and you don't waste time.
On the wasting time note, you should always leave your story in a stopping point that isn't resolved, because I have found (personally) that when I have to think about how something will start, it takes so much longer than if I had left a small outline or a few notes or written a paragraph before I quit the night before.
One more thing--have a plan for the holidays or that weekend that you're out of town and you know you won't write. You can double up a few days to get ahead. Planning for events during NaNo and being proactive so you don't get behind will work to your benefit, and keep your stress level down.
2. Be flexible!!!
Not every day will be the same. Some days, writing will be so easy, and others you'll want to shoot yourself in the foot. This is probably the biggest thing that I've learned from NaNo. You have to be flexible. I know I just said to set a goal and have a plan, but sometimes those change as you go along. You need to be able to roll with the punches and do whatever the story is telling you.
Another thing about being flexible, and seriously, if you only take away one thing from this post make it this: Be easy on yourself. Writing is hard. Writing 50k in a month? Even harder.
Obviously, your goal is about 1,700 words every single day. Now, November is crazy month--especially if you think about Thanksgiving and Black Friday and all the prep for everything that comes with it. The one thing that no one ever, ever told me is that some days you won't have energy or brainpower or time to hit that number. Go easy on yourself.
If you know that you have a weekend when you are out of town, pre-write. Maybe you double up a couple of days (whether on accident or on purpose) and that's great. If you write 3k in one day, then you're allowed to have a day off. Or if you miss a day, you can be a little behind and catch up when the story allows you. And seriously, if you need to take a night off, no one will yell at you. You can do that. 50k is an end destination--not necessarily a rule.
Be flexible and realize you are a human, not a machine, so go easy on yourself. (See how I brought all that around?)
3. Don't quit.
There are good days and there are bad days. Don't quit. Write.
Even if the scene is complete crap, write. Even if the story isn't doing what you thought, write. Even if ten pages have nothing but dialogue---hey, those are words, too--so write.
Don't quit.
Even when there's a week left and you're only at 30k, keep going. At the end if you've only written 30k, that's 30k more than you wrote before.
Don't quit. Don't quit. Don't quit.
4. Celebrate
Find small milestones and celebrate them. I like to write a post every time I hit 10k, because that is an accomplishment to be proud of.
When that character does that one thing that changes everything, celebrate. When the story comes together, celebrate. When your NaNo buddy succeeds, celebrate.
And when you finish, when the month is over--whether you have hit 50k and "won" or hit 30k---celebrate. The month is about writing, and if you are writing, then you are winning.
So, always, always enjoy that and celebrate.
At the end of the month, you will need it.
5. Revise & Edit
If November is "writing month" then December and January and February and March should be "editing months" because there is no one that I have ever met who wrote a book and succeeded without revising that book.
When you finish your MS, you need to revise.
Don't query until you've read that thing and revised like a crazy person. Seriously. It's the most important part of NaNo and no one really talks about it. But writing a first draft is only a small, small portion of writing a novel. So, write it and then take time to revise. Get into crit groups, ask your NaNo buddies to read, find people who can help you revise your book.
As an editor, I can tell you first hand that the month after NaNo is really scary. We get these unedited manuscripts in our slush piles--and all that does is make us mad because we've wasted our time and make you look back for not editing. You want yours to stand out. It won't do that if you don't edit. Take your time and don't rush. We're not going anywhere, and neither is your book.
* *
Anyway, those are five things that I have learned from NaNoWriMo. Do you have anything that you want to add? NaNo is a fun time, but it's a lot of work.
Find me, be my buddy on NaNo and let's WRITE.
9.20.2012
In which MY BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED
I sat down and had all these ideas of what I was going to say because I've known about this for like 3 weeks and I was busy--but MY BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED!!!! is sort of all I can think right now! FOUR YEARS of working toward this, and I'm floored.
Here's the official PM:
So, how did this happen? Everyone knows I'm an editor at Spencer Hill Press, but I subbed my book to Kate before she brought me on. I'm excited to publish with SHP because I know how much Kate and our team believes in the books we launch--and it's amazing to be one of our authors!
Time for my book story. (I've always wanted to do this!!)
I started FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS in 2010, right after I moved to Boston. I was working at a Borders as a barista, and I was putting away new stock when I heard this voice in my head repeating this one line: "There’s never enough time. It moves too quickly, signaling the end of everything. The end is the thing I fear the most." I put things away as quickly as possible, grabbed a handful of napkins, and took my lunch early so I could write. It was a scene--just one and that was all I needed to know I had figure out the story. I didn't have even have names. (I ended up writing like 30k before I got the MCs name, just as a sidenote.)
In 2010, I did NaNoWriMo with that book, which had a title called Silhouettes. (Horrible, I know!) I finished it eventually, revised with Christina, queried seven agents and had five requests. All of them came back like "uh, no," (only nicer!) and one of them gave me fantastic information on how to do approach a revision.
I set out on a quest to fix the book because I believed in Neely (she's the MC) and her story. I tried to walk away, to tell other stories, but I kept coming back. I knew there was something there, but I had to figure out the structure (so hard!) and the stakes. Over the next two years I would revise this book, workshop this book, rewrite this book, rewrite, restart, rewrite. SEVEN revisions.
Christina and Patricia were so insanely helpful in developing my characters, helping with the structure of such a heavy story, and keeping me focused on the story when I complained. (You can follow this tag if you're curious about real-time posts.) They were probably so tired of reading it, of re-thinking things, but they always encouraged me to keep going--them and more people than I can start to list here. I literally finished draft six in February of 2012, right before I subbed to Kate. (Then, of course, I had to revise again.)
I queried--new book, new title--and had some requests, but ultimately, the market was flooded with "dystopian," and even though countless agents loved my novel, it was all a timing issue. (I mean, two years will do that!) So, I shelved it, locked my characters away in a closet, and moved on.
About a month ago, I got an email from Kate saying she wanted to talk about the book. I waited for two agonizing days and then she told me she loved it! It was awesome to hear that from Kate, because I respect her opinion, and obviously, this book is a huge part of my soul. She told me that she wanted me to fix some things (revision #8!!!) and then send it back. So, I did---and she bought it!! I asked Kate if Patricia could work on it too, since she knows this story so well. It's so great that she gets to be hands-on with my book; we work well together and she's going to do amazing things for this series. :)
And well, here we are!!
It has not been an easy journey--they never are--but I've learned so much about writing, patience, good friends, community. There are so many people who encouraged me over the last two years; I'm really excited to share this book with all of you!!!! Woooo!!!
April 2014----here we come!! Me and my book!!!
*runs off to stare at the PM listing some more*
|
So, how did this happen? Everyone knows I'm an editor at Spencer Hill Press, but I subbed my book to Kate before she brought me on. I'm excited to publish with SHP because I know how much Kate and our team believes in the books we launch--and it's amazing to be one of our authors!
Time for my book story. (I've always wanted to do this!!)
I started FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS in 2010, right after I moved to Boston. I was working at a Borders as a barista, and I was putting away new stock when I heard this voice in my head repeating this one line: "There’s never enough time. It moves too quickly, signaling the end of everything. The end is the thing I fear the most." I put things away as quickly as possible, grabbed a handful of napkins, and took my lunch early so I could write. It was a scene--just one and that was all I needed to know I had figure out the story. I didn't have even have names. (I ended up writing like 30k before I got the MCs name, just as a sidenote.)
In 2010, I did NaNoWriMo with that book, which had a title called Silhouettes. (Horrible, I know!) I finished it eventually, revised with Christina, queried seven agents and had five requests. All of them came back like "uh, no," (only nicer!) and one of them gave me fantastic information on how to do approach a revision.
I set out on a quest to fix the book because I believed in Neely (she's the MC) and her story. I tried to walk away, to tell other stories, but I kept coming back. I knew there was something there, but I had to figure out the structure (so hard!) and the stakes. Over the next two years I would revise this book, workshop this book, rewrite this book, rewrite, restart, rewrite. SEVEN revisions.
Christina and Patricia were so insanely helpful in developing my characters, helping with the structure of such a heavy story, and keeping me focused on the story when I complained. (You can follow this tag if you're curious about real-time posts.) They were probably so tired of reading it, of re-thinking things, but they always encouraged me to keep going--them and more people than I can start to list here. I literally finished draft six in February of 2012, right before I subbed to Kate. (Then, of course, I had to revise again.)
I queried--new book, new title--and had some requests, but ultimately, the market was flooded with "dystopian," and even though countless agents loved my novel, it was all a timing issue. (I mean, two years will do that!) So, I shelved it, locked my characters away in a closet, and moved on.
About a month ago, I got an email from Kate saying she wanted to talk about the book. I waited for two agonizing days and then she told me she loved it! It was awesome to hear that from Kate, because I respect her opinion, and obviously, this book is a huge part of my soul. She told me that she wanted me to fix some things (revision #8!!!) and then send it back. So, I did---and she bought it!! I asked Kate if Patricia could work on it too, since she knows this story so well. It's so great that she gets to be hands-on with my book; we work well together and she's going to do amazing things for this series. :)
And well, here we are!!
It has not been an easy journey--they never are--but I've learned so much about writing, patience, good friends, community. There are so many people who encouraged me over the last two years; I'm really excited to share this book with all of you!!!! Woooo!!!
April 2014----here we come!! Me and my book!!!
*runs off to stare at the PM listing some more*
2.01.2011
Passion is stronger than fear
I've been dragging my feet with this novel. I love this novel. It frustrates me, makes me feel, makes me smile. I love my MC and my occasional (ok, more often than not) utter confusion at what the heck is going on. I love when I write a scene and then have to stop because...what the heck just happened?! And why didn't I think of that before?! I love when I overcome a hurdle. When my girl gets what she's after. When people get slapped around or kissed or cry. I like the feelings that come with writing this novel.
I don't want to be scared.
I want to create. I want to write. I want to find a job that I could really enjoy. I want to set down roots, to make solid relationships, to live in my community and not just in my head. I'm ready to be a full person. I'm ready to try. To send out queries without the fear of rejection, to share this without worry of people hating it. I'm going to apply to grad school--even though it will be hard and I may struggle. In the struggling comes the learning. In the learning comes the joy. In the joy comes the passion and the will to make it happen. I won't live a life of fear. I won't be defeated.
I'm sure I'll be scared as I continue. Fear is part of what makes us human. But I won't let my passions be hidden behind my fear. I'm not that girl; I don't know when I became her but she's not staying.
Now...I will finish this novel. As the end of this marks the end of my fear.
I've been dragging my feet because sometimes, it's easier to ignore the fact that my outline has changed twenty times and my characters keep going where I don't want them to go. And my word is count is so high I want to hyperventilate. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't know what to say.
I started brainstorming and developing and writing this beast in September. I wrote 50,000 words during NaNo. I've spent the last two months running from it, or poking a thousand words a week because "I was busy." I wasn't busy. I was lazy. I was lazy and I was terrified.
It's hard for me to admit that I'm terrified--but I am. I'm terrified that someday someone other than my CP will read it and they will hate it. Hate it. I don't want to NOT be good enough. I don't want to feel like the worst writer in the world. I don't want someone I love and admire to hate my book. I was so terrified that I didn't even want to admit it myself. Until last night, I didn't even know that fear was in me.
When did that happen?
A year ago I was fearless. I was ready. I wanted to share my stories with everyone. I wanted to write--because I needed to write, needed to say something. When did that change to fear? I'm not sure. Maybe it's always been there, hidden underneath the surface.
I read this quote last night...
Passion is complex. Like the passion flower, many layers, many elements must come together to inspire intense emotions in us... To find our passion, we must face our fears, we must be brave, willing to look into our souls to see what interests and drives us, what nurtures us and inspires us to action. What is so important to us that it is worth our risking our fortunes and even our lives to attain?
For me, writing is one of those passions. The problem is that I'd been living as if it was my only passion. I'd put so much weight on that--so much pressure--that it was become less of a joy and more of a "I have to do this." What would happen to me if I never succeed? If I never get an agent or publish a novel? What will I do?
I read some blog posts last night. Two, actually, that I loved. One was from Natalie Whipple and one was the Sara Zarr notes. You should read them both. I read those and had to stop everything. I logged off twitter, logged of facebook, shut down my computer, unplugged my TV--and was still. I thought. I journaled. I prayed. I cried so much.
In the end, I realized I was so scared of failing that it was paralyzing me. It kept me from trusting in my faith. In my writing. In others. In life. In my hope. In myself. That's a hard feeling--to know that you are so scared you stop. I stopped trying to writing, trying to find a job I could enjoy, stopped wanting the good things. I even didn't apply to grad school because I was scared of not being good enough.I don't want to be scared.
I want to create. I want to write. I want to find a job that I could really enjoy. I want to set down roots, to make solid relationships, to live in my community and not just in my head. I'm ready to be a full person. I'm ready to try. To send out queries without the fear of rejection, to share this without worry of people hating it. I'm going to apply to grad school--even though it will be hard and I may struggle. In the struggling comes the learning. In the learning comes the joy. In the joy comes the passion and the will to make it happen. I won't live a life of fear. I won't be defeated.
I'm sure I'll be scared as I continue. Fear is part of what makes us human. But I won't let my passions be hidden behind my fear. I'm not that girl; I don't know when I became her but she's not staying.
Now...I will finish this novel. As the end of this marks the end of my fear.
1.10.2011
My 2011 Goals
My only resolution for the year: Make 2011 awesome.
Instead of making New Year's Resolutions that I forget about in a couple weeks, I decided to make some goals that I would hope to achieve in 2011--and some monthly resolutions, which I'm calling challenges. I like that word better. Not everything is ironed out yet but most of it is, so I thought I should post it. I like accountability! :)
2011 Goals
Things I want to work on all year!
Monthly Challenges
Each month I will pick one of these to focus on. They aren't designated to a month yet--since I won't know what month I can/need to work on what. So, when I figure that out, I will inform you!
That's six months--half the year. It's a good place to start. I figure everything will line up at some point. I can say that the only month I have nailed down is January: Survive!
After experiencing 1/4 of it, I can say that's going to be tough!
What about you? What are some things that you have planned for the year?
Instead of making New Year's Resolutions that I forget about in a couple weeks, I decided to make some goals that I would hope to achieve in 2011--and some monthly resolutions, which I'm calling challenges. I like that word better. Not everything is ironed out yet but most of it is, so I thought I should post it. I like accountability! :)
2011 Goals
Things I want to work on all year!
- Write! I want to finish this WIP and write at one-two more.
- Read. I'd like to read 100 books--12 of which will be classics.
- Be more intentional. This includes personally, spiritually and blogger-ly, especially by commenting on EVERY post I read. It's all about support! (Thanks to Gail & Erica for the idea!)
- David Tennant. I want to watch everything he stars in that I can get my hands on. He's brilliant. (I mean, I named my nook after him.)
- Try. Do at least one new thing every month.
- Be joyful. Everything I do is purposeful, fun and uplifting. I want to be happy and positive, not let things get me down. Be content all around.
Monthly Challenges
Each month I will pick one of these to focus on. They aren't designated to a month yet--since I won't know what month I can/need to work on what. So, when I figure that out, I will inform you!
- Write every day. I don't do this like I should. So, as inspired by NaNoWriMo, I want a copy month in which I write x amount of words every day! When I do this, I'll offer it up & see if anyone else wants to join. It's a good discipline that I don't follow as I should.
- Read YA staples. I haven't been in YA long. And, because of that, I've missed out on a lot of major YA staple books and authors. I'll spend a whole month reading people like John Green, Meg Cabot, Neil Gaiman, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols. When the time comes, I'll probably ask you for some suggestions.
- Journal month. I used to journal ALL THE TIME. I mean, I still have some from middle school. It's a habit I want to get back into. So, I'm going to dedicate a month to it.
- Month of prayer. Yall, I am a bad pray-er. So, I figured I'd try to spend a month intentionally doing just that. This year is about self-improvement and challenges and this is both of those things.
- Be healthy month. I know, I know...health is ongoing. But I don't know basics. I have a friend who does--eating and exercise--and I want to learn. Maybe a month isn't long but I have to start somewhere!
- No TV month. *gasp!* I know. I watch a lot of tv...too much. So, at some point this year, I'll spend a whole month without it. Think of all I'll get accomplished! *gulps*
That's six months--half the year. It's a good place to start. I figure everything will line up at some point. I can say that the only month I have nailed down is January: Survive!
After experiencing 1/4 of it, I can say that's going to be tough!
What about you? What are some things that you have planned for the year?
1.05.2011
Hey, good looking! Let's celebrate!!
If 2011 is going to continue like this, I have no doubt that it will be absolutely awesome! *throws confetti*
For starters, look at my blog! Isn't it just so lovely? The amazing Amy re-designed everything for me--including my header which I'm in love with. She even made those cute buttons in my sidebar so everyone can pass along the noise! I owe a hugely ginormous thank you to Amy for taking the time. I love it! Another thing that will happen in a few weeks will be loosing the blogspot IP address and gaining a .net one. Stay tuned for that.
This is my Nook!!
His name is Tennant Fitzwilliam North. You may call him Fitz or Tenne (pronounced Ten-nay) or Doctor. His name is a mouthful but it took a lot of thinking.
Tennant: as in David Tennant, aka Tenth doctor from Doctor Who. He was my favorite and I think he's brilliant. One of my goals this year is to watch everything he's been in that I can find.
Fitzwilliam: as in Darcy. As in Pride & Prejudice. As in yum.
North: as in main character from Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. I love North. And it just sounds good at the end. :)
Last night was epic again because I finished Part One of my WIP! I've been toying with this story since September and really writing since NaNo. It's a three part beast. I wrote Part Two first and have been dying to finish Part One. It felt like it would never happen but now it has! I'm pumped about it. Only thing that's left is Part Three and then I can share with my readers and CP and jump into edit mode! Woo!!!
Now, the big announcement: I'm *almost* at 200 followers! *throws more confetti* It's kind of mind-blowing. I thank each and every one of you because you are awesome! I'm devising a giveaway of awesome to celebrate! After I reach 200, I will let you know all the details once I've figured them out. I promise I will try to make it amazing!
We're only five days in but how was 2011 been for you?
For starters, look at my blog! Isn't it just so lovely? The amazing Amy re-designed everything for me--including my header which I'm in love with. She even made those cute buttons in my sidebar so everyone can pass along the noise! I owe a hugely ginormous thank you to Amy for taking the time. I love it! Another thing that will happen in a few weeks will be loosing the blogspot IP address and gaining a .net one. Stay tuned for that.
This is my Nook!!
His name is Tennant Fitzwilliam North. You may call him Fitz or Tenne (pronounced Ten-nay) or Doctor. His name is a mouthful but it took a lot of thinking.
Fitzwilliam: as in Darcy. As in Pride & Prejudice. As in yum.
North: as in main character from Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. I love North. And it just sounds good at the end. :)
Last night was epic again because I finished Part One of my WIP! I've been toying with this story since September and really writing since NaNo. It's a three part beast. I wrote Part Two first and have been dying to finish Part One. It felt like it would never happen but now it has! I'm pumped about it. Only thing that's left is Part Three and then I can share with my readers and CP and jump into edit mode! Woo!!!
Now, the big announcement: I'm *almost* at 200 followers! *throws more confetti* It's kind of mind-blowing. I thank each and every one of you because you are awesome! I'm devising a giveaway of awesome to celebrate! After I reach 200, I will let you know all the details once I've figured them out. I promise I will try to make it amazing!
We're only five days in but how was 2011 been for you?
11.15.2010
Behind the Scenes: My NaNoWriMo story
Since we're halfway through NaNoWriMo....I'll share some info. It's not a synopsis but it's a little excerpt that kinda describes the story.
It's called SILHOUETTES.
Here's the "tag": Time is the race. Death is the winner. Life is the prize. Love is the cost.
Excerpt summary:
It's YA. The MC is a girl named Neely. It's been such a fun story to write. Very different for me.
There's one more thing. This song.....it's such a HUGE part of the story. I didn't hear it until Saturday but I heard it and freaked to my BFF because it's my story. At least a part of it. So many parts of it!!
Haunted by Taylor Swift (Acoustic Vesion)
She says this about the song: "Haunted” is about the moment that you realize the person you’re in love with is drifting and fading fast. And you don’t know what to do, but in that period of time, in that phase of love, where it’s fading out, time moves so slowly. Everything hinges on what that last text message said, and you’re realizing that he’s kind of falling out of love. That’s a really heartbreaking and tragic thing to go through, because the whole time you’re trying to tell yourself it’s not happening. I went through this, and I ended up waking up in the middle of the night writing this song about it.
:D That was a fun teaser, yes? lol.
Also, don't forget to enter to win FIXING DELILAH by Sarah Ockler!!
AND
If you're a writer, you MUST check this out.
It's called SILHOUETTES.
Here's the "tag": Time is the race. Death is the winner. Life is the prize. Love is the cost.
Excerpt summary:
I let his words rest on my mind. I don’t know if I want it to be me. I want, just for a moment, to go back to the girl in the Compound. The girl who dreamed of a boy and a mysterious world beyond the ocean. That girl was champion of nothing. She was safe and small. But she’s a silhouette in the sunlight. Gone.
It's YA. The MC is a girl named Neely. It's been such a fun story to write. Very different for me.
There's one more thing. This song.....it's such a HUGE part of the story. I didn't hear it until Saturday but I heard it and freaked to my BFF because it's my story. At least a part of it. So many parts of it!!
Haunted by Taylor Swift (Acoustic Vesion)
She says this about the song: "Haunted” is about the moment that you realize the person you’re in love with is drifting and fading fast. And you don’t know what to do, but in that period of time, in that phase of love, where it’s fading out, time moves so slowly. Everything hinges on what that last text message said, and you’re realizing that he’s kind of falling out of love. That’s a really heartbreaking and tragic thing to go through, because the whole time you’re trying to tell yourself it’s not happening. I went through this, and I ended up waking up in the middle of the night writing this song about it.
:D That was a fun teaser, yes? lol.
Also, don't forget to enter to win FIXING DELILAH by Sarah Ockler!!
AND
If you're a writer, you MUST check this out.
11.09.2010
Sometimes You Need to Step Away
Have you ever started working on a project and said to yourself, "Self, this is the one! The ONE. It will be the best one I've done yet!"? This project is (whether it's scrapbooking or cooking or sowing or writing, the list is all-inclusive) takes up your thinking, time, energy. You plan the details, sketch it out, play out scenarios in your head and when it's time, you jump in, excited. Ready.
You start working. Gluing, cutting, threading, mixing, stringing words together into sentences. It starts out smooth and sweet. Nothing can surprise you.
Until it does.
You snag a thread. Spill coffee on your page. Burn the cookies. Find a hole in your plot or send a character the wrong way and into the point of no return. Everything is different now and not at all as you planned.
You want to fix it! You want to preserve, to keep going, to scratch off all the burnt edges, to delete the line and start the scene over. But maybe, you can't do that. You have to start over completely with a new batch of cookies. You have to print off new non-coffee covered pictures. You have to let the character down the alley, even if you don't have it planned.
For me, that requires I step away.
This happened with a scene for my NaNoWriMo story. It's, in all honesty, a project I've been "working" on since late-August. That's when the idea happened. Then I plotted, outlined, stopped, re-started. I had this incredible scene and nowhere to take it. I let the idea simmer and marinade and one day, there was a story. I wrote a little of it and then lost the outline because it wasn't going that way. But since NaNo has started, it's been smooth sailing. Until Saturday.
I struggled to bust out 1, 000 words. I did it, but they weren't very good. Sunday I wrote nothing. I went to sleep, discouraged and frustrated with the whole thing. And then yesterday happened. Yesterday, I woke up with an idea. A breakthrough! And I wrote. I wrote 4,500 words in like 4 hours.
Stepping away was the best thing I could've done. Now, I know where the story is going--and I have a brilliant new ending. There are still things I don't know for sure yet but I know enough to keep writing. And I know, if I need to, there's no shame in stepping away.
Hear that? There's no shame in stepping away! Sometimes, the best ideas happen from our mistakes and our failures. That's how we know next time not to burn the cookies. That's how we can make a better scrapbook page than ever before. That's how it's okay for my character to turn left instead of right. Maybe there are more options for her in going the other direction. Better options.
I'm not going to tell you what my story's about...but here are a couple teaser pics for you that kind of apply.
How about you? Have you ever experienced stepping away and is it hard for you?
 |
You start working. Gluing, cutting, threading, mixing, stringing words together into sentences. It starts out smooth and sweet. Nothing can surprise you.
Until it does.
You snag a thread. Spill coffee on your page. Burn the cookies. Find a hole in your plot or send a character the wrong way and into the point of no return. Everything is different now and not at all as you planned.
You want to fix it! You want to preserve, to keep going, to scratch off all the burnt edges, to delete the line and start the scene over. But maybe, you can't do that. You have to start over completely with a new batch of cookies. You have to print off new non-coffee covered pictures. You have to let the character down the alley, even if you don't have it planned.
For me, that requires I step away.
This happened with a scene for my NaNoWriMo story. It's, in all honesty, a project I've been "working" on since late-August. That's when the idea happened. Then I plotted, outlined, stopped, re-started. I had this incredible scene and nowhere to take it. I let the idea simmer and marinade and one day, there was a story. I wrote a little of it and then lost the outline because it wasn't going that way. But since NaNo has started, it's been smooth sailing. Until Saturday.
I struggled to bust out 1, 000 words. I did it, but they weren't very good. Sunday I wrote nothing. I went to sleep, discouraged and frustrated with the whole thing. And then yesterday happened. Yesterday, I woke up with an idea. A breakthrough! And I wrote. I wrote 4,500 words in like 4 hours.
 |
Hear that? There's no shame in stepping away! Sometimes, the best ideas happen from our mistakes and our failures. That's how we know next time not to burn the cookies. That's how we can make a better scrapbook page than ever before. That's how it's okay for my character to turn left instead of right. Maybe there are more options for her in going the other direction. Better options.
I'm not going to tell you what my story's about...but here are a couple teaser pics for you that kind of apply.
How about you? Have you ever experienced stepping away and is it hard for you?
11.01.2010
NaNoWriMo
Is underway! I'm about to die. I think this month will overwhelm me, chew me up and spit me out. BUT I'm thinking positive...positive...positive.
Here are my goals:
-Being ready for each day by 9 am
-Writing 1,660 words a day
-Reading/editing 10 pages a day for CP
-Reading about 20 pages a day for fun
I know it's supposed to be all about writing but this way I'll be sure to get it all done. Plus, I'm working so it's going to be a hard task! Hence, the waking up each morning earlier than I need to. Since it's on my blog, everyone can make sure I'm doing it!
I should say, I'm not being strict with this. For me, I'm working on a novel that I've been working on for months so if I don't finish it, that's ok. I feel like this challenge is making me work on it and not giving me any excuses to not do it. Yes, I'm going to try to get all the words done but if I don't, that's okay too! I'm excited about it.
Add me.
What are you doing for NaNoWriMo?
Here are my goals:
-Being ready for each day by 9 am
-Writing 1,660 words a day
-Reading/editing 10 pages a day for CP
-Reading about 20 pages a day for fun
I know it's supposed to be all about writing but this way I'll be sure to get it all done. Plus, I'm working so it's going to be a hard task! Hence, the waking up each morning earlier than I need to. Since it's on my blog, everyone can make sure I'm doing it!
I should say, I'm not being strict with this. For me, I'm working on a novel that I've been working on for months so if I don't finish it, that's ok. I feel like this challenge is making me work on it and not giving me any excuses to not do it. Yes, I'm going to try to get all the words done but if I don't, that's okay too! I'm excited about it.
Add me.
What are you doing for NaNoWriMo?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)