Chris Baty's Blog, page 133

4 Tips to Help You Recapture Your Writing Joy

All through National Novel Writing Month, published authors will take the whistle, take over our official Twitter account for a week, and act as your NaNo Coach. This week’s NaNo Coach, Katie Bayerl, has some advice to help you capture the joy of writing again:

Remember joy?

Remember that buzzy new story feeling of a few weeks ago? It’s ok if it’s faded—that happens. Heidi and Nita offered great tips for tending your flame, and I’m going to add a few more because, well, it’s been a tough couple of weeks and writing can sap us. But Writing-While-Blah? Not a great feeling and not so great for our stories either.

We write because we want to feel something, because we know what it’s like to read something that moves us. So how do we recapture that joy when it’s slipped away? Here are some ideas:

1. Cling to art. 

Find an image that captures your story. Tape it above your computer, or create a whole Pinterest board. Make a playlist while you’re at it, or find that one song that expresses your protagonist’s longing and listen to it over and over until you feel it in your skin.

2. Eat dessert first. 

Can you taste the ending already? Is there an action (or kissing!) scene you’ve been tingling to write? Go there. Right now. Sometimes we need to throw order to the curb and go with the scene that beckons. Often, we find new energy there and insights into the scenes that come before. [Concept stolen from this prolific guy.]

3. Allow yourself to play. 

Think it’s too late to try something new? Think again. What if you wrote that next scene in a different point of view, a different tense, or some other form (poem, letter, or… game show script)? You might have to go back and change it later… or you might unlock something amazing. After all, you know far more about your story than you did three weeks ago. So let your inner child out and see what they discover.

4. LET GO for goodness sake! 

It’s the final lap. Get your foot off the brake, forget about punctuation, drop in an XX when you can’t find the right word. There’s no time to worry about all that. Set a timer, turn your font to white or—gasp!—pull out a pen and let your motherlovin’ fingers fly. Maybe your prose turns purple. Maybe it goes scattered and thin. Who cares? Now is the moment to blast out everything you’ve got left in your heart.

Your joy is right here, Wrimos. It’s waiting for you to grab it.

Katie Bayerl the author of the forthcoming YA mystery A Psalm for Lost Girls. When she isn’t penning her own stories, she coaches teens and nonprofits to tell theirs. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Obsessions include saints, bittersweet ballads, and murder.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-Two

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.

Factors of Uncertainty

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

Earth has been ravaged by climate change and pollution. Combat veteran and amputee Lili Mason finds herself drawn into a corporate conspiracy when she saves the life of a researcher with the powerful Benson-Vale Corporation. BVC believes they have a solution to what threatens to end humanity: complex terraforming and recovery models using a human-driven probability supercomputer. 

Crucial to this plan is a teenage girl, Eleanora, who has been proven hard to protect and lacks a love for the beautiful world that she needs to help recreate. Tasked with protection, education, and humanization of her young charge, Lili must race against time and corporate enemies that will stop at nothing to acquire or destroy Eleanora.

Cover Designed by Alexandra AlcantaraAlexandra is a full-time freelance presentation specialist currently residing in Raleigh, NC, with her husband and 4 dogs! Huge animal advocate and all day dreamer. Sci fi enthusiast and part time prepper. Can only cook for small armies. Running the path to full-time hermit. Check out her website at http://www.asquaredcreative.com/.

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 Maggie Stiefvater’s pep talk here.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty-One

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.

Sky

A science fiction novel being written this November by YWP participant Story Stimmler.

Violet is another one of the many half human, half robots in Sky Home. Practically everyone there is implanted with a computer chip at birth! But unlike most others, she can sometimes feel a few feelings.

She meets Cooper when he comes to Sky Home on a field trip from Earth, and he tears her computer chip out of her arm. Suddenly, she is always feeling. She knows that the whole population of Sky Home needs to get back to Earth, where they have other wonderful things like feelings.

But Supercomputer, the leader of Sky Home, won’t have it. Vi needs to get the population of Sky Home to Earth, but with robot humans there at every step, Cooper and Vi have almost no hope. But they won’t give up…

Cover Designed by Tony Pinto & Adrienne Grace

Tony and Adrienne are designers and educators living in Southern California. Also married (to each other), together they form Vim & Vigor, a strategic creative firm. Tony has designed three previous NaNoWriMo covers; this is Adrienne’s first involvement. They live with two cats (full-time) and two kids (part-time; both are off at college).

Author photo by Barbara Forslund-Leu.

Create Your NaNoWriMo Emergency Kit

As we’re heading into the fourth week of NaNoWriMo, you may start to feel your energy flagging. We’re often so focused on our stories that we ignore the reality of taking care of our bodies, which is just as important! Just like a marathon runner, we need to keep our bodies in shape to make it to the end. Participant Shantea Gauthier has some words of wisdom to share about making sure your body stays healthy at the end of the month:

Many NaNoWriMo emergency kits contain chocolate and inspirational quotes to keep you motivated through the process, or ideas to keep you inspired. We rarely address the kind of minor emergency that will stop your progress dead in its tracks, no matter how motivated or inspired you are. When you hurt yourself writing, it doesn’t just ruin your day; it ruins your week, your month, or maybe your life. I don’t want to get dramatic, but we all know by now that keyboard-and-mouse related injuries are very real.

Prevention is key, as with most health-related topics. Ergonomics are key. The options for products are nearly endless, and you’ll need to test chairs, keyboards and configurations to see what works best for you.

It’s important to limber up and stretch, as well as to take breaks. I keep a framed printout of some computer and desk stretches, which I try to run through every 30-60 minutes. For the same reason, I keep a shawl and a pair of arm warmers at my desk, even though we Southern California natives barely understand the word “cold”. Just like an athlete, you’ll need to keep those muscles warm to prevent injury.

Of course, aches and pains are bound to happen, so I keep a first aid kit at my desk for those times.

Here’s what’s in mine:

Analgesic balm or muscle balm for when I inevitably get sore. Rubbing it in helps the muscles relax.
KT tape, because applying it to the thumb and wrist area helps me continue when I get tightness in my wrist and fingers. Compression gloves also help with this–and yes, I have had to use both together.
ThermaCare patches for my shoulder and back when “mouse shoulder” catches up with me. (ThermaCare is the only latex-free brand I’m aware of, so I stick with that brand due to allergy. Other brands should work fine, or you could invest in a reusable pack that warms up in the microwave.)
Ibuprofen to combat pain from inflammation
Cough drops. For some, the “NaNoWriMo Cold” is inevitable.

Of course, any writer’s emergency kit would feel incomplete without emergency coffee and candy–and yes, an inspirational quote or two. Mine is “An artist cannot fail, it is a success just to be one”, by Charles Horton Cooley, to remind me that I’m still a writer, even if I must take a break. If the emergency is more mental than physical, you can also keep copies of good reviews, accolades, and encouragement you’ve earned from past writing.

Shantea Gauthier is a many time NaNoWriMo loser, who has written several novels in under a month, including Great Minds and The Beast, both available now. Find her books, social media links, and personal blog at www.ShanteaGauthier.com.

Top photo by Flickr user Deacon Kevin.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Twenty

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.

Bulletproof

A women’s fiction novel being written this November by participant Shweta Sinha in India.

Karishma, a vulnerable young orphan, suffers from low self-esteem issues when her vitiligo (a disease that causes a blotchy loss of skin color) becomes a reason for ridicule and detestation. She goes on a path of self-destruction when even the boy she falls in love with deceives her and makes fun of her skin condition. Losing all respect for herself, she gives her body to anyone who so desires, trying to find moments of joy in those encounters. She even contemplates suicide, until she meets an acid attack victim. 

Inspired by the girl’s courage, Karishma begins to find herself.  She learns to love and appreciate herself, in the process making herself strong so nothing hurled at her can hurt her anymore.

Cover Designed by Eva Crawford

How to make beautiful things is one of the first things we are taught as creatives, but moving beyond that and creating work that communicates is design.

Eva’s goal is not only to communicate, but to challenge. She has over 15 years’ experience as a multi-disciplinary designer, and her clients span the gamut: artists, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and business owners across industries. When not knee deep in a branding or design work she pursues film photography, trading pixels for silver like all wishful luddites. During all aforementioned pursuits she is a proud resident of Los Angeles. Check out her website at theaxisofeva.com

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Nineteen

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.

Pinhead

A fantasy novel being written this November by YWP participant Lexi Kamman in the United States.

Despite the extreme controversy surrounding them, Raina has grown up surrounded by voodoo dolls. Now, after a series of disasters have occurred as the result of voodooism, even people who dabble in the field of voodoo are starting to doubt its intentions. To prove everyone wrong, Raina must show the world that voodoo dolls can do more good than bad and restore her community’s faith in their culture.

Cover Designed by Christopher Simmons

Christopher Simmons is a designer, author, design advocate, and principal of the San Francisco design office, MINE . He speaks on design issues for colleges, professional associations, and media, and regularly participates as a judge for major design competitions. Christopher’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries ranging from The Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art to The Smithsonian Institution. He is the author of four books, an editor at Design Observer, and currently sits on the board of directors of AIGA, the professional association for design.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Eighteen

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 Ballad of Ought To

A science fiction novel being written this November by participant T.K. Harvestman in the United States.

The year is 2030. Zacharias, a young boy with intelligence rivaling even the most renowned scientist, is targeted by America’s pharmaceutical powerhouse to help develop machines. What he creates instead shakes the state of incurable ailments: A miracle.

After years of testing the drug, Zach is called back to the facility in his adulthood, and the now reluctant, aimless man witnesses firsthand how his medicine changes lives.

Then the side effects kick in.

The story follows Zacharias as he struggles with morality, ethics, and becoming the most loved–then hated–man on earth.

Cover Designed by Mark Dudlik

Mark Dudlik is a researcher, writer, designer, artist, and educator. He is the Director of Operations for the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts and the executive director of Lost Creature, a non-profit organization focused on culture and design. He is also co-founder of and advisor to the Chicago Design Museum. He holds a BS in Visual Communication and an MA in Design Research, Writing, and Criticism.

3 Writing Games to Help Build Up Your Word Count

Although the going can get tough during week three of NaNoWriMo, there are lots of things you can do to either catch up or keep up with your word count goal! Participant Caro Flanagan shares some of her favorite writing games to make the work of writing your novel fun again:

When I say I’m a Girl Guide leader, people usually think I’m all about knots and camping and eating s’mores. Yes, the Guiding life does include those things, but when you know a person in the wonderful world that is Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting, you are in luck–because not only do we have songs about pretty much everything, we also have activities for just about everything as well. So here are some for the days when the word count is down, the ideas run dry, and walking on the moors to aid creativity just isn’t going to happen:

1. Story Words 

This is where you write down as many objects as you can on different pieces of paper (or ask a kindred spirit to contribute some surprise words). Fold and mix the slips of paper. Then pick four from the pile. The game is that you have one minute to tell a story, bringing in the objects you’ve chosen. Writing down the objects can be done in advance too, all set for when the block hits. (Be prepared, after all!) You can also use your story words to help boost your word count when you need it.

2. Alphabet Story

Or perhaps something like the Alphabet Story is more appealing: make up a story with each word beginning with each letter of the alphabet (in the right order) e.g. “Anne Brown Came Down Every Friday… etc”. It can be a bit of fun, scribbled down on your daily commute or when you have a couple of minutes to yourself during the day and you want your mind to stay in the creative zone for when you next tackle your work in progress.

3. Group Poem

And then last, but by no means least, there’s the Group Poem. Sit yourself down and write a verse bringing in the names and something about your main characters. If you make the verse fit a well-known song, you’ve got your own theme tune for your Nano project! Maybe you’ll come up with a new idea for one of your characters and find yourself sailing to those 50,000 words.

Whatever you do, however you break through any block, above all remember that this is your unique story and only you can tell it, so don’t give up. Enjoy the journey and let that creative light shine through!

Caro Flanagan lives in Galway, Ireland, where it tends to rain a lot. Volunteering with Irish Girl Guides and working with both the Brownie and Guide age groups means she gets to meet all kinds of interesting people and see interesting places. Also, camping in the rain is character building – probably. Being only so-so at arts & crafts, writing is her pathway to creativity. Caro reads all genres and dreams of having a house with wall to wall bookcases. You can follow her on Twitter @thefirstcaro.

Top photo by Flickr user sgrace.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2016: Day Seventeen

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 Paranormal Society

A supernatural/horror novel being written this November by participant K. Ilstrup in the United States

Reginald, a small-town pawnbroker, is bored with his monotonous life. So when his old college friend Winston, an investigator of the paranormal, invites him to help with a research project, Reginald readily joins in. 

They go to a nearby hotel, where shadowy apparitions have been reported roaming in the hotel’s outer forests. The case appears straightforward, until they stumble upon a conspiracy behind the hotel itself. As they investigate, stranger events occur, including the mysterious deaths of several guests. They try to figure out what’s happening, but questions are raised: Is someone actually pulling the strings? Or will they go insane trying to put together a puzzle with too many missing pieces? 

Cover Designed by Jane Dorn

Born, raised, and bent double as a hairpin in various versions
of Small-Town Baptist USA, Jane Dorn is an educator, photographer, and graphic
designer who spends her time thinking, making, and hopefully giving more than
she takes. You can follow her on Tumblr at http://janedorn.tumblr.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jane_dorn/.