Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh is a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. His co-hosts today are Kristin Smith, Elsie, Suzanne Furness,and Fundy Blue! To join, click on the name links above and post on your blog the first Wednesday of every month. Sign up and meet some awesome people!
Is anyone doing NaNo next month? For the past few years, I've wanted to participate, but haven't because of my inner editor who refuses to shut off.
But I REALLY REALLY want to do this! It seems a tad daunting, but I think it could also be fun and different.
Any tips, from past participants, for us newbies?
I was feeling in a bit of a slumpie slump. I've had a lot of those lately. But Morgan Shamy's post was help in the right direction. You can read her amazing post HERE.
Thanks for stopping by, happy writing, and...
And happy anniversary to the Insecure Writer's Support Group website!!!
There is no way I could handle the stress of NaNo but I know you would be perfect at it cause you have the drive and passion... and the best ideas! Go Jackie, go Jackie!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dani! You have so much faith in me, more than I have in myself! xoxo
DeleteI think I'm going to try it this year. I half-tried 2 years ago, but I want to reboot some of my early contemporary novels, so I have the ideas already.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Debra! I should probably do some prep work, too.
DeleteWelcome to the IWSG! I don't have any words of wisdom to share about NaNo. I've never done it but I'm amazed by how many novels come from it. Best of luck!!
ReplyDeleteElsie
co-host IWSG
Thanks for stopping by, Elsie!
DeleteI love NaNo - it gives me the oomph and the deadline I need to actually finish a longer manuscript. Check out the NaNo Forums - there's lots of good advice over there. And I believe there's a few geared to Newbies. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Will do, Madeline! Thanks!
DeleteI have never done it. I've thought about it, but it doesn't grab my attention much. I don't have the time, but maybe that's why I should join? Lol. Best of luck on your NaNo times :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Karla!
DeleteThe hardest part about Nano (especially when you have a family) is November starts off with a bang. Everything's smooth sailing the first week and then it's the holidays start to hit. That's when it get tough. If you have a local group that wants to meet, the demands to meet-up are there as well. I stopped signing up for the local writer groups, because it didn't have the time. As far as the process, basically, you have to write at least 1700 words a day. That's a 50K MS which you could totally do!!! This year I'll do it and will most likely pick up a novel I'd like to finish. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteIt does help! Thanks, Mina! :)
DeleteNaNo is fantastic. I've done it for ten years and only didn't make the count the year my son was born. My advice to just to write. Turn off that inner editor, don't worry if something doesn't make sense, just write. It's so much fun! Most of my stories take place in November because I've written then during NaNo! *LOL*
ReplyDeleteTen years!!! That's awesome! I didn't even know that it'd been around that long LOL
DeleteThanks for the tip, Christine! I'm going to do my best. :)
NaNoWriMo is great program, and you should definitely try it. I dipped my toe in it a few years back, but my inner editor threw a huge hissy fit. That particular writing process didn't work for me, so I tried other things until I found something that was a better fit. The important thing is to keep trying new things until you figure out what works for you.
ReplyDeleteI have that inner editor, too. Hopefully I can keep it at bay for the month.
DeleteI am definitely not cut out for Nano. My inner editor would cut me. Repeatedly. With a shiv made of spare typewriter parts.
ReplyDeleteBut many other normal writers find it exhilarating. Good luck if you decide to participate!
Thank you, Ava!
DeleteI did the summer camp Nano once, and it really helped me to finish a book that I couldn't seem to finish. It also helped me to learn how to break up my book into manageable pieces. I hope it's helpful to you as well!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenni. I hope so, too. :)
DeleteAs someone who managed a triple win (150k in 30 days), my best advice is... Don't triple your wordcount. Seriously. When you reach 50k, just stop. ^.^; It was an obsession. And at the time, I had the job and life to condone it. However, I really don't recommend it.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I'd also recommend doing as much as the pre-work as possible. Character bios, outlines, at the very least, an idea of beginning, middle, end. That way, when you get lost on the second week (and you will) you can pick those papers up, and remind yourself of why you're putting yourself through all of this.
Holy cow! 150k in 30 days!?
DeleteThat's a great idea with the bios and outlines. Thanks!
I have participated in a crossed the 50K finish line five years running now and all I can say is: DO IT! It's is SO MUCH fun! You will be up to your ears in support in every form you can imagine and the number of ways to trick yourself into pumping out the words is just endless. If you don't hit the word goal (which a lot of folks don't) you'll still be super-proud of yourself for trying and I PROMISE you will have fun. Really, just make your profile, sign up for the pep-talks (I love them so much) and go for it- you'll be happy you did!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beverly! I think I will! :)
DeleteI participated once a couple years ago, but it wasn't for me...wasn't that a great help? ;) Honestly, go get those words at NaNo! It is a blast for those who can really dig into it. I don't think you'll regret the experience.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You're right. I would regret it!
DeleteI wrote my second book during NaNo. (And my third during BuNo.) If you plan it out in advance, you should do fine. I'm a perfectionist and edit as I go, plus I'm a really slow typist, but I managed to hit the goal. So if I can do it, I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alex! I'm going to try!
DeleteI think NaNo is a great way to kickstart a new project--to keep yourself from agonizing over every detail and make yourself create a lot of words quickly. A mistake a lot of people make is thinking that you'll have a finished product, ready to publish at the end of the month. I have done it once and intend to do it again this year, if I can wrap up the project I'm on in time to start a new one on November 1.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to look at it - to keep from agonizing over every detail and creating a lot of words quickly! Thanks so much, Samantha!
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