It’s that time of year again!
Have you signed up to participate in National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo?
What is it, you ask? It’s an event where everyone is trying to write a whole book in one month–or at least 50,000 words. NaNoWriMo is a great way to learn to write fast, to get that story out on paper so that you have something to go back and edit. I wrote the book Replication for the 2007 NaNoWriMo, and it’s getting published this December! So you never know what might happen with a NaNo book.
You just never know.
My tips for getting through NaNoWriMo?
–Take a little time to plot out where you’re going. I like to write out a phrase for each planned chapter. That way if I get stuck, I can skip ahead to the next one.
–Don’t edit! Just write, write, write! You can edit later.
–Ignore writer’s block. Don’t worry if there are holes or if something doesn’t make sense. Just keep going. If you get stuck, skip ahead to another scene.
Want to give it a try? Click here to visit the NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program and start writing today.
If you do, come and friend me. My NaNo page is here: http://nanowrimo.org/en/participants/jwilliamsonwrites
I’m doing NaNoWriMo! I am working on my quota for today, and hopefully will get ahead just in case I have to miss a day–we’re moving overseas at the moment. 🙂 Unfortunately, I am doing it on my own, because you must be thirteen and up to have an account. I am younger than thirteen, but am still doing it.
My brother, Jake, wanted me to do it this year, and so I decided to, since I have written one and two thirds of a novel before. ‘Tis going well so far, and I’ve got the basic plot down.
I am a SOP writer–seat-of-pants. I sit down and write, and don’t pay attention to editing, and I’m not good at outlining (Jake is the same). I’d be no good at the skip the scene thing, because I’d end up adding something that might just be big for the plot and twist it a bunch. 🙂 When I get writer’s block, if I keep writing, do a Word War or something, I can force it away within half an hour and I get inspired.
It doesn’t work with everyone, but its worth a try. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Vrenith! How did your NaNo go? I failed. 🙁
But that’s okay. Once you are a published writer, things come up that you have to do. I’ve been spending lots of time working with my publisher on marketing and things like that. But then they bought some more books from me and now I HAVE to write them! The word “deadline” is the best motivation for me. LOL
Word wars are great. Have you seen this word war? Two of my teen writer friends did this to prepare for a big writer’s conference they attended. It was fun to watch them post their word counts on Facebook. LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IKEhA9BAw&context=C2a509ADOEgsToPDskJMqLsVzCB_86XK0JgsDvaR
I participated for the first time this year and got my 50k done in 16 days, not counting Sundays. I was surprised, to say the least. Thanks for these tips!
Way to go, Liam! That’s wonderful! And I’m glad that the tips were helpful.
Now you get to rewrite it! LOL
Rewriting is my favorite part. 🙂
Jill
Well, I have to say it isn’t my favorite. Any tips on that?
The book that you wrote isn’t your favorite? LOL
Well… that happens. When it happens to me, I tend to put it aside and work on something else for a bit, always thinking about what that broken story needs to be stronger. Usually something will come to me, and then at some point, I pull it back out and work on it some more. I have a few stories just sitting in my file cabinet, though. And I may never get back to them. But I did learn stuff from writing them, so I consider that very valuable, even if they are never published.
No, you got me wrong. I meant that rewriting isn’t my favorite. I love writing first drafts, but I can never edit.
Ahh, NaNoWriMo went well! I finished well past midnight, early on the nineteenth, the day we were to leave. 😀 Actually, the novel itself is less than half finished, and I’ve just started part two. ^_^ I haven’t lost the urge to write, though, and just want to write more. Unfortunately, now we’re in Africa, and an open computer is hard to come by in my family.
Yes, I remember them doing that. 🙂 I know both through my brother, though not very well. I loved the video. *watches again*
–Vrenith