In Florida they're banning books.
And then there's Texas. Land of the free, unless you live in Texas.
Speak out.
Speak up.
And check with your local school district.
Do you know what they're doing?
No lie, I have about 100 story starts in my computer. Whenever something pops into my head I get it down before I forget it. I sometimes do a whole Hero's Journey outline then stuff it in a file. Sometimes I just write the book blurb. I dream of the day when I can just stay home and write.
Oh wait! I had two months of that last year. Did I finish a book? No, I was too wound up worrying about my business. (We started a business 7 months before we were shut down for covid)
So now I have other excuses. 3 very needy foster dogs. Business work stuff; meetings, marketing and paperwork. Oh yeah! Tomorrow I get my booster vax so I can use that excuse, too? Eh I didn't react to the last two shots so probably won't this time either.
Excuses aside, there are 3 solid days left for NANO. I'm at 4573 words in Aliens Hiding in Plain Sight (not really a title) story and 1056 words in Xiberon Survivors, another 813 words in Day 864. I think I wrote a little in Saving Saverine, too but that was on my other computer so I don't have the word count.
I feel this NANO is doomed.
So cheer me up! How's your NANO going?
I'm a bit over 2000 words. Not really a great count for day 6 of NaNo, but its something.
Here's the problem.
This was a challenge to do from a randomly picked prompt. not my idea or something I'd usually write about. So I spend a lot of time forcing myself into the shoes of my MC (main character) to come up with the next move.
This time I also printed out a worksheet of the Hero's Journey to fit my story into. I've got some of it down but mostly I have no freakin' clue where I'm going with this story.
And so I flounder... questions! Questions! Questions!
What next?
What should MC do now?
How does she know this isn't just her imagination?
Is the guy she just met one of them or will he help her?
Is she about to get sucked into a nightmare? how do I save her and let this get crazy? Should I?
Oy! My head!
Ok, NaNo, See in tomorrow at 7 am with coffee.
Good luck out there you NaNo wizards. Write on, Write good, Write often.
How's your word count?
How???
Here's a few tips to do now to get ready to join the NaNoWriMo challenge.
Every. Single. Day.
When I wrote Soul Mates (A different kind of love story) I set a 6 am alarm to get writing time in before that other real job thingy. After a week or two I didn't even need an alarm. I just stumbled out of bed, hit the button on the coffee maker and headed for my desk. Everyday until I typed the words "The End."
One thing that did was get the book finished. At least the first draft. But considering the other first drafts I had from other creative endeavors this was a pretty clean first draft. I believe that's because I was more focused on my task. It was time to get to work and that's where I went on time. It also gave a deep satisfaction. Yes, I could finish a book. All it took was a little discipline.
Do you have to get up at 6 am? No.
Do you have to set a time to write? Yes, that gets you to the table where your craft begins.
Stephen King said, in his book On Writing, that he goes to his desk and doesn't get up until he had 10 pages written. Some days he's happily tripping down the road at noon, other day's he's there late until he chokes out those 10 pages. That is discipline and that is why he's such a prolific writer. I highly recommend his book, On Writing, for all writers.
Okay, you've picked a time to write, now what?
Set up your desk so you can get right to work and not have to struggle to find a pen, plug in your laptop, or find your reading glasses. Your writing space should be ready when you are.
Now it doesn't have to be a fancy desk by a beautiful view and your favorite mug. No. It can be a quiet corner in your bedroom, a little nook off the kitchen, or anywhere there's less distractions. King wrote his first book with an old selectric on his knees in a laundry room. Get creative, get a refreshment, and go to work. Okay, you can bring your favorite mug.
So that's it folks. Most important thing a writer needs is a set time to go to work just like any other job. Show up and get to work.
You can do it!
I guess it comes down to a plotter or a pantser or even a just give me an idea!
Seriously, Ideas pop into my head all the time. I'm constantly writing scenes in my head that might never make it onto the keyboard.
I think it was the World According to Garp where he sees the red gloves in the gutter and a story pops into his head? Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been awhile.
That's where I think the stories hide. In those everyday things all around us. Stephen King says in his book, On Writing that he just puts too ideas together. Like for Carrie; Telekinesis and a girl who gets picked on in school. Easy, right? Rapid dog and mom trapped in a car with her son. Writer has accident and meets crazed fan.
So for this year's NANO I'm going to take King's idea and merge two things together. I'm starting a list;
Housewife and the devil meet
Old car and ....wait! That was King's. :)
Vacation on an island and contact is lost from the mainland
Man gets job in restaurant Owner is a ghost
Woman is murdered and haunts her murderer
Girl discovers secret passage in her new home discovers aliens
Woman buys a bracelet at a garage sale and can suddenly hear voices.
The list is growing.... which to pick.
Who doesn't love a good NANO challenge?
So where are you going with NANO this year?
Like the song says; You can buy your own Flowers. Yet still we hesitate. Agent - Publishing House - Indie Okay, getting an agent who can ...
