Category: Kelly Speaks

Lately, there is a lot of buzz in the writing community about NanoWriMo. Many writers are gearing up for the challenge, while others are still dragging their feet on signing up. Working with self-publishing authors, I hear many different excuses for why writers decide not to participate in NanoWriMo. Here are the top eight excuses I frequently hear and my response to each of them.

1.) You don’t feel inspired. Inspiration is a classic writing myth. Serious writers don’t wait until they feel inspired to write. They write every day, no matter what. You can create the inspiration to write by changing your daily habits; you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to strike.

2.) You’re scared. This should be a reason to participate, not an excuse not to. Tackling your fears is part of growing as a writer, and it can lead to unbelievable change.

3.) You don’t have any ideas. Everyone has ideas. You just have to take the time to find them. There are plenty of books and websites dedicated to helping writers generate ideas. Even if it seems corny, complete some writing exercises to get your juices flowing. Look for ideas in your everyday world: the newspaper, books, tv shows. Be sure to keep track of all your ideas in a notebook.

4.) It’s holiday season. Sure, November is known for kicking off the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your dreams on hold. In fact, writing can be a great way to relieve some holiday stress.

5.) You’re anti-social and hate events. Many writers prefer being left alone when they are working on a book, but there are many benefits to participating in events such as NaNoWriMo. All of the information and support makes your task of writing easier. Plus, you can choose how much you interact with the other writers.

6.) You don’t believe it’s possible to accomplish. There are plenty of writers who don’t think it is possible to write a novel in 30 days, but the truth is the process works for many people. In fact, more than 90 published novels began as NaNoWriMo projects.

7.) You don’t have time. Writers always use this excuse, but the truth is, there is always time, if you make time.

8.) You have too many other responsibilities. We all have responsibilities besides writing, although many of us dream of a life where we have nothing else do except read, write, and drink coffee. The real problem is that many of us don’t know how to ask for help. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Learn to delegate and free up time to pursue your writing dreams.

So, what’s keeping you from participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.

You may have noticed that we’ve been talking a lot about NaNoWriMo lately, but we aren’t the only ones buzzing about this exciting annual writing challenge. Here are five inspiring blog posts about NaNoWriMo that every self-publishing author should read:

1. NaNoWriMo: Plot It or Pants It? : While I recently recommended spending the month before NaNoWriMo brainstorming and outlining your manuscript, there are many authors who struggle to decide if planning is the best approach for them. In this post, the blogger talks about her prior experiences with NaNoWriMo as well as her plans for this year. It is always helpful to hear about other authors’ writing experiences and preferences.
2. NaNoWriMo by Insane and Uncontrolled: As an author who has participated in NaNoWriMo before, this blogger offers great insight on some of the do’s and don’ts of NaNoWriMo. My favorite tip is to buddy up. It really is important to have people who will support you during this process.
3. “We’re going to do WHAT?”: How NaNoWriMo Has Changed the Lives of Over 700 of My Students: When most people think of NaNoWriMo, they think of adults trying to finish the books that have been playing in their heads for months or years, but adults aren’t the only people participating in NaNoWriMo. This great post tells the story of over 700 high school students who took part in the challenge.
4. How NanoWriMo Inspired Me to Start Writing Again: Although this blogger has decided not to participate in NanoWriMo, she shares how the challenge has inspired her to set a different writing goal. If you decide not to commit to the NanoWriMo program, you can still find ways to complete your manuscript.
5. 90+ Published Novels Began as NaNoWriMo Projects: Just the title of this blog post would entice writers to head over to the NaNoWriMo website to sign up. The proof is in the numbers. Previous participates have been successful, and so can you. All you have to do is try.

Have you recently found (or written) a great blog post about NaNoWriMo? Share it below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.