NaNo 2019 Is Almost Here!

The last few hours tick down to NaNo. I’m not a night owl, but it’s the one night of the year when I stay up…Halloween into NaNoWriMo.

“Write like mad, my darling.” Image by Free-Photos, via Pixabay

We have a few traditions that we have each year on this day.

1. We pop open a bottle of sparkling juice and drink up at midnight (not exactly Intermittent Fasting friendly, but who cares? It’s a celebration!)
2. We decorate the house for Christmas! (To avoid losing time in November for writing, and because, well, we LOVE CHRISTMAS. Hate us, if you must.)

This year, we have the best place yet since being married. We each have our own offices. We have a fireplace. We have a full-sized fridge – instead of some weak apartment sized fridge. We have enough Christmas trees that I can’t find a place for all of them – with 1290 square feet!

And this year, I’ve also committed to something insane.

• Re-write my first novel ever for NaNoWriMo
• Write as many episodes as possible for my fiction Doctor Who fan podcast
• Pitch 100 articles in November

Yes. I’m insane.

But what fun is life if you’re at least a little bit insane?

Anybody else commit to such insanity this year? What kinda crazy are you going for?

Let’s do this thing together.

NANOWRIMO!

Tips for Winning NaNoWriMo

It’s almost here! NaNoWriMo is just 5 days away. Oh, that glorious, wondrous time when we put aside all reason and write a whole novel in 30 days or less.

If you’ve never written for NaNo before – or never won – you probably need some help getting things going.

Here are a few things I do each year to get myself ready, to keep myself motivated, and to get that winner’s badge.

(Image by Voltamax, via Pixabay.)

Plan Ahead

Think through your responsibilities and duties in these last few days before NaNo. What do you need to have complete before the month madness begins? What do you need to do ahead of time to free up as much writing time as possible?

Some things we do around here to prepare include:

• Meal planning for the month by October 30
• Complete shopping list by October 30
• Setting work schedule ahead of time as much as possible
• Create a specific workout schedule, complete with strength & cardio training – but not so much that we’re in the gym more than we’re writing
• Announce the novels we’re working on at least 2 days before midnight on November 1 hits
• Cleaning, organizing, et cetera around the home to help eliminate distractions. This year, we just moved, so we have a lot of chaos still. So, my goal is getting all the furniture in place, et cetera, so that everything can be fully organized beforehand
• Buy up all the tea and candles I need for a cozy writing space before October 30

Plot, Outline, and Plan Your Novel

Not everyone is a planner – pantsers are pretty frequent in this madness, as well – but having some kind of plan ahead of time can help you get your butt in the chair for writing, and, more importantly, keep it there. If you have at least a vague idea of what you’re planning to write, it can help you get started and keep you going.

Celebrate Midnight November 1 With a Party or Write-In

A quick, easy way to get into the swing of things is by attending or planning a celebration of NaNoWriMo. Invite fellow writers over, find a write-in somewhere, or Skype with other writers. Set up some light decorations, brew your favorite tea or coffee, buy some yummy treats, and get that keyboard going the second the clock ticks over to 12:00.

(Image by KTPhotography, via Pixabay)

Find Write-Ins to Attend Multiple Times Throughout the Month

It’s amazing how having people around can keep you writing. Attending a write-in is one of the best ways to surround yourself with other writers in the process. A friend of mine rarely writes anything during NaNo – despite participating for something like 15 years now – unless he attends write-ins. They really do make that big of a difference.

(Image by StartUpStockPhotos, via Pixabay)

Announce Your Intentions Publicly and Talk About Your Progress

Telling your friends and family via social media can help keep you writing all month long. It’s sort of like losing weight in that way. If people know you’re working towards a goal, it can be motivational because you don’t want to publicly “fail.” Plus that encouragement you get from folks cheering you on is always helpful.

It’s That Time of Year Again: NaNoWriMo Count Down!

So, today my husband asked me what I’m writing for NaNo this year. I stared at my phone blankly for a few moments and texted back that I have absolutely no idea. I have options – lots of options – and I have 15 days to decide. That’s plenty of time, right?

Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

I could use outlines from previous options that I have yet to write – this would be easy, as most of my work is already done for me, and, well, I’m freaking busy with writing something like 200,000 words each month for my job.

I could go off on a totally different direction and try another genre I’ve never written before. I do have some ideas for fantasy novels and some historical fiction in realms I’ve never before attempted.

I could do a major overhaul of a previous project that needs to be gutted and re-created. The rough draft was written nearly twenty years ago and really needs to be rewritten.

There are so many options – going through my files will be like a treasure hunt when I get back from this trip.

But what are you going to write this year? How will you decide? I’d love to hear from anybody and everybody! Maybe we can inspire each other.

Back to Magazines, Step 1: Who to Pitch?

It’s time. Magazines and e-zines (or whatever they’re called these days–which probably means I need to research that first first) are calling my name. Or at least calling for my byline.

So, the first step I’m taking is finding the kinds of magazines and publications I might want to write for. There are seemingly a million genres and topics out there, and therefore about a billion publications to get those topics out there. That means, the first step to getting published again is going to be narrowing down topics and publications to options within my particular writing wheelhouse.

Taking the First Step–Finding the Right Publications

I’ve scanned the web for lists of publications that accept pitches and pieces from freelance writers. Going through the lists, one by one, I’ve sectioned these off into separate Google Sheets by category.

• Lifestyle and family (parenting and pets included)
• Travel
• The Arts
• General fiction
• General non-fiction
• Money and finances
• YA fiction
• YA non-fiction
• Children’s fiction
• Children’s non-fiction
• Journalism
• Speculative fiction
• Women’s topics
• Pop-Culture topics
• Crafting
• Faith, religion & inspiration
• Fitness and running
• Health and nutrition
• Food and kitchen
• Gaming
• History
• Outdoors

Narrowing Down the List

I’ve gathered together the links to the publications into these spreadsheets, along with links to the guidelines or information on contacting the editor. I’ve listed the narrow topics, the type of pieces they accept — such a fiction and non-fiction or poetry or essays, etc. — as well as submission periods, if listed, and any notes to help with keeping the publications straight.

From here, I am going through the list, publication by publication, and adding the ones I’m interested in pitching to my calendar for January and February. The plan is pitching one article or piece per day (or equivalent) in both months. Once February passes, we’ll see if I continue this pattern or take a brief break to re-group.

Choosing the Easiest/Best Topics

As I create my pitching calendar, I’ve discovered that some of the articles that will be the easiest to write and pitch are actually not my particularly favorite genres. I have some research and knowledge on hand from previous projects that I want to reuse, but these are on topics I don’t love as much as travel or pets, for example.

However, because these will be easy articles and pitches to write, I’m going with them first, peppering some of my more prefered topics throughout the calendar, to keep things interesting.

Next Up: Readying the Pitch

My next step is going to be researching and preparing myself for writing the actual pitches. I’ve done tons of research on it already, and found lots of quality samples and articles to study on this all-important step. I’m also going to review those old pitches from my teen years to see what worked and what still stands.

This is going to get interesting.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

A Journey to Magazines Once Again

I’ve been doing freelance writing off and on for 18 years, since I was nineteen years old and decided I wanted to write about Olympic riders at a local competition. In those days of my journalism adventures, I was pitching left and right. But things slowed down when I realized I wasn’t going to be a cut-throat journalist.

Since then, I’ve mostly written for myself, with some side gigs here or there, or professionally for an agency or client that I gained through various sites like Craigslist.

But now, I’m ready to get back into the magazine game. And that means I have to start pitching again.

I thought I’d take you guys along for the ride with me as I do this. Maybe you can learn what goes well and what doesn’t. Maybe you can learn legitimate sources and resources with me and have to do less work than I as I go about this thing.

If not, at least I’ll have a record of my own journey for myself to reflect on next year at this time.

Photo by Britta Jackson on Pexels.com

Resources for Writers

I’ve recently been coming across a few great writer’s resources, so I thought I would share.

Where to Pitch

If you’re a freelancer trying to find the right magazine(s) and other publications to pitch, this site is easy to use and has a ton of suggestions based on either general topics — for example, type in “travel” and 70+ suggestions come up — or by magazine/publication title for similar titles.

Learning and Resources

The other main option I’d like to share is not a single resource, but a collection of the 100 best resources for writers in 2018. They’ve got everything from blogging tips and information, creativity and crafting tips, how-tos, editing, and freelancing information, as well as some other topics that may come in handy for your particular writing style or genre/type.

Keeping it Fun

The last resource I’d like to offer is more a piece on the importance of keeping writing fun rather than a typical resource. Part of why we do writing is because we love it. Part of why we want to write for a living is because we’re not created like desk jockeys who can deal with a typical 9-to-5 job. So, keeping that work fun is criticual for keeping that job a not-work-job that we still love five years down the road.

 

Image credit: Fabien Djabar

 

 

NaNo Day 11: The Win

I can’t officially validate my novel until later on, but I made it. Last night, just past midnight, I crossed the 50,000 word line.

And my husband challenged me to try something different this year: write two novel drafts this month. So, I’m starting in today (or tomorrow) on the next one. I can’t decide which novel to write, of course, so I’ll give myself the day to decide.

Why am I doing the second novel instead of adding to this one? Because I need to step back and let my logical brain take on some of the challenges the novel presented itself with. Since I didn’t know which book I was writing until literally the last few minutes before midnight into November 1, I didn’t have time to research. And since it’s a new era from my previous historical fiction, I have a lot of things to go figure out before I can actually revise.

Also, there’s a logic issue in one aspect of the book that’s rather central to the plot. So, I need to work through my solutions. It won’t be an easy fix, either, so I need some time.

Plus, as my husband put it, I’m a “masochist” in these sorts of things. 😉 I’m an all-out kinda gal. I need a challenge. And two novels, of varying genres, in a single month, is a pretty good challenge. But I won’t try to complete the next 50,000 in 10 days–I’ll give myself the whole 20 that remain, since I have a lot of commitments towards the end of the month that I need to be preparing for in the meantime…

What challenges are you folks taking on in your NaNoWriMo 2018?

NaNoWriMo Day 9: Catching Up

I crossed the 25,000-word line two days ago. The following day was a busy day with errand running, work, and things, so I only managed the minimum word count. Then, last night, after more errands and the long work day, I was ready to catch up.

And I managed only 200+ words for the day before I realized why my breathing had gotten difficult. At about 9pm, asthma had struck.

We’re blaming the combination of the neighbor’s pot smoke filtering in through the ventilation system and the heat being turned on for the first time this season. The attack lasted until after midnight when I simply passed out in bed.

So, today, I have about 11,500 words to write to get caught up and stay on track for finishing the 50,000-word minimum by the end of tomorrow. My current record for words in a day (on a novel, not work, since that record is about 16,000 words) is 10,000. I know I’ve written more than that in a day before, I just haven’t paid attention to actual word counts per day every time I’ve gone into major writing mode.

So, it’s doable over the next two days to write the 23,100 words-ish that are required. In fact, I’m quite certain I’ll do it.

But, to do it, I’ve got to get back to writing.

Here we go!

NaNoWriMo Day 6: My Tribute Day

I became a writer because I am one. I am one because of my Dad. Today would have been his 72nd birthday.

I first heard about NaNoWriMo in 2006, one year before Dad died. I wasn’t ready to dive into the tradition yet — I didn’t start doing NaNo until a few years later in 2010. Because of that, and Dad passing in 2007, He never heard about this glorious event that takes place in the month of our birth (I’m the 4th, he’s the 6th — and yes, I was due on his birthday and came two days early because I’m an independent soul).

Today, since my Dad is not here, I choose to make into a day of tribute to him. My goal is to write at least 7,200 words in his honor –100 per year of his life (since 1000 per year would be a bit much, even for me — I have plans today 😉 ).

Dad, I dedicate my writing to you today, and celebrate the influence you always were on me to pursue my dreams, to write what I love, to not care what I know and instead learn what I want to write. You were always an inspiration to me in every area of life. Thank you. I love you! And miss you. And still dream of you at night.

Real dad laughter

Dad’s senior picture

Mom & Dad’s wedding

Dad in the navy

Dad and his younger brother fishing

Dad loved dinosaurs! 🙂

Dad at Yellowstone National Park

Dad with one of his grandsons, elk spotting

Dad carving a Christmas turkey

Dad and the rest of the family at his mother’s induction into a local aviation museum

Dad with his grandkids

Dad with Mom, my oldest bro and his wife and kids

Dad and I Christmas caroling with people from church

Dad asleep on my bro’s couch…yep, that was Dad for you

Dad and me at the Grand Canyon in 2006

NaNoWriMo Day 2: Finding the Plot

My NaNo novel this year was first conceived when I was about fifteen years. In two days, I’ll be 37-years old. That’s a pretty hefty gap between  conception and writing. And the original idea behind the book was way different than what I wanted to write.

But today, while in the shower (I do seem to have these writing revelations there a lot), I suddenly knew the right plot that matures the characters and story into something that I’d not only want to write, but something I’d want to read.

And, getting back to that, it’s time to write a few thousand more words tonight before bed.