NaNoWriMo Challenge!

For those participating for the National Novel Writing Challenge (the official one),  hope you have your fingers warmed up, typing ready, and strength of willpower prepared for this approaching month.

Best tips I know for this event:

• Learn to shut off your inner editor as you write. You can spell check and fix things when you do your editing later.
• Don’t let an ‘off day’ deter you. You can make up the time. I know of one woman who lost 20,000 midway through and still managed to hit the 50,000 word mark by Nov. 31.
• Remember if you’ve signed up via their site, your friends and family should be supporting you- not competing. That same woman who managed her 50,000 word count found a number of times to cut me down through the month rather than help by offering words of encouragement. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people to help you- not those who would hold you back.
• Reward yourself if you’ve hit your word count for the day. For some, this might be a piece of chocolate, a bubble bath, or a foot massage from a good friend/lover.
• Remember why you’re doing this. Although there’s a number of reasons, for myself, I joined to see if I could write that many words in a day. I also wanted to challenge myself. For other members, I heard reasons such as ‘finishing a story completely’, or ‘make writing a daily habit’ also comprised of reasons.
• I highly recommend No Plot? No Problem by Chris Baty which gives tons of tips for the NaNoWriMo but also just about writing as well.

If you’re not joining the official NaNoWriMo, consider joining my Alternative Challenge, where you choose your own word count, on a current or new project, which can include fiction or non-fiction. See my page on the rules and graphic you can post on your web site!

Wordcount tracker

Nanowrimo Meter

Wordcount Meter

**Writertopia meter- adds a mood and cartoon to the meter

How to add the wordcount toolbar to MS Word 2003

MS Word wordcount information

Technorati Tags: nanowrimo,chris baty,no plot,novel,fiction,wordcount

Preparations for the NaNoWriMo challenge

I’ve added a new page to this blog for readers who wish to join an alternative to the NaNoWriMo challenge. If you wish to look up that challenge (and I recommend writers to try it at least once) click on the graphic below.

National Novel Writing Month starts in November each year. Participants join in the challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days, providing they work on a original, not-started piece of fiction.

And that’s my issue. I have projects I want to work on, and I also want to take up a writing challenge, but not one where I must write 1700 words a day- give or take.

So I’m putting up the NaNoWriMo Alternative, where you can write on any project, fiction or non-fiction, whether its started or not started, short or long, to write by a word count challenge you pick for yourself.

I’m doing 500 words a day- on my novel- which will allow for the 1000+ words I type for non-novel writing, such as blogs or articles. You must pick one project for the challenge.

Feel free to grab the graphic to add to your site, and comment on the page so it links back to your web site. We’ll write along with one another through November, or even take a practice run for September if anyone wants to- just leave a comment.

Hope to see you on my page- and feel free to invite your writing friends to join as well! Also let me know if you’d like to have a monthly challenge. I could do graphics and maybe offer a prize if we get enough interest.

Technorati Tags: nanowrimo,writer’s challenge,word count,link,writer,author,blog,contest

NaNoWriMo Alternatives

I ‘won’ the 2007 National Novel Writing Month competition, (the NaNoWriMo) as illustrated with the graphic you see to the left .Yeah me! I wrote 30,000 words in 30 days to complete a novel. I won’t be doing it again.

I found the experience valuable but grueling. It was altogether ‘unfun’, and by forcing myself to write 1700 words each day for thirty days straight simply sucked out the joy and delight of crafting the story.

The rules are basic;

• Start a fresh FICTION (sorry non-fiction writers) on November 1st.
• You’re allowed to plan and plot beforehand, but the actual start of the story takes place at the month’s start.
• You don’t have to write every day, but its recommended. For starters, it builds a wonderful habit to write daily, but also provides a manageable goal. Waiting for the weekends, you can feel overwhelmed.
• Write 50,000 by November 30th. It doesn’t have to be a completed novel.
• You can write more than 50,000 if you want.

So you can see, its pretty simple, except for the challenge of pushing yourself. I found writing without the creativity produced lots of crap, but I did finish a story. If anything, I had an outline to edit later.

You can also do an alternative method of the NaNoWriMo (but you don’t get the nifty certificate or graphic). I intend on doing my own version but here are my rules;

• You must write daily a word count. Even if you choose 500 words a day, you must write daily. Whatever word count you pick, you MUST keep that goal each day.
• You must work on the one project- for that word count. For instance, if I pick 1,000 words a day for my novel, I must write 1,000 words on the novel, but I can also write my blogs and other stuff.
• You don’t have to reach 50,000 words, but you can exceed if you wish.
• You can write ANYTHING- fiction or non-fiction, even work you previously worked on. The word count must be NEW words, however. Remember this is to get you writing, and finish, your projects.
• You can pick to write just for November, but also exceed to December and other months.

Interested in joining me? I will post word count graphics you can put on your site if you like.

Post choices in colors, ideas for word count goals, and challenges you hope to accomplish in the coming months.

Technorati Tags: challenge,nanowrimo,writing,author,publish,novel,fiction

Tuesday Tip: JulNoWriMo

I only just learned of JulNoWriMo, and being I’m already neck deep in a novel, with tons of other writing, there’s just no way I’m able to join this. I felt my readers might want to jump on the bandwagon and try their hand at writing 50,000 words in 30 days (in the month of July).

I realize that it’s the fourth and some writers don’t’ want to start a new project, let alone jump in four days into a 50,000 contest, but those who want to test their skills, I say go for it.

I did the NaNoWriMo years ago and it taught me a few things;

1. That I could write 50,000 in 30 days. I didn’t know that I was capable of such an endeavor.
2. That I should shut off my inner editor and focus on writing to the story finished. I’ll have time for re-writes later.
3. That 50,000 words when my son is in school is easier to do where I now homeschool him.
4. My husband was amazingly supportive through the month.

I can’t say I want to do it again. One month for 50,000 words is just too much of a grind. I see the merit of writing daily, to write towards the finish, but I also value a relaxed method of writing where I can enjoy the time writing rather than pushing myself to the point of hand cramping and eye strain.

I do think its something a writer should try at least once, just to see what they are made of.

Technorati Tags: JulNoWriMo,nanowrimo,contest,challenge,writing,author,novel,fiction,book,publishing

Writer’s Chain: Idea and Iphone App

I discovered a neat Iphone app entitled Write Chain by HowNotToWrite.com. The blog alone is well worth the read for information and resources, but its a very cool idea and Iphone application that I found most intriguing.

A write chain is an unbroken series of days you meet your word count goals. If you select a word count of 500 words a day, like I have, then you try to keep the chain going by writing every day until the challenge ends.

From the site:

WriteChain is a word count tracking tool for the iPhone designed to remind you to maintain your writing practice.

WriteChain is FREE. Nothing fancy. No hidden editors or quotes or any of that fiddle faddle. Just a super simple tool that any writer can use to set a daily goal and hold themselves accountable to it.

 

I can easily add the word count and see my progress. I then share this with my fellow writers for the accolades and cheers.

This is an awesome tool for National Novel Writing Month, or to simply challenge yourself. If you don’t have an Iphone, simply take up the challenge of a word count goal and write them down on a sheet of paper. Keep the chain going as long as you can.

Good luck!

Technorati Tags: nanowrimo,word count,writing,author,publishing,challenge,iphone,apps

Best Writer’s Group Ever

Okay, maybe I’m a bit biased over my own writer’s group, but I certainly find the wonderful camaraderie and friendship that’s developed makes it one of the most worthwhile things in my life.

I have around 6-12 people who show up, most are regulars. Many bring their own experiences and information, some lend a hand to organizing or they bring books, handouts, or things they’ve learned elsewhere. Its great.

So Saturday, while we get ready to start on our topic of Synopsis, one member alerts me to a lovely surprise; gifts! I was floored. It was something I never expected let alone suspected. When I opened the gifts, I was again stunned at how many and how they knew me well enough to pick such great presents.

The mug reads “I’m a writer…everything you say or do may end up in my novel”.

The T-shirt reads, “ Writer’s block; when your imaginary friends won’t talk to you”.

The mouse pad (which I still laugh out loud about) reads, “Do not disturb. Writer at Work. Exceptions; individual bearing coffee, positive critiques, publishing contracts, autograph requests. ALL OTHERS ENTER AT OWN RISK”.

I also got a gift card to Amazon.com. It was like having a birthday party- no wait- better because it was so unexpectedly awesome.

I feel more of a real writer with all this paraphernalia to remind me. Speaking of which- I best get my word count for today.

Some members agreed to a writing chain. The rules are simple. Pick a wordcount that provided enough challenge for you but also allows you to accomplish. For some, this might be only 500 words a day, while others might pick over 1000. Any word count is acceptable. However, you must do this word count every day, without breaking the chain. This means, no day offs. You try to go as long as you can.

For myself, I’ve picked 1000 words that are NOT related to blogs, emails, or work related (like letters, articles, or tutorials). I hope I don’t wear my hands out.

I’ll post the next day my word count, and I challenge you to do the same. Feel free to post your accomplished word count and add a link to your blog below. Let’s see how long we can keep up the chain!

Technorati Tags: writer,meetup,blog,challenge,word count,wordcont,publishing,writer chain