What comes after Nanowrimo?

As I write this it’s November 30th, and there are no doubt many people who are furiously typing in a last ditch attempt to hit the 50k word count. Not everyone who signs up for Nanowrimo manages to cross the finish line within the 30 days, while others achieve word counts high enough to make your head spin. But for all participants, the questions the same. What comes after Nanowrimo? Well, in the spirit of those classic ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books, let’s find out. It’s just gone midnight, and Nanowrimo is officially over. You look down at your desk. If you failed to hit 50,000 words, go to Paragraph 1. If you wrote more than 50,000 words, go to …

A picture of a chalkboard with E=MC2 written on it

Lessons From Week Three of NaNoWriMo

We’ve now reached the 21st of November, three weeks into NaNoWriMo. The highs of week one, the doldrums of week two. and the whatever happens in week three. Now, with the final stretch underway and the finish line in view, I’m sharing three lessons I’ve learned after three weeks of NaNoWriMo. Writing Space A good writing space is essential. Where you write can make a huge difference to how much you write. I’ve found that even though I do all my writing on a laptop, having a set room where I write has helped immensely. Setting up a writing space can be a lot of fun, but it can also be an opportunity to make your writing as easy as …

A compass on a map

The First Week of NaNoWriMo

Today marks the seventh day of NaNoWriMo! Words have been written, curses have been shouted, and laptops have been hurled at small kittens. With seven days behind me, I thought now would be a good time to consider how the first week has gone, and how I plan to face the next three weeks, hopefully without endangering any other mammals. Pre-Production Pays Off First of all, I’ve found the planning process for this years NaNoWriMo has really helped me out. I prepared far more than I have for any previous NaNoWriMo, and so far it has been worth every second. Knowing my characters means I get to write them in all their glory, rather than discovering them from scratch as …

Photo of the starting line on a race track

Ready, Set, Write

I’m enjoying my last few moments of October before the insanity of November and Nanowrimo descends. One of my recent posts was about preparing for Nanowrimo, and thankfully I’ve practiced what I preach and have prepared more than ever for this years writing. My 1,738 word synopsis has been written, characters have been cast and profiled, and locations have been scouted. Using Scrivener, I’ve broken down the story into 20 chapters with brief descriptions, and I’m currently adding more details. I already know that the story is more than likely to change as the month goes on (it’s already changed from the time I wrote the synopsis to the the time I finished the character profiles), but that’s okay. Now …

Photo of a one way sign

Starting a Story

Two more weeks to go, and I’m really excited about this years NaNoWriMo. Apart from a couple of short stories, it’s been a year since I actually sat down and made something completely new. At the risk of sounding like a nutter, there is something quite magical about starting a story and creating a world from scratch. A few weeks ago this story existed as little more than a whisper of an idea. Now that idea is written down, becoming something more than an idea. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it the bones of the story, it’s not that advanced, just a short synopsis. But it’s coming, slowly but surely. And by the end of November, it should be an …

Five Tips to Prepare for NaNoWriMo

Nanowrimo, the writing event of the year for many is around the corner. In my last post I did my very best to persuade you to give it a go. If somehow I’ve managed to convince you, and the idea of writing 50,000 words in 30 days hasn’t sent you running for the hills, then congratulations! Your sanity may be questionable, but committing to this endeavour is commendable. Welcome to the club.  If you’re one of the foolhardy souls who’ve participated before, then you know what to expect. If this is your first time however, you may be wondering what you’ve let yourself in for. Don’t panic! You’re in for a treat. I’ve seen Nanowrimo through to the bitter end three …

5 Reasons You Should Give NaNoWriMo a Go

Summer is officially over. Leaves are turning brown, the ice warning on my car went off this morning, and people are quoting Game of Thrones more than usual. But it’s not just winter that’s coming; in less than a month NaNoWriMo will be upon us. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is where thousands of people all over the world commit to writing 50,000 words over the course of 30 days in November. Last year 310,000 brave/foolish people signed up for the challenge. Maybe you were one of them. Maybe you’re thinking of giving it a shot this year. Or maybe you think that sounds like the craziest, stupidest thing you’ve …