The general strategy

Here’s the layout of what I’m attempting. First, since I’ve written several self-help books, and compiled, edited, and published over two dozen more (all within the last 10 years), writing is no problem for me. The trick is to keep disciplined at it. The way I did it before was to target at 2500 words for one sitting every day. Just wind up the muse and let her rip…

So I figured that in also joining NaBlogPoMo, this would keep me at it. What will be interesting is to see how this all works out. Because I can do a line of asides all posted in advance, then put the main pieces out as I get to them. So some night up late, I might then not be able to get the early riser scene going (or, since I work on a farm otherwise, the strenuous labor often puts me to sleep early, and/or waking up late.)

This could be a very interesting scene. Figure that I start work on the novel (and you’ll notice that 2500 words is simply 20 days instead of 30). Then I post 7 or 8 segue-ways once a week and pre-date them. So every chapter then has some little point which then becomes part of that book. Should make the whole thing rather interesting.

Now having that many inter-points means that I should really write to the novel every day. But on the other hand, I might have 2 or 3 chapters which total 2500 words – so those glue-points would be used up quickly. Here’s the deal: if I need more mortar to building this novel, then I simply write more. (Did I tell you I was a bit over-prolific?!?)

So, Here’s to us all. Sunday being a day of rest, I’ll probably only work on my main characters and general plot – hitting it hard on the first with my first 2500-word installment.

Good luck to us all.

And – Happy Birthday to me!

And a word from our sponsor...

These NaNoWriMo guys have been doing this for years. And this time, I've subscribed to their mailing list to get a bit of a head start on it. (Last time I was on there as well, I think - heck, it's been 3 years and the NaNoBlogMo site doesn't seem to be around at all anymore...) 


Here's what they sent me today: 

Dear NaNo-novelist,

First of all, high-five for signing up to write a novel during NaNoWriMo. That was a wise choice, my friend. The world needs your novel, and now is the very best time to write it. We’re gonna have a great time doing it, too! 

To prepare you for the awesomeness ahead, here is a guide to the month:

Today: Set your home region. 

Tomorrow: Set your time zone. This will alleviate massive end-of-event panic (and, potentially, unnecessary computer smashing) when it comes time to validate your novel.

October 31: Kiss the dog, unplug your cable box, and email your family and friends to let them know that you’re about to enter the zone. The NaNoWriMo zone.

November 1: Watch the first video pep talk on NaNoWriMo.org, and then write your first 1,667 words. You can also update your word count in the box in the top right-hand corner of the website (or, of course, in your Author Profile). 

November 3: Discover that what you’re writing so far wasn’t necessarily what you were planning to write. Realize that is okay—great, even—and keep writing in anticipation of what will come next.

November 4: Receive the first guest pep talk from Mercedes Lackey.

November 5: Go into the first weekend of November having written 8,335 words. If you’re not there yet, don’t worry! That’s what weekends are for. Aim for 11,669 words by Sunday night and you’ll be golden.

November 8: Get ready for one super-inspirational week! You’ll be receiving three pep talks: one from me and two from guest pep talk authors. The pep talks will continue at this pace throughout the month, and will include words of wisdom from more of your favorite published authors. (If you miss a pep talk email, don’t worry! They’ll be posted on the Pep Talks page throughout the month.)

November 11: Admit that you’ve grown attached to your characters and miss them when you’re not writing.

November 13: Stop what you’re doing and back up your novel on a flash drive, email it to yourself, burn it onto a CD, or do all three!

November 16: Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments over the first half of NaNoWriMo, and give yourself a big treat before diving back in to writing the second half of your November novel. (Suggested rewards: Eating a cake, napping for 30 minutes, finally taking that shower, or washing your writing uniform!)

November 17: Stay tuned for an all-day public-radio-style donations drive for NaNo and the Young Writer’s Program. If we hit our fundraising goals, we have a slew of irresistible offers including, but not limited to, humiliating ourselves on video.

November 19: In addition to International Men’s Day, today is also Municipal Liaison (ML) Appreciation Day. (MLs are our volunteer chapter heads.) Be sure to thank your local ML and shower them when possible with coffee, candies, and breakfast cereals.

November 21:  Fly (or take an armchair field trip with your mind) to San Francisco for the fourth annual Night of Writing Dangerously, and join 249 of your fellow Wrimos in writing the fastest and most dangerous fiction this side of the San Andreas Fault.

November 25: Winning begins! Once you hit that 50,000-word mark, upload your novel and get whisked to the winner’s page for congratulations, downloadable treats, and your extra-spiffy 2010 Winner Certificate.

November 26:  If you’re in the US, fix yourself a post-Thanksgiving turkey-cranberry-stuffing sandwich. It’s a little-known fact that this is prime novel-finishing writer fuel. If you’ve already won, no matter where you are, wear your Winner Shirt proudly to show the world, “Hey, I’m a Winner!”

November 29: If you are still writing, know that I am too. I have never finished a NaNo-novel before 6 PM on November 30. We can do this! Write, write, write!

November 30: At midnight wherever you are, NaNoWriMo will come to an end. You’ll have written the rough draft of a novel and earned the title of author. Make a note to yourself to RSVP to your local “Thank God It’s Over Party” (TGIO) after you wake up from your long and much-deserved slumber. As you fall into a deep, dreamless sleep, smile at the knowledge that you did it. You did it!

December 1: RSVP to your local TGIO party and contemplate more sleep. No doubt, you need it. When you awake, the “I Wrote a Novel, Now What?” and “Winner’s Goodies” pages will be live, and you’ll be well-rested enough to think (maybe just a little bit) about what you want to do with your November novel.

December 2: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life as a writer.

Hopefully that gives you an idea of how the next 30-plus days will go.

In these final hours of pre-noveling prep, hug your loved ones, stock the pantry, and stretch those fingers.

We’re about to write!

Lindsey

NaNoWriMo

Standby for the Intro

Just a tag post here - I'm starting a month early on this - and may have to write a novel between now and then just to keep the muse at bay (they can be such nags sometimes...)

Otherwise, I plan a New Age Sci-Fi novel here, which explores the concepts of enlightenment and spiritual training.

Lots more to come - I don't have characters or plot yet - just an nascent idea forming...