In an early attempt to keep up on all the things that I have going this week with the Thanksgiving Holidays, I send you all in the State a Happy Turkey Day a day early. For the rest of you, happy rest of the day of the week.
For those who are in the throws of National Novel Writing Month dont let the distraction of family and other activities to distract you. For me I'm taking the time I'm waiting in airports (like now) to play catch up and hopefully get a head of the curve. If you are ahead in the word count front, don't get lazy. Stay ahead. Taking a day off in this month of testing your writing muscles will make it harder to jump back into the writing flow. (Trust me on this last part, I've fallen to this and am now fighting an uphill battle to get back on track on my word count.) Make sure to set time aside to get that word count in. I've already informed family that if we are just sitting around the house or watching a movie that I will be breaking out the computer to get something written.
Yup, that also means that if you have to wake up early to get those pages in then do it. Even in all the maddness that is the holidays you can find an hour here or there to get your words down.
That being said, don't stress. I'm trying not to about my writing. There are too many other things going on that you don't have control over this holiday season, don't let your writing take that roll. This is one thing that you do have conrol over. So go...write. Let this be a stress releif from travel and family.
Also remember to break out those stretchy pants for your turkey day dinners. Those pesky pants that have no give will find it's way to be as uncomfortable as possible the more you.
Happy Holidays and Happy Turkey Day. Keep up those writing habits and don't overly stress too much over the season. Enjoy having the family you have around you no matter how much they may annoy you at times.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
The Power Half Hour
This phrase I had learned from a sibling in reference to an after party so that you don't spend four hours of drinking and dealing with a hangover. Instead you limit yourself to only half an hour of drinks and then cut yourself off for the rest of the night. Doesn't always mean that you're not going to get drunk or have a hangover or overdoing it a little, but it does limit how much you can consume in one night. I mean seriously you can only drink so much in 30 minutes.
Anyways I distract myself from how I've evolved the power half hour into writing. No booze involved in this at all.
With only having an hour lunch break at work I pondered just how I can take advantage of this time for National Novel Writing Month and not be forced to dread getting home for my much needed word count. If I already a few hundred words under my belt by the time I get home then getting that 2,000 words wasn't quite as daunting when you only a few hours to do so. Thus comes in the Power Half Hour. While most people I work with either eat at there desk while working or actually use the lunch room, I decided that I would do a combination taking my full lunch break to eat at my desk while working on my novel.
Thus came the idea of the Power Half Hour. I gave myself 30 minutes at my day job to try to ignore the people who happened to pass my desk (yeah I'm a bit of a talker so easily distracted) and get some writing done. This also came about from the wonderful person, whoever they may be, of the twitter hashtag #1k1hr. Knowing that I don't have that full time to accomplish this task while on my lunch break I made it my own.
For one reason or another the novel I'm working on for National Novel Writing Month is kicking my behind. I was able to stay above the word count curve just barely, till now, as I fight for every work. When at home I can't get close to being able to focus for even just an hour. My mind wonders off in different directions. I get distracted by mindless wondering around the internet or catching up to roommates I haven't seen all week. And for that I've been trying to put the Power Half Hour to the test at home as well.
If I can focus on getting multiple chunks of the Power Half Hour done in a night or all through out the weekend then I call that a win. It's all about adapting to how your brain and focus is working on a specific book. Since I want to make this into a career I have to start putting in the work to make it a job and not just work when the muse is willing to put in the time. I've had novels flow and get thousands of words done in one sitting, but this novel? It's a fight and I have to admit that I feel accomplished that I'm putting so much into it to get what I have. When I can finally type THE END I know I have done something that not everyone is able to do. I will have fought to get over that vicious wall of writers block or distraction or whatever you want to call it, to be able to finish another novel.
Perfection it may not be, but it will be done and a place to start when it comes to editing.
With that being said, I have a fight with this novel to take on and get a word count done. Wish me luck and I hope everyone is able to find a way to make their writing work for them. Let it be #1k1hr or a Power Half Hour, I wish you all luck!
Anyways I distract myself from how I've evolved the power half hour into writing. No booze involved in this at all.
With only having an hour lunch break at work I pondered just how I can take advantage of this time for National Novel Writing Month and not be forced to dread getting home for my much needed word count. If I already a few hundred words under my belt by the time I get home then getting that 2,000 words wasn't quite as daunting when you only a few hours to do so. Thus comes in the Power Half Hour. While most people I work with either eat at there desk while working or actually use the lunch room, I decided that I would do a combination taking my full lunch break to eat at my desk while working on my novel.
Thus came the idea of the Power Half Hour. I gave myself 30 minutes at my day job to try to ignore the people who happened to pass my desk (yeah I'm a bit of a talker so easily distracted) and get some writing done. This also came about from the wonderful person, whoever they may be, of the twitter hashtag #1k1hr. Knowing that I don't have that full time to accomplish this task while on my lunch break I made it my own.
For one reason or another the novel I'm working on for National Novel Writing Month is kicking my behind. I was able to stay above the word count curve just barely, till now, as I fight for every work. When at home I can't get close to being able to focus for even just an hour. My mind wonders off in different directions. I get distracted by mindless wondering around the internet or catching up to roommates I haven't seen all week. And for that I've been trying to put the Power Half Hour to the test at home as well.
If I can focus on getting multiple chunks of the Power Half Hour done in a night or all through out the weekend then I call that a win. It's all about adapting to how your brain and focus is working on a specific book. Since I want to make this into a career I have to start putting in the work to make it a job and not just work when the muse is willing to put in the time. I've had novels flow and get thousands of words done in one sitting, but this novel? It's a fight and I have to admit that I feel accomplished that I'm putting so much into it to get what I have. When I can finally type THE END I know I have done something that not everyone is able to do. I will have fought to get over that vicious wall of writers block or distraction or whatever you want to call it, to be able to finish another novel.
Perfection it may not be, but it will be done and a place to start when it comes to editing.
With that being said, I have a fight with this novel to take on and get a word count done. Wish me luck and I hope everyone is able to find a way to make their writing work for them. Let it be #1k1hr or a Power Half Hour, I wish you all luck!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
One day at a time
Ten days into National Novel Writing Month, I'm sitting here in my weekend writing nook looking back on the things I've learned and what I've got laying ahead of me.
As much as I try have written every single day even if it's a paragraph or edit one sentence, I'm realizing that it's not enough. Thank goodness I've decided to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge this month cause it is teaching me more about my writing habits than I thought I knew.
First off, it's impossible to write the same number of words each day, but it is good to set goals that push your limits. Limits that you have to work for yet, here's the big things, they are still obtainable.
Second, having a writing buddy/a little competition helps (or does for me). This way you have to check in with someone at some point to talk about your word count. This person is in the same boat as you and can sympathize with the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes along with writing. Not everyone goes through the same things and it helps having that person to push you to get that word count even if it's a lot less than what you had wanted to get.
Third, stop over thinking things and just get it down on the page. Having too many insecurities over which word to choose or when you realize it's the 5th time you've used the same word on the page doesn't mean you should stop right then and have a break down. It's your first draft. NO ONE IS PERFECT ON THERE FIRST DRAFT. And if you or anyone thinks that I'm sorry but you're lying to yourself and everyone else. There are always things you can do to improve your story, your characters, and whatnot. Take a deep healing breath and know that you can come back to fix things later. If you have a blank page you don't have anything to come back to when it's time to edit. From the short time I've been taking my writing seriously, I've learned this big thing about writing....ready for it.....the real writing is in the editing. Whooo I know. That was a big one. Here's another tidbit I've already said but will repeat that falls into the whole editing thing....ready? If you don't have anything written down you have no where to go. No place to improve. You're just stuck.
Fourth, the more I write my story (currently doing a full rewrite on a paranormal romance) the more my characters surprise me. Like in life these fictional characters are evolving, keeping me on my toes.
Fifthly, no matter if you are a writing machine busting out thousands of words and hour or if, like me right now, you are fighting for every single word, congratulate yourself. You are writing a mother fing book people! That is something that not everyone can do and it's hard. Really hard to keep right at it.
I know I had a list in my last couple of blogs and some of them are repetitive. Yet, here I am doing it again. Here's the thing...I've said it out loud and I need to keep saying. I'm still learning these lessons myself. Saying them and repeating the good habits are hard and important to me. If you want to become a full time author, and I do, then these are things you have to do, or so I'm learning from watching those who are doing what I will one day join the ranks in.
Lesson of the day? Write, write, write, write, and don't stop. Keep putting yourself out there and honing your craft. One day you will be the published author you want to be. One day you will have the career with the good habits that will keep you going even when you are fighting for every word on the book you're working on.
Good luck my fellow NaNoWriMos! Twenty more days to go! Just take it one day at a time and you will be surprised at what you have accomplished.
As much as I try have written every single day even if it's a paragraph or edit one sentence, I'm realizing that it's not enough. Thank goodness I've decided to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge this month cause it is teaching me more about my writing habits than I thought I knew.
First off, it's impossible to write the same number of words each day, but it is good to set goals that push your limits. Limits that you have to work for yet, here's the big things, they are still obtainable.
Second, having a writing buddy/a little competition helps (or does for me). This way you have to check in with someone at some point to talk about your word count. This person is in the same boat as you and can sympathize with the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes along with writing. Not everyone goes through the same things and it helps having that person to push you to get that word count even if it's a lot less than what you had wanted to get.
Third, stop over thinking things and just get it down on the page. Having too many insecurities over which word to choose or when you realize it's the 5th time you've used the same word on the page doesn't mean you should stop right then and have a break down. It's your first draft. NO ONE IS PERFECT ON THERE FIRST DRAFT. And if you or anyone thinks that I'm sorry but you're lying to yourself and everyone else. There are always things you can do to improve your story, your characters, and whatnot. Take a deep healing breath and know that you can come back to fix things later. If you have a blank page you don't have anything to come back to when it's time to edit. From the short time I've been taking my writing seriously, I've learned this big thing about writing....ready for it.....the real writing is in the editing. Whooo I know. That was a big one. Here's another tidbit I've already said but will repeat that falls into the whole editing thing....ready? If you don't have anything written down you have no where to go. No place to improve. You're just stuck.
Fourth, the more I write my story (currently doing a full rewrite on a paranormal romance) the more my characters surprise me. Like in life these fictional characters are evolving, keeping me on my toes.
Fifthly, no matter if you are a writing machine busting out thousands of words and hour or if, like me right now, you are fighting for every single word, congratulate yourself. You are writing a mother fing book people! That is something that not everyone can do and it's hard. Really hard to keep right at it.
I know I had a list in my last couple of blogs and some of them are repetitive. Yet, here I am doing it again. Here's the thing...I've said it out loud and I need to keep saying. I'm still learning these lessons myself. Saying them and repeating the good habits are hard and important to me. If you want to become a full time author, and I do, then these are things you have to do, or so I'm learning from watching those who are doing what I will one day join the ranks in.
Lesson of the day? Write, write, write, write, and don't stop. Keep putting yourself out there and honing your craft. One day you will be the published author you want to be. One day you will have the career with the good habits that will keep you going even when you are fighting for every word on the book you're working on.
Good luck my fellow NaNoWriMos! Twenty more days to go! Just take it one day at a time and you will be surprised at what you have accomplished.
Friday, November 2, 2012
November is here!
It's amazing just how fast time goes sometimes. November is here already leaving Halloween in its wake and the challenge of NaNoWriMo for writers around the world laying in front of us. Day 1 is past and I was able to just squeak past the goal of 2 thousand words a day. Day 2? Not so much. After a long day at work and getting home late the words are flowing as well as I had wished, but I'm getting something down and that's the main goal.
NaNo is definatley a challenge and one that I'm finding interesting so far. With the few (2) novels I've written so far and the several dozen summaries I've done have been in the first person point of view. In the full rewrite that I'm doing of my first novel I ever wrote for NaNo I found myself writing in 3rd person. This is a new adventure and I only hope that it turns out better than my original first draft. Great story idea, but all telling a very little showing.
Learned my lesson on with that and now I'm putting what I've spent the last year or so into place. I know I'm not the best writer in the world, but it's all about putting in the work and continuing to hone your craft and with the challenge of 50,000 words in 30 days and changing my preference of narration is going to be fun to see how it turns out.
Yes, I know how the story ends, but so far my characters are already evolving more than they have since the last time I'm spent any significant amount of time with them. They are becoming more distinct and individualized than I had thought they were. So, who knows where they will end up pushing the story.
Don't know about you guys, but I'm excited to see where they will end up taking me by the end of the month.
Here are a few tips that I've learned so far with NaNo:
1. Just write! Don't go back and self edit. Save that for December. Even if it's 1 word put it down on paper. You've already done more than those who have signed up but keep finding excuses to not put those words down on paper.
2. Set a timer. I find 30 min to 1 hour nonstop writing time works well for me. In that time close all internet windows, turn off all TVs and if need avoid being around people who might distract you. Most of all turn your phone OFF. Not distractions and spend that amount of time getting as many words down as possible.
3. It doesn't have to be perfect. First drafts are never perfect. Far from it in fact. There is a quote that I'm not sure where it's from that says "The real writing comes in the editing." You are laying the foundation of your story in your first draft. It's in the editing later on that you and really build and decorate your house of a story. Don't stress about getting it right. Just get something down first.
4. Don't worry what everyone else thinks about your story or what you are trying to do. I've found that only other writers can really understand what we are doing. If you love your story and your characters then tell there story. It's not about what everyone else wants to hear, it's about what you want to tell us. If you're passionate about then they we will want to hear you talk about it and it will come across on the page.
5. Breathe. In the end if you don't reach those 2,000 word goal or the day or if it takes don't everyone the same amount of time to write the same number of words. Also others have more time or better focus or can type faster or whatever else you want to think of. Breathe! Know two people are the same. So do what you can and pat yourself on the back for being able to do what you can. There is no need to stress or beat yourself up if a road block pops up. Some times you have to stop. Other times you can smash through those roadblocks and are able to by pass your goals like they were the easiest thing on earth. Don't stress, and breathe.
Well I still have some time to try to get some words done for the day, but I'm exhausted. I'm thinking that a goodnight sleep is needed and can start the day off fresh and knock out the remainder of today's word count along with tomorrows as well.
Good luck in NaNoWriMo everyone! And keep writing!
NaNo is definatley a challenge and one that I'm finding interesting so far. With the few (2) novels I've written so far and the several dozen summaries I've done have been in the first person point of view. In the full rewrite that I'm doing of my first novel I ever wrote for NaNo I found myself writing in 3rd person. This is a new adventure and I only hope that it turns out better than my original first draft. Great story idea, but all telling a very little showing.
Learned my lesson on with that and now I'm putting what I've spent the last year or so into place. I know I'm not the best writer in the world, but it's all about putting in the work and continuing to hone your craft and with the challenge of 50,000 words in 30 days and changing my preference of narration is going to be fun to see how it turns out.
Yes, I know how the story ends, but so far my characters are already evolving more than they have since the last time I'm spent any significant amount of time with them. They are becoming more distinct and individualized than I had thought they were. So, who knows where they will end up pushing the story.
Don't know about you guys, but I'm excited to see where they will end up taking me by the end of the month.
Here are a few tips that I've learned so far with NaNo:
1. Just write! Don't go back and self edit. Save that for December. Even if it's 1 word put it down on paper. You've already done more than those who have signed up but keep finding excuses to not put those words down on paper.
2. Set a timer. I find 30 min to 1 hour nonstop writing time works well for me. In that time close all internet windows, turn off all TVs and if need avoid being around people who might distract you. Most of all turn your phone OFF. Not distractions and spend that amount of time getting as many words down as possible.
3. It doesn't have to be perfect. First drafts are never perfect. Far from it in fact. There is a quote that I'm not sure where it's from that says "The real writing comes in the editing." You are laying the foundation of your story in your first draft. It's in the editing later on that you and really build and decorate your house of a story. Don't stress about getting it right. Just get something down first.
4. Don't worry what everyone else thinks about your story or what you are trying to do. I've found that only other writers can really understand what we are doing. If you love your story and your characters then tell there story. It's not about what everyone else wants to hear, it's about what you want to tell us. If you're passionate about then they we will want to hear you talk about it and it will come across on the page.
5. Breathe. In the end if you don't reach those 2,000 word goal or the day or if it takes don't everyone the same amount of time to write the same number of words. Also others have more time or better focus or can type faster or whatever else you want to think of. Breathe! Know two people are the same. So do what you can and pat yourself on the back for being able to do what you can. There is no need to stress or beat yourself up if a road block pops up. Some times you have to stop. Other times you can smash through those roadblocks and are able to by pass your goals like they were the easiest thing on earth. Don't stress, and breathe.
Well I still have some time to try to get some words done for the day, but I'm exhausted. I'm thinking that a goodnight sleep is needed and can start the day off fresh and knock out the remainder of today's word count along with tomorrows as well.
Good luck in NaNoWriMo everyone! And keep writing!
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