Ask the Author: J.L. Whitaker
Answered Questions (7)
J.L. Whitaker
Hi Connie
I've managed a few years to reach the 50k goal. But I have used Nano to finish work as well, at a lesser word count. That was my goal that year and I was happy.
What I found last year, 2014, was that starting at the beginning of the new project and reaching the 50k wasn't enough. I now have an unfinished work. So I'm going to try a new tactic this year: starting the project, about 30k words, before Nano starts. That way the final 50k will fit the Nano word count PLUS I hope to have a complete manuscript before the December holiday crazy starts. I should also know my characters better.
Wish me luck!
As for how I do the 50k in November -- I find I write 5 days/week instead of 7 and try to knock out at least 2000 per day, which is about 2 hours of word dump. No judgement, no censoring, no revision -- just pure typing.
Hope those ideas help.
I've managed a few years to reach the 50k goal. But I have used Nano to finish work as well, at a lesser word count. That was my goal that year and I was happy.
What I found last year, 2014, was that starting at the beginning of the new project and reaching the 50k wasn't enough. I now have an unfinished work. So I'm going to try a new tactic this year: starting the project, about 30k words, before Nano starts. That way the final 50k will fit the Nano word count PLUS I hope to have a complete manuscript before the December holiday crazy starts. I should also know my characters better.
Wish me luck!
As for how I do the 50k in November -- I find I write 5 days/week instead of 7 and try to knock out at least 2000 per day, which is about 2 hours of word dump. No judgement, no censoring, no revision -- just pure typing.
Hope those ideas help.
J.L. Whitaker
I get ideas about stories all the time and note them in a file. For my last NanoWrimo book, On A Life's Edge, Shawna just turned up on the screen, unpacking boxes in a bedroom. That's all I started with. Characters started turning, children screamed, challenges emerged. I just listened to what was happening to her and wrote down what she told me. The sequel is going to be easier (I Hope!) because I already know these people and places, an arc for Shawna (I anticipate a 3 or 4 book series), and what her eventual ending will be.
J.L. Whitaker
I listen to my characters. Goals help, too -- revising a manuscript to publish, National Novel Writing Month, a promise to my readers to have my next book out by a certain time. Those work to get me motivated.
J.L. Whitaker
Believe it or not, I've not been blocked, but I have lost enthusiasm. I see those as different things. As long as I don't judge what my fingers are creating too harshly, I can usually let the words flow at least for an hour or more. Then I need to take a break, recharge my mental batteries, and let what my subconscious has exposed settle in.
J.L. Whitaker
It's almost National Novel Writing Month -- November. I'm getting the ideas in place to start the next Shawna Charity book: On A Life's Beginning. This is a sequel to On A Life's Edge. I can't wait to find out what happens!
J.L. Whitaker
Jump in and don't judge yourself too harshly. Participate in critique groups to learn from others so you aren't comparing your work only to published books. It's hard enough to believe in yourself without reaching for publishable perfection at the start. Give yourself time to grow.
J.L. Whitaker
I enjoy watching the story unfold, getting to 'the end', and eventually finding out reader reactions. Writing is a mix of wide open options, but constraining the story to logical possibilities. Writing is as much about solving puzzles as telling a story.
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