National Novel Writing Month

How to Make Your Writing Three-Dimensional

nanowrimohq — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 12:40:32 -0700

Camp NaNoWriMo is just around the corner! If you’re wondering how you might be able to keep up your enthusiasm for your writing project through the month, writer K.R. Garcia shares some tips to help keep your excitement alive:

Writing is a two-dimensional art form. No matter the quality of the words you place on paper, they are still just black and white. In the time between NaNoWriMo events, it’s easy to push your novel aside and spend your time on more pressing or more exciting matters. But writing can branch off the page.

You can keep your writing inspiration alive by bringing it into other areas of your life.

Do you take pictures? Sculpt? If you cook, you could craft a delectable imitation of your main character’s favorite meal. If you draw, you could sketch your characters or, if you’re daring, make a map of your novel’s world.

Do you play an instrument? I play the piano, and on occasion I have composed entire scores for my stories. You could also embellish your novel with other kinds of writing—poetry, song lyrics, fables, an origin story for the pebble your main character kicked down the road back in Chapter 5, and so on. There are many ways that you could incorporate your other interests into your novel.

Keep in mind that, although these projects could be used in your novel, they do not have to be used that way. They are intended primarily for yourself. If you do these projects for more eyes than your own, they may bring more stress than relief and distract you from your novel.

“Creative side-projects can give you enough immediate reward to carry you along the writing path.”

The goal of these synergistic creativities is for you to reignite your interest in writing. When I play those compositions mentioned earlier, it puts me in the writing mindset. Painting your novel on a three-dimensional canvas may open your eyes to its complex beauty. Seeing your novel in a different light, or a different medium, could inspire you to dive back into those pages of black and white and add some color to it.

Why does this work? Writing is a complex art form. For the painter, the cook, or the musician, reward can be immediate: a lovely brushstroke, the right flavor, or harmony between notes. For writers, reward can take forever to reach. Creative side-projects can give you enough immediate reward to carry you along the writing path.

Why is it important to keep your interest alive? Without motivation, you can’t get very far. Though writing offers more long-term rewards than short-term, when you do finish your novel, the feeling of accomplishment will be everything you imagined, if not more.

K.R. Garcia has been creating stories since before she could hold a pencil and has participated in eight NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo events. An avid Agatha Christie reader, she writes mainly in the mystery and adventure genres. She coaches a class for young writers at her high school in Texas. When she is not writing, she enjoys classic rock, psychology, and music boxes. You can find her on Twitter at @katerpillar43.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Tom Small on Flickr.

Camp NaNoWriMo

nanowrimohq — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:56:04 -0700

Camp NaNoWriMo:

It’s almost time for Camp NaNoWriMo to begin again! Join us this July for more fun writing adventures. Pack your Creative Backpack and get ready to work on your creative masterpiece with three simple steps:

Announce your project. Set your own goal from 30 up to a million—and don’t forget, you can track words, hour, minutes, pages, or lines!
Join a virtual cabin with up to 19 other fellow writers. (Already in a cabin? Post a hello on your cabin message board!)
Get ready to write! We’ll be hosting Virtual Write-Ins every Monday to help you figure out how to get started on your writing project—and how to push through to the end once you’ve begun. With different writing prompts, themes, and discussions every week, you’ll bust through writer’s block in no time.

This week, we hosted a great tweet chat with our July 2018 Camp...

nanowrimohq — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:54:33 -0700

This week, we hosted a great tweet chat with our July 2018 Camp Counselors! They’ll be around through the next session of Camp NaNoWriMo to dispense real-time words of wisdom and advice as your work on your writing projects. We gathered a few of our favorite pieces of advice from their tweet chat to help you get your writing momentum rolling!

IMAGE TEXT:

Quote tweet from @NaNoWriMo: I often have the problem where I start really strong and then fizzle out, and I’d love to hear suggestions for keeping a steadier pace throughout the project. #CampNaNoAdvice

Claire @KannClaire: This happens to me, too. When I begin to lose momentum, I immediately look at my outline because something must have gone wrong. If it’s not exciting to me, it won’t be exciting to anyone else so I adjust my scenes, plot, stakes, etc to get myself back on track #CampNaNoAdvice

Kirstin Chen @kirstin_chen: From my experience, writing a book is overwhelming no matter how many times you’ve done it. I try to focus on one major goal per draft, so if this is a first draft, my goal is: JUST GET TO THE END. There’s so much time to clean things up later! #CampNaNoAdvice

Jessica Strawser @jessicastrawser: The word “momentum” = key. That means keep going. I usually aim for 1,000 words minimum a day when I’m trucking on a project, but ANYTHING you can swing is better than 0. And: Try to stop sessions when you *know* what comes next. Makes it easier to pick back up. #CampNaNoAdvice

Quote tweet from @NaNoWriMo: Counselors, what’s the piece of writing advice you most wish you’d had back when you were starting out? #CampNaNoAdvice

Gloria Chao @gloriacchao: Own your weird!!

Embrace what makes you unique & use it! I used to try to imitate what was out there but didn’t find my voice until I embraced my unique background as an MIT grad, a dentist, a Taiwanese-Am child of immigrant.

Write the story only you can tell. #CampNaNoAdvice

How to Balance Writing with Everyday Life

nanowrimohq — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 16:16:48 -0700

Are you missing the energy of Camp NaNoWriMo and can’t wait for it to start again in July? If you’re trying to find time in your hectic schedule to sit down and write, participant Nicole Maharaj shares some tips to help you balance your writing time with your everyday life so you can finish your writing project:

When Camp NaNoWriMo ends, many participants are left with either a project that is mostly done or one that still feels unfinished. This year, for example, was my first Camp NaNoWriMo, working on a project I haven’t looked at since 2011. Surprisingly (to me at least), I was able to write more than I usually do, ending up just 10,000 words short of my original goal.

Now, just a couple weeks before the next Camp NaNoWriMo session begins, I’m at 52,000 words with no end in sight. Although you can create your own goal in Camp NaNoWriMo, I usually aim for the requisite 1,667 words a day (that is, 50,000 words per month). But for a lot of people—myself included—sometimes getting that amount written down is harder than it should be. A lot of writers have other responsibilities: Children, spouses, work, friends—all have a way of getting in the way of your writing. Personally, I’ve learned that if I change my goal from a daily one to a weekly one, I get more done.

I’ve never been the kind of person to get words easily down on computers. I’m sort of old school in the way that I work best with pen and paper, especially since inspiration can strike anywhere. The first draft of my 2011 project was forty pages, all long hand, done while traveling back and forth from college. So for me, rather than tracking my word count every day, the easiest way to set goals is by planning chapter by chapter. I usually make a goal on Sunday to set where I want to be in my novel by next Sunday. That way, I have a whole week to plan scenes, have characters randomly appear, and villains fall to their doom, instead of trying to rush through 1667 words in a day.

“Every writer needs to find their own way of working through writer’s block—or in my case, writing in infinite circles I can’t get out of.”

The other thing to remember is to take breaks from your writing when you need to. I noticed during Camp that while trying to get words down on paper, there were phases of my writing when I was just writing myself in circles. Now, because I’m not in Camp, I’ve learned to figure out those moments and to take a break when that happens, because all that writing in circle does is ensure I have over 1,000 words that will never make it past the editing floor.

For example, during the past week I noticed this was happening, so I stopped writing completely and did something else creative I haven’t done in a really long time: I made some art. Really weird art with aliens and monsters, but art that eventually helped me look at how I was writing my scenes in a new light. Now, I have a much better idea of how to write my next chapter.

Of course, what works for me won’t necessarily work for everyone else. Every writer needs to find their own way of working through writer’s block—or in my case, writing in infinite circles I can’t get out of. Especially as summer is approaching, with its distracting days of BBQ’S, family gatherings, beach excursions, and long walks ahead. Even if you can only get a couple of pages every so often while in the pursuit of other interests, you should still try to make time to write.

Nicole Maharaj has been writing since she was thirteen years old. Her first published piece was a poem and short story published in a textbook in her first year of high school and has two e-books currently online via Tablo Publishing; The Prince’s Vow, and Hunter’s Bar which share the same universe, as well as most of the characters. When she’s not in that universe she’s working on her first attempt at Science Fiction: Thorns. Her author penname is Katherine Drake.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from CollegeDegrees360 on Flickr.

Camp NaNoWriMo Young Writers Contest: Honorable Mentions

nanowrimohq — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 13:24:51 -0700

In April, the Camp NaNoWriMo Young Writers Contest challenged writers to submit a 300-word story that began with a storm. From over 600 fabulous entries, we chose two Grand Prizes and three Honorable Mentions. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!

Honorable Mention (High School) by Annabel

Violet is cooking breakfast when she hears Nana hollering from outside. It’s raining, and the droplets leaking from the ceiling echo in the tin pail next to her. The scent of mildew and bacon hangs heavy in the air, and at the sound of her grandmother’s voice, Violet flinches. She turns off the gas and runs out of the kitchen, her feet slapping against the tile. Nana doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

Her slicker hangs on a coat hook in the foyer. She pulls it on and rushes outside, slamming the door behind her…

Read the rest!

Honorable Mention (High School) by Bethany

“It’s a pretty heavy storm.” His brows furrowed skeptically at the rain beating against the window. “Are you sure you need soup now?”

I nodded and snuggled down further under my mountain of blankets. “I’m having intense cravings for warm soup,” I said and coughed dramatically. “Plus, it’ll help my throat.”

“I can’t believe we’re out of Ramen.” He sighed and glanced at his watch. “I’ll make a quick trip down to Walmart. It won’t take long.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

He grabbed his coat, keys, and umbrella, pausing momentarily at the door. “See you soon, sicky.”

He never made it back home…

Read the rest!

Honorable Mention (Middle/School) by Violet

The wind and rain swirls around me. My tattered cloak whips behind me in the wind. My red dragon, Ember, whines next to me. Alexandria Knight here, beast tamer extreme. Lightning strikes next to me. I can tell immediately that it’s no natural lightning. It moves, scouring the ground, like it’s looking for me. Ember shoots a bolt of flame into the lightning. It dissipates. I touch the brooch keeping my cloak on to summon Shadow, my faithful wraith.

“Shadow, something’s wrong with this storm! It’s not natural.”

Read the rest!

Camp NaNoWriMo Young Writers Contest: Grand Prize (Middle/Elementary School)

nanowrimohq — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 11:45:32 -0700

Grand Prize Winner (Middle/Elementary School) by Ainsley A.

Pitter patter, pitter patter.

The sounds echo through the room, surrounding me in a gray, looming light as I lie in my bed. I turn my head toward the window that is covered in streaks of droplets that slide all the way to the bottom of the pane and leak into my room.

I get up from my bed and open the window, letting the rain whip into my room with a deafening scream.

I’m not worried about this rain, even though it’s been raining for weeks on end. Some years ago, global warming went through the roof: warmer than it’s supposed to be in 50 years, and it’s all happening at once.

But it’s supposed to stop soon.

I crawl out onto the sill and close the window behind me. I take the leap to the fire escape and nearly fall the five stories to the ground from our Los Angeles apartment. I hold on and pull myself up and start the climb to the roof.

I climb the slippery metal stairs that creak below my feet, grasping to the cold rail. I finally make it to the roof and look out towards the ocean as the rain falls to the asphalt roof below me.

Pitter patter, pitter patter.

I come here a lot to think. About anything, really. Just think. And stare, out into the large blue. That builds up a wall so suddenly it can’t be. I take a step back. What’s happening?

A wall of blue, coming straight for the city; towards me. I can do nothing but stare as the wave starts to crash through Los Angeles, knocking down buildings, heading faster and faster towards my apartment, racing above my head. It reaches me, higher and higher.
I hold my breath.

Pitter patter, pitter patter.

Ainsley A. likes to write in her free time after school, but is also an avid reader and loves science-fiction and fantasy. She plays soccer (her favorite sport besides robots, if that even counts), and loves writing random bits of illogical, weird things that come to her mind, which sometimes lead to her story ideas. Ainsley is currently in 6th grade, and her favorite subject is Social Studies. (She also may have a slight obsession with space corgis.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Young Writers Contest: Grand Prize (High School)

nanowrimohq — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:25:00 -0700

Grand Prize Winner (High School) by Megan Mechelke

It was raining in the Library. Ropes of sloe-black ink slithered from the rafters like roots in a desert.

Cashmir, the janitor, scratched his graying tuft of hair. “Looks like another pipe’s burst, Frank.”

Frank, the ferret, poked his wriggly pink nose out of Cashmir’s pocket. “I swear to Joe; don’t they pay someone to keep this place up?”

“That’s us, Frank.” Cashmir flipped the peeling red switch and with a creak-pop-squelch and a low thunder roll, the emergency ventilation system coughed itself awake. A slimy river of ink skittered over his shoe, muttering to itself in a language long dead. “Looks like the basement’s flooding.”

“They don’t pay me enough for this,” Frank grumbled, burrowing down indignantly.

“They don’t pay you at all, Frank.”

The Thought Library was the nexus of every nascent pondering in all the universes, and Cashmir was Head Custodian. Naturally, he barely made minimum wage.

“For a Thought Library, there sure is a lot of ink,” Frank observed.

“Yep.” Because what were thoughts without ink to give them life? That, Cashmir reasoned, was why people put engravings on tombstones. Thoughts died, but the written word was life eternal.

Here lies Cashmir…

…and then what?

“…and it makes such a flimflamming mess…”

Well, thoughts often did.

“What do they think they’d do if we left, huh? What if we just up and disappeared? Who’d fix their pipes then? No one, that’s who.”

Cashmir came to an abruptly disturbing realization. For a man who practically ran the Thought Library, he’d contributed very few thoughts of his own.

What if they just disappeared?

What would he leave behind? Is this how he would be remembered?

Here lies Cashmir…

Cashmir abandoned his toolbox in an oily swirl of ink and began to write.

Megan is a word-enthusiast with a passion for writing, reading, and the theatre. Megan will be entering her senior year of high school this fall. Her other interests include corny TV, fresh strawberries, and too-loud music; she also enjoys borrowing far too many books from the library and falling asleep while reading. Megan is currently working on a total rehaul of an ancient draft, but she is easily and frequently distracted by the thousands of new ideas stirring in her mind.

Congratulations, You’re a Writer!

nanowrimohq — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:55:45 -0700

What does it take to call yourself a writer? Sometimes, using this word is a challenge and an act of courage. Today, writer Lakiesha Edwards shares how NaNoWriMo has helped her embrace her own identity as a life-long writer:

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a writer. People will tell you that there are certain qualities you need to be a writer: things like knowing how to spell, being aware of grammar rules, liking English as a subject, and actually enjoying sitting down and putting words on a page. But the truth is, all you need to be a writer is to write. All of those details are tools to help you get there.

I made this discovery after just jumping out here on the web once I wrote my first book. I’m pretty new to the whole writing world online, and I think it’s wonderful that places like NaNoWriMo exist. With NaNoWriMo, I found the support I’d been craving to help me push past the rough spots of writing: advice for overcoming writer’s block; encouragement to write every day; the drive to finish my work in progress rather than stall it with editing at the wrong times; connection to a community of other writers; how to have fun with the project I’m working on; and, most importantly, how to just write, write, write nonstop and keep my momentum up without getting burnt out. Even after the event months are over, NaNoWriMo is here for me, and for all of us writers.

If you feel that your dream is to be a writer, you’ve come to the right place. There’s a whole welcoming world of bold people to share your thoughts, feelings, and emotions with. I like to dream that just through telling my story, I’ll someday be able to pay my mortgage, car insurance, put children through college, etc. But even if it never ends up being my paid profession, I still absolutely love to write.

“My friend, you’re a writer!”

My family members always know when I’m around because I write all over envelopes, phone books, wherever there’s enough space for me to write anything. I knew I wanted to be a writer since I actually learned how to write. I wrote so much in school they knew I would have no problems when it was time to take out our class journal. My mother still keeps notes in her purse that I wrote to her in 1998!

Do you ever have dreams about writing, the kind where your words are prancing in your head? And even when you wake up and do your morning routine, you’re still thinking about it while brushing your teeth, trying to master the story in your head? When you’re supposed to be working, do you find yourself conjuring up the plot of your story, hardly able to wait to get back to your writing board? While you’re on break, instead of taking your normal break, do you decide to finish the ending of your story?

My friend, you’re a writer!

Lakiesha Edwards is 41 years old, but has loved writing since she was 12 years old. She writes poems and music, and has poems in an anthology through Eber & Wein. Lakiesha’s hobbies (besides writing/reading) include volleyball and giving lots of good relationship advice.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from lecates on Flickr.

Meet Our New NaNo Intern, Helena!

nanowrimohq — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 14:18:35 -0700

We feel so lucky here at NaNo HQ to be able to work with some excellent interns! Today, meet our second super-awesome helper for the summer, Intern Helena Li:

Hello, World! Summer in the East Bay for me means it’s the summer of Oakland, farmers’ markets, the New Parkway theater, endless goings-on, coffee, sunlight, ocean, and hills. This year, summer in the East Bay also means it’s the summer of NaNoWriMo—a summer full of stories. It’s hard to imagine a better way to spend the next few months.

This will be my third summer in the East Bay, though it’ll be my first to venture out of the bubble of Berkeley University (and summer classes) into the real working world. I think about how it’ll go in hope and anticipation, though I’m also at times nervous because of my lack of experience—a catch 22 of sorts. But if I’ve learned one thing from writing, it’s that lack of a complete outline is no reason not to start writing (otherwise I’d never get any of my schoolwork done). If my lack of experience had stopped me from starting, I wouldn’t be typing away surrounded by the wonderful NaNoWriMo team right now.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that summer for students (who aren’t taking summer classes) means being jettisoned from the tight structure of school into the hazy, nostalgic space of freedom, away from deadlines and obligations. Wholly unprepared, we must relearn to function in the real world by relearning to be the author of our own stories; whether that means traveling and all the preparation that comes with it, or completing an internship and learning how to write a cover letter.

This summer I look forward to hearing your stories while learning from the NaNoWriMo team about how to carry on after school ends.

Helena studies Applied Math and Philosophy in Berkeley where she is often found hanging around the English department. Dedicated to words and observation, she spends her free time wandering the hills, browsing books and vintage stores, writing poetry, and fighting artificial busyness.

How to Efficiently Edit Your Novel

nanowrimohq — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 10:00:07 -0700

Are you missing the energy of Camp NaNoWriMo’s April session and can’t wait for it to start again in July? If you want to continue your noveling adventures, participant Virginia Mialma shares some tips to help you dive into edits and get the most of your editing time:

So, you’ve finished your novel… or maybe you’re just stuck and you’re just trying to make some progress in some aspect of your novel and you’ve gone through a phase of light editing to pass some time and hope for genius to strike. Either way, that red pen in your hand can feel like a hot iron on your precious words.

First of all, don’t tackle five different parts of writing at once. You have the plot, you have characterization, you have grammar, you have spelling, you have those annoying little dash marks that never come out right the first time (maybe that’s just me). Break these up into much more manageable and not so incredibly overwhelming pieces.

When you are editing to pass the time, try basic spelling/grammar editing. I know that seems weird, but (hear me out) you will never finish the book you are writing if, when you’re still just halfway finished with your book, you’re also reading and nitpicking your plot in the beginning. You’re going to get so caught up redesigning the perfect plot that nothing else has gets done except entirely rewriting the first half of you novel multiple times. You will be in the exact same place as before, struck by writer’s block and trying to go back and edit for in hopes of catching ideas.

On the other hand, if you are going through and editing words, punctuation, and sentence structure, your brain is still on your story but instead of nitpicking things that aren’t ready yet, you get a refresher on the beginning of your story and you have gone though some light editing. That way, if you ask someone else to read it, most of your words will make sense.

But… what if you’ve finished your book? You just wrote your amazing climactic action scenes and your blood, sweat, and tears finally have fruitage. You should go right back into it, right? Work off of this momentum, right?

“Staring at something up close isn’t going to get any clearer no matter how long you stare at it.”

No, don’t do that! You’ll burn yourself out. This may be easy or hard depending on your mindset at that point in time, but the best way to begin editing a novel you just completed is to not. Set it aside, take a step a back from it and give yourself some well-deserved R&R. When you get too close it’s hard to see the big picture.

Go ahead and grab a picture, any picture will do. Now hold it right up to your face, and I mean I want your nose to touch the picture. Now stare at it. Can you tell what it is? Keep staring, I’ll wait… can you tell what it is now? No? That is because staring at something up close isn’t going to get any clearer no matter how long you stare at it. You need a break, you finished the novel! Celebrate and rest. Leave it alone for not just a day or two but a few weeks, a few months even. You’ll come back with brand new eyes and be able to get farther faster this way rather than trying to push the momentum from finishing the novel into editing the novel.

Just like exercising your body, the resting period in between sets is just as important as the set.

Virginia Mialma is a student at Miami University Oxford studying creative writing and interactive media. Virginia spends way too much time on Wattpad, get underlined, and YouTube both as a viewer and an entertainer. Virginia has two dogs, Jayce and Scarlett; a Beta called Yami Yugi; and an unhealthy obsession of anime (if you couldn’t tell from the Beta’s name).

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Abdulla . K on Flickr.

How to Restore Your Writing Energy

nanowrimohq — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 10:00:18 -0700

Are you missing the energy of Camp NaNoWriMo’s April session and can’t wait for it to start again in July? If you want to continue your noveling adventures, participant K.R. Garcia shares some tips to help you keep your writing energy up:

It’s over. That month of late nights, exhilarating twists, dizzying plunges, and ink-stained fingers is over at last. As June dawns and fizzes, the stress and adrenaline diminuendo into a soft murmur, barely audible amidst the flood of relief. But so, too, does the inspiration that pushed you through the month.

When you began the race, you stood at the starting line with an empty notebook, fresh pens, and a fully charged laptop. The only opponent was the clock. Your mind-hotel was rented out to a number of misunderstood and eccentric characters, and you had promised them growth and room to be themselves. Nothing could dim the dazzling potential of your brilliant idea. As the race went on, your legs began to ache and your vision blurred. When you crossed the finish line, your legs gave out.

The track beyond the finish line looked more treacherous than the race itself. You jogged along for a while, but you could not go quite as fast. The smallest slip-up felt like a collapse.

You’ve lost your energy. Now, your idea, the starting line, is a distant memory.

How do you get that energy back? Simple. What gave you energy before? The race.

To restore your energy, bring the excitement back into the writing process. Make it a challenge again.

Here are a few ways to challenge yourself:

1. Set a goal.

This is wonderful for both short- and long-term inspiration. Goals are especially useful if they require you to write more per day than you’re used to. They don’t have to be about word count. You can make, for example, a page, chapter, or hour goal. On the NaNoWriMo website, you can create goal trackers all year round.

2. Establish habits.

Writing a set amount, at a certain time, or in a specific location every day could help you attain a constant writing energy level. You could reward yourself when you write or make a schedule for yourself that includes writing time.

3. Try something new.

You could try your hand at an emotionally heavy scene or incorporate an unfamiliar genre. If you’re a pantser, you could try writing a plan for your novel. If you’re a planner, you could try giving yourself some room for spontaneity. Attempting something out of your comfort zone could inspire you to write more.

Why do you need to have energy to write? Writing may not be fun all the time, but if it’s never exciting, you will not finish your projects. Challenging yourself could help you regain your writing energy and finish the race at last.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Vlad Litvinov on Flickr.

Chart a Course to Explore Your Novel

nanowrimohq — Wed, 30 May 2018 10:00:22 -0700

Are you missing the energy of Camp NaNoWriMo’s April session and can’t wait for it to start again in July? If you want to continue your noveling adventures, participant Nadia Svoboda shares some tips to help you keep writing in the “off season”:

I hope this blog post finds you well rested and properly caffeinated (did anyone else recently re-discover the awesomeness that is iced coffee? Because I did and I know it’s going to be my summer staple)

We are well into the “off season” right now. If you’re also in the northern hemisphere, the cold dreary days of November seem like a distant memory, and the lush, hot days of summer are just beginning. It’s a great time of year to get outside, go exploring, meet up with friends, and yes… write your novel.

If you like to read outside on a patio, in your backyard, or under the shade of a tree in your local park, why not switch it up and try writing instead?

Bring your laptop (or a pen and notebook) along with you the next time you’re enjoying your downtime outside. If that’s not available to you, open a window and let the warm breeze and sunshine in! Let it inspire you to write—a short story, a poem, a zine, or work on another creative project. Pick up that old story you set aside and look at it with fresh eyes. Keep your creative spark going.

It’s undeniable that there’s a lot of literary magic in the month-long events arranged by NaNo HQ, but these official events are not the only time you can pursue your passion. You don’t have to wait until the next Camp NaNoWriMo or November event to start working on your next project, or continue one that you’ve been keeping on the back burner. (Please don’t actually set your manuscript on fire. That’s ill advised). Just start writing again and see where it takes you.

I think that the best part about NaNoWriMo is the community that continues to be active every month that isn’t November. I’ve been casually chatting with an informal group of amazing writers in the forums for going on three years. Every month we start a new thread and many of us set goals each and every day to continue making writing an important part of our lives.

“Be daring and adventurous as you chart a course towards literary accomplishment.”

Fortunately, this is something anyone can do! It can be as simple as saying “I want to write x words today” or “I will work at my desk for x minutes”. Let your mind wander freely and don’t be afraid to experiment or try something new. Be daring and adventurous as you chart a course towards literary accomplishment. And if that’s not your story style, stick with what works.

Writing might be a primarily solitary activity, but it can also kind of be a team sport. And teamwork helps make the dream work.

So message that old NaNo pal on the social platform of your choice, give yourself a refresher course on NaNoWriMo’s awesome resources during the “I Wrote a Novel, Now What?” months, and keep creating! The world needs your story.

Nadia Svoboda (NaNoWriMo username Panickedfish) is a writer, reader, practicer of yoga, bunny mom, vegetarian, and travel enthusiast. Though she’s not published any of her books (yet) she is enjoying the journey to all the places—real or imaginary—that writing takes her. She will be participating in NaNoWriMo for the 10th time this November. Until then, you may find her geocaching in your local woods.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Chris Blakely on Flickr.

Meet Our New NaNo Intern, Malissa!

nanowrimohq — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:03:35 -0700

We feel super lucky here at NaNo HQ to be able to work with some excellent interns! Today, meet Editorial Intern Malissa Bilbrey, one of the newest additions to our team:

Wassup writers! My name is Malissa Bilbrey and I am ecstatic to introduce myself as one of the Spring interns with NaNoWriMo.

I am a Southern California native who has made a home out of the Bay Area over the past four years. I am also an almost-graduate of San Francisco State University majoring in Communication Studies. I am more than excited to begin incorporating my studies with the goals of everyone here at NaNoWriMo.

I have been enticed by the literary world since childhood. Whether it was spending time in between library shelves or typing stories on my mom’s laptop. In the most recent years I have exercised and hopefully begun refining my poetry. I love reading books almost as much as I like to write them but nowhere near as much as I love candy!

When I’m not writing, I find the asphalt calling to me, either to ride my skateboard up and down the streets of San Francisco or using it to create basketball beats on my way back from the courts. No matter where I’m at or what I’m doing one thing is guaranteed: wherever I am, doodles are soon to follow. In addition to a writer and creator, I am proud to call myself a professional doodler.

With November quickly approaching I cannot wait to begin working with everyone in and around the NaNo universe!

Author Interview: Storytelling is Part of the Human DNA

nanowrimohq — Wed, 23 May 2018 15:15:29 -0700

We’re partnering with StoryADay for Short Story Month this May, the perfect opportunity to track a new NaNoWriMo goal, or start a new Young Writers Program personal challenge. Today, author Tory Christie shares her advice to questions from Julie Duffy at StoryADay:

Q: How do I make readers care about my story and my characters?

A: Empathy is the key to making readers care about your story and your characters. Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of another person (or animal).

I like to establish some empathy right away, in the first scene. Better yet, on the first page. Show your character caring about someone else.

In one of my stories, my main character sticks up for the new girl in town during the first scene. It can even be a very small gesture, like letting your character find a penny on the road and handing it to a little sister. Or maybe your main character picks up a worm on the sidewalk and moves it safely into the grass.

Another way to make readers care about your character is to make your reader identify with your character. For example, give your character a trait (or feelings) that most fourth graders would identify with (or tenth graders or whoever your audience happens to be).

Here are some examples that any kids might relate to: she thinks that she’s just average and wants to be special, he’s nervous about the first day of school, she is worried that her friends will make fun of her new haircut, he is excited about the school dance, she’s grossed out by the school lunch. You get the idea.

Just give it a try!

Q: How detailed is your outline before you start writing?

A: I love outlining! But, everyone is different.

I usually write a few pages or chapters first to establish the character and voice. Then I go back and create a detailed outline.

But for my chapter book series, Curious McCarthy, I know my characters really well—all nine family members! So I will start with a spark of an idea and then work up a detailed outline that will include a paragraph detailing the scenes in each chapter.

My final outline is about one and a half to two pages of single spaced text, so that’s pretty detailed for a chapter book.

For non-fiction, I always outline, but I finish the glossary and back-matter first, because it is an easy way to start my research. I learned this tip from my friend, Elizabeth Raum, who has written over 100 children’s books!

Writing Dare from Tory Christie

Scientists and writers are both trained observers. Make note of little gestures, subtle movements, and minor details you see during the day. Sometimes noticing these little things make the best stories.

Then, write a story about a character who is having a hard time telling fact from fiction.

Tory Christie is a scientist by day, working as both a geologist and hydrologist. She also writes children’s books about science, technology, and nature. When it is light outside, she studies rocks and water and the rest of the environment. After dark, she writes silly science stories that kids and adults can laugh about. Her latest series follows the life of Curious McCarthy, a little girl who desperately wants to be a scientist, but is just not sure how to go about it. Tory Christie lives in Fargo, North Dakota.

5 Research Tips for Writing a Novel

nanowrimohq — Mon, 21 May 2018 12:41:25 -0700

Even though the frenzy of April’s Camp NaNoWriMo session has passed, that doesn’t mean you need to stop writing! If you’re feeling like you want to continue your noveling adventures but you’re not quite sure where to go with them, participant V.S. Chiu shares her top tips for researching your novel:

Research is one of those things in life that you either love or hate—but it’s one of those things you have to do. Not just in writing, but in life: plane tickets, buying a computer, the time of a movie—all of those things require just a little bit of research to make sure you get the best deal, or show up when you need to. As an archivist and professional researcher, I may be one of the people who loves research the most, and when I’m teaching people to research it’s always how to make life easier. My top tips are mostly for academia; however, adapting to fiction is not that hard.

1. Find somewhere to start.

Wikipedia is a starting point. Wikipedia is a great resource to find jumping off points, due to editable nature however makes the information somewhat hard to take on its own. Those lovely footnotes (the numbers after a word) are a great way of getting more information. If you have vague questions, or thoughts, going through the Wikipedia article is a great place to start.

2. Find the repeat.

Science, history, everything really has a bias. Bias is an inherent vice in life, as humans all have a bias. You have to be mindful of the bias in the research, and in yourself. It can be hard to see the bias in the material, so look at multiple sources. If multiple sources repeat the same thing, that’s a pretty strong guarantee that the thing happened.

3. Be aware of your sources.

Look at the sources you’re getting information from. Use your judgement on how credible those sources are; as much as I want to say trust the masterlist on Tumblr on x there is distinct lack of sources usually involved, or you’re given a “Trust me I’m an x” as a source. That doesn’t mean they aren’t credible, it means you need to do your own research.

4. Know your limits.

Now, the thing about research and writing—and I’m including myself in this—is that sometimes it can be so tempting to just go down a research hole. It can be too daunting to write, so researching to make sure you get everything Just So and you’re Completely Accurate, is a good escape.

Except, if you’re only researching, you’re never writing and that is also Not Good.

Take breaks, and learn the limits. Yes, you want to be accurate and authentic but do you really need to know the expiry date of the typical food in a pantry for a family in the 1960s? No, you don’t. You also don’t need to know how to make whatever food your characters are eating. You know your story better than anyone, but somethings don’t need to be in it.

5. Remember that you have creative license.

There is also a point where fact and fiction diverge, and that is perfectly okay. I beta read and fact check for a friend’s story and there was a point when she mentioned a character was born in the Year of the Snake. She had already mentioned the year the story was taking place, as well as the character’s age, and it just took a quick search to find out that the math didn’t add up and there was no way the character could be born in the Year of the Snake, at that age and year the story was set.

I told my friend, and she shrugged.She didn’t care, and being wrong didn’t change or ruin the story. Research can help enhance, but in the end, it’s just another tool in your tool box.

V.S Chiu is an anthropologist, archivist and academic. She specializes in Chinese history, immigration and biracial/multicultural research in Canada. She is currently working on her debut science fiction novel set in Canada in a post 9/11 world, as well as currently working to curate the upcoming Reawakening anthology, written by women of color in Canada. She lives in Vancouver, with her cat Mistoffolees, and never-ending quest to go to all the coffee stores and to see the Canucks win the Stanley Cup. You can find her on Twitter at victoriaschiu or on Instagram at VS.Chiu.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Trevor on Flickr.

6 Bestsellers Share Their Hard-Earned Writing Lessons

nanowrimohq — Fri, 18 May 2018 09:00:24 -0700

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. She Writes University, a Camp NaNoWriMo 2018 sponsor, is an online, live webinar-based writing program for writers in all genres. Today, six of their featured bestselling authors share the writing advice they’ve come by the hard way:

Aspiring authors tend to make a lot of assumptions about what a writing career is and what it takes to get published. There is a lot of cloaked mystery around how to become a successful author and these six bestsellers are breaking down those barriers.

Each of these women were featured in the recent webinar series, She Writes University. Camp NaNoWriMo Participants receive 50% off any class or the full semester bundle using code CAMPNANO through May 31. She Writes University offers webinars aimed at helping writers write and market their books and new webinars and classes are available often.

Jesmyn Ward, author of Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward is the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction winner, a Time Magazine Best Novel of the Year and New York Times top ten of 2017. Her message on voice is one all writers need to hear.

“Voice doesn’t come to you in one fell swoop. Voice is something you develop and refine over years. It takes patience and dedication. For those of us who are not precocious writing geniuses, this is how it works.”

When you’re just beginning to write, finding your voice can be both frustrating and embarrassing. Most start our modeling after those they admire, but as Ward points out, time and persistence are the only tools for developing a style that is uniquely your own.

Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

Lisa Ko’s The Leavers is the winner of the Penn/Bellwether Prize for Fiction, a 2017 finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and a Best Book of 2017 according to Entertainment Weekly, NPR and more.

Lisa Ko shared a tip that any writer at any stage can appreciate.

“Storytelling craft can be taught and learned—you don’t need to figure it all out on your own.”

There is a major misconception that the best writers are naturals and few consider themselves to be, making success feel unobtainable. Ko’s advice should be reassuring to anyone dedicated and ready to learn.

Abigail Thomas, author of What Comes Next and How to Like It

Abigail Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of three novels and three memoirs has what would appear to be a dream career to most authors. Some might be surprised to find when she got started though.

“I really do think I wasn’t ready to write until I started, when I was forty-eight. It is helpful for people to know that most writers start off writing badly, and get better. I was afraid to start. Who did I think I was? But honestly I wasn’t ready to try until I was forty-eight and that’s okay with me.”

For those who think it’s too late to start or question if they are even worthy of the profession, Thomas proves that neither are true.

Christina Baker Kline, author of A Piece of the World

Christina Baker Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author whose book Orphan Train spent more than two years on the NYT bestseller list. Her achievements may make her appear to have a secret recipe, but her advice is something every NaNoWriMo participant should heed.

“The only tip that cannot be ignored or denied: to be a writer, you must write. (And be willing to stick with your manuscript until the bitter end.)”

Even if it hurts, make it to the end. The best manuscripts can still be difficult to finish.

Kirstin Chen, author of Bury What We Cannot Take

Kirstin Chen’s novel Soy Sauce for Beginners was an O, The Oprah Magazine “book to pick up now” selection. Chen has received awards from the Steinbeck Fellows Program, Sewanee, Hedgebrook, and the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference.

Chen had this to say about what she’s learned in her writing career:

“Approach crafting characters with awareness and intention as opposed to simply by instinct.”

Though some may want to wait for the muse to strike, Chen is clearly an advocate for planning and deliberate creativity.

Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You

Caroline Leavitt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen novels. Caroline has never been shy about the difficulty she faced to get to where she is now and her advice could catapult your career years ahead.

“Structure! Definitely structure! I always thought you waited for that pesky muse and your writing ran on inspiration fuel. I would end up with 800 page novels that had to be pared down. Once I learned structure, it was like having a lifeline to writing—something to hold on to.”

Simply put, you can’t always depend fully on the muse.

Author Interview: Eat Your Dessert First

nanowrimohq — Wed, 16 May 2018 13:36:27 -0700

We’re partnering with StoryADay for Short Story Month this May, the perfect opportunity to track a new NaNoWriMo goal, or start a new Young Writers Program personal challenge. Today, author Sarah Aronson shares her advice to questions from Julie Duffy at StoryADay:

Q: What is your one go-to piece of general advice for writers?

A: PLAY. Don’t be afraid of failure. Instead, experiment. Try everything! Or as my first editor said, “Eat dessert first.”

When I started writing The Wish List series, I called it my “peach sorbet.” It was a sort of palate cleanser, after the “real” work was done. It was a project I wrote just for myself—no expectations.

It wasn’t long before I realized that play, or writing without expectations, makes me a better writer. When I play, inspiration emerges. Intuition doesn’t feel so impossible. I enjoy myself more!

When I challenged myself to banish my internal editor, I found that I could write all kinds of stories—and that I enjoyed the process a lot more!

Q: How do I find interesting topics and stay true to myself?

A: I turn off my phone. I go for long walks. I listen to what is happening around me.

When I get inspired, I don’t rush. First I journal—with a pencil. Sometimes I draw. Sometimes, when I don’t know how to process what I’m feeling, I draw squares! I think about the universal themes that are important to me. I mine my memories for emotions and details.

And every day, I keep writing.

Remember: at first, story can be elusive. In other words, my books require re-imagination!

Characters don’t usually emerge fully formed. For me, this early writing helps me figure out what my characters want—what makes them three dimensional and interesting—and what will generate tension and conflict. So I stay patient. I dig. I write poetry. I read poetry. I think what is important to me and what I want to say.

The truth is: I never save my early drafts. Instead, I write them to discover. To uncover. To figure out what I want to say in the story.

Q: Should I share my work? When, and with whom?

A: Sharing your work is an act of bravery. But it is essential. For a few reasons.

Constructive feedback helps you figure out what you are doing well.

It also helps you see where the reader is not that vested in your story.

Handing over your story to a trusted reader also gives you some distance from the story—so you can go back in fresh.

No one writes completely alone. When you have a strong, supportive writing community, you will feel braver. You will take more chances. You will have someone to talk about craft with. You will have someone to share this journey.

Writing Dare from Sarah Aronson

Write a scene that happens before the start of your story.

It can be the first thing your character (or you) remembers. It can be an event that changed the way your character sees the world. When your done, take a step back. What does this scene say about your character and what she wants? How does this story affect the way your character sees the world?

Sarah Aronson began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and published three novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Her most recent books are part of a new young MG series, The Wish List (Scholastic, 2017–2018) as well as a forthcoming picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg (Beach Lane Books).

How to Piece Together Research and Free Writing

nanowrimohq — Mon, 14 May 2018 16:22:51 -0700

Even though the frenzy of April’s Camp NaNoWriMo session has passed, that doesn’t mean you need to stop writing! If you’re feeling like you want to continue your noveling adventures but you’re not quite sure where to go with them, participant Larisa Hunter shares some tips for researching and organizing your first draft:

Free writing is exactly how it sounds: you sit down and just write. It doesn’t seem like it would be a good tool to organize your thoughts, because it’s somewhat chaotic, but I find it very useful. You don’t have to write about a specific thing; you just take thoughts that are all over the place and put them down.

I’m usually a very organized person. I used to be extremely organized until I became a mom, at which point it began to be more trouble than it was worth. You can’t always predict what kids will do, and planning for everything is virtually impossible (as children, if nothing else, are great at finding the one thing you didn’t prepare for). I began to realize that not much was under my control. Life is often fraught with unexpected events, so trying to organize everything is virtually impossible. In completing a writing project, I’ve found that a mix of free writing and organization work best for me.

Step One: Organizing Research

If you’re writing nonfiction, you have to do research. There’s no way to avoid this, as getting facts wrong can be devastating to your reputation as a writer. When writing nonfiction, you’ll also usually need many sources to research any topic.

To organize my sources, I find it easier to research one topic at a time and list notes for each section. Each note includes essential information about my source, including the author, title, year, publisher, and page numbers for direct quotes. Making my bibliography is super easy with those notes. I always make sure my sources are backed up by both internet and physical books to ensure I have correct, up-to-date information. It’s vital to ensure your sources are accurate and that you’re sticking to the rules of the style guide you’re using.

With fiction, research can be helpful if you’re looking for background information. It can help you create believable settings and characters. If you’re writing about a fire fighter, you’d want to find out as much as you can about a fire fighter’s life. Don’t be afraid to ask someone who has direct experience if they’d be willing to give you the details of what their job entails.

Think about fiction research as a way to be a kind of detective: you’re discovering material that you can use to push the story forward. You can research locations locations by physically going to them and noting what you see, and you can read stories similar to the one you want to write.

Step Two: Free Writing

After I compile my research (or at least have an idea of what exactly I’m going to write), I then go into my free writing sessions. I personally prefer to just sit down at my keyboard and start typing. I don’t really have an idea of where I’m going in the beginning, but I often find the idea when writing it down. Sometimes just putting your fingers on the keys and allowing your mind to pour out its ideas becomes a very good way to finish your project—or at least begin to work it out.

Don’t worry at all about structure with free writing. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or anything related to editing and formal writing. Free writing is an exercise to get your inspiration going. I find it extremely helpful to just roll with it, to allow yourself to go places in your mind and to write your story in whatever way you want.

It’s helpful to set a time limit on the free writing block—say, twenty minutes—then sit and self-reflect. Review what you’ve written and take a critical eye to it. This may require you to give it to someone else because we often can’t criticize our own work fairly—we tend to be way too harsh on ourselves, or self-deprecating of our own talent.

Writing is an art, and art takes time to craft. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. Sometimes pressure can override your ability to have a clean piece of writing that will turn into the product that you want it to be. I think that patience is the hardest part of writing to learn, because writers often get caught up in our own heads. When this happens, take a break. Breathe, relax, go outside, do something else to get a break from yourself. These things will help organize your project in a way that is not overwhelming or stressful.

Writing should never be a chore or a task, but an expression of ourselves on the page. Remember that this is your time, your space, your page, fill how you choose. Don’t let yourself feel that this page is your enemy, but a friend waiting to hear your secrets.

Larisa Hunter has spent most of her life on the East Coast of Canada. She is the owner of a small publishing house called Saga Press, and has been involved in publishing for about 6 years.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Rick Payette on Flickr.

Author Interviews: Finding your Unique Story Perspective

nanowrimohq — Fri, 11 May 2018 12:09:05 -0700

We’re partnering with StoryADay for Short Story Month this May, the perfect opportunity to track a new NaNoWriMo goal, or start a new Young Writers Program personal challenge. Today, authors Abby R. Cooper and Martine Leavitt share their advice—and a couple of writing dares:

Abby R. Cooper

Q: What if I feel I don’t have anything important to say?

A: Here’s the thing. Even if you’re writing about a rock, you are the only person who can write about that rock from your point of view, with your unique thoughts and feelings and descriptions and ideas. No one else in this world can write about that rock exactly like you.

You’re probably wondering, well, who cares what I think about a rock? It’s not about the actual rock—it’s about you.

Your voice is special. It’s one-of-a-kind. It matters.

(Related: some of the best stories I’ve ever read aren’t about anything we typically consider important. Doesn’t matter. If it’s interesting to you, and you write it in your voice, it is important. And awesome. Really, really awesome.)

Writing Dare from Abby R. Cooper

Look around wherever you are right now and ask yourself “What if?” What if the chair you’re sitting in made you invisible? What if the raindrops tapping your window were giving you a secret message? What if your closet was a portal to another world? Write a story where you answer one of your “What if?” questions.

Read the full interview here.

Abby Cooper lives in Minnesota with her miniature poodle, Louis, and a whole bunch of books. A former teacher and school librarian, her favorite things in the world (besides writing) are getting and giving book recommendations and sharing her love of reading with others. In her spare time, she likes eating cupcakes, running along the Mississippi River, and watching a lot of bad reality TV. (Photo credit: David Cooper)

Martine Leavitt

Q: What is your one go-to piece of general advice for young writers?

A: Don’t let anyone tell you there’s only one way to be a writer, or one way to write a story, or one way to do anything at all. Rules shmules—creativity is all about breaking the rules!

Someone once told me to “Write about what you know.” Problem was, I didn’t know anything. But I discovered that by researching and using my imagination and practicing radical empathy, I could write about things I didn’t know.

Another teacher taught me that “Said is dead.” In other words, writers should use other ways to express “said" in dialogue, like “‘I’m going to the store,’ she exclaimed.” That sort of thing. WRONG. Use “said” as much as you possibly can—it’s invisible.

My point is, be highly suspicious if anyone tells you that writing has to be done in a certain way.

Writing Dare from Martine Leavitt

You character finds out they can go back in time and change one thing about their life. What would it be? Tell me the story.

Read the full interview here.

Martine Leavitt has published ten novels for young adults, most recently Calvin, which won the Governor General’s Award of Canada. My Book of Life by Angel was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year. Currently she teaches creative writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts, a short-residency MFA program. She lives in High River, Alberta.

Camp NaNoWriMo 2018: Participant Survey

nanowrimohq — Wed, 09 May 2018 12:51:01 -0700

Camp NaNoWriMo 2018: Participant Survey:

Hey, writers! If you participated in Camp NaNoWriMo this April, please click on the link above and take a few minutes to fill out our survey. Camp NaNoWriMo is in for some big changes next year—and we want to hear from you. This survey helps us get to know who you are so we can better serve you all. It also helps us see which parts of Camp NaNoWriMo are successful, and which parts could use some work. Your thoughts are always appreciated!