NaNoWriMo Update

Ok, so we are almost half way through NaNoWriMo and I am, surprisingly, right on track. I will admit this time around it is a lot easier for me, because I have made some changes….changes which (so far!) actually work for me! 

NanoWriMo 2014: My Guidelines

1. Write everyday- Obviously. But there were times last year that I wouldn't write on a particular day and try to make it up the next day. Yeah, that doesn't work well for me and creates stress.
2. Wake up early - This stinks. It does, but I have been waking up a little bit earlier than normal to make sure I get my writing time in. I haven't always been a morning person, but after having a kid, I think I have crossed over to the dark side.
3. Stop watching as much TV - Instead of watching TV, I might work on my story and I can't say I really miss TV that much.  
4. Stop reading as much - So, if you know me, this really sucks. Reading de-stresses me and even though I have wanted to read at various times this month, I worked on my story instead. I have only read two books this month, which is quite telling. The only book that sort of hooked me in a bit was Voyager. Damn you, Gabaldon, with Jamie Fraser and your way with words. However, I think it's good to read when you are writing though, but not too much!
5. Have fun - Seriously. I used to stress about my word count and it became a pain in the butt, sort of like going to the gym when you don't want to, but I have lightened up a bit. I like my story, so it's been a lot of damn fun.  

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo this month, how are you doing? What changes have you made in order to meet your goals? Any tips you want to share with me? 

Let's hope my next post about this is a celebratory one saying I "won" NaNoWriMo!  

Happy Friday,

It's That Time Again: NaNoWriMo

So, it's that time of the year again! National Novel Writing Month.  Who is participating? Let me know. I'd love to be writing buddies. My name on there is Chris327.  I have been participating for about five years, but have only won one time. The difference for me between winning and not winning is all about planning. Last year I had a great idea and did some research/planning way ahead of time.  

This year I also have a great idea, but haven't done any planning ahead of time. Cue the anxiety. I am in the midst of research as I type. I am off to a good start, but I am not sure how long that will last.  So, we will see! Plus, I am not 100% sold on my idea. It's sort of playing out in my mind still.

Last year's novel was a YA historical fiction/fantasy novel and this year, it's more YA historical fiction, loosely based on tidbit of information I found out about a really interesting spy.  It involves some research on my end, so I am kicking myself for not preparing prior to November 1st.

Well played, Agatha. Well played.

Nonetheless, I am going to give it try, because whether I win or not, I feel it's good practice, right?  The blog will be pretty quiet during the month of November, which means I will only be posting sporadically and updating you guys on my status of NaNoWriMo. I just wanted to give you a heads up.

So, let me know if you are participating in NaNoWriMo and share some tips with me or let me know what you are writing about!

Back to drink more coffee and write, write, write,

NaNoWriMo Winner!

I can't believe I won National Novel Writing Month!  I am actually not done my novel, but I reached the goal of 50,000 words and I was pretty much in a state of shock.   I have tried to reach the goal for two years, so I guess what they say is true. The third time is the charm!

I think I will finish the novel on my own time in December without a due date looming over my head. I am just so thankful to have reached my goal and it feels good to accomplish something I never thought I would be able to.  

Via 

It just goes to show you, if it's important to you, you'll do it. If it isn't, you'll find an excuse. 

Thank you to all my friends who were cheering me on!

NaNoWriMo Update

I am more than halfway through NaNoWriMo and I haven't quit yet. It's a miracle. Ha! But seriously, I think the strategy of getting a good start really helped, so that way if I couldn't write one day, I didn't sweat it, because I was ahead of the average anyway. That REALLY helped, especially when life gets in the way. And life always gets in the way.

Via Pinterest

I am at 39,000 words, which I am feeling pretty good about.  I refer to my story's skeleton/prewriting, which I told you guys about before, and although sometimes it changes, I tend to follow it pretty closely. That really helps me keep myself on task.  

What else has been working? I have been writing myself notes for the next writing session. I have a tendency to forget the little details or new ideas that I wanted to include, so writing them down for tomorrow's session is oh-so-helpful, especially if I am writing during my little guy's nap and he wakes up right in the middle of a scene.  So, if I set some goals and reminders for the next session that really helps me. 

Some things that don't work? For me, it is setting a daily goal with a number attached to it. That doesn't work for me. Sometimes I will find myself easily spitting out 3,500 words and other days it's only 700 words.  Sometimes I need a break or time to think things through. I find that expecting me to write 1,500+ words a day doesn't always work.  If I just write and write as much as I can or as little as I can with the time I have, it's much easier without that expectation of reaching a particular number.

Via Pinterest

I also realized this month that NaNoWriMo is a lot like dieting and working out. You have to plan ahead to be successful, you have to do it everyday or most days a week, and if you have a bad day, you can always try again the next day.  But seriously, it's so very similiar. You have to be disciplined, you can't be hard on yourself and you must celebrate the small successes.  Now if only I could apply my NaNoWriMo discipline to my diet. :)

I hope that the next time I write a NaNoWriMo update, I will have reached the goal of 50,000 words. Part of me never really thought I could do it and so far, I love proving myself wrong! 

NaNoWriMo Update

This month I am participating in NaNoWriMo and although I have participated in 2010 and 2011, this year is, by far, going much better than before.  I was thinking about it and trying to figure out why THIS time I am more successful.  It all came down to an idea and planning.  

In years past, I had an idea and just went with it. I really wasn't sure where I was going with it. Well, I should have known better. I mean I even taught middle schoolers HOW to write and I required pre-writing, yet I never really required it of myself?!

This year I had an idea and then I sat down one night sort of plotting it out. I created a skeleton of what I wanted the book to be about, the conflict(s) and ultimately, the ending.  I was surprised where I ended up. 

This Joyce Carol Oates quote about writing really hit home and pretty much FORCED me to figure out my book and not just write aimlessly without a plan. 

Via Buzz Feed

So, I'm at 19,800 words and the goal is to get to 50,000 by the end of November. I think I can do it. This is my third try and you know what they say....the third time is the charm.  And I have to say, I really like where it's going. I sort of surprised myself.

Wish me luck and if you have successfully completed NaNoWriMo in the past or have some great writing tips for me, let me know!

NaNoWriMo, Anyone?

Okay, so I have tried National Novel Writing Month out in 2010 and 2011 mostly with my students.  Last year with a new baby, I wasn't going to give it the old college try; however, this year I think I am going to force myself.  And here's why.  I could make excuses about how I don't have time because I have a 15 month old or I just moved into a new house or how I really haven't planned my story ahead of time, but guess what? There isn't going to be a perfect time for me to do this, but that shouldn't stop me. I am not going to say that I'll reach the goal, but I think it will be good for me to get back into the habit of writing.  So, that way my pep talk and I'm going to try....much like how a new runner trains for a 5K.  Very slowly. I'm sure a lot of chocolate and coffee will be consumed this month.

Is anyone else participating?  Please friend me on there, because I am going to need all the support I can get!  My user name is Chris327.  Let me know if you participating!

Things may be a little quiet on the blog for the month of November, but perhaps I will start giving some writing updates if it actually goes well.  However, I still plan on reading and reviewing as much as I can, because writing and reading go hand in hand.  In the immortal words of Stephen King, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

Happy Friday,

NaNoWriMo 2011

I signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, again, despite the fact that I am 100% sure I won't meet the goal of 50,000 words as November for a teacher is a hectic time of year with conferences, report cards, and the end of the first quarter.  


I signed up again because I am a glutton for punishment! I have many students who want to try their hand at it.  In fact, they have already signed up through the Young Writer's program and I created a virtual classroom. I have many students that are already planning and getting excited about it.  They have set some ambitious goals!


But with regards to me, this year I am going into it with a plan. Hopefully I will have better results.  I may even cut back on blogging the month of November so I can really focus on NaNoWriMo. We shall see!


So with that said, did anyone else sign up? Let me know your user name and we can be writing buddies. My user name is Chris327; come find me and we can commiserate.

Happy Writing,

NaNoWriMo

After thinking about it for awhile, I decided....why not? I'll go for it.  Even though November is like the Super Bowl for teachers in my building because of conferences and report cards, I figured I would throw caution to the wind and give it a try.  Even if I don't reach the goal, I'm sure it will be a worthwhile experience.  


So, with that said, if you are participating in NaNoWriMo, let me know! My user name on there is Chris327 and I am definitely looking for writing buddies.  Let me know if you are participating!


Now I just have to think of a good idea.....hopefully I'll be inspired soon, because it starts in a little over a week.  I've also decided that even if what I end up writing is horrendous, it's the experience that counts.....at least that's what I keep telling myself! ;)

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."  ~ William Faulkner

Have a great weekend,

Thirty Days and Nights of Literary Abandon

Last year I came across this awesome program and some of my fellow book bloggers have already started chatting about it. It sounds incredible and I really, REALLY want to do it.  What is it you ask?  It's NaNoWriMo! Basically the goal is to write 175 pages or a 50,000 word novel by November 30th at midnight.  


Here's what the website says:  

What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month's time.

Who: You! We can't do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let's write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.

Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster and browse the forums. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.

I LOVE writing, but I never find the time to actually pursue it and while I'm sure I won't reach the goal, I would love to at least try.  But I already feel so completely overextended at work! Between grading essays, report cards, parent conferences, mentoring fellow teachers, helping struggling students, working on the Writing Committee, etc,....I'm super busy! Plus, I need time to read?!  So, needless to say, I really want to join, but am very hesitant.  What do you guys think? Did anyone sign up for it?  At least I have a few weeks to decide, but I can't deny how great it would be to be a part of NaNoWriMo 2010!

Happy Friday,