NaNo-ing in 2019

Hello friends! I'm sure you've all been on the edge of your seat wondering...will Emilie participate in NaNoWriMo this year? (Ha, okay so maybe not) But the answer is....YES! And here's why...

My favorite things for NaNoWriMo

I am so excited for November and this upcoming NaNoWriMo season. If you don't know what it is, check out their website for more details.

For this post celebrating the FIRST day of NaNo, I thought I'd compile a post of things I find indispensable to make it through the month.

Favorite Things For NaNoWriMo

COFFEE

This may be a given...I mean, I think by now you all know how much I love my coffee, but I couldn't start my NaNo list without it. And, the best news? There is coffee made specifically for book lovers! My friend Shelly over at Book Lovers Coffee makes some of the most incredible blends. I'm telling you...this coffee is delicious and bookish. There isn't anything better in my opinion.

Go check out her website: www.bookloverscoffee.com

Pssst! This Pumpkin Spice autumn blend is AMAZING!

A good mug

Maybe it goes without saying, but what is coffee without a great mug? For me, I find a few things to be majorly important about mugs.
1) They must feel great in my hand. None of these miniature little handles that only allow two fingers in there. Nope!
2) They must hold an immense amount of coffee (or tea) and do so well.
3) They must inspire me. This last one is a personal thing and every person will find certain things inspiring over others. For me, I enjoy bookish mugs which is why I've made fun designs in my Society6 shop to reflect my love of books, reading, and writing.

Check out my shop mug designs here:
www.society6.com/emiliehendryx/mugs

Um....just incase you weren't sure, YES the 11oz is worth it. We're talking the perfect hand-hold for the mug 😉

White board

Now were getting into the nitty-gritty of NaNo. The writing! I love to plot things out on a white board because it's visual as well as easy to erase and/or add to as you go. Keep track of the scenes you're on, see your story arc, and jot down new ideas as you go.

Fuzzy Socks

This may not seem crucial, but it is! Those toes of yours will certainly get cold sitting around writing all day. Especially as the weather starts to take a turn for winter, you'll find these fuzzy socks as a necessity, not just a want.

A place

Whether it's your favorite coffee shop, couch, chair by the window, your bed, or your best friends porch, make sure you have a place (or more than one). It may seem like a silly thing, but if you think of going to a coffee shop as "your place" for writing, you're mind will become accustomed to writing there. It's not to say you can't write in other places, but have one spot that's your "special writing spot". Then use that after NaNo is over to keep the magic alive!

Friends 

This last one is probably the most important (and my favorite, favorite). PEOPLE! You need your people, whether that's locally or globally, you need to have friends who are struggling along in the writing trenches with you as well as those who may not understand this whole crazy writing thing but are willing to support you in it. There are lots of options for this - those in a writers group near you, those online in a writers group or support group (like mine linked below), and those on the NaNo website.

Then, for those non-writing friends, just take a few minutes to tell people in your life why you're doing this crazy 50k words in a month thing. Chances are they will be super proud of you AND will help to keep you motivated by asking you how you're doing.

So, go and write fearlessly!

Join my NaNoWriMo Support & Encouragement group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nanowrimoencouragement/

Join the NaNoWriMo website and community: 
https://nanowrimo.org

Why I Failed NaNoWriMo And Why It's Okay | NaNo Day 29

Things change. I feel like that has been the mantra of my life as of late. Things I'd planned on, hopes I'd had, ideas that seemed to be part of the future were close to my grasp...and then a shift, a turn, a change. I'd like to say that I'm good with such changes--that I embrace them with fervor and turn my smiling face to the next, new thing--but I'm not. I may not be horrible with them either, but I wouldn't classify myself as a "go with the flow" person all of the time. I'm more of a "the flow has changed? let's make a new plan" type.

That's why, when I looked at the reality of accomplishing NaNoWriMo a few days ago and saw that it would mean writing 6,667 words a day (on top of my 3,500 words I have to write for my freelance work and running my Etsy shop) I knew it wasn't possible.

This breaks my heart. I had so looked forward to my NaNo novel and really getting a jumpstart on it. I challenged myself to make a grand comeback this year as my 9th year. After a hiatus last year I thought, This is the year! But that wasn't to be.

You see, I have this thing with expectations. I'm terrible about them. I start to formulate the future, planning for things that should never be counted on due to the volatile nature of life, and then, when they crumble, I'm left feeling like a failure. It's not hard to do when you are trying so hard to be perfect...yet another flaw of mine.

But, in life as in NaNo, I can't be perfect. I can't live the perfect life, I can't write the perfect story, I can only follow the Perfect One. Despite all of the changes, disappointments, surprises, and confusion recently, there is one constant in my life. Christ. He beckons me to Himself telling me that it's alright to let go. To unclench my fisted hands and give up the notion that I can maneuver the rocky trails of my life on my own. Whether that be with relationships or writing, I can only plan on One thing: His faithfulness.

I've failed National Novel Writing Month, but I haven't failed Him. I'm 30,000 words into a Sci-fi novel I'm really enjoying. I'm home with my family for the holiday season. I'm on the path that He has set before me. Sometimes I feel like I'm walking blind, but that's the time to cling more tightly to Him and to trust. So maybe this whole failure thing isn't that bad...

Did you participate in NaNoWriMo? How did you do? Will you finish by tomorrow?

4 Ways to Find Inspiration | NaNoWriMo Day 11

NaNo Update: I'm behind. Like...I don't want to think just how behind I am. But, I am hoping (maybe foolishly?) that I'll be able to cover some considerable ground this weekend. So far, it's looking positive! But the problem is that, when I do get time to write, I don't always feel inspired. Am I right? Do you feel that way too?

I compiled a list of four things I do when I'm lacking inspiration...

4 Ways to Find Inspiration

Look at inspiring things
Don't underestimate the power of your imagination. I'm a very visual person and for me, looking at a photo can spark a sense of wonder and amazement. When I'm feeling a lack of inspiration I'll often go to a website like Unsplash.com and just browse through the images there. Often times I'll see something that makes me think, "Oooo, what if?"

From Unsplash

Get up, get out, and think

For me, as a full-time writer and photographer, I spend a lot of time at--you guessed it--my desk! That's great, I love my work space, but what it lacks is nature (though I am thinking of getting  plant...). I love being outdoors and when I'm lacking inspiration the answer for me is usually to get up, get out, and think. Taking a walk around the neighborhood or driving to a park to walk is exactly what I need to stimulate my thoughts. There are times where I just need quiet time to be away from work, but there are other times where I really need to wrestle through things that are happening in my novel. For me, a walk is the perfect time to do that.

Pro Tip: Take a notebook with you. I'd say take your phone, but sometimes that can be more distracting. Having a notebook is low-tech but handy when inspiration strikes! 

Talk with friends
Never underestimate the power of a great conversation and writer-friends. I'm serious! There have been so many times when I've wanted to give up. I've thought to myself...I am not a writer and I can't do this. It's exactly at that time that I go begging to my friends to tell me what to do. And you know what? They encourage me, remind me why I write, and, in some cases, lovingly berate me about finishing that dang novel so that they can read it. It is the best medicine for a nervous writer who thinks they've lost their inspiration.

In line with this: remember why you write. To be a true writer mean's you aren't in it for the notoriety or the fame, you're not writing to make the best sellers list (although, if that happens you wouldn't mind), and you're not pouring out blood, sweat, and tears over fictional people just because it's fun (though it is at some points). Reminding yourself why you write will often inspire you to write. And friends are perfect for helping with this.

Just Write
Ok, this may sound like a cop-out. We're talking about inspiration and I'm telling you to write un-inspired? Not fair. Well...maybe.

The thing is, there will be times when you are uninspired, but what do you do? You write! There will be times when you're tired? What do you do? You write! There will be times when you feel discouraged and nothing seems to make it better. What do you do? You write!

To be a writer means that you will face days, sometimes weeks, without inspiration but you push through. That doesn't mean what you write during this time is necessarily good...but I think there are times when we will surprise ourselves. Out of a seemingly dry well, something beautiful will come to life. Our words may not be the ones we wanted in that moment, but they will be the ones we needed to get out. And maybe they needed to get out of the way so that better ones could come.

Take courage, dear friend! When you are down and feel like there is no way you could possibly keep writing - you CAN! I believe in you and your story. If you had the desire to write it when you started, then there was a reason for that and you need to finish it! By all means, take a break, but don't wait too long. Just write.

***

To be a creative means you see the world differently. That also mean's you are inspired differently as well. These are just some of the ways that I find inspiration, but they may not work the same way for you. I'd suggest trying them and combinations of them to see what works.

Let me know below how YOU are inspired!

NaNoWriMo Day 7 | Week 1 Report

Sometimes life falls together in a perfect storm. That has been my end of October/beginning of November. And when I say storm, I do mean storm. The deails aren't important at this juncutre (and a little to fresh to write about anyway) but I did want to give a NaNoWriMo update.

NaNoWriMo Day 7

Yes. You heard that right. I'm still forging ahead with NaNo. Not doing it last year was one of the hardest things (ironically...possibly harder than attempting it) and this year, despite the upheaval of life, I'm excited to be working on one of my new projects!

You may not have realized, but I did start a YouTube channel recently. That is, I joined the "BookTube" community. Much like #Bookstagram for Instagram, I talk about books and writing on my channel. I'm very new to it, but it is a lot of fun. I thought I'd share my second video here where I talk a little bit about NaNoWriMo.


All of that to say...well, I'm stuck at 1724 words as of today. *Cringes* I know. It's awful and SUCH a small wordcount for me right now. But I still have hope. Balancing my wordcoutns for work and for NaNo is not easy but I shall persist >>says this mostly to herself because she needs the encouragement<<.

What about you? Anyone else doing NaNo? How's it going? How do you stay motivated?

I'd invite you to subscribe to my channel and check out my "Bookstagram" if you haven't already. I love meeting new friends over on my "CreateExploreRead" page!

NaNoWriMo: Places & Spaces

In continuing with our fun segments on NaNoWriMo and some easy tips and tricks to conquering the 50k beast in a month, today we're talking about places and spaces. Again, I'll reference last week's post about planning ahead but with the caveat that I'm not saying you have to have everything planned. I get bored with that myself. What I do recommend is giving some key things thought. One of those things is the setting of your novel.

Setting as a Character
Um, Emilie, you may be thinking, I'm not writing a speculative novel. I don't want my walls talking! That's not exactly what I had in mind...though hey, if that's what you write, then by all means ;-)

What I mean by this is the fact that your setting is almost as important as your main characters. (tweet this) That's why I recommend you take some time to really think through where you'll be placing your novel. Setting will help direct the outer elements that affect your characters. It will lend a type of mood to your story. It will also place limitations on you. Once you decide what season(s) your book will be in, then the location during that season will have to be taken into account.

It's in the Details 
Consider your setting as an enhancement. This follows the idea of your setting as a type of character. If your novel is taking place on the white sands of Hawaii or in the dark forests of the Pacific Northwest (with or without sparkling vampires...) that will give a feeling to your writing. A novel in Hawaii will likely be enhanced by the scents of coconut, the feel of sand between your characters feet, and the warmth and comfort of sunshine on their shoulders. Conversely, a novel set in Washington State will likely involve the dampness of rain, the brilliance of deep green forests, and the continual need for you characters to drink coffee. No matter where you place your novel, make sure you can draw in details that will bring vibrancy to your writing. (tweet this)

Know Your Space
This goes to the minute details of your writing. Once you've chosen your place, you must know your space. (tweet this) Just as you are relying on a knowledge of a location, you should also have a good idea of your characters spaces like office, house, favorite restaurants--anywhere that they will (or may) go to.

Depicting details of the space your character is in will help your reader visualize the location, furniture, atmosphere etc. Bring your reader in with details like the ugly Tiffany lamp your characters aunt has had for years or the orange shag rug that hasn't been vacuumed since 1950. Plus, all these details take up glorious words (hehe).

Tips

• Use Pinterest to create a board for your novel. Pin things like decor, houses, locations, and city skylines to help you when you're needing inspiration.
• Print and post a few pics in front of your work station if necessary.
• Use Google maps and street view for a detailed visual of locations and to help you plot out specific details to ad
• Talk to someone from the location (if you're not familiar with it)
• Go to the town's website. Most have them and you can find helpful, touristy info there.
• Take time visualizing the interior spaces and get a feel for the house. Make sure you write this down - you wouldn't want your character to go to the left into the kitchen when two pages before they were going to the right side of the house. 

Check out these previous posts:
NaNoWriMo: Why We Write
NaNoWriMo: Brainstorming Tips 

Join our support group to make it through the ups and downs of NaNo:
2015 NaNoWriMo {Support Group} | Facebook

Check out this super fun Blab I was a part of yesterday with amazing authors Johnnie Alexander (a previous guest here on my blog), her daughter and non-fiction author Bethany Jett, and editor Anna Floit of The Peacock Quill. We chat about fun NaNoWriMo stuff and just had a blast!

NaNoWriMo Prep Blab

NaNoWriMo: Plan Ahead - 10 Brainstorming Tips

Including today, we have 22 days until NaNo starts!

No wait! Come back! It's okay - take a deep breath, everything will be all right. Don't freak out. Planning a novel is a big undertaking but, like most overwhelming things in life, taking it one step at a time and planning ahead usually alleviates some of that stress.

Today I'm going to share ten brainstorming tips for your NaNo novel. Even if you're a "pantzer" (think: someone who flies by the seat of their pants to write their novel) it can't hurt to write a few things down ahead of time...right?

10 Brainstorming Tips

1. Write, draw, or paint it out
Depending on what form of expression you prefer, this first tip is simple. Put your ideas out there. I use a white board and paper but it's really up to you.

I recommend having these things (though this isn't a complete list):

• Character names
• Character descriptions (this can be as simple or complex as you like)
• Goal, conflict, motivation for your characters
• Basic plot arc (see #9)
• Location details
• Minimal research you may need on hand
• Key ideas & themes

2. Talk to someone
Felling drained of great ideas? Talk with someone! No, this doesn't have to be a writer - literally anyone will do. Last week my community group and I started talking about my writing and they gave me some pretty interesting ideas for some plots - granted a lot of them were slightly far-fetched, but it was inspirational. Steal from your friends. If they aren't writers, chances are they won't mind a bit if you use their idea. Maybe ask to be sure though...

3. Think on it
For those of us with busy lives this is hard...but take time to think. Showers are my favorite time to brainstorm, but this will work anywhere/anytime. Be wary of thinking too much right before bed though...those pesky ideas will keep you awake.

4. Take a walk
Explore your neighborhood or local park/hiking trail. I find being outside to be extremely stimulating to my mind.

5. Listen to music 
This can be combined with the walk or separate, but music can be a fantastic inspiration. I've got a whole Spotify playlist devoted to my scifi/dystopian novel and all I need to do is listen to a few songs to get my thoughts flying in many  directions.

6. Seek inspiration 
This may seem redundant, but sometimes inspiration doesn't just fall into your lap. Sometimes you have to search for it. Aside from what I've already listed, I've also found these things helpful: news articles, asking "what if" questions, starting with one idea and asking why, reading great books, looking at photos for inspiration...the list goes on.

7. Don't take your first idea
This is more on the technical side of things, but as you're brainstorming situations, don't just take the first thought that comes to mind. Allow your characters to fail (tweet this) and then show your readers how they find a new way--dare I say a better way?--around the issue.

8. Dig deeper
Remember those 22 days? Use them! Don't just let yourself dawdle up until the night of October 31st. Take the gift of time you have (even if that's 10 minute's a day) and plan. Explore motivations and dig deep into the minds and hearts of your characters. (tweet this) Chances are if you know them, they will tell you what happens.

9. Perfect form
There are a lot of ways to structure your novel and a lot of great books about these methods. You may not have time to read them all by Nov. 1st, but I would recommend taking a look at some of their ideas (whether that's through Google or Pinterest research or talking with your writing pals). I tend to use the Three-Act structure in its simplest form at the onset of my novel.

*Check out these awesome books about structure: Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell (fantastic read), How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson (I've heard great things about this), Story Trumps Structure by Steven James (on my list), Plot Versus Character by Jeff Gerke (own it and it's in my TBR pile!).

10. When all else fails...fake it
 This may completely discredit the rest of these 9 tips, but at the end of the day you may find yourself a dried up well just waiting for someone to toss in a penny of an idea. If that's the case, it's okay! You can still make it. Pick your character names and when November 1st hits, write. That truly is jumping in the deep end, but it's about the process not necessarily the product at this stage.

What do you think? Which of these is your favorite tip? Have you used them before? Got any to add? Put your suggestions in the comments below so we can all share in the learning experience.

NaNoWriMo: Why We Write

The first of November will bring an odd phenomenon. Thousands of people across the nation (and beyond?) will join together in a Herculean effort. They will attempt what may appear impossible...

Writing 50,000 words in 1 month. 

Take a moment for your brain to wrap around that number. 50,000 words. And yes, I can tell you what that is in pages... 125.6 pages single-spaced, 206.4 pages double-spaced, and roughly 142-166 pages in a published novel (though this varies a lot). Yep, that's quite the feat for 30 days.

Let me guess...your next question is WHY?

It's simple. If you are a writer you are likely to shrug at this and say, "Why wouldn't I want to do that?" If you're not a writer but think you might want to be, you may say, "I guess I could try..." and if you aren't a writer you're probably thinking, "That sounds like torture."

All of those are perfectly reasonable responses, but let me explain from my personal perspective. As someone who has participated in NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month for the newbie) for 7 years now and "won" 6 of those 7 years, I've been NaNo-ing for quite some time and have experienced the range of emotions that flow through those 4 weeks.

Excitement. Exuberance. Thrill. Determination. Apprehension. Tiredness. Commitment. Fear. Discernment. Terror. Exhaustion. Mania. Doubt. Success!

It goes something like that and yet every year I look forward to November like a child does to Christmas morning. It's my time. Not only is it during my favorite season of Fall, but it's centered around something I love: writing. Because of that love, I've decided to highlight 5 benefits to participating in NaNoWriMo on the blog today. 

The 5 Why's of NaNoWriMo

1. Because you have a novel to write.
If you're a writer, you have to write. It's not an option. If that's the case, then there's an idea in there waiting to be born. Why not use NaNoWriMo as an excuse to get it out?

2. Because you're already busy. 
I've heard it all before. But I'm busy. But there's this...that...or the other--going on. Sorry, but you'll always be busy so that's no excuse NOT to write a novel in a month. (See what I did there?)

3. Because everyone needs a little healthy competition.
I'm not typically competitive, but I have found that racing against a month-long clock with an impending word-quota per day has been excellent motivation to get my novel out--and I mean now. 

4. Because...November.
What better time to write a novel in a month? I mean, it's perfectly acceptable to lounge in sweats (or PJs) all day...to drink massive amounts of coffee/tea/apple cider...be wrapped in blankets...and to eat all things pumpkin. Talk about perfect conditions for novel-creation.

5. Because...Why not? 
At the end of the day, it doesn't harm anyone (except maybe the ultra-competitive) to start a novel and not finish the 50k in a month. I'm by no means encouraging slacking off, but there's no harm in trying it. Who knows? You may just find that success.

That's why we do it. We may be crazy, but we're writers. It comes with the territory. We spend hours a day arguing with non-existent people who talk back to us, but hey--that's how we work. We create and we like challenges. NaNo is the perfect challenge.

I'll be posting some tips and tricks for NaNo during this month, but they'll be helpful for all writers regardless or not if you are joining the insanity that is NaNoWriMo. I also promise to making them entertaining so you non-writers can still enjoy! Hey, maybe I'll convince YOU to write a novel? ;-)

Looking for like-minded writers to join in this fight with? Request to join my NaNoWriMo Support Group on Facebook. It's a lot of fun!

If you're interested in more NaNoWriMo tips check out my posts from last year:

7 Suggestions | NaNoWriMo Prep (Part 1)
The 7 Snacks of NaNo | NaNoWriMo Prep (Part 2)
What to do when you're not feeling the NaNo | NaNoWriMo (Part 3)
NaNoing to Success | NaNoWriMo (Part 4)

Taking a Well-Deserved Nano Break

We've all been there. Distracted by...everything. Knowing we should be writing but not. Thinking that anything would be better than being so distracted at THIS moment.

As much as I like writing, I am really, really good at getting easily distracted....As part of that distraction, I've compiled a list of things I enjoy being distracted by. I think it's good to take a little time off once in a while. The key here is tracking that time. I recommend setting a timer for anywhere between 15-20 minutes, getting the distraction out of the way, then jumping back into your Nano novel.

The 8 Distractions of Nanoing

1. Pinterest

I know what you're thinking, I could be sucked in for hours! And, while that's true, I have a few recommendations. 1) Set a timer as I said above 2) Select what you will allow yourself to look for (examples: recipes, hairstyles, clothes for you your character, funny memes) 3) Close it out when your timer is up -  no convincing yourself that you have a few more minutes!

Hey, come follow me on Pinterest :D

2. Pretty Pictures

I'm kinda weird when it comes to my desktop backgrounds - it's got to be the photographer in me. I need my backgrounds to reflect my mental state (not sure I know WHAT that really means). For me, the moment it should be fall I'll have leaves and trees up there. Now that it's winter, I've started my search for the perfect winter scenes. I found this fun website called Wall Paper Stop and they are free (here is the page for winter scenes). Since I have a Mac, each desktop I have (I use 4) has a different scene on it :)

3. New Music

Also being a musician, music is important to me. I love Spotify because of its one time monthly fee ensuring I can listen to all my favorite music pretty much everywhere (no, that wasn't a sales pitch haha). With the changing of seasons I'm now into the Christmas music realm! Making a new playlist can be a great distraction.

4. Snacking

During Nano I pretty much survive on tea, pretzels, and air popped popcorn...okay, not totally, but I do gravitate to these things for snacks. When I'm stuck with my novel and feeling hungry, I'll take a break to grab a snack.

5. Facebook 

As dangerous as Pinterest, Facebook is another good AND bad distraction haha. Same rules apply browsing as Pinterest.

Join me on Facebook too!

6. Clean

I know, you're laughing at me. Who wants to clean as a distraction? Well, that's the beauty of distractions! You'll do just about anything to get out of writing for the moment. Use it to your advantage.

7. Be productive

Procrastination and distraction can be great for getting other things done. Try answering emails, writing a blog post, or getting something done you've been putting off.

8. Read

A last, great choice is to read! My TBR (To Be Read) pile is HUGE (not all books are pictured here) but these are some I'm working on right now. When Nano and photo craziness is over I plan on getting through sooo many books...but taking short breaks to knock out a few chapters is definitely helpful!

So.... what about you? What do you do for distraction? 

Nanoing To Success | NaNoWriMo Prep (part 4)

I'll admit that this post isn't necessarily about NaNoWriMo Prep, as much as it is about what to do after National Novel Writing Month.

So there you are. Sitting in a word coma. Shocked you made it to November 30th and your 50k deadline.

Reflected in the whites of your eyes is the bulk of your 30 days of blood, sweat, and tears. Your wonderful, amazing, award winning...okay, more like messy and haphazard, manuscript.

Now what?

First, go take a shower and eat some real food. Then, take at least a month off. Yes, you heard me right. Your hard earned work needs a little bit of alone time before you start ripping it to shreds, because I'm going to give it to you strait.

It probalby sinks.

Now, I won't speak for everyone because maybe you're just really great at writing on the spot for 30 days and not doing any editing, but for the rest of us in the real world, we'll need to spend some time--maybe lots of time--on our book to get it into shape. So, here's my advice for taking the next step with your novel.

 7 NaNoWriMo Novel Boot Camp Tips 

**I'm writing on the assumption you've finished the book. 50k isn't really 'finished' for most novels so you may want to kick in a few extra days/weeks at the end of NaNoWriMo to get to the end before starting in on these steps. 

1. Rest
Maybe you don't have the luxury of stopping all writing completely, but I would highly recommend giving yourself a break from your NaNo novel. Why? Because you've just spent way too many waking hours agonizing over this thing of beauty. It needs time to recede from the shores of your mind so that you can accurately pull it back togehter.

2. Read
Take this glorious off-time to refresh not only your body, but your mind. Pick up a book (not your book) and read, read, read. Enjoy a story that doesn't need to be created! Be inspired.

3. Prepare
As a month (or whatever time period you need) comes to completion, start preparing yourself for edits. Ugh, dreaded edits and revisions! But, as I've come to realize, a book is not written in a first draft, but in multiple drafts.

4. Start
This is possibly the hardest part. Starting the revision and editing process. Take your time, but be diligent.

5. Finish
Push through to the end. You'll be tempted to keep editing the first chapter (or first three in my case) but don't let that keep you from getting to the end.

6. Repeat
Yep, you heard me. Make it to the end, then start again. Revision is a beautiful, delicate process--haha who am I kidding? It can be painful and frustrating! But it's just what your book needs.

7. Release
What do I mean? Let the book go... and I mean it. Really let it go. Have someone you trust read it! I'd recommend someone who has experience critiquing, but get it away from your own eyes and into those of another. They'll be able to see plot or character flaws, and their helpful criticisms will help you grow as a writer, even if you don't like what they say at first ;)

So...are you ready? We've got 4 days and a few odd hours before we get to DIVE IN! I can't wait and hope that I can interact with you all here on the blog.

I'll be doing updates when possible and would love to keep up with your progress here on Thinking Thoughts and on my Facebook page! 

What to do when you're not feeling the NaNo | NaNoWriMo Prep (part 3)

Burn out. Tiredness. Writers block. (gasp!)

It happens to all of us, but when you're in the midst of Nano you do not want to deal with any of these things - or a multitude of other issues you could face. No writer likes to be uninspired...it almost feels as if your creativity is betraying you. Laughing at your lack of ability to write.

Well, I'm here to tell you today that there is no such thing as writers block...

Oh wait, no. Oops. I'm not here to tell you that. That's a real thing. *Cringes* But I am here to tell you that it's okay.

Maybe that's not what you wanted to hear? But it's true. Yes - there will likely come a time when  you are "blocked". Maybe you're not sure how your character will get out of a certain situation? Or maybe your main character suddenly has a heart attack and dies (not preferable at all).

The beauty of NaNoWriMo is that those things are perfectly all right! You know what you do then? You write on.

But it's terrible writing. 
But I no longer have a main character. 
But I can't figure out her motivation. 
But...

You get the point. And what do you do? Write on. Just like Dr. Who is recommending here >>>

You may wonder what I'm getting at. There are plenty of times when published authors are not inspired. What do they do? Sit in a corner an sulk? Probably not. Though mabye they do...?

I'm basically trying to point out that, if they can overcome not being inspired, then so can you!

What you do with lack of inspiration is the important thing.

Here are 5 things that I recommend you attempt when you're at the burn out stage or even the writers block stage. They aren't guaranteed to "fix" everything, but they may help you gain back some of your inspiration, and if not - they can give you strength to keep on writing, despite the dry creative desert you may be in.

5 Ways To Gain Inspiration

1. Take a walk
I don't know about you, but I love being outdoors. The feel of wind on my face, the sun shining or clouds...clouding? Yeah. But, being outside is so invigorating. When I'm feeling stuck, I often like to take a walk and look around me. People watching is a great way to gain inspiration, but also looking at nature reminds us that God is creative too. Pair this with # 5 and  you've got a great combination for inspiration. (Did that sound cheesy or what?)

2. Read a book
No. I'm not saying "steal ideas" but I am saying be inspired by good writing. Often, I will subconsciously learn through the books that I'm reading (another reason it's so important to read authors in your genre and authors who's writing you love). Let their words encourage you - and remember, they had off days (weeks, months, years) too!

3. Plan, plot, proceed
When I say "write on" I really do mean it. But, Emilie, you protest, I'm uninspired!  I hear you, and I sympathize, but I will play the unaffected drill sergeant and say, "I don't care if you're uninspired, I want you to WRITE!" Plan out where you're going - even if it's not thrilling to you at the moment. Plot your hero/heroin's next moves. And proceed! Yes, it maybe awful writing but I have a feeling sooner rather than later you'll be on a roll again. Inspiration is funny like that. Fleeting for a few moments but quickly found when you least expect it.

4. Talk it out
This is where those writing buddies I mentioned before come in. Complain to them. Do a little whining. Maybe even bash your characters to them, but then talk it out. Have them help you gain back that inspiration or burst through that writers block. Even if you don't like their ideas, you may find yourself back on track due to their influence.

5. Pray
We write for more than just ourselves. Bearing the burden of ideas and the words to carry them out is a gift. You may feel like you're "just writing a novel" for NaNoWriMo, but it's so much more than that. When all else fails, take time to refocus your heart. Even a silly little novel written for Nano can become something amazing.





Are you encouraged my friends? Make sure to come back to this post if you find yourself drowning in the midst of November. We'll all probably hit a wall here and there, but these things can help when you feel like your creative well has momentarily dried up.

What do you do to gain inspiration?

***Check out last week's post here. And part 1 here.

2014 NaNoWriMo Support

As writers, we face our glowing screens more than we see human faces sometimes. Our fingers get accustomed to the clicking of keys, and our bodies to occupying chairs.

It's not a bad life, really. Especially if you're like me - and introverted extrovert ;-)













BUT - relying solely on ourselves for all things writing related gets difficult. No matter how introverted you are, you still need people. Say it with me: People are friends, not food. Oh wait--that's something different....

Anyway, back to my point. We need friends to make it in this world of writing. Especially if we're going to put ourselves through the torture fun of writing a 50,000 word novel in a month.

Enter...Exhibit A: A Facebook NaNoWriMo Support group! Come on...you know you want to cheer right now! 

Exhibit B: Yep, that's the digitized you.

Exhibit C: A cheesy graphic representing all the fun people you'll meet in this group! Don't worry, we won't be holding hands...

So, what more do I need to do to convince you to join the group? Probably not much, right? It was the photos, wasn't it?

If I have indeed convinced you to hop on the Nano train, then let me convince you to join the Nano support group. Right now we're in the brainstorming stage and I'm posting some helpful things to inspire, encourage, and insight enthusiasm about Nov 1.

Once we hit "go time", we'll be doing things like word count checks, word sprints, communal complaining, and maybe even some fun video sharing of "writers in real time". The possibilities are endless as is the encouragement you'll find among a community of writers all facing the same thing - lack of sleep, over use of caffeine, and the voices in our heads telling us what to do.

Request to join the group today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512704232311934/

The 7 Snacks of NaNo | NaNoWriMo Prep (part 2)

Forget about writing, I want to talk about FOOD! Specifically, my favorite NaNoWriMo snacks.

They say Rome wasn't built in a day...well I say, my novel wasn't written without amazing snacks. Hum, maybe that doesn't really translate, but oh well.

There are a few key things to think through when choosing the perfect Nano snacks.

1. Accessibility
What can you readily grab from the cupboard or fridge without losing your train of thought?

2. Cleanliness
What can you snack on that won't leave your fingers sticky or require you to wash your hands?

3. Health 
What's relatively healthy but still tastes good?


Here are my top 7 favorite snacks for NaNoWriMo
*P.S. For the sake of this post I shall deem liquids comparable to snacks...don't ask.

1.  Coffee
All day. Every day. All the time :)

2. Pretzels
Love these little guys. Tasty and yet not messy.

3. Carrots & Celery
Meets all the criteria and gives you a satisfying crunch!

4. Tea
Favorites include: Peppermint, Moroccan Mint, Lemon, English or Irish Breakfast (with cream, thank you), and Sugar Plum Spice Tea (bring on the holiday's).

5. Chocolate
You've got to be careful with this one, but M&M's work great - the whole "melt in your mouth not in your hand" thing works very well for writers.

6. Popcorn
Blurs the line slightly here, but I use an air popper machine so there's no butter. Just takes a while to eat so there's a time factor to consider. 

7. Coffee
Oh, er- did I already say that? I guess I could put apples in here too, but coffee just seemed to fit so nicely...

There you have it. Some of my favorite snacks! Did any of mine make your list?

What about you? What are your favorite snack foods? What, in particular, will you be stocking up on for NaNoWriMo?

***See part 1 here.

7 Suggestions | NaNoWriMo Prep (part 1)

No. It is never too early to start thinking about NaNoWriMo.

What's that, you may ask? Only the best thing to ever happen to November! If you have been living under a rock don't know about NaNoWriMo, then I am happy to be the first to exlplain the amazingness that is...

National Novel Writing Month

(I hear music similar to that playing in a kings court - just so you can accurately complete the mental picture here)

Huzzah! It's almost here. Only 26 more days left to decide what your NaNoWriMo novel will be! Oh the pressure. Oh the planning. Oh the fun!

For those of you who don't know what NaNoWriMo is, it's simple:

You = Writer
Month = From November 1, 12 AM to November 30, 12 AM
Novel = 50,000 words
Rules = No editing, just writing!

Granted, for some, the idea of writing 50,000 words in one month seems daunting - if not completely impossible. Fear not, fellow writers. You can complete this task! I'd like to propose 6 preparatory ideas/undertakings to aid in your novel writing prep.

7 Suggestions...

1. Imagine
Dream. Create. Think What if? This is the fun part....

2. Plot
You may not naturally be a plotter, and that's okay. Your pantzing prep is just as important. I'd recommend deciding on a world, 1 or 2 main characters, and maybe some type of conflict. Hey, it's a start.

3. Prepare
Goes in line with #2, but take some time to write out a few things. Doesn't have to be much, but maybe a little bit for direction.

4. Befriend
That's right. Find a buddy - or several. No sense in doing this alone! There are awesome group meetups in almost every area. Checkout the Nanowrimo website for more info.

5. Count
Hey, when you break it up, it's only 1,667 words a day. Piece of cake...right?

6. Stock
Fill those pantry shelves with snacky goodness. I'll post my favorite NaNo snacks later, but start mentally preparing now.

7. Shout
Yep. Go ahead. Shout it out with me now, "I am writing a novel in the month of November." Make sure everyone hears, because then there's no going back ;)

Come back next Monday for part 2 of this lovely little NaNo series! 

Writing Through Sickness by Corrine Lussier

I'm away from the blog today and guest posting at The Writer's Alley (stop by and say hi!). In my place, I'd like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. I've been honored to experience life, church, writing, ministry, and sickness with this amazing woman, and am so blessed to have her on Thinking Thoughts today. Give a warm welcome to my dear friend Corrine.

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This probably is one of the more difficult blogs that I have had to write in awhile, especially since I am dealing with the topic of sickness and writing. Let me give you a little background story first.

I have always wanted to be a writer, and throughout college I immensely enjoyed writing short stories. It wasn't until I met Emilie that she challenged me to write an actual novel. She introduced me to National Novel Writing Month (AKA Nanowrimo) and I committed in August of 2013 to writing 50,000 words from November 1st to November 30th.

A lot of people have said that is ambitious as it is, but later that month I was told that I had stage I brain cancer and it was time to radiate. It took a month to pick a plot and expand it, and at the same time a month of getting prepped for radiation which included fitted head masks and getting my ribs tattooed.

The month of November came and I was in way over my head. Not only was I doing my day job, but I was doing my day job while writing a book while doing radiation therapy. I was sick most days but determined to meet the 50,000 word limit. I spent most days plastered to my couch trying desperately to get my foggy brain to work creatively. To this day, it is the most difficult month I have ever endured.


So, now that I have laid out my credentials, I would like to offer up some advice for writing through sickness. One thing I have learned from other writers and Emilie, is that there is no good time to write. If you accept this, then you can move on to actually writing, no matter what life situations you are facing.

1. Tell Everyone What You are Doing- You don't have to go into plot details, or talk up a storm, but I found that when my family and closest friends knew I was writing a book, there was accountability there. For the whole month of November people were asking me how my book was going. I even got my radiation therapists in on the gig. I would tell them stories to relax me before going in for treatment, and I felt the stress just melt off of me. Soon, they would just ask me what happened to the characters yesterday.
2. Get a willing writing buddy- This is different than someone who gives you advice on your book and peer edits (AKA critique partner). What I mean by willing writing buddy is someone who recognizes that you are ill, and tries to help you and meet you in time of need. Emilie would come over to my apartment and we would write as often as we could. I generally was more short winded than her, only able to write a couple hours at a time, while she could go for days. Cancer made it difficult for me to get involved in my story, but Emilie thankfully was able to help me see when I needed a break, versus some time to just plot out my troubled story. So, we would take breaks and read or just talk out the plot. Sometimes I just needed to close my eyes while she typed away. 
3. Know Your Limits- Whether you have a summer cold or cancer, you have limits that are prohibiting you from functioning at a normal speed. It is difficult to accept, but you have to know these limits. There were many days where Emilie was functioning full speed ahead, or at least at a speed that I strongly desired to function at. There were days that all I could think about was being sick, and when is this cancer going to be done and over. I was barely able to complete my job yet alone think about the next portion of my book most days. I could type for 45 minutes at a time and need to take a long nap. You may have to work twice as hard as the next person who is fine and well, but the end result is amazing. Just pace your self.

Being sick in general sucks. No one needs the caveat of saying that they have cancer for people to understand being sick is a major roadblock. Being sick while writing is adding more fuel to the flames. Looking back, I can't believe that I wrote a book while going through treatment for cancer. I can say: I wrote a book while having cancer. I may not be published yet, but I do know hard work during the hard times produces a victory regardless of the situation. And while this may be easier said then done: accept your situation and write, write, write. Who knows what your characters will do.

 ***

Corrine is a cancer survivor. English tutor by day, author by night. She loves art, and appreciates trying anything new. Check out her blog: I Said Hello Hurricane and follow her on Twitter: @AwakeningDreams

 ______________________________

 Thank you for this Corrine! I love your three points of advice and, honestly, would say they fit for all of us even if we aren't sick at the time. I loved being able to walk that journey with you and look forward to the next Nanowrimo - even if we're on different coasts ;)

Nano Update | Winter in Full Bloom RE:View | December News

Woohoo! It's time to celebrate!

Somewhere flying above the Southern United States this morning I hit 50,002 words!!! I'm not quite done with my novel, but I have hit my goal for November and won this pretty awesome badge (above) from the NaNoWriMo.org website. They are great about helping those who've "won" share the excitement. I'm also happy to say my dear friend Corrine also won today!

If you participated, how did you do? (Then again, you still have...7 hours to finish if you're not quite there!)

RE:View | Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

There is something to be said about a book that takes you to a place you've never been before. For me, that was Winter in Full Bloom by the talented Anita Higman. I was able to visit Melbourne, Australia in addition to getting to know the lovely Lily Winter.

We meet Lily as she takes off on the biggest adventure of her life thus far -- a trip to Australia to find her lost twin sister. After suffering the loss of her husband, an empty nest, and a dark secret revealed to her by her mother, Lily has nothing to loose but her own terrifying fear of flying.

Once in Australia, Lily begins the search for her sister and makes an unlikely friend along the way who could turn out to be the key in discovering her sisters whereabouts.

I couldn't even begin to describe the journey that Lily takes (you must read the book to find out) but it is one of restoration and beauty; love and truth.

I definitely recommend this book as a great read that will keep you entertained to the end. Anita does a wonderful job of creating a story that is not only interesting, but also finds you rooting for her characters. There were a few things that I was surprised to find plotted in, but Anita has a fresh authors voice that doesn't shy away from treating situations with a certain realness. She speaks the language of people and gives her characters a voice that transcends paper and ink to reach deeply into the soul.

You can purchase this wonderful book [here].

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.   

 

And a look into December...

I could not be more excited for what's coming in December - or, should I say, TOMORROW!

I love Christmas....I mean really love Christmas and, because of that love, I've decided to "Spread the Christmas Joy" with a few of my fellow authors. I've invited 23 author & writer guests to join me on the blog from December 1 to December 24th.

In addition to that, I'll be doing 12 GIVEAWAYS during the month - some books, some fun trinkets, some gift cards. These will be a little different from previous giveaways because you'll have the month of December to leave your comments on the posts with the items you'd like to win. I will be drawing a winner for each item in the beginning of January as well as sending the items then.



The heart behind the whole idea of Spread the Christmas Joy is to do just that - spread the joy of Christmas. I think it's so easy for us to rush through the holiday's buying gifts, worrying about food, traveling, and possibly arguing with those difficult relatives rather than taking a step back to bask in the glory of what this season represents.

With these posts, I want to give you, my dear readers, a small gift. To enJOY Christmas.

Please join me and many wonderful authors as we celebrate the joy that is Christmas!
See you back here tomorrow for the first post by Sharon Srock.