Tag: nanowrimo

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.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo Check-In: Day 19

I can’t believe it has been almost a month since the NaNoWriMo Kick-Off Party I attended.  I honestly wasn’t sure if I was even going to participate in NaNoWriMo until the night of that event.  In October I had been kicking around the idea of using NaNoWriMo as an excuse to finish the non-fiction (gasp!) book I have been working on a long time, but I had read a comment on a blog post that was making me feel guilty about doing that.

This person suggested that “participating” in NaNoWriMo but using the time to work on a non-fiction book was cheating because that wasn’t the true purpose of NaNoWriMo.  Although I don’t totally agree with this person, the guilt she instilled in me was enough to convince me that if I was going to partipicate, I needed to do it right.  I personally wouldn’t be able to show off my non-fiction book at the end of the month and tout that I had finished it while participating in the National Novel Writing Month.

SIDE NOTE: However, I do personally believe that the true purpose of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing, so even if you’re not a “fiction writer,” you can participate in whatever way that means to you.  In fact, my new writing friends at the Kick-Off Party told me about a NaNoWriMo forum just for rebels like me: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-rebels.  If I participate again next year, I just might go this route.

So, my new friends at the NaNoWriMo Kick-Off Party told me I could “cheat” if I wanted to, and they would still like me, but I was just so inspired by the writers I met that night that I decided I was going to write a novel!  Some of them had participated in NaNoWriMo before and some were first-timers like me, but we were all in it together.

Fast forward to today – November 19th – and I now have 33,138 words on “paper”!  My novel is almost 2/3 complete and I have made it my goal to always stay slightly ahead of the daily goal to give myself some room in case I get behind over the Thanksgiving holiday. Now there are 12 more days and I have 16,862 more words to go!  I can do this!

Whether or not you are participating in NaNoWriMo, I’d love to know how you are doing so far with your writing goals this month.

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

4 Things NaNoWriMo Authors Should Never Do

It’s hard to believe the first week of NanoWriMo is behind us already! How are you doing so far? I hope you are enjoying the challenge and that your manuscript is coming along. As you’ve been writing your draft, you may have noticed that it is easy to get distracted or discouraged, but a few simple changes can help you succeed. Here are four things you should never do if you want to finish NaNoWriMo (and maybe even self publish your book someday).

1. Skip a writing session. Unless it is an emergency, you must always stick to your writing schedule. If you must miss a writing session for an important reason, make sure you reschedule it. Ideally, you should reschedule it for another time that day or week. You don’t want to have to play catch up at the end of the challenge because you missed too many writing sessions.

2. Become jealous. Connecting with other writers is a great a way to find encouragement and inspiration during NaNoWriMo, but don’t let their progress discourage you. Some people write faster or have more time to commit. Try not to compare word counts. Focus on your success, and trust that your approach to writing is best for you.

3. Worry about editing. As you write your first draft, it is tempting to think about all the things you need to go back and fix. You should not be worrying about editing right now. You need to focus on writing. There will be plenty of time to worry about editing later. If the thought of editing really discourages you, treat yourself to professional editing services  after you achieve your goal.

4. Give up. There will be days when you become frustrated and consider giving up. Don’t do it! You can and will succeed as long as you keep trying. If you need some motivation, talk to people who believe in you, read about other successful authors, or take some time to relax and come back refreshed.

Remember, your goal isn’t just writing 50,000 words this month. Your ultimate goal is to write a novel (and self publish it). That goal takes time, dedication, and possibly hundreds of cups of coffee, but it is an achievable goal. Stay focused and trust yourself, and you will succeed.

I’d love to know, what habits are interfering with your NaNoWriMo goals?

NaNoWriMo, Wendy Speaks

6 Ways to Keep Up the NanoWriMo Momentum

The first few days of NanoWriMo are now behind you. If you are like most writers, you probably started out enthusiastically and determined to reach your goal, but as the days go by, you may start to lose motivation and focus. You are not alone. If you want to ensure that you finish the first draft during NanoWriMo, consider these six tips.

1. Accept that it won’t be perfect. NanoWriMo more is about writing a 50,000 word novel in a month, but no  one ever said it has to be a perfect, ready to publish novel. This is a first draft, and like all first drafts, it will need work later. Right now, focus on finishing the 50,000 words. You can go back and make changes after the challenge.

2. Set daily goals. It can be overwhelming to think about writing 50,000 words in a month. Instead, focus on how many words you will write each day or during each writing session. This will help you break up the project into manageable steps and will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Check out Write or Die. This is great software for self-publishing authors who are struggling to meet their goals. This creative software lets you enter a time or word count goal, and encourages you to accomplish it without letting your inner editor take over. After you’ve meet your goal, you’re praised by the sound of trumpets.

4. Turn off the internet! Email and social media sites are major time-suckers that distract from your writing. During writing sessions, do not let yourself use the internet. If you can’t resist the urge, consider software that blocks the internet during your writing sessions.

5. Set a timer. Instead of focusing on word count, let yourself freely write for a set period of time, but don’t focus on the time. Instead, set a timer and forget about it. Write without interruption until that timer goes off. Then, take a break before writing again.

6. Become a morning person. Writing in the morning is great because the stresses and excitements of the day haven’t taken over yet. Your mind is clearest in the morning, and there are fewer distractions. Some writers like to wake up early and write until their brains get tired. Then, they allow themselves to enjoy the rest of the day however they wish. If you find that you’re having a hard time completing your writing goals because your to-do list grows throughout the day, writing in the morning may be the perfect solution.

I’d love to know, what are you doing to keep the writing momentum going?

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.