Chris Baty's Blog, page 132

Artist and author Jenny Williams has hand-lettered quotes from...

Artist and author Jenny Williams has hand-lettered quotes from this year’s Pep Talks! Check out her work at www.jennydwilliams.com, or follow her on Instagram @stateofwander. Read the rest of Jenny Han’s pep talk here.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Eight

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

The Last Adagio

A young adult novel being written this November by participant Diana Sousa in Portugal.

A single second of music can bring forth so many memories.

Naoko Avery finds out music can do so much more than that—it can awaken creatures which are better left forgotten. As the shadows in the corners start to move, when she can’t even remember her fondest memories anymore, she’s already in the grip of the dark power that has been woken by the music. Even her old cello has a part to play, and its call is difficult to resist.

Strange creatures take form in the shadows and feed on people’s memories. They twist music to serve their purposes, promise lies to bring people to their side, control them until there’s nothing left to remember. Note by note these creatures are destroying who she truly is.

Cover Designed by Giorgia Lupi

Giorgia Lupi is an
award-winning artist, information designer and researcher. Her work in
information visualization frequently crosses the divide between digital and
print, exploring visual models and metaphors to represent dense and rich
data-driven stories. She is co-founder
and design director at Accurat a data-driven design firm with
offices in Milan and New York.

Giorgia received her M-Arch at FAF in Ferrara
and she then earned a PhD in Design cum Meritum at Politecnico di Milano in
2014.
She is co-author
of the Dear
Data book, published be Penguin (Uk) and Princeton
Architectural Press (US). Her work is part
of the permanent collection of the
Museum of Modern Art. You can follow her on Twitter @Giorgialupi.

We’re almost there, Wrimos! Even if you missed Double-Up...

We’re almost there, Wrimos! Even if you missed Double-Up Donation Day this year, you can still take these last three days to get as much writing in as possible–and maybe even cross the 50K line. To help, here are some out-of-this-world writing prompts. You can also use our writing sprint tool to set personal timed goals, or create a group word sprint to write with your friends. Write on! 

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Seven

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Tales From Space Tech Support

A science fiction novel being written this November by participant Teulisch in the United States.

Tech support is never easy. Users lie, managers mangle, and new and interesting things go wrong in explosive ways. And with humans recently joining the galactic community, they find that the high pay they were offered really isn’t enough by galactic standards–because if you thought companies and users were bad on earth, in space things can get much worse…

A human named Dave has set forth on a voyage to a new job on an alien world, where things will go wrong in all-too-familiar ways.

Cover Designed by Alberto Rigau

Alberto is a Puerto Rican designer from San Juan who runs Estudio Interlínea and the publishing imprint Editorial Revés. Both efforts engage design and anthropology through the crafting and conceptualization of brands, exhibits, way-finding systems, publications, books, architectural collaborations of an interpretative nature, and photographic stories. He lectures on design thinking methodologies and creativity as a tool to ignite meaningful cultural experiences. Check out his website at http://estudiointerlinea.com/.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Six

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Happy Petals

A young adult novel being written this November by YWP participant Wendy Luu in Vietnam.

Weston was dared to talk to Fleur and be her best friend. Fleur is a weird girl with one eye. She always appears with an eye patch that covers her right eye. No one talks her and everybody ignores her. 

Weston on the other hand, is a jock who everybody loves and adores. Weston wanted to win the dare, therefore, he tried his best to get into Fleur’s safe zone and to gain trust from Fleur. 

Will Fleur find out about the dare? Will Weston find out about Fleur’s mystery eye? Will Weston and Fleur have a happy ending?

Cover Designed by Jenn DePersis

Jenn DePersis is a graphic designer from Binghamton, New York, and a proud graduate of SUNY Purchase. She’s been fortunate to work in upstate NY in the design field for over 20 years. When she’s not at her day job (production coordinator/designer for The Reporter Group), she’s probably doing some kind of design work for her freelance studio, JennDePersisDeSign, where she specializes in working with small businesses and non-profits, and wedding invitations. Her loyal rescue pup, Sophie, is always by her side.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Five

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

If

A fantasy novel being written this November by participant Dean Michael in the Philippines.

Kern Corell is not perfect. In fact, he’s done everything that needs to be done to be called a lost cause. But everyone is capable of change, right? That’s what he believes in. One night, he thinks of getting rid of his bad reputation to start anew. The next day, he is killed–robbed and stabbed not just once, but eighteen times.

In the space and time between heaven and earth, will he be able to mend the wrongs he’s done when he’s still alive? Or won’t he be able to cross the other side?

Cover Designed by Joseph Schwartz

Joe Schwartz has more than 27 years of experience as an art director, graphic designer, and illustrator. In his role as an educator, Joe has worked tirelessly as an advocate for teaching design to K-12 students for the last 12 years in the Spotswood School District in New Jersey.  He is also an adjunct professor at Kean University’s Robert Busch School of Design in Union, New Jersey. Joe earned his BFA in Media Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and earned his MFA in Design from Marywood University. He is a member of the AIGA, AENJ and the NAEA. He currently resides in Spotswood, New Jersey with his wife and two sons.

Owning the Title of “Writer”--Whenever and However You Can

As we near the end of the month, maybe you’re realizing that you probably won’t make it to 50K. But that’s ok! Participant Christine Astor is here to remind you that your story matters–and you ARE a writer!–whether you wrote 50 words or 50,000 words during the month of November:

I struggle to claim this title, but I’m a writer. 

I struggle with it because it’s not my profession. I’ve been writing since I was about 11 years old and as much as I think I should probably call it “writing for pleasure,” it would feel disingenuous to do so. When I write, it’s out of necessity. I feel a surge of inspiration and need to get the words, stories, feelings out on paper somewhere. 

This is my first time participating in NaNoWriMo and I’m pretty sure I won’t be cracking that 50K this month. I didn’t think I would when I decided to sign up, and that wasn’t the point. My purpose was to give myself some discipline. 

I don’t have a lot of time to devote to my craft. My 9 to 5 job takes up most of my day. Now, also subtract the six hours of sleep I get a night. And don’t forget that I’m also working another part-time job, maintaining a long-distance relationship (thank god we’re at least in the same time zone), and occasionally even feeding myself. So when do I write? When indeed. 

I have actually been working on this novel since January. It will probably not be completed this month because most of the work I’ve done on it has been emailing the excerpts to myself from my phone during my morning and evening commute. That is when and how I write. That’s all I can commit to, given my schedule, and that’s what has been working for me this month. 

“The writing is what matters. And it does matter.”

I so rarely have the time to sit down and indulge in my writing. And in those precious moments that I can find to work, I don’t always have the inspiration to create. That doesn’t make me any less of a writer than anyone else who pulls words out of their brain parts and strings them together in the name of self-expression. Any time that you can carve out to work your magic is your own; it need never adhere to someone else’s word count. The writing is what matters. And it does matter. 

It’s easy to feel discouraged or give up if you think you’re not going to make the deadline. Don’t. Your story will come out when it’s ready; and it will never be ready with anyone else writing it. You are the only person who can write your story your way, and a gift like that can’t be measured by a word count or a 30-day mark. 

So, keep writing, whenever and however you can. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my train is arriving at my stop.

Christine Astor is a queer Puerto Rican and Dominican writer from New York City. Although she mostly writes poetry, last year she successfully self-published her first novel, The Actress . In addition to her great love of writing, Christine is extremely passionate about film and the ways in which this medium can be used to address social issues. She graduated from Vassar College in May 2013 with a BA in Film. Christine currently works as the Marketing Coordinator for a start-up company on Wall Street, and focuses on writing in her spare time.

Top photo by Flickr user Ritesh Nayak.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Four

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

La Nouvelle Fille

A realistic novel being written this November by YWP participant A. E. Walker in the United States.

Natalie’s mother never spoke of her father or grandparents or her history back in her native France. And so when a sudden car crash takes her mother’s life, Natalie has no knowledge of the grandparents whom she’ll now be living with in France. 

Unable to speak French, away from her friends in the US, and alone all day at her grandparent’s bookshop while her cousin goes to school, she tries to investigate who her father is and the reason that her grandparents and her mother ceased contact for so many years. But she finds that the truth is much deeper and darker than she ever could have guessed.

Cover Designed by Najeebah Al-Ghadban

Najeebah Al-Ghadban is a designer driven by the desire to communicate, whether through text or image, the intangible. She received an MFA and BFA degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York, and is currently practicing her craft at Abrams. Outside of design, Najeebah also pursues collage illustration. Various works have recently been exhibited in a 50-piece solo show for the Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait, her home-town. Visit her website at http://najeebah.com/.

How James Patterson's MasterClass Helped Me Become a Better Writer

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. MasterClass, a NaNoWriMo 2016 sponsor,

offers online courses taught by the best in the world. This year, they’re offering Wrimos the chance to watch a free lesson from James Patterson’s Master Class–only available to NaNoWriMo participants. Today, author Amanda Poeggemoeller shares how MasterClass has helped her writing:

I have been writing on and off for close to 10 years.  I would start a project, get frustrated, and then put it aside.  I went through this several times, and at the beginning of 2016, I promised myself that this was the year I would get serious and set some goals.  As luck would have it, it was not long after that I came across the James Patterson Teaches Writing offered through MasterClass on Facebook. I know how to put a sentence together, but there is so much more to writing a book, much less a published novel.  I have read books and blogs on writing, but this was my chance to learn from one of the most successful and prolific writers in the business.  I signed up immediately.  I didn’t realize until later exactly how much I would get out of my MasterClass.

The classes are made up of video lessons, a workbook, and online discussions.  I enjoyed that it has something for everyone, from beginners to experienced writers.  It confirmed that I was on the right track in some areas and taught me things I had never thought about as well.  I had to rethink my strategies and realize that writing a book was about more than just writing.  The planner in me delighted in the lessons about researching, characters, plot, and outlining!

MasterClass was more than just lessons on writing.  It included encouragement and community, too.  I had a picture of a lone writer sitting at the computer with a cup of coffee tapping out a masterpiece.  I was right about the coffee but wrong about the being alone part.  I discovered that I could connect with other writers through the online community.  On the MasterClass website, participants can post their homework and get feedback.  I completed the lessons back in March and still continue with the additional activities offered in our Facebook group.  I can get feedback on my work, ask questions, and continue to hone my craft.

“MasterClass was more than just lessons on writing. It included encouragement and community, too.”

The skills that I learned from the class gave me the confidence to enter Camp NaNoWriMo in April, and I am happy to say that I am close to being done with my rough draft from the project that I started in MasterClass.  The lessons about research and outlining were crucial in getting me so far in a relatively short amount of time.  And, because of the continued access to the website, I can go back any time to review the lessons.  I just recently went back through some of them for inspiration for this year’s NaNoWriMo.

Now, instead of being frustrated with a project when I get stuck, I can go back and figure out what to do to fix it.  I’ve already met my goals for this year and hope to have two finished rough drafts by the end of the year.  MasterClass is truly one of the best investments I’ve made for my writing career.

Amanda Poggemoeller lives in Texas with her husband and three daughters. After spending her early career in the financial investments industry, she decided to stay at home with her young children.  Now that they are all in school, she has focused her attention on a writing career.  She enjoys volunteering, crafting, and spending time with her family and pets.  She is currently working on two projects, and is looking forward to publishing her first novel.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Three

Every November, during National Novel Writing Month, thirty professional designers volunteer to create book cover art inspired by novels being written by aspiring authors from around the globe. Why? To encourage new, diverse voices, and help build a more creative world.  

30 Covers, 30 Days is presented in partnership with designer and author Debbie Millman.

Read more about these NaNoWriMo 2016 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Framed

An LGBTQ+ fiction novel being written this November by participant TA Bellmond in Australia. 

Music photographer Nathan Evans has been handed a career-defining assignment: A Day in the Life of Joshua Downey, international rock star. It would be a dream gig, if not for Joshua’s hostility in the wake of the paparazzi outing his sexuality, and unexpected attraction between the two. 

While Nathan battles to maintain his strict policy of work/play separation, his body is ready to succumb to Joshua’s charms. Neither count on Nathan being offered the chance to join Joshua’s tour as official photographer. Cue an intense relationship which constantly wants to slide into something entirely physical. Add in a jealous suitor, blackmail, and broken trust, and you have Framed.

Cover Designed by Kelly IrvineKelly Irvine is a graphic designer and artist living in Bethesda, MD. She creates print, digital, and exhibit design for the federal government design. Recently, she produced and curated an art exhibit of microscopic subject matter blown up large called MICRO/MACRO. A fan of mid-century modern design, she enjoys hunting for treasure in thrift stores, as well as reading, seeing art exhibits, dancing, cooking, and traveling. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NewBlueIris.