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Category Archives: NaNoWriMo

How to Get Past Writer’s Block and Release Your Creativity

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Creative Writing, Mindfulness, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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There’s a special place where the writing just flows. It comes through you and it’s the best you can do to merely keep up with it, getting it all down as quickly as you can. The sentences come pre-formed; you never struggle to find that perfect word. Call it being in the zone, feeling the flow, whatever you want. It’s a special place.

And then there are other times. When you stare at your computer and you can’t think of a single word to write. When every sentence you type is clunky and stupid and you wonder, what’s the point? Temporary writer’s block, a dead zone, whatever. It’s ugly.

So how do you get from that ugly place to that special place? How do you release your creativity and get over writer’s block?

Don’t let this scare you!

After writing a novel in just over five weeks, I learned a lot about how to get myself into the zone. And the best thing I can think to do with that knowledge is share it with you. Enjoy! Continue reading »

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70,000 Words and the Two That Made Me Cry

19 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in Creative Writing, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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Five and a half weeks after my 30th birthday I can officially cross the first thing off my 40 Before 40 list: I just finished a novel.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I’m cool now, I swear.

Today I wrote those two words that every would-be novelist dreams of writing: “The End”.  And I earned them, dammit! I wrote a 70,000-word novel before I wrote those words. Continue reading »

In which the story is revealed

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Art, Creative Writing, Gratitude, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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As a fiction writer you can be, apparently, a plotter or a pantser. Or maybe a little bit of both. That last category is where I seem to fall, but with an emphasis on the pantser.

I have been saying that, when I had the inspiration for this novel, the entire plot came to me. By which I mean, the entire arc of the story and five or so key plot points that would get me from beginning to middle to end. And, perhaps even more importantly, an understanding of all of the important and relevant qualities of the civilization and world in which the story would take place. Since that day, not quite four weeks ago, I’ve been writing and writing and writing (35,000 words and counting!). And in that time, the actual story – the characters, the details, the driving actions and motivations – have been revealed to me, piece by piece, scene by scene.

There’s really no other good way to explain it. Continue reading »

NaNoWriMo – Getting good vibes and inspiration

01 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Creative Writing, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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Well folks, it’s November and you know what that means: NaNoWriMo is upon us! Who’s doing it this year? Who’s done it in the past?

I’ve never done it and I actually can’t do it this year. In order to officially participate, you cannot start writing until November 1st. Since I have 21,000 words already, that’s not going to work. I am, however, going to harness all the energy and excitement going around and use it to my own advantage.

god that feels good. really, really good.

I’m going to unofficially join in and write 50,000 words this month. Woohoo! Actually, my goal is 60,000 words. Apparently an average length for a first-time novel in my genre is about 80,000 words. So if I can get 60,000 done this month in addition to the 21,000 I already have, I should be pretty close to a first draft. Which. Is. Awesome!

I’ve always thought of myself as the kind of writer who would write a lot and then edit out a lot. But it turns out, that might not be true. The plot of this book is so persistent that I feel the need to just get it down on paper as quickly as I can. I’m writing very leanly right now, and I plan to go back and fill in where the story needs it later. I think the whole vibe of NaNoWriMo fits pretty well with that approach. Just write, write, write and later you can edit, edit, edit.

So I’m jumping in. I love this feeling and I’m super excited about the next 30 days. Who’s with me??