Chris Baty's Blog, page 145

"Don’t let someone dim your light, simply because it’s shining in their eyes. Not everyone will be..."

“Don’t let someone dim your light, simply because it’s shining in their eyes.

 

Not everyone will be supportive of what you’re doing. Some will balk. Some will tell you not to waste your life on pipe dreams. Some will treat your desire to write like it’s nothing more than a hobby, and will judge the way you use your time. 

 

Know that it’s not you. It’s them.

 

Shine on.”

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Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA. Growing up with people from a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds fueled her love of stories and insatiable wanderlust.

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.

"Often in interviews, you see the question, “If you could have any superpower, what would it..."

“Often in interviews, you see the question, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”

 

As a writer, you already have a pretty major one: mind control. With your words you create people, places, scenarios, problems, solutions. You trigger the firing of neurons, make people think, cause them to feel. You plant seeds that affect behavior, stimulate the imagination, boost people’s ability to empathize.

 

No, it’s not easy, and yes, self-doubt kicks in. But at the end of the day, you’ve put something into the world that wasn’t there before.”

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Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA. Growing up with people from a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds fueled her love of stories and insatiable wanderlust.

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.

"Distraction. The rapacious megalomaniac out to devour productivity. Seems like as soon as I set out..."

“Distraction. The rapacious megalomaniac out to devour productivity. Seems like as soon as I set out to achieve some writing goal or another, a handful of other things look more appealing. Social networks. YouTube. Online window-shopping… each more absorbing than the one before, and all working to keep me grounded where I am and out of my story-world.

 

My solutions: “Focus”/”Composition” mode in my word processor. Putting my cell phone in airplane mode and out of reach. Turning off my laptop’s Wi-Fi.

 

In the words of Toni Morrison: ‘Wanna fly, you got to give up the sh*t that weighs you down.’”

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Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb on the outskirts of Atlanta, GA. Growing up with people from a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds fueled her love of stories and insatiable wanderlust. 

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.

Camp Pep: The Un-glamorous, Essential Work

Camp NaNoWriMo is nothing without you, our incredible participants. Today, Lucy Hallowell, a fellow writer, offers you some Camp NaNoWrimo pep:

Okay, I have a weird confession to make. I love to go to bookstores because—oh geez, this is a little embarrassing—I like to picture my book on the shelf. Would the story I am working on have a cover like this one or would I rather one like the book over there in the corner? No, not that one; it’s creepy.

I have another confession. Sometimes, walking around the bookstore and staring at these covers really bums me out. I look at all the people who have managed to write a published novel and dwell on the fact that I haven’t.

I have two daughters. They are seven and four (and a half). While I am incredibly biased, they are fantastic kids. They are smart, funny, adventurous, and polite (most of the time). When we meet people in public, they are often complimentary of our kids.

My daughters are like the books you see on the shelf. It is so easy to walk up to them and see their cute little faces, hear them say polite things, and think, “Wow, those seem like great kids!”

What you don’t see is the middle of the night wake-ups to be fed or changed. You don’t see the time one of them spit up in my father-in-law’s mouth. You don’t hear them scream or cry. You aren’t there to pick up after them every single day. You don’t see the approximately seven hundred billion times we have told them to say “Thank you.” All you see is cute, polite kids.

It’s the same with books; at first glance, you only see how nice their cover art looks. You’re missing the other part; you’re missing the years of writing and rewriting it took to get the books on the shelf.

So, as you immerse yourself in Camp NaNoWriMo, I want to tell you to stop thinking about that book you saw on the NY Times bestseller list that seems so cool. Stop thinking about the how incredible it would be to sit behind a table and have people bring your book up in their sweaty hands to have you sign it. Stop it.

If you want all that amazing stuff, you have to do the unglamorous work. You have to change the diapers and feed the story. It’s not ready for the world yet; it’s barely born! It’s a beautiful, wonderful idea in your glorious brain. Only you can put it on the page. Only you can raise it right.

I want to see your story on the shelves of my local bookstore one day. So come on, it’s time to do the hard work.

Lucy Hallowell lives outside Boston with her wife, two daughters, chocolate Labrador puppy, and beta fish. She tried NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2010 and has been hooked on writing ever since. For the past four years she has been Contributing Writer for AfterEllen.com. Her work has also appeared on Autostraddle.com and other websites. While none of her NaNo or Camp NaNo stories have been published yet, in 2014 she published a gender-bent fairytale retelling called Dragon Slayer . You can also find her on Twitter, @lucyhallowell.

"If your process is anything like mine, your inner perfectionist will have reared their head to..."

“If your process is anything like mine, your inner perfectionist will have reared their head to demand you fix that small error on page two, and that continuity issue in chapter three, oh, and how about that characterization snafu, and maybe you should get rid of the entire first act of the book, oh, and, and, and.

 

Get rid of that voice. This is not yet the time for perfection. This is the time for creativity instead.

 

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be written.

 

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be written.

 

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be written.”

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Marieke Nijkamp is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek. Her debut young adult novel This Is Where It Ends follows four teens during the fifty-four minutes of a school shooting.

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.

"Are you in a writing flow? Pumping out words and shattering your creative goals? First of all, well..."

“Are you in a writing flow? Pumping out words and shattering your creative goals? First of all, well done! Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the moment! It’s one of the best parts of writing, when the story takes shape and slowly becomes a Real Thing™.

 

Second, help yourself pick up tomorrow where you leave off today. End on a cliffhanger. End mid-sentence. End in a place where you’re excited to continue writing, to find out—”

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Marieke Nijkamp is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek. Her debut young adult novel This Is Where It Ends follows four teens during the fifty-four minutes of a school shooting.

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books. 

Camp Pep: Your Story’s Beginning

Camp NaNoWriMo is nothing without you, our incredible participants. Today, Julie Dao, a fellow Camper, offers you some pep: 

When I first heard about NaNoWriMo, I thought it was the craziest idea ever.

Sure, I’d written 50,000 words before. It’s totally doable in a year or a few months. But 30 days? It sounded to me like a road straight to Carpal Tunnel Valley, floating on a sea of tears, sugary substances, and/or alcohol. And maybe it is for some people.

But you know what? It’s also possible.

What you have to remember is by entering Camp NaNoWriMo, you’re already doing something most people can’t even dream of.

How many times have we all heard, “Oh, I could write a novel if only… [insert lame excuse here]”? Here’s the truth: someone who constantly needs to make excuses about why they’re not writing will never write. Simple as that.

You… you’re different. You don’t make excuses, you make time, and it doesn’t matter whether you’ve ever written a word before. You’re here now, committed, because you truly want to do this. And whether you “win” or not, whether you put down 50,000 words or 50, you’ve taken a step most people don’t bother to take.

Remember that when you open up a blank document or a new notebook. Remember that when you’re struggling to find the words to put down. Remember that your story is one that only you can tell, and it will never exist if you don’t bring it into the world.

What you’re doing requires stamina and courage, because writing is essentially holding up a mirror to see what you look like on the inside. It’s tough and raw and brutal, and it’s a kind of pain—and a kind of peace—no one else really understands unless they write, too.

Be gentle with yourself, and keep your writer buddies close. Anything’s possible if you want it badly enough, and who knows where this road might lead? You might have so much fun that you decide (gasp!) to do it again in November. And maybe again this July.

Because that’s the thing about writing: it becomes a compulsion, until you can’t not do it. And as hyperbolic as this sounds, it becomes air that you can’t not breathe. At least, it has for me. Maybe this, too, will be the beginning of your lifelong love story with writing.

Wishing you an amazing Camp NaNoWriMo, friends. The world will be a better place for having your words in it!

Julie C. Dao is a native New Englander who once studied to become a doctor… until she realized the only surgery she should be doing is revising her manuscripts. When she’s not working on her books, she enjoys reading, running, and beating everyone at Pictionary. She is represented by Tamar Rydzinski of the Laura Dail Literary Agency. Visit her blog at juliedao.com.

Camp NaNoWriMo 2016 Is Here!

Camp NaNoWriMo is officially here! This April, we’re inviting you to nurture your writing project at Camp NaNoWriMo’s Creativity Garden. What’s different about Camp NaNoWriMo compared to our November novel writing month?

You can nurture any project you want, whether it’s the classic first draft of a novel, a revision, a continuation, or something completely different!You can set your own word-count goal from 30 words (one word for every day of the month) up to a million!You can find a writing group of your own in our 12-person virtual cabins.

Ready to dive in? 

Haven’t signed up yet? Do that now! (You can log in with your nanowrimo.org information, too.)Announce your April 2016 writing project.
Check out our Map to the Month.Get to writing!

So stake out your plot! We’ll see you at Camp!

Writer’s Kit: A Code for the Writing Adventurer

We’re getting ready for Camp NaNoWriMo this April! What’s in your writer’s toolkit? Today, Jesus Gutierrez, educator and writer, tells us the four codes that helped him reach new heights during his writing adventures:

So, you decided to embark on the grand adventure of writing? You wish to slay the dreaded 50K+ beast with ideas, dreams, and, most powerful of all, words? You desire to have your name remembered among the other victorious that came before you and to inspire those that come after?

Well, I commend and congratulate you on your valor and virtue, brave wordsmith. You will not be alone in this quest. Indeed, you will find others along your journey to aid you in your mission. They will offer encouragement, wisdom, advice, and a few tools of their trades that have helped them achieve success. As such, this is my provided support, keeping in mind that good preparation is essential to a successful quest. Here are a few tools and tricks that have assisted me in the past:

A Warrior Is as Good as Their Weapons and Skills

Every task requires the right instruments, so what are your preferred implements? Do you enjoy writing stories out on reams of paper? Or perhaps you need the blue shine of a computer screen? Maybe you require the company of a furry companion to relieve tension while you figure out what to do next. Whatever your necessary tools, make sure you have them at the ready when you begin your journey.

Personally, I have my R2D2 thumb drive with me at all times loaded with my current projects for whenever inspiration and opportunity strikes, along with a small Moleskine for quick notes. Also, I like to have a playlist or two available to keep the creative juices going. There’s actually a nice selection of premade lists you might find enjoyable on Spotify.

A Warrior Marches on Their Belly

Perhaps it is a cliché, but a cup of coffee (or tea—your choice) really does help with the whole writing mystique and process. Plus, it can jump start your brain to get you in the writing mood. Having a favorite snack or treat on hand can also be useful to make the writing process seem like less of a slog.

A large cup of coffee and either some cookies or chips are my go to, but I have peculiar tastes. Seriously, I could conquer the world with a bit of drive and an endless supply of Flaming Hot Cheetos.

A Warrior Is Only as Successful as Their Plan of Attack…

Whether it’s making a full outline of your story or noting just a few key bullet points, you would be amazed how much a little bit of pre-planning will help. Figure out what you want to write and try to make a schedule of which days and times you can actually put pen to paper or fingers to keys.

…But No Plan Survives First Contact

Unless you are one of those rare, well-disciplined individuals, you will most likely not meet all your daily goals and probably won’t be able to write or produce every single day. Guess what? That is perfectly okay. It is fine to take a day off, expected or not, when needed. Life happens and not every battle will be won, but as long as you can make progress, victory will be at hand.

I wish I could prescribe an exact path that would guarantee you a win, but unfortunately that is not how it works. Your Camp NaNo Kit is what you make of it and what you need. All that really matters is simply to start and to keep writing. Best of luck, brave wordsmiths.

Jesus Gutierrez is a full time teacher in South Texas working on writing and getting his work published. He loves storytelling and creation in all mediums from literature to film to random web series. He is a coffee connoisseur with an appreciation of tea, and will have endless and thoughtful conversations about almost anything. You can find him on Twitter and here on Tumblr @jeezusgut.

Top photo by Flickr user DesignsbyAshe.

Seeds of Inspiration: Let Your Ideas Come to You

We’re getting ready for Camp NaNoWriMo this April! Every writer carries seeds of inspiration; today, Laurann Herrington, NaNoWriMo participant, shares how she keeps the door open to new ideas:

Ideas for short stories, poems, and novels come from everything around me—or anyone for that matter. People inspire me. 

For example, I saw this guy at school. A quick glance at him didn’t initially reveal anything special, but then I noticed the way he walked as if he was trying to make the ground tremble and—wow—his clothes. He wore ‘70s-styled pinstriped jeans with a biker jacket. His hair was curly, almost reaching his shoulders. Everything about this guy needed to be immortalized in a book. He was just that cool.

I got another idea from an article about this old guy who celebrated his 18th birthday: his leap year birthday. Something about leap year and the people born on that day intrigued me. With that thought, ideas for a short story flooded my head. My brain started flipping out with all of these ideas, scenarios, scenes, and characters. I was in the middle of class and could hardly keep up with my teacher. Something about that article stuck in my head and I couldn’t shake the idea.

However, don’t force ideas to come. That never works and it always leaves you stressed out. Let the ideas come to you; a good way to get the ball rolling is to do something other than focus on getting ideas. Do something creative like write poetry, read poetry, draw even if you’re the worst artist that ever existed, or color in a coloring book, which has become my latest obsession. Watch a movie. I recommend Electrick Children or Almost Famous. I always watch these when I’m in a funk. Read a book. I’m currently reading Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan and Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin. Both are influencing my writing greatly.

Whatever you do, don’t drag yourself through the mud because you can’t produce. This writer’s block won’t last forever. How do I know this? Nothing lasts forever.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

And let the world inspire you.

Laurann is a writer by night and an average teenager by morning. She enjoys all things music, movie, and book-related. She is the type of girl who writes her crush’s name in Egyptian hieroglyphics so that no one will know who she likes. She has an unwavering devotion to Florence and the Machine. Her favorite authors are Carson McCullers and Rainbow Rowell. When she grows up, she wants to be happy. Other than that, there is not much to tell.

Top photo by Flickr user Carol Lee Beckx.