NaNoWriMo No Mo

I first heard of NaNoWriMo way back in 2009. My daughter, Carol and I had been writing together via Skype and she encouraged me to give it a try. Up until then I had written mostly non-fiction, but we had been writing 5 minute flash fiction from writing prompts and it was fun, so I thought, why not give it a try.

I had no plot going into NaNo, but wrote furiously. Throwing my characters into one situation after another, loving the twists and turns that the story was taking. I squeaked across the finish line on November 30th with just a little over 50,000 words. I had done it! I'd written a rough draft of my first novel. I was a novelist!

I let it sit for about a month and then went back to start revisions. I started reading through the manuscript and cringed about every five minutes. The writing was bad...really bad. The characters were fun, but acted inconsistently. The plot...what there was of it...was badly in need of a plot doctor.

In short, I was so overwhelmed by what it would take to fix the novel, that I put it back in a drawer and gave up.  Then I started reading book after book about writing fiction. By the next time NaNo rolled around I thought I was ready to write a real novel.

In 2010, I got to about the 10,000 word mark and fizzled out. Same with 2011 and 2012. This year thought I was ready. 2013 would be the year that I finished a NaNoWriMo novel. It didn't happen.  This year I got to 11,587 words and fizzled. I didn't know where to go next with my story. I got uptight. I liked the story so far, but I didn't want to just push through for the sake of a winning word count only to have to go back and fix the whole thing. I gave up. Not on the book, but on NaNoWriMo.

I was feeling like an utter failure until I read a post on Chip MacGregor's blog by Amanda Luedeke titled "Why I Hate NaNoWriMo" and suddenly a huge weight was lifted from my writerly shoulders.

excerpt from Amanda's post...

This is why I hate NaNoWriMo. It sets writers up to fail.

As if writers need yet another reason to question their craft. To doubt whether they’re cut out for this author gig. As if they need another reminder that they can’t do it. They’re failures. They should quit while they’re ahead.

NaNo does this to tens of thousands if not HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of writers each and every year. There are over 300,000 signed up for the program this year. Let’s say a two-thirds achieve the 50k in one month goal. That’s 100,000 WRITERS WHO HAVE FAILED.

I hate this. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.

(read the entire article HERE)

Thank you, Amanda, for setting helping me see that failure to finish NaNoWriMo is not failure as a writer!

I'll finish my book, but I'll take my time and do it at a pace that won't make me crazy. I'll spend more time on character development and plotting and when I'm finished, I'll have a revisable book, not a heap of hopelessly confused words.

How about you? Did you start NaNoWriMo, but not finish? Did it make you feel like a failure? Are you going to finish your novel or did you give up? 

PS - for those of you who did NaNo and will finish - CONGRATULATIONS! I know it works for so many people and I'm glad. I'm just not one of them and that's OK.


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Off to a great start on my NaNoWriMo novel

Stayed up last night so I could start working on my novel at 12:01am and got in 1200 words. The best part, however was chatting with Shelby, my new NaNo friend from Texas until it was time for me to start writing. She's a real sweetheart. We wrote and cheered one another on until my eyes couldn't stay open anymore.

Then I hit it hard again this morning with a write-in at Crossroads Books and Coffee (my favorite writing spot) with my pal, Leola. Enjoyed some Salted Caramel Oatmeal and a Dark-Chocolate Caribou Latte while I wrote. YUM!

Current word count is 2706 words, so I'm a little ahead of the game right now. I'm really enjoying the story so far. In fact, the last chapter I wrote included a wonderful breakfast of huevos rancheros made by Maria, the ranch cook. Made myself so hungry, I had to come home and eat some lunch. Wish it had been what Maria made!

Found a blog with a yummy looking recipe for huevos rancheros over at ClosetCooking.com. Check it out.

Hope your NaNo novel is going well, too.

Happy Writing!


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It's a Double Whammy!

 I'm a writing Superhero!

Just learned that MBT (My Book Thereapy) is running a "write-novel-in-30-days" campaign simultaneously with NaNoWriMo. I signed up!

Now I have twice the support, twice the fun, twice the writing community and that gives me double incentive to finish my novel in the month of November.




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It's NaNoWriMo Time!

Here we go again, friends! November is creeping up on us like a vampire on a moonlit night and we're about to spill blood on to the page as we frantically pound the keyboard with the 50,000 word goal pushing us hard.

For those of you who don't know what NaNoWriMo is, let me explain...it's CRAZY, that's what it is! NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Each November, people around the globe gather at the NaNoWriMo website and sign up for the wildest, wackiest month of frenzied writing ever. You have 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel.

You're not competing against anyone but yourself and the calendar. 50,000 words sound overwhelming? It's not so difficult. If you type 1667 words a day for 30 days, you'll reach your goal and you'll be the proud owner of novel. Well, a rough (sometimes very rough) first draft of a novel. The months following NaNoWriMo are for editing, revising and polishing that novel until it's ready to send off to an agent or publisher.

So, that's what I'm doing this November...what are you doing? Ever thought of writing a novel? Pop over to the NaNoWriMo website and sign up  (it's free) and we'll do it together!

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From NaNoWriMo to Speedbo

I've been participating in NaNoWriMo (writing a 50,000 word novel during the month of November) for several years, only successfully completing it once, but enjoying every minute of it even if I don't finish. So now I'm excited to be participating in SpeedBo - writing a novel during the month of March.  This time I'll be working on an Inspirational Western Romance.

SpeedBo is sponsored by Seekerville and free, so why not give it a try

Need some help plotting your novel? Check out these free worksheets...

Story Tracker (Act I, Act II, Act III)
These worksheets help you outline before you start writing, and/or keep track of your story’s progression as you go.

Story Idea Map
This worksheet is especially critical for writers who will be working without any kind of outline. During the first few days of your 30-day effort, you should complete this worksheet.

Scene Card
Scene cards can be used as an outlining tool before you begin your 30-day effort, or as a daily writing and brainstorming technique. Scene cards can also play a critical role in revision. Index cards can be used instead of the worksheet if preferred.

At-A-Glance Outline
The At-A-Glance Outline offers a quick way to fill in the blanks of your story. It guides you to answer the right questions for each area of your story, the questions that will come up fast when writing.

Character Sketch
Keep track of the qualities of each major character using these sketches. As you become more experienced as a writer, you may want to create your own character profile worksheets. 

Character-Revealing Scenes
This more advanced outlining worksheet helps you identify where and how you will reveal important aspects of each major character.

Climax
This worksheet helps you consider your novel’s climax, the point where the protagonist faces the conflict directly, with his goal on the line.  

Closing & Denouement
Questions on this worksheet analyze the novel’s post-climax scenes with an eye toward tying up unresolved arcs and the novel as a whole. 

Reversal Brainstorm
Plan ahead for characters’ changes of heart, new situations, unexpected betrayals and more.

All Worksheets can be downloaded from HERE

 Happy Writing!

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NaNoWriMo - Slow Go, but Big Changes Ahead

As you can see by my NaNo Progress Bar to the right, I'm stalled at just over 11,000 words. Well, not really stalled...I just stepped back from the book for a while. I know I'll not finish it by the end of November, but the story is still in the back of my mind. Meanwhile, there are some changes happening in my life that are exciting for me.

Wednesday was my last day of work at the school. Not sure what I want to do next, but the possibilities are exciting.

Photo courtesy  vivekchugh, rgbstock.com

A recent post on Facebook by T.D. Jakes read...

God is about to put you in a place where you will be forced to spread your wings! Where you used to be would never allow you to become what God created you to be.

...and I say, bring it on, God!

I'm ready for a change, for something new and challenging. Something fun. I want to be what God created me to be...and at 60 years old, sometimes I think I'm running out of time. But then I realize that the time to be what God created me to be is now...right this very moment. If I'm busy doing the things that I know He wants me to do in this moment, then I am already being who He created me to be, right?

Still, a little spreading of the wing would be an exciting change.

Again I say...bring it on, God!

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

NaNoWriMo - Things are looking up!

Photo courtesy  Zela, rgbstock.com

Took a day or two off to get some things done around the house and found that my characters stayed with me while I worked. The story line is more defined in my head, now, so the plan is to push ahead. I'm pretty far behind at this point (10,663 words to be exact), but that's ok. I may catch up with a writing frenzy in a few days, but if that doesn't happen, I'm still going to push steadily onward and see this thing through.

There is a story here that needs to be told. Just praying that I can tell it in a way that when people read the book, it touches them.

So, how's your NaNoWriMo novel coming along???


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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

NaNoWriMo - Losing Interest

Honestly, ever word I type is forced. The story is not alive to me. It's just me pulling something out of the hat and throwing it onto "paper."

I've always had a problem with getting really excited about a new project, but losing interest quickly.

Don't know if I'm going to push through or throw in the towel.

Having other issues to deal with, too, so my focus on writing could be suffering for that reason. Will make a decision whether to continue or not over the weekend.

Sigh...

NaNoWriMo - A Dead Body?

I didn't see that one coming! Never in my plotting pre-November 1st did I plan a dead body, but surprise, surprise, Warren Kennsington stumbled on one in an old shack while hiking in the woods.

"Common sense said to leave and notify the authorities, but he would feel foolish if he brought the police up here and it was nothing more than a dead raccoon stinking up the place. He stepped inside. Dust and cobwebs clung to everything in the room. Of course there wasn’t much in the one room shack. A rickety table, one wooden chair, a mattress on the floor in the far corner of the room…and a body on the mattress!"

It's 12:18 AM. I have to go to bed so I can get up and go to work in the morning, but how am I supposed to sleep now?????

8858 words total. Still behind schedule, but picking up speed!

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

NaNoWriMo Hitting the Wall

photo courtesy arinas74, rgbstock.com

Well, it happened again. I knew it would. I hit a brick wall yesterday with my novel. I had no idea where to go next, decided I didn't like my story or my characters. Considered the fact that I may not be a writer after all.

This has happened to me several times at about this point in a story. I have half a dozen novels started and sitting in my files, but this time, before NaNo even started, I made up my mind that if and when this happened, I'd push through. I'd just keep writing, even if I was writing dribble.

I came close to giving up, but fortunately, my good friend, Leola met me at Crossroads this evening for a little write-in and a lot of encouragement. She's really a great cheerleader. I just couldn't give up when she kept telling me that I could do it and that she believes in me.

My other friend, Barb told me the same thing.

So, I pushed through and added another 1000 words to my novel. I'm still behind on the quota, but at least I'm not stuck anymore.

It's great to have friends that encourage you!

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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks! (Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

My NaNoWriMo Novel has a proper title!

I finally settled on a title for my NaNoNovel.

Blue Moon Summer - Don't you just love it?

The setting is Sunset Lake Park, a summer resort and amusement park complete with rollercoaster, carousel and dodgem cars.

Inspiration for this novel comes from my childhood. Growing up near Springfield Lake, I heard many stories of the famed amusement park that lined the lake's shore back in the 1920's.

The original three story pavillion, which housed a bath house on the bottom floor, restaurant and ice cream parlour on the middle floor and a ballroom on the top floor still remains to this day, but has been a roller skating rink for as long as I remember.

As a child, I remember remnants of the coaster hidden among the trees and a round building that housed boarded up the carousel. As a teen, those pieces of history had been demolished and only the skating rink remained, but it was the perfect hang out. On Friday nights, we danced in our socks to music from local garage bands and on Saturdays we rented skates and tried hard to look cool while maintaining our balance on 4 wheels.

I am loving this story so far. It carries me back to my childhood, but even better, it carries me back to a time when the lake was alive with excitement and glamour and romance.

I'm a bit behind on my quota. I have 4176 words written and I should have 6668 written by the end of this evening to be on track to finish by November 30th, but I'm sure I'll pick up speed later. Right now I'm doing a lot of research as I write to make sure I get things right. I know I could just pound out the story and do revisions after it's written, but it's easier for me to have everything correct as I write. Like...did they have school busses in 1928? What songs were popular then? What kind of cars did they drive? Even something as trivial as what kind of ink pen would they have used then can make a difference, so I have to stop and Google everything.

Strangly enough, I'm enjoying the research as much as the writing!

So, how's your NaNoNovel going?


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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks! (Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Day one of NaNoWriMo 2012

Got a great start this morning before I hustled myself off to work. 1109 words to open the book. Just added another 617 for a total of 1726 so far.

My daily goal is 1667 in order to hit 50,000 by the end of November. Will probably write some more later this evening, but already the handsome Warren Kennsington nearly ran over the lovely Jo Baker with his car!

Haven't come up with a title I like so far, so the working title is The Summer of 1929 at Sunset Lake Park. (ugg)

But this book is gonna be a fun one to write!
 

NaNoWriMo 2012

Yep, it's almost that time again. November NaNoWrimo is almost upon us.

What's it all about?

300,000 writers, each writing a
50,000 word novel during the
30 days of November.


My first attempt at writing a novel through NaNoWrimo was in 2009 and I completed the 50,000 words. The title was Vintage Roses, an inspirational romance. That poor book is still laying in its first draft stage collecting dust.

Since then, I've given NaNo a few half-hearted attempts, but always hit a wall and drop out somewhere between chapter 3 and chapter 5.

The other day I was reading an article  on Seekerville by Missy Tippens, author of about a half a dozen Love Inspired romance novels and was shocked to read these words...

"I always, and I mean ALWAYS, hit a wall around chapter five. (Do I hear heads nodding? I always get nods of agreement when I say this!) But I can't sit and wait for inspiriation to strike. I have to keep writing, even if it's terible and even if I end up throwing it out later."
 

Those words gave me the boost I needed to give this another try. So, come November 1st, you will find me pounding out another novel...And when I hit chapter 5, I'm going to blow right past it!  This time, I'll finish it. Then I'll edit it. Then I'll hire a professional editor give it a good going over and edit some more. Then when I think it's perfect, I'll start sending out proposals to publishers and connecting with agents and keep on keeping on until I see it in print!

It's Camp NaNoWriMo Time!

Here we go, folks - it's Camp NaNoWriMo time. Thirty-one days to write a 50,000 word novel. Last year I fizzled out, but I'm gonna jump right back in there and give it another go.

Still haven't settled on which story I want to write, (nothing like waiting until the last minute) but by this evening, I will have decided on one and will have my first 1000 words written.

Wish me luck!

Better still, say a prayer that God will direct my writing and that he will help me produce a book that will put Him in the spotlight and bring Him glory.

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Side-Tracked by a Man and a Sock Monkey

Whew! It's been a busy time around the old homestead the past couple of weeks. LeeMan was off work for a week, so I got nothin' done, except for the couple of days he went fishing.  He had a blast as you can see from the big smile on his face.

I also got side-tracked from my writing by an order for a custom sock monkey.  For those of you who don't know, I run Sock Monkey Ranch, creating custom one-of-a-kind sock monkeys.  This week I had a request for a pirate, so I  created Scurvy Sam the Peg Leg Sock Monkey. You can see more pictures of him here.

I've done pirate sock monkeys before, but this is my first one with a peg leg....what a challenge!  If you'd like to take a look at some more monkeys I've created, hop on over to the site and look through the Monkey Gallery.

On the writing front, I'm excited about winning a First Five Pages Critique from Seekerville.  I'm polishing the first five pages of Zoey's Quest to send in...crossing my fingers that they tell me it's good.

It looks as if all this side-tracking has derailed my Camp NaNoWriMo goal of finishing the book in 30 days, but I'm going to sign up for next month, too and try to complete it by the end of August.  Hopefully, there will be less distraction for me.

Til next time....ta-ta!

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day Two

Greetings from Day 2 of Camp NaNoWriMo!  As some of you who are my friends on Facebook know, the counselors gave us some free time, so I'm spent it in the woods, sitting on a big flat rock near the stream with my lap top. (At least that's where I was in my head.) I was actually sitting at home in front of the computer, but I was enjoying the fantasy!

Got another chapter done today before my knight in shining armor came home and whisked me off to dinner and a movie.  What a guy!  My word count is up to 2822, which is just a little over 400 words short of my target for day two, so I might write more after my knight falls asleep on the couch in front of the TV.  It's a nightly (knightly) phenomenon. 


Jan
PS - Send more marshmallows & chocolate bars!



(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Letter from Camp-Day 1

My first day of Camp NaNoWriMo got off to a slow start.  I was so excited about my new book that I stayed up way too late last night, working on the story line.  I had to work on it under the covers with a flashlight because the other girls in my cabin were sleeping.  By 4:00 AM, I felt reasonably certain that I had all the kinks worked out and fell into a deep sleep.

Completely missed my wake-up call which is a huge clanging metal bell in the center of the campground. Well, actually, it was so loud and annoying that I couldn't miss hearing it, but once I pulled the pillow over my head to block out the sound, I fell right back asleep.

The camp counselors were none too happy with me, so they gave me KP duty and a few extra chores to do this morning, which meant I got a late start on writing my novel.

Still, I was able to pound out a little over 1200 words this evening.  I'm happy with the beginning chapter, but I think I'll turn in early so I can get a head start on writing in the morning.  Just going to run over to the campfire and roast a few mallows before I turn in.

I'll let you know how things go tomorrow.

So long for now from Camp NaNoWriMo,
Jan

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day One

Well, this is it - day one of Camp NaNoWriMo and the day I start my novel!

If you've never heard of NaNoWriMo (which stands for National Novel Writing Month), let me explain. It's crazy! You sit down on the first day of the month and start writing. You need to have a 50,000 word novel written by the last day of the month to be considered a NaNoWriMo winner. See, I told you it was crazy!


NaNoWriMo is usually held each year in November, but this year they're running two summer camps. You can start on July 1st or August 1st and finish up your novel by the end of the month. I'm going with July.

Here's the synopsis for my story...Zoey's Quest

Zoey Braxton grew up in Carter's Creek, but her past was a mystery-one her grandfather refused to discuss. When he died, all he left was his tattered Bible and a parting message. "You'll find everything you need in this book."

She isn't interested. Zoey is tired of her grandfather's religion with all its rules and restrictions. She's ready to live life on her own terms until she discovers a secret pocket cut into the cover of the old man's Bible and its contents turn her world upside down.

Zoey sets out to find the truth about her past and the twin sister she never knew existed, totally unaware that this quest might just cost her life and the newly rekindled love of her high school sweetheart, Jack Matthews.

Follow my letters home from camp here on my blog as I chronicle my way through writing Zoey's Quest. Let's see how much trouble I can get my characters into and then watch to see how they get themselves out of each sticky situation I throw at them.

I've checked into my cabin and so far I'm alone.  Sure hope some other campers show up, cause I'm all stocked up on coffee, chocolate, marshmallows, potato chips and soda - everything a camper needs to survive, and I'm ready to have some FUN at Camp NaNoWriMo!

Let the writing begin!

(If you're doing Camp NaNoWriMo, too, leave a comment. Maybe we can share a cabin.)


(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)