Category: NaNoWriMo

Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo – 6 Month Check-in

It has been six months since NaNoWriMo. Yes, six months! Time really does fly. As you probably know, I spent a great deal of time back in November sharing about my experience with the NaNoWriMo challenge. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but when I hit the 50,000 word mark, I saved the working document and haven’t looked back…not once!  For me, the six month mark is a chance to reflect on my project and set goals to refine and further improve my manuscript.

If you’re in the same boat, here a few things you should ask yourself as you reflect on your NaNoWriMo project:

How is the book coming along?

Since the challenge ended, what have you done with your manuscript? Have you continued working on it? Is it sitting in a (virtual) drawer somewhere collecting dust? Now would be a great time to open it back up and finish your manuscript. With six months passed, you can look at the manuscript with fresh eyes and bring new life to the project.

Is your manuscript done?

You may have finished writing the manuscript, but is the project truly finished? Maybe you still need to edit. Maybe you need to come up with a great title. Maybe all you have left to do is publish and market your book. Now is a great time to set new goals for your project so you’re ready in six more months to start a new novel all over again.

Are you ready to publish your novel?

If your manuscript is complete, now may be a great time to look into publishing options. Research self publishing companies. Talk to other authors. Figure out your goals and choose an option that is best for you.

Are you ready to market your book?

Even if your book isn’t yet published, it is never too early to begin marketing your book. You can share the news with family and friends. Set up social media sites. Talk to your local press. Begin making a marketing plan now, and you will have a much easier time promoting your book once it is complete.

I’d love to know, what have you done since NaNoWriMo?

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.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo

Didn’t Finish NaNoWriMo? No Problem!

So you tried your best to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, but you just weren’t able to finish the manuscript. Don’t feel guilty. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes, our daily lives prevent us from committing our time to writing. While all self-publishing authors would love to dedicate their free time to their manuscripts, life often has other plans for us. Or maybe you had the time, but you just couldn’t find the words to explain the story bubbling in your head. It happens, so don’t feel like a failure.

Just because NaNoWriMo has ended, that doesn’t mean you should give up on your manuscript. Set realistic goals to help you complete the book. If time is an issue, space out your writing and give yourself a longer deadline. Maybe three or six months is a better goal for you. If finding the words is your challenge, brainstorm ways to get your creative juices flowing. Take a creative writing class. Pick up a new book on writing. Read books by your favorite authors. Google writing prompts.

If the above ideas still aren’t enough to help you finish your book, there is another solution: hire a ghostwriter. Many self-publishing authors choose to hire a ghostwriter to help them finish their book. Whether you don’t have the time to commit to your project or you need help getting your ideas on paper, a ghostwriter can help make your dream of self-publishing a book come true. Outskirts Press offers ghostwriting services. You can also get recommendations from other writers or look for freelance ghostwriters online.

I’d love to know, would you consider hiring a ghostwriter? Why or why not?

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.
Elise Speaks, NaNoWriMo

3 Things to Do If You Don’t Win NaNoWriMo

As NaNoWriMo comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on what you did (and didn’t) do this month. Did you meet the seemingly lofty goal of 50,000 words? Did you make it half way through? Or, are you like me and never got a chance to start?

Well, allow me to explain my situation a little more…

I began the month of November with every intention to start and win NaNoWriMo even though I didn’t have the foggiest idea who or what to write about. I have a strong fondness for the craft of “birthing” words, but I couldn’t get myself motivated to start this month. Every time I felt I may have time to, life got in the way. Sooner or later, I was able to come up with every excuse to not start writing. That leaves me at the end of November with no word count next to my name.

It’s actually quite scary…

I’m not allowing that to break my spirits, though. While I may not have “won” NaNoWriMo, I’m still a winner in my mind. I’ve had an opportunity to cheer on many others in their conquest to literary success – including Outskirts Press Vice President, Kelly Schuknecht. Overall, this has been an amazing month for so many budding novelists!

I will say – making the decision to finish a book for NaNoWriMo is hard. It’s much more difficult that it initially seems. There are great support teams to help potential novelists stay focused on reaching their daily word count goals. This doesn’t help everyone, though. This is especially true if you can’t find the time to sit down to write on a (somewhat) regular schedule.

So, what do you do if you don’t finish (or start) NaNoWriMo? Here’s a few things to begin with:

  1. Finish anyway. Just because November is over doesn’t mean that you are unable to finish your book. You achieved a major goal by starting the writing process. November is not the only time you can commit to writing a book. I see a finish line in your future!
  2. Hire a ghostwriter. If you have no clue how to continue on with your work, a ghostwriter may be able to help. This is probably the simplest solution if you want to finish your book in the near future and you’ve run out of ideas and/or can’t find the time to finish writing yourself. If you’re having a hard time finding a ghostwriter, you can ask your (future) publisher for recommendations.
  3. Make a vow to participate next year. Did November come at the most inconvenient time for you (it did for me!)? There’s always next year’s event! Or, feel free to start right away and/or hire a ghostwriter.

How are you coping with not winning NaNoWriMo?

Elise Connors ABOUT ELISE L. CONNORS:
Elise works as the Manager of Author Support of Outskirts Press.  She also contributes to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com.Elise and a group of talented book marketing experts assist self-publishing authors and professionals who are interested in getting the best possible exposure for their book.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo 2012 — Winner!

Two days before the official deadline, I am proud to say I am a NaNoWriMo winner!

I don’t normally publicly pat myself on the back like this, but I can honestly say I have never been more proud of myself.  Okay, well giving birth (3 times) and running a half marathon are pretty high up there, but completing my first novel has been an amazing experience!

One month ago I decided I was going to participate in NaNoWriMo for the first time.  I am not a fiction writer, but my company is sponsoring the event this year so I wanted to really experience NaNoWriMo along with the 300,000 or so other writers.  I wrote more about my reason for participating here, if you’re interested.

I never doubted that I would complete the 50,000 words because I was very committed to the end result, but I did doubt my ability to accomplish anything else in the month.  Sure some things fell behind (laundry, cleaning, sleeping), but I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of accomplishing!  I don’t regret doing this for one second.  I am glad to be done, but I’m also anxious to start thinking about what I’m going to write next year.

What am I going to do with my completed manuscript, you might ask.  Well, I’m planning on self-publishing it, of course.  First I’m going to edit it, though.  Now that I’m not worried about meeting a strict deadline, I’m looking forward to taking my time and getting my manuscript just right.

I mentioned above that my company is sponsoring NaNoWriMo this year.  Well, we’re also offering 10% off the publishing package for NaNoWriMo participants, so if you participated in NaNoWriMo (or you’re reading this post) and you want to publish your manuscript, you can save 10% on the Diamond or Pearl publishing package with the promotion code NaNo12.

If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo, I wish you the best of luck in these last two days!

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.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

Top 5 NaNoWriMo Blog Posts

There are only a few days left in the NaNoWriMo challenge! I hope everyone is meeting their goals (even if your only goal is “I just want to write something by the end of the month!”) and, more importantly, enjoying their writing time. During NaNoWriMo, it is helpful to read stories and get advice from other people participating; that’s why I’m always looking for great blog posts about NaNoWriMo. Here are five of my recent favorites.

Stay Motivated – NaNoWriMo 10 Minute Writing Sprints

Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to sit and write for long periods of time. This is especially true as you get closer to the end of the challenge. I love this idea of 10 minute writing sprints to help you finish your novel and stick to your writing goals.

So You’ve Written a Book…

You may be wondering what you should do once you finish your novel. This is a great post that offers four things you shouldn’t do. I love the author’s advice on not rushing into the self-publishing process. While I obviously encourage authors to consider self-publishing, you don’t want to cut corners if you want to be taken seriously as an author. It is very important that you take time to polish your book and make decisions that will make your book and yourself more professional.

Quotes for Writers and Readers

This link isn’t actually a blog post. It is a pinterest board, but it is still a valuable resource for writers. This board is a great place to find a little inspiration or get a good laugh.

NaNoWriMo 2012 Week Three: Six Writers Each Pen a Book in One Month

It is always fun to hear about other authors’ writing experiences. This is a great post to read when you need some inspiration. If other people can complete the challenge, so can you.

Pep Talk from Ally Carter

This post discusses two types of writer’s block and how to handle them. It is a great read for anyone who is struggling with finishing their novel in the last week of NaNoWriMo.

I’d love to know, what is your favorite blog post about NaNoWriMo? Share 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.