Five Quick Tips to NaNo-ing

The countdown hour is here. It is the eve of the NaNoWriMo 2010 launching and you are in a panic. You think maybe it's too daunting, too terrifying, just too, too many words! Relax. It's only a contest. Nobody is going to bully you while you write or fire you if you don't. But in case tomorrow comes, and you decide to give it try, here are a couple of useful or maybe not so useful tips. You decide.


1. Keep to your goal: 50,000 words divided into 30 bites = 1,667 words each day! or for week-end warriors -- 4 BIG bites of 12,500 words each.

2. When you hit a "bump" in the story -- KEEP WRITING and don't look back. (It's just your mind trying to trick you because it wants to take the easy way out and quit before reaching the finish line.)

3. Pick a place and time -- it's easier when you can tell the family or whoever tends to bug you when you're doing something important, (that's NaNo, of course). Just tell them, "I'm going to write, now. DON'T BOTHER ME."

4. Don't sweat the small stuff -- (hmm, not really trying to highjack your title, Mr. Carlson) There is plenty of time AFTER November to edit, revise, edit, revise and so on. So, ... (refer back to #2 tip).

5. Get some sleep! -- Your creative side won't appreciate working with your grouchy, semi-conscious side. Trust me, even with 50,000 words and a winner's finish, you'll still have a train wreck on your hands and no amount of editing/revising will salvage it!

Happy writing!

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is upon us once again. Starting November 1st for an entire month, those who want to run the marathon of writing words at a frenzied pace should check it out. The idea (for those who have yet to experience the madness) is to write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days. Yeah, I know, but it can be done :-) Have tried and done it myself. And without any temptation or submission to cheating, either!

So cruize on over and climb aboard the NaNo train. Exercise your creative writing muscles! That's what they are there for. Right?!

NaNoWriMo

Enjoy! ^^^^

Ghosts, Goblins, and Edgar Allen Poe

Happy Halloween ... in advance! Since it's that time of the year, I wanted to post a tribute to one of the ghoulish authors who is a master of the genre. And, as part of this tribute, it would only be fitting to ask everyone to offer up his/her favorite Poe work.

I will start us off with my favorite -- a story rather than poem -- "The Black Cat". It's impressive how kitty manages to cause such a stir. ;-).

Okay, your turn. Let's see what you might add to the list.

The Finale -- A Date to Die For

The last part of "A Date to Die For" is here -- for those who are interested. Lilly manages, along with Jake's help to nab the killer who murdered Lilly's date. What a surprise she gets, and it's enough to send her over the edge! Drop on over to New Fiction Writers and spend some time to find out the unexpected twist of an ending:

A Date to Die For - Part III

And for those who need the links to Part I and Part II:

Story Part I

Story Part II

Thanks to all for your support!

Have a story that is ghoulish? Ready for the Halloween mindset? If you want to enter New Fiction Writers Halloween Story Contest, check out the details. Tell Tony I sent you :-)

Podcast of "A Date to Die For" Part 2

For those who have been following, the podcast of part 2 of my mystery short, "A Date to Die For", is finally up and running ...

Lilly Millenovanovich has come to Atlanta for a book event to sell a few of her novels, maybe do a bit of shopping, but most of all to meet one of her author idols, Sylvestor Stone. What she didn't count on is a date with the famous author. And Lilly thought it might have been something to look forward to except for a couple of details. One, Stone tended to talk about himself ... a lot. And of course, there is that messy detail of finding her date dead in the bathtub.

Hope you stop by New Fiction Writers and listen to what Lilly plans to do about solving the murder, without getting herself killed, that is!

A Date to Die For Part 2

Again, thanks to Tony and Renee for doing such a great job and making this possible!

Check It Out .... Weekly Websites

Free to join online short story writing group. The site offers prompts, daily contests and the option of working in a small group at first to build your confidence. Useful if you need a writing group but don't have one near you or can't fit it in around yourwork schedule. Check it out ....

Story Write

Needing promotional items for your book? This site helps with that. Anything from t-shirts to kitchen gadgets that you want to put your "label" on, this is the place to find the means to do it. Check it out ....

Your LogoWorks

Reading ... How Do You Do It?

Having my story, "A Date to Die For", put into a podcast on New Fiction Writers got me to thinking ... how many people prefer to listen to a story rather than read it? I myself am a visual learner, so it stands to reason that I enjoy seeing the words and reading them to get the job done. Yet, there are so many benefits to listening that you don't get when reading. For instance, the delivery of words, maybe the nuance and intonation given to them, may help with the intent of the author's message. And I must say, Renee Chamblis does a wonderful job with the delivery and her voices to match the various characters' dialogue. Secondly, consider situations where looking and reading a story just aren't possible. When your driving, doing dishes, ironing, dusting, working in the yard, just wanting to keep your eyes closed, but your mind active! ... all those could warrant listening to a story.

Anyway, just curious to your opinions .... what is your preference? Do you ever listen to stories and books?

And please, if you get some free time ... or want to multitask ... check out the website and have a listen. If not to my story, then to the many others podcasted at Tony Whitford's creation, New Fiction Writers. Enjoy!