Exposed Sunday: NaNoWriMo - When You Gotta Write!

I have been participating in National Novel Writing Month since 2003.

I have failed to write 50,000 words for the month since 2004. (yes, I won my first NaNo, only to lose every single year thereafter)

Yet, this still hasn't deterred me from writing/competing every year, though in the last few, I tend to bow out after my first week. I have other writing to do, usually, and I use the manic writing sessions to work on that, shelving my NaNo story idea for another day. Just as long as I write down my notes, I don't feel bad for it.

In fact, it was all because of NaNo I got a lot of my story ideas - ones that I'm using to actually springboard into a proper writing career. My ultimate goal is to get published, after all. It's that insane mindset of "don't think, just write" that seems to light that fire within me. Apparently, I need deadlines and quotas to function.

Once I thought I was a pantser. A dreamy, doe-eyed pantser that waited for inspiration to strike when the Muse was feeling generous. Of course, that was also before I realised just how much work writing a novel involves. This is really not an occupation for the faint of heart. It takes stamina and you really have to shove your Inner Critic in a sound-proof box and leave them there until you've done your first or second draft, at least.

Outlines are my friends. Actually, they are (quite literally) my road maps. I don't have to keep to them - because wandering about here and there is good and you may find a nice place to eat - but having the map means I don't have to be lost forever. It means I can wander without ending up with 100 rambling pages of crap without any sort of hope to fixing that.

However, NaNo is okay with that. It's just NaNo, after all. Not only that, but amazing people like Roz Morris have tools that can help revive the mess that is your "novel" (NaNo or otherwise) into something that resembles a proper story structure! Maybe even publishable! I love her book, for sure.

If you're looking at options, Plotting for a Pantsers by Jamie Gold sounds like oodles of awesome!

Not everyone is cut out to do NaNo, although they may be hardcore writers, like Kait Nolan - she's not doing NaNo in the traditional sense, but she keeps her finger on the pulse and uses it.

This will probably be my first year not doing NaNo "in the traditional sense" either. I have several books in the planning/plotting stage and in six months I'm hoping to be shopping around for my first book. I will definitely use the deadlines/manic typing energy to keep myself in-line and on course. I have a lot to write and a social life to keep cultivated, too.

The main thing for me is that, through NaNo, I learned that I have to write. Whether I participate, win, lose or never even get published is really not the point. I've awakened a (writing) monster. NaNo just helped give me the first solid kick in the pants to do it.

Remember to rest, too. Good advice.


Your turn! You have 11 days before it starts. Go! Or don't. Are you a pantser or a plotter? What are you doing for the month of November? I'll be writing. Of course.

Wednesday in Progress: Welcoming the Monsters In

Meaning my writing, not welcoming you, the reader. Of course, I am welcoming you to read. Boy, that's getting confusing...

I like writing about monsters, particularly ones that (I hope) readers will like. I'm also intrigued by the monsters inside people. I even call myself a monster (but that's for another post).

So, here we are. Welcome.

DISCLAIMER:
All excerpts within this blog are unedited, unpolished pieces of poo. I have no idea how much of it will be in the final draft, but the work is still mine - so I would like a polite and respectful request if you'd like to reprint something from here. Please ask first. I'm pretty accommodating.

Secondly, as real as I'm trying to write this, it is still a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to those persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Lastly, feel free to give your opinions, critiques, accolades, and fangirl/boy'ing - I'll take it all. However, I reserve the right to delete any comments as I see fit. Mainly, if you're rude and vulgar without any good reason, you will not be welcome here. Keep your shirts on and we'll all be good.

Okay! Onwards!

 Summary: A rash of kidnappings. A race of magical creatures existing in secret. A young girl discovers the connection between them and aligns herself to save her fellow humans.

my monsters hide in daylight's plain view - waiting

Initially, this was going to be a YA novel - but after the second book, my main character is going to be well past her teens. She does start off at the "tender age" of 14.

I don't necessarily think adults want to read about teen girls, either, but I don't want to get trendy and try and pitch this as "New Adult".

Of course, the words ring in my ears, Just write it. So I shall.

Currently, I have no title (and my working title drives me up the wall) but I have a lot of notes and snippets of the book already written. My first act has structure, but it needs a hell of a lot of work and I'm trying to duct tape the mouth of my Inner Critic shut so I can do that.

The plan is that on Wednesdays, I'll let you into my brain (scary!) as I'm writing - share some notes and insight, maybe how I go about creating my characters and scenes, etc., etc. Whatever puzzle I'm working out in my WIP, I will share. One Wednesday a month, I intend to give folks a bit of the actual manuscript - in highly unpolished form. It should be fun, eh?

Your turn! In this case, I would love your feedback or even just a "keep writing" sort of cheer. I'm not picky. If you like, please share your own work/links so I can have a gander at what you write!

Wednesday In Progress: Late Nights, Open Windows

Last week I lost my job. Y'know, the one I always complain about on Twitter. I no longer have that problem, but a host of new and shiny ones - like, getting another straight job (preferably not in hell). I'm not homeless just yet - but I would like to avoid that scenario as much as possible.

Strangely enough, this has given me ample amounts of free time to write (of course). What have I been doing? Well, household chores and job hunting - and very little writing. I am not as shocked with this revelation as I thought I'd be. Sad that I haven't made the time to write for the past week and a half, but not shocked.

What I've also noticed is that I am less a morning person and much more geared to write during the nighttime. Then it's mostly quiet (the interstate is basically right outside my balcony, so there's always that subtle roar which - in my best attempts - I can turn into the sea crashing) and I don't have animals meowing in my face or whinging to get taken out to pee. Everyone (including the spouse) is asleep and I have the place to myself. Finally.

Oh, I'm tired. I've still tried to keep my schedule to what it was - up at five every morning, breakfast and lunch taken care of for both of us and then the rest of my day, whatever that means. Mostly, it means tending to our pets, making sure I job-hunt, and keeping up on the laundry and other cleaning so we don't look like we live in a hovel. Don't anyone ever believe the lie "housework isn't real work" because it's worse than that - it's demanding physical labour and you don't even get paid for it and vacation/sick leave is non-existent.

I wouldn't mind an open window to this; Trillium Lake at OMG o'clock

My husband told me Tuesday night that he wants me published. He wants me happy to fulfill my dreams. This is my chance - my open window - and not to waste it. I'm a little afraid as to what it's going to do to my sleep schedule (especially as I'm still trying to get a straight job) but I'm being productive, at least.

So, here I am. Got my window open, listening to my faux-seaside and typing out my tale as fast as my fingers can fly across my keyboard. (now say that three times fast)

Your turn! When do you feel most productive? Have you been able to adjust your schedule or do you have a work-around? Did you learn how to change your schedule to fit your life/pursuits?

Techno Party - Fashionably Late

Late to the technology party, as usual. I'm always late to any party, really.

This weekend I got myself a new toy: 500GB laptop with a 17" screen and, boy howdy, is it beautiful. Bear in mind, I haven't had a personal computer since 2003 or so (maybe a little earlier). Oh, well, let's be honest: I have a beautiful green iMac that's been the best darned paper-weight and closet-stuffer since 2003. I probably could fire it up right now and use it, but not online. Well, I think the better half would have a stroke if I tried to drag that lump out of storage, especially with my new and shiny toy.

My iMac's CD drive is completely shot and it's more hassle to upgrade/deal with now, especially with my new and shiny toy. See the theme, here?

I still don't own a cell phone. That may change next month, but we'll see.

these hands know maniacal typing, the Neo knows pain

Anyway, this was all to facilitate better and easier writing and research on my part. Even now, the bulk of my writing will stay on my Neo (holy crow, someone's dyed theirs...interesting) for ease and the negative distraction it has by comparison to the laptop which is my biggest issue with working on a laptop in general. Give me a wifi connection and I'm lost for days hours doing research. Yeah. Research. I don't have that luxury on my Neo, so I can work.

So, yeah - another step in my writing life. More tools; shiny, distracting tools.

Your turn! What tools do you have? What have you done to keep the distractions to a minimum? Are you late to the party, too, or are you usually hosting it?

Wednesday in Progress: Short Stories Are Gold

Holy moly. An entire month of being offline (PC decided to go wacky and then it was the Nightmare Best Buy commercial) and I'm going to try and figure out this "regularly blogging" thing. Bear with me.

me writing my masterpieces, duh

So, we're going to try a new format for this blog. Wednesdays I'm going to share the wisdom of all those fabulous writers I follow on Twitter and Facebook and compile lists of helpfulness - if only for myself, but I think it will be generally useful to anyone out there reading. (I don't hear crickets over my streaming radio...)

Currently, I'm up to my eyeballs in a lot of changes/upgrades. I'm hoping to move to my own webspace in a few months, I'm working on a massive story (that I'm hoping to write in a series of 5 books), and I have a handful of stories/story ideas that are being shuffled around and tweaked whenever I have a moment. That and there have been a few life-changes that have affected us, too. It's exciting, scary, hectic - you name it. Good times.

Here we go:

I like Ryan Casey's Short Stories: Four Reasons Why You Should Write Them. Especially with the ebook popularity and a number of new products hitting the market just in time for the holidays, short stories are a fantastic medium for ebook formats. Take ten or fifteen minutes and you can have your literary fill with a nice, compact tale - in between waiting in a queue at the grocery, waiting for your next appointment, or even your lunch break (provided you don't spill your food on your eReader).

Kris Noel has great for advice on the Three Act Structure - basics every writer should follow, regardless if you're writing a novel or a short story, or a movie script! It's a great little poke in the brain if you're having trouble with the pacing of your story.

Lastly, a fun little video: Vonnegut Advice: Short Stories I personally really enjoyed Slaughterhouse Five, but I didn't get past that one book of his - and he's written tons of short stories! I think I'm going to have to devote one of my weekends to reading a few. Plenty of great, simple advice - but I like (and I need to remind myself constantly) of #4 Every sentence must do one of two things - reveal character or advance action. I also like #6 Be a sadist. Sweet.

My hope is in between all of my longer fiction, I will be able to share a few bite-size morsels that you can enjoy. There are dozens of starts floating about in this brain o'mine...

Your turn! I'd like to hear from you. What advice do you have to share about writing short stories? Do you write them at all? Have you tried? What was the last short story you've read?

But Getting Paid for Fan-Fiction Is OK

Well, I haven't died. This is good.

I have been busy with Life (which mostly involves my straight job hell, which I tweet about often) and everything else that isn't Writing. Sad, I know.

I had been throwing around a few blog ideas (because, y'know, I'm actually trying not to forget how to write - there is that fear) and when it was announced that Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series was going to be on TV, I had a bit of a shock. She hates fan-fiction. Like, enough to rant about it for three separate posts. Really.

So, I think my question here is directed to all those who write - published or not - how could you give a "fan-fiction policy" and expect them to follow it? And not alienate your fanbase? I know I'm rehashing old stuff, but again - it's the fault of the news. Congratulations to Ms. Gabaldon and I hope the fans think Moore does the books justice (he/they probably won't) - but isn't this a paid form of fan-fiction? He at least got permission and not the rambly, hate-spewing, semi-paranoia she doled out.

I think if I ever get so popular to have fan-fiction written about my characters (though it may totally squick me out), I'm going to run with it. Count it as further evidence that I have inspired folks to be active and creative, instead of merely being a spectator. Those folks just watch TV.


Note: If you're unwilling to click on the links, I must - at least - post her outrageous policy. She's entitled to her feelings and anyone with a shred of decency should respect her requests for not sending fanfic to her, and she should nail folks to the walls who try to make money off fanfic from her books. To equate fanfic with breaking into her house or - better still - sleeping with her husband goes off the deep-end. She doesn't have to read any fanfic - she doesn't have to read anything she doesn't want to, but to ban certain folks (she's not doing the adaptations for TV, that's going to be another writer!) from writing fanfic? That she thinks fanfic is illegal? Nuts. (I'd say "Loony Toons" but I don't want Disney after me, either...)

FAN-FICTION POLICY
You know, I'm very flattered that some of you enjoy the books so much
that you feel inspired to engage with the writing in a more personal way
than most readers do. Both for legal and personal reasons, though,
I'm not comfortable with fan-fiction based on any of my work, and
request that you do not write it, do not send it to me, and do not
publish it, whether in print or on the web. Thank you very much for your
courtesy and consideration.

So, what do you think about fan-fiction? Do you think I'm nuts being willing for other people to mess with my characters? Would you allow it? Do you?

Why I Keep Writing

That makes me laugh - "why I keep writing". I haven't written in a long time, although there is a personal blog post somewhere, and that was last week? I think it was last week. Anyway - "why I keep writing"... I've been listening to Mur Lafferty's I Should Be Writing podcast, trying to convince myself that *I* should be writing. Of course.

I would say that my theatre has been taking up all my free time, but that would be a lie. It is taking a *lot* of my free time, but not all. I mainly come home from work (desk job, mind-numbing accts payable drudgery), have dinner and watch a movie (usually a documentary) and play a video game. Where's the writing time in that? Well, I suppose I could forego the movie and - if I wanted to be really hardcore, I could write and eat dinner at the same time (I've done it before).

Although I also have a spouse that deserves my attention - and that's where the movie-watching and dinner-eating come into play. I only have so much time before my brain turns into toothpaste, and family time is certainly important to me. I have a finite amount of time that I've convinced myself Other Things need my attention - my writing? My writing can be done later. Of course.

Yet, I'm blogging. My Bonny blog needs updating, my personal blog is probably getting the most attention because it's a nice brain-dump location. Not only that, but the several novels that I have "in progress" span nearly 10 years' worth of work and I don't even know if any of it is worth anything. I may end up trunking everything.

Yet, I'm still writing. I still want to work on my stories - well, one story in particular that still continues to poke me in the ear or eye every so often. I know there are some serious issues with the story itself (I'm going to need an eagle-eyed historian, for one), but I really like this story - still. Even after all these months...years? Yes, I think it's now officially been two years. How did that happen?

So, why do I keep writing? Even as sporadic as I do - I still want to tell a story. I would also like to have someone other than my spouse reading it. I need to be adored by the world...or at least, more folks who aren't my friends before reading my story. Once they've read my story, they can clamour for my friendship, if they like.

I should be writing. You should be too. Or doing something that fulfills you, because that's what it's all about.

My NaNo Makes Me Screeeeeeeeeeeeeam!

Although, shouldn't it make you scream? I hope in a good way. Hmm. 

For the first time (okay, second time - but that first time it was more urban fantasy and you're supposed to love the monster, anyway...), I am attempting a horror story for my NaNo. I have no idea what I'm doing. Ever. I can't even watch horror movies (example: we went to the cinema to see Ju-on and the way I watched it was through my fingers; fingernails digging into the arm of my better half - and I still managed to have nightmares for a year, oy). What the hell am I thinking? 

Desperation, I think is the word. Well, no - not entirely. Some of it was inspiration. Honest. Stop laughing, out there! 

My nano-pitch: A young woman who's getting settled into life - new house, great new promotion, stable and healthy relationship(s), etc. - inherits a mirror from her favourite, loving aunt that does a little more than show her a pretty reflection. 

I'm a tease and I hope it gives someone (besides myself) nightmares - or at the very least that creepy, crawly feeling you get when you think someone's watching you (especially when you are totally alone).

Being that I'm a total maniacal, obsessive, compulsive, perfectionist (you really want more adjectives?) outliner - having only started my outline a few nights ago is making me a little crazy. Okay, so I'm crazy regardless, but that's beside the point. Right now, I'm trying to focus and get some sort of outline put together so I don't lose my marbles on Nov 1st. Right now, I think I'm missing a few marbles, but y'know...whatever!

I'm trying out the snowflake method - so far, so good. Nowhere near done, but I haven't run screaming from the building yet. This is a win.

What's everyone else writing about for NaNo? Got a method? 

Now for a cute dog photo (sorry for waking you, Bonny):

The "Other" (Writerly) Tools?

Okay, so I'm broken. Well, really my Canon-SX130-IS is the thing that's broken - and that's breaking me.

I love this camera. I didn't love it when we first got it (a free gift! do we never appreciate free gifts or just don't appreciate them as much as something we've hoarded and slaved over to get?) but since the better half took what was meant to be the "family camera" as a tool for passion and livelihood (shameless plug here), getting this extra camera was great. Also, I could stuff this in my handbag while the "family camera" needs its own rucksack (with lenses, extra battery pack and various doo-dads that I barely know the full functions of). So, got this camera and it was portable, did all these neat functions (like video! with sound!) and it was now mine!

Until some time last week when the memory card spring-loaded slot decided to stop functioning. Now I'm just getting error messages and I have no idea if it's fixable - or even worth it. In any case, I'm minus a camera that has helped me write Bonny's blog as well as help feed me ideas for stories or remind me of what stuff looks like (again, to help me write). I know it's just a crutch, it's just a crutch. I've worked for years without a camera and we still have the "family camera" that I can borrow. It's just not the same.

I feel like I'm missing my favourite pen. I mean, I can still write (I don't even use a pen/pencil - I type on my Neo, Inara-Jayne) and still function just fine, but something is still missing. It's irritating.

Anyone else out there have a unique "other" writing tool that isn't traditionally thought of as such? Y'know...like a cinder block that holds up your open reference materaisl just so, unlike anything else you've tried? Or maybe you don't write - but knit with chopsticks (the rounded ones are size 3 or 4 US, I think...) or your trusty roll of duct tape never leaves your side (ala MacGyver). I know folks who carry those crazy, multitool contraptions, but those are meant to service anything/everything. I'm all about the weird.

What nontraditional tools do you use for your life? Please share! I'd like to know how other folks have made use of things that they weren't originally intended for.

Inspiration for this blog post: my broken camera & Instructables - Make, How-to & DIY

updated 10/07/11: why didn't anyone tell me I wrote cider block instead of cinder? Oooh, boy, I'm funny...

The Nanos Are Coming! The Nanos Are Coming!

nano - a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute,” used in the formation of compound words (nanoplankton); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense “one billionth” (10 -9 ): nanomole; nanosecond.
(courtesy of Dictionary.com)

Of course, that has nothing to do with NaNoWriMo - the month-long maniacal attempt to push out a word-count of 50K in a mere 30 days. It's insanity, I tell you.

Unless you are (1) independently wealthy, (2) have no responsibilities (and I mean NONE - short of getting yourself to the toilet; adult diapers eventually need changing) and (3) have no holidays to celebrate (Eid & Thanksgiving come to mind - but I'm sure there are more hiding somewhere...) - oh, and (4) a hermit, NaNo can be tricky to schedule in between working, social/familial commitments, chores - y'know daily life.

Those of you smart-alecks who pound out several thousand words a day - shut up. This is for the rest of us.

Here is some motivation:
Wear your Pants of Shame. These are literal pants and if you want to get in on the action (but have no time to knit/crochet/sew), go to your local thrift shop and find the ugliest pants you can afford; don't be afraid! You know they are out there, lingering in a bin because no one wants them. Really. Follow the rest of the directions in the link and you're set for Nano 2011!

You can knit/crochet/sew yourself a proper pair later - and really punish yourself.

Though I do feel that the definition "very small, minute" makes a lot of sense here - being that (on average) a novel can be anywhere around 80K - 100K, which means your 50K comes up a mite short. The actual writing process is also blasted out in a very brief span of time (again, those of you who can write novels in under 30 days, shut up). It just a coincidence, naturally, but NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. There ya go.

Another place (outside of the Nano forums) for fellow crazy people, I mean writers:
Nanowrimo-For The Win

So, anyone else out there doing this? Every year I try, every year I lose - but I keep writing. That either means I'm a writer or I'm an idiot. Maybe both.

If you want to do some fun prompts to get you prepped before the big month, go wander over to CurlyViking's blog and try out the writing challenges she's posted. I'm going to try the latest (1500+ words, use an element from the periodic table, 3rd person, extra points for a non-scientific story) and see what I come up with.

Of course, I still have that other story I started on Saturday that really should get pounded out quick...can someone please throw me a writing-life-preserver? Please?

I Got Nothing But Bad Habits

Going on holiday does help unscramble the brains – as long as the holiday has moments of rest and reflection in between all the headless-chicken activities. This time, we had more rest which turned out to be a good thing. It gave me more time to realise that I give all my free-time away and I've run out of excuses not to write. That last one is more or less a revelation, because I always knew I gave my free-time to everyone else. It isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but it does mean that I put myself last in my laundry list of Things I Need To Do.

There is definitely a need here – mostly a want, but as the year's gone by (two years?) the fact that I have no bulk of writing material at the ready for submission turns this into a desperate need. I have bits and pieces – a few one act plays, half a story or two (and a novel that makes my heart palpitate due to heady research needs and recent missed opportunities) – but I've gone a whole year (at least) without really working this passion I keep telling myself I have.

I am easily distracted and convince myself not to write. “I'm too tired,” I tell myself once I get out of my straight job. “I already get up at butt o'clock normally! I can't get up any earlier!” I say as all the popular writing blogs/people tell us to get up 30 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour before your day starts. Write then! “I'll write later, I need some 'me time',” my most notorious tagline as I spend way too much time in the soul-sucking universe that is Facebook.

Starting this week, I'm going to break my bad (writing) habits – at least one or two to start. Yesterday I couldn't convince myself out of bed, but here I am – Tuesday morning and writing! I had even managed to get up this early on Sunday and write a bit. There is always hope.

Who knows where all this bad habit breaking could lead? What are/were your bad habits and how are you/did you break them?

Just Keep Writing! [link sausage]

Not exactly the entry I planned to write, but perhaps that's the point?

I'm still trying to figure out a writing schedule and battle my procrastination (I swear, anything with an internet connection is highly dangerous. Just look at TV Tropes).

I think Kathryn Apel's post on "panic writing" as well as this old post by Donna Cummings - talking about Chris Baty and his "No Plot? No Problem!" approach to writing - say it better, but here I am, having the debate with myself and trying to figure out how I write; how to get the best out of myself with the minimum amount of pain.

Currently playing with the Snowflake Method, but not totally sold on it, outright. I realised that for about 3 of my WIPs, applying this method to tighten/revise/make better, I wanted to rewrite everything from scratch and radically change my story-lines. In one respect, I take that as a good sign - I'm not thinking my novel as "my (untouchable, perfect) baby" and am open to suggestions/changes and so on. In another way, my self-esteem is peering into the toilet because I'm really considering to scrap about 10 years' worth of work. Although it's not like I'm on a deadline or these stories were getting any other exposure anyway. Maybe I need the over-haul.

I'm trying not to count words; I'm trying not to get sidetracked with research (historical-esque fiction, go me!); I'm also trying not to bin all of my writing, which is getting harder to do as I attempt to make a serious go of being a writer.

Does writing on a schedule (what schedule?) help push you through your "non-creative moments"? Do you dare say "Writer's Block"? I used to switch gears - work on ATCs or music, theatre...something artistic, just not writing.

I get the sincere feeling I've been sabotaging myself for years.

Hemingway...A Hack?

If I spent more time writing than playing on the internet...

Had an interesting discussion with my husband just now about the infamous Hemingway "6 word story" (For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.) and my mind immediately filled in the answer to the question: Why? I thought it was a great way to tease the imagination.

My husband said, "Who cares? He didn't write a story. He wrote a Craigslist ad."

This is also the man who otherwise has an abundance of wild imagination. Am I giving Hemingway too much credit here?