My Unnofficial NaNoWriMo

November is well known in the writer community to be the NaNoWriMo month (the National Novel Writing Month). It is a time for writers, novice and experienced, to push themselves forward and try to write a first draft of a novel in a month. Or, as the creators of NaNoWriMo say, it's "30 days and nights of literary abandon."

This is a great way for writers to unite in the common goal of producing words and to feel they have a mission to accomplish. I love the idea of it!

I have never done NaNoWriMo officially myself, for various reason. November is often a hard month to dedicate completely to this pursuit. Last year, I did a blog a day when I signed up for NaBloPoMo. I was excited when I was able to accomplish that goal and it had me writing a least something every day.

However, this is not enough anymore to keep me going, to keep me writing. This year has been a bit tough, as a lot has been going on and I was not always able to dedicate the time to writing as much as I wanted to. This stuff also often sapped my energy, which in turn sapped my inspiration, creativity and motivation. And I hated the feeling.

Lately, I seem to have gotten that inspiration and motivation back, and have been actively pursuing creative efforts. So when November rolled around, I decided I need to use it to push forward, to get the momentum and keep it going.

So while I did not sign up for the official NaNoWriMo, I decided to do an unofficial one. I told my husband, so he could keep me accountable and put pressure on me if I slacked off. My goals are not necessarily to finish a first draft of a novel in a month, but to write as much as I can during the month and see how far I get. Instead of word count goals, I'm making daily time goals that I have to keep or raise up. I'm also occasionally doing Word Wars with writers on Twitter (#wordwar), and other times plant myself at my desk and make myself just write without over-analyzing or editing of any kind for a period of time.

And I finally feel happier about where my writing is. With a short story that is going to be published in an anthology, coming soon, and two novel projects (one with my writing partner and one individual), things are looking up.

Those of you who are no participating in NaNoWriMo, keep in mind that you can still benefit and be inspired by the resources at NaNoWriMo. Check out their articles, follow them on Twitter (@NaNoWriMo) and connect with people who are participating to see what they're doing and how.

NaBloPoMo Wrap-up - Lessons I Learned

 "There's so much about the process of writing that is mysterious to me, but this one thing I've found to be true: writing begets writing." ~Dorianne Laux

Yesterday was the last blog post of the NaBloPoMo November challenge that I committed to. NaBloPoMo runs all year, but I thought I'd try it for a month and see if I can manage to write a blog post every day. I'm very excited to say that, despite all the other stuff going on in my life, I was able to meet and successfully finish the challenge.

Here's what I learned from doing it:

1) I can commit to a project and successfully carry it out.

At the day job, this is something that I don't even think about. Projects come left and right, and there's never a question of finishing them or issue with doing it successfully. However, it's always harder to do so in personal life. The first time I knew I could commit to a major project and actually accomplish it was when I got my black belt after five years of practicing karate. I'd started a couple of times before coming to this karate school (which ended up being the place where I met my husband) but would usually quit after a few months because life got too busy or exhaustion set in that was too much. The day I finally got my black belt was the day I knew I could do anything I put my mind to and that previous excuses were just that - excuses. This is the attitude I now take into everything I do, especially my writing.

2) "There's so much about the process of writing that is mysterious to me, but this one thing I've found to be true: writing begets writing." ~Dorianne Laux

I have to repeat this quote because I fell in love with it when I read it a few days ago. The truth of these words is undeniable and irrefutable. The more you write, the more writing you want to do. The more you produce, the more you want to produce. This was one of the lessons I learned when doing the NaBloPoMo challenge (even though theoretically I knew it, of course). I now have a harder time NOT writing for a day then ever before.

 So all in all, I would say great lessons came out of doing NaBloPoMo and I'm grateful for the chance to learn them.

With the holidays fast approaching and a few other things going on, I won't be able to commit for NaBloPoMo in December, but there will still be 2-4 posts a week. I also need to concentrate more on my two WIPs and put more time into writing there. I'm ready for the next challenge!

Writer Wednesday Flash Fiction - The Road Not Taken

NaBloPoMo Post #30

Prompt: The Road Not Taken

The road not taken leads me into trouble. Again.  And this time, literally. What can I say, my curiosity overpowers my reasonable side. Time and time again. So instead of taking the sunny bright path to find my runaway cat, I of course chose to take the creepy dark road overgrown with strange plants and sinister old trees.

“Buffy, where the hell are you?” Yes, my cat is named Buffy. The vampire-hunting, butt-kicking Buffy. Because I think that if my cat turned into a person, she would totally be a kick-ass chick.

A few pairs of glowing eyes stare at me from both sides of the path. 

“You better not have eaten Buffy,” I say to them, my voice bolder than what I feel. They just blink and keep staring.

I keep walking until I reach a dark lake. Mist is rising above it in spades. Very dramatic. Even more dramatic is the mermaid sitting on a large boulder in the middle. She flaps her green scaly tail at me and giggles. The mermaids here have the brain power of twelve a year-old. 

I’m about to pass her because I have no interest in mindless talk just now, but I pause to ask her if she saw Buffy.

“Oooo, a kitty. They are so cute,” the bubble head mermaid says. “You know, kitties don’t like water.” 

Great, she’s a fountain of useless, and unsolicited, knowledge. 

I’m about to walk away when the mist lifts a bit and I see Buffy curled up on her lap.

“Can I have my cat back please,” I ask her, my words dripping with honey. 

“Come and get her,” the mermaid says and giggles again. 

Ugh, great. She wants to play. Now I have to get wet.  I slowly proceed to step into the water. It’s weirdly warm and I plunge in. My head deeps below the inky depth and I feel water entering my nose.

I start coughing and open my eyes. I’m in my bed. Buffy is sitting on top of my chest and persistently licks my nose.

Half Way Through NaBloPoMo - update

NaBloPoMo Post #20

Well, it's half way through the NaBloPoMo challengee, and I'm happy to say that I have been able to hang in there so far and post every single day, no matter how busy I get, or how sick I feel. I feel great satisfaction knowing that I have been making an effort to write more every day, not just for the blog but for the WIPs. I meant November to be a challenging writing month for me, even though I decided not officially commit to NaNoWriMo this year. This month is giving me the opportunity to see how I can adjust my schedule and what I have to do every day in order to accomplish this goal.

Next month, the holidays will be a great chance to write more during the break at my day job. I'm organizing my thoughts and ideas presently on my WIP (the individual one, vs. the 2nd book we're working on with my co-writer Tina Moss).

The whole argument of the pantster writer vs. plotter has always been very interesting to me. I consider myself very much a mix of the two, but probably a bit more on the pantster side. That is a topic that I will approach in another post.

Running to write now.

Pen vs. Computer Writing

NaBloPoMo Post #5

The pen is mightier than the sword. But the computer might be mightier still.

In retrospect, it took me by surprise that I now prefer to write on computer nowadays rather than on paper. Up to a few years ago, I loved filling pages and pages with the ink in my scribble. It felt good to run my hand over those pages and feel the clean dark rows of ink indentations. It was exciting even.

I've also loved stationary all my life. All kinds of stationary. I remember visiting my grandma's job and leaving with a load of pens and little notebooks that her co-workers would give to me. Shopping for back to school used to be my favorite kind of shopping because I would get to pick out fun new folders and buy lined paper.

But now I barely write on paper. I might take notes here and there if I'm in transit or somewhere the computer is not accessible. It might be because I work with computers all day long and it's more of a habit now. It might be that the words on the computer screen come out nice and clean, and I don't have to try to figure out what my own hand wrote a day ago. And if I have to correct something, it won't get messier because I have to cross something out and write over it. I'll just delete it off the page and write new words in its place. It might also be that I type over 70 wpm and it's just faster. Whatever it is, writing on the computer is definitely my preferred method of writing today.

Then again, I never thought I would be able to not read books that weren't on paper. And here I am, happily reading books on my Nook more and more. I still love the feel of a paper book in my hands. I still love to buy new notebooks from time to time. But reality is, I have adjusted to the electronic versions quiet well.

My Ideal Writing Space

NaBloPoMo Post #3

Having an appropriate and cozy work space is important to about anyone. However, nobody needs it more than someone who creates, especially a writer. Yes, it’s true that writers can write just about anywhere – in the train during commute to or from work, in a doctor’s office waiting for an appointment, on a plane during a business trip or sitting on the bed while holding the laptop on…well, the lap.

But every writer dreams of an ideal writing space that will inspire them and spur productivity. I can think of a number of variations that I would love to have for myself. Here's a few.   

                    

One is a small cozy office with one wall being a floor to ceiling window, looking out into a beautiful green forest and far-off blue mountains. It is a picture of calm and idyll. There’s a small dark mahogany desk that fits a laptop and a few papers. There’s also  a cozy armchair by the window and lots of bookshelves.

Another is very similar but with an ocean view. I love open spaces and light. The space itself doesn't have to be big. Large spaces can be crowded and uncomfortable and small spaces can be open and light. It's all about the design and the feel.

I also love clean simple modern lines and even though a city view would not be my number one choice, it has its appeal for me as well, especially considering that it’s an inspiration, in a way, when some urban fantasy.

Here are a few more pictures of what I think are great writing spaces (or the views from the writing rooms).

 Until I can create one of my ideal writing spaces, however, I will continue to happily write on a little portable table by the bed with my hubby working a few feet away on his computer.

What is your ideal writing space like?

NaBloPoMo

Well, I have an extremely busy and ambitious writing month ahead of me, it seems. On top of doing the "unofficial" version of the "NaNoWriMo" (in other words, just pushing myself extra hard on writing this month - working on book #2 with Tina Moss and on my individual WIP), I have also comitted and signed up to participate in NaBloPoMo - a committment to write a blog a day for a month.

I love the idea of prompts and so a number of the NaBloPoMo blog posts this month will be writing on these prompts. This is in addition to any other posts I have planned for the month. Hope I can manage to do all of the above, so any encouragement is strongly appreciated.

And so, here's the 1st NaBloPoMo post.

Prompt #1: What is your favourite part about writing?

I have loved writing ever since I could remember, ever since I picked up a pen and learned to write my first words. Between 10 and 13 yeas old, I had a notebook where I continuously wrote a story about  a girl that was based on my own life. The girl in this “novel” had the same hobbies, interests and activities that I had. I even had occasional family readings wich my super supportive parents and brother had to patiently suffer through. In high school, writing essays was my favorite school activity and encouragement from a couple of wonderful teachers  helped. Now I write urban fantasy and paranormal romance and I’m having the time of my life (yes, Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies).

My firmly believe that my love of writing came out of my love of readings. My thirst for books is absolutely insatiable and has been since I was about five. I love loosing myself in the different worlds with all of the feelings and emotions, adventures and action that go with them. Some would say it’s escapism at its best. I think it’s much more than that.

When I write, I experience similar feelings. There are stories inside my head waiting to be told and it’s an amazing feeling to have them down on paper. I also would love to have my novels do for others what other people’s novels do for me. The greatest satisfaction for me to get from writing woud be for someone to lose themselves in my stories, whether it’s just for fun or to help someone through a rough patch, to  fall in love with my characters and go through the ups and downs with them.

Writing is also thereputic for me. It makes me feel pumped, optimistic, ready do anything (at least when my writing actually comes out the I want it to). It makes me want to create more and more. And that is probably my favourite part.