A (late) NaNo Round Up…

So, how did you all do? Finish your novel by November 30? Meet your designated word count (if you were signed up for the Young Writers’ Program) or the 50k if you registered on the adult NaNo site?

I am a bit disappointed in myself for not finishing and winning. I do not like to lose. What happened? How did I miss the train to NaNo-ville? Well, life happened: family illness, a funeral and a road trip to Paris, TN. I guess there are stories behind all of those life happenings. Journal now. Draft later.

But, I do have a bunch of young writers to CONGRATULATE for meeting their goals – or even just attempting to write a full novel in November. You can be added to this esteemed list. Just send me a quick email (mjcwriter”at”comcast”dot”net) by 12/17 with your first name, last initial, age, novel title, word count and a brief summary of your novel.  Then, come back on Friday to read more…

Pump Up Your Word Count, NaNo’ers!

A student of mine emailed me in a panic last week:

“My word count is at 1,000, but I need help boosting my word count because my story is progressing way too fast! Help!”

Ask, and you shall receive:

Here are some tips to add to your word count:

Use a TON of descriptions: describe gestures, clothing, scenery, rooms, furniture, etc

Use some inner dialogue: have your protagonist or antagonist talk to themselves about something that’s bothering them, have them talk out how they’re going to handle it.

Use a flashback or dream: one of your characters can be reminded of something from their past, then write in in the past tense, but bulk up the scene with descriptions and dialogue. Or write about  a dream or nightmare they’ve had or are having  – this is cool in the sense that you can write in a different tone/genre for the dream sequence.

If you need more tips, check out the YWP NaNo website: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

NaNo Prompts, turkey style

Your characters are having a feast. On some unusual dishes:

Pickles and peanut butter

Cold tomato soup with tuna chunks

Mince meat pie with vanilla ice cream

Beef Jerky and Poptarts

How do these items get to the gathering? Who brings them? Are they homemade or store-bought? Are the dishes filled with secret ingredients?

NaNo Prompts

Stuff your novel with these adjectives:

 

stuffy

sweet

fluffy

grainy

black

pointy

squishy

cool

sour

 

NaNo Prompts to boost your word count

Add one of these flashbacks:

A lost pet

Confronting a bully for the first time

Changing schools

More Prompts

Put these items in a scene with your antagonist:

 

A bathtub filled with green slime

Pencil case filled with Smencils

Belly filled with hot wings – ouch!

NaNoWriMo Prompt

get that word count PUMPED UP!!!

Have your character start up a fundraising campaign for their school or organization.  But, they are selling Chinese stars and camouflage headbands…

3 Reasons for Writer’s Block

This post is courtesy of YWP NaNoWriMo, written by best-selling author : Laurie Halse Anderson

“No author on the planet gets a first draft published.'”

Writer’s block is caused by one of three things.

1. You are trying to be perfect.
2. You are under pressure to produce the finished product too fast.
3. You have been sitting down too much.

Let’s examine these closely, shall we?  Read More

Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous ALA and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, and on her blog.

Ready, Set, NaNo!

OK, I’ll make this brief, I’m saving up all my words for NaNo, ya know!

On Tuesday, November 10, stop in and talk to published author, Fiona Ingram. Fiona will give you writing tips and use examples from her newest novel: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. And if you like Egyptian themes, you’re in for a treat! Fiona will also provide a long list of sites and books to check out to feed that Sphinx craze!

Then come back here throughout the month of November for some rockin’ novel prompts.

I’ll have quick, intriguing ideas on how to take your novel in a new direction. Some prompts will be silly, some scary, some just absurd. It will depend on my coffee level that day : )

Feel free to add your own prompts – you may help another NaNo’er push past a block.

Bring your friends! Bring your Teacher! Bring your Teacher’s Friends! And let’s NaNo!

Are you ready to NaNo?

NaNoWriMo is not some texting lingo, guys, it’s only the COOLEST, CRAZIEST, LARGEST project of writing across the globe.

Excited yet?

You should be! National Novel Writing Month begins at the stroke of midnight on November 1 (after all the candy-munching goblins have scampered off to bed) and goes through midnight November 30: 1 month, 30 days, 50,000 words.

A Novel. In one month. Write it. Don’t edit it. Get it down on paper or computer. Upload it to the YWPNaNo site to be showered with riches and glory. OK, you’ll receive a cool certificate to print out and a rockin’ badge for your site, blog Facebook page, what-have-you, plus the bragging rights you’ll have that you wanted to write a novel and you did it!

I know you’re thinkin’ I’m crazy and you can’t do this.

Yes, I am and yes you can!

What’s neat for young writers, is the flexible word count limit you can select. On their site, they list your grade in school and how many words you should shoot for (for your goal.) There are character and plot discussion rooms, forums on settings and word war games. Wanna know more?

You have to sign up! It’s free. it’s fast, it’s FANtabulous.

You’re going to join me, aren’t you?

Be my buddy: register yourself then come back and click this link to get to my page and see what I’m working on!

Check back here later and I’ll be posting survival tips for NaNo. Cause it’s jungle out there…