Chris Baty's Blog, page 163
July 7, 2015
The Secret Key to Inspiration
Today, we kick off our Everyday Inspiration summer drive, inspired by, well, you. NaNoWriMo’s head honcho, Grant Faulkner, shares about the first time he encountered the incredible creative spirit of the NaNoWriMo community, and how it changed his life:
In one of my first years of doing NaNoWriMo, I was greeted with NaNoMail from a writer named Contemplative Cat. I didn’t know who she was, but she asked, “Would you like some cheer-leading and encouragement and nudging this next month?”
As a personal policy, I never turn down cheer-leading and encouragement. As for nudging, well, that depends on how it’s delivered. But I said yes anyway. I didn’t know what to expect, but I started getting daily missives about my novel, The Fantasist, a story about a 16-year-old boy from a troubled home who runs away to try to live with his favorite fantasy author…
Contemplative Cat wrote things like, “What if young Festus met a traveler of Romanian descent who offers him some tidbit of mysterious information?” Or, “He’s in another state and wanders into a convenience store to buy some chips. The map section catches his eye and he checks out one of them. As he casually traces the compass design at the top, it starts to glow and change.”
I loved Contemplative Cat’s prompts because I hadn’t experienced such a capering spirit in other writing communities I’d been involved in. I was used to people dividing up into cliques, writing entirely alone, and then entering a somewhat forbidding circle of others to get unsparing feedback. Contemplative Cat’s comments, however, were generous and whimsical—fun imaginative gifts to unwrap each day before writing.
I decided to accept every prod she gave me, and it made the entire creative act into a joyful game, a whimsical puzzle, not the plodding and ponderous task I tended to make writing into. Other NaNo writers connected with me as well and offered me similar encouragement. This was the beginning of a shift for me: I realized how important it is to create with the flow of energy from others. By emphasizing the solitary aspect of writing, I’d lost the wonder that’s sparked when “playing” with others.
As Picasso famously said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
The word inspiration literally means to breathe in. For me that means breathing in the oxygen of my NaNo community of creators.
Every year, thousands of people break down the barricades of their to-do lists and dive into their creative selves during NaNoWriMo. They are galvanized by the fantastic community energy of what feels like the entire world writing with them.
At the end, we hold a precious gift in our hands: a novel. It might be a messy novel. It might be a novel with a hole in the middle, or a rushed ending. But it’s a creation that we gave birth to only with the cheer-leading, encouragement, and nudges from thousands of Contemplative Cats.
I thank you Contemplative Cat, and the whole NaNoWriMo community, for giving me this gift. I take it with me every day I write, in November and beyond.
— Grant
Our Everyday Inspiration campaign will run for the next couple of weeks! Every bit you contribute will go towards our programs and our mission to build a more creative world that values everyone’s right to tell their story. Plus, you’ll receive our NaNo Inspiration kit, with a pep talk from authors like John Green, Mitali Perkins, and Neil Gaiman. Donate today!
July 6, 2015
"The promise of a reward works wonders for generating writing motivation. I make sure to line up a..."
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Steven dos Santos is a Team Member of We Need Diverse Books. Steven is a passionate advocate of LGBT rights and is currently working on the third book in The Torch Keeper series.
Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.
July 3, 2015
Camp Pep: Why Reckless Abandon is Crucial for Writing
Are you tackling a writing project this July at Camp NaNoWriMo? Our incredible participants have words of wisdom to share with their fellow writers. Today, Shannon advises you to face the blank page with reckless abandon:
Reckless abandon. These words are my guide for Camp this July, and they’re words I want to share with you.
Now, I’m not saying that reckless abandon is the best way to live all aspects of life (safety is important!), but when it comes to writing, reckless abandon means shutting your cabin door in the face of your inner editor, and creating a whirlwind of written excitement. This isn’t the time to worry about inconsistencies and plot holes. This is the time to write and explore.
There is no better time for spontaneity and adventure than summer vacation…
Camp is a time to push out of your comfort zone with your writing for the next month. Explore and experiment. You have the opportunity to open your brain up to new ideas that you hadn’t imagined you could handle.
If you look at one of those Big, Strange, Wonderful ideas, and you say to yourself, “I don’t know, self. That’s a little out of my comfort zone. I already know that I can do this other Thing well, so maybe I’ll stick to that…” that’s how you know that you should give it a try.
Nothing brilliant has ever come from shying away from something new. Whether it’s a new genre, new target audience, new format, new voice, new character traits, or new plot twists: embrace them. Throw caution to the wind, exclaim, “I’m on vacation!” and dive into that new adventure.
Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, be bold, Campers. Dive into the deep end– without your water wings if you dare. Try that new thing, then try it backwards. Take risks. Reap the rewards. You’re on break: free to roam and explore and discover things about you and your writing that you never thought you would.
Write with reckless abandon, friend.
And have an awesome July.
Shannon Raymond is a 21 year-old YA novel enthusiast whose camp activities include hiding from direct sunlight and sneaking books into her cabin. When she’s not writing about ten year-olds running their own utopia, she’s watching teenage werewolves on TV or making something she saw on Pinterest. You can find her geeking out over on Twitter @shannonmray.
Top photo by Flickr user Justin Ornellas.
July 2, 2015
"Be honest with yourself about finding the space and time for writing in your life. Are you sure you..."
This might mean writing on your breaks during work, sacrificing some TV time, or devoting the last half hour of your day before bed to your draft. If you don’t want to rearrange your schedule for writing every day, find the time where your writing will work for you.”
- Shelby Gibbs, and Camp NaNoWriMo HQ.
July 1, 2015
"Finding yourself at a loss for which scene to write next? I have the solution: pick a genre or style..."
If you’re feeling lovey-dovey, write a romantic scene! Perhaps you’re a little bored with your everyday and want to venture into new worlds? Setting your characters out on a fantasy or adventure should do the trick! Or, write a bit of a comedy to compliment your current sunny mood.”
- Shelby Gibbs, and Camp NaNoWriMo HQ. Happy Camp NaNoWriMo! Need more inspiration and encouragement? Check out all the Camp goings-on in the July 2015 Map to the Month.
June 26, 2015
Introducing Your 2015 July Camp NaNoWriMo Guides
Camp is always better with a buddy. This July, we’ve asked seven YouTubers to document their progress during Camp. They’ll share the lessons they’ve learned, the advice they wish they’d gotten, and the encouragement and solidarity that comes from writing alongside thousands of people around the world!
Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with your fellow Camp writers, including:
Brista Drake has a passion for writing; her first book, Remedy for Memory, is published now, and she hopes to produce many more. She is currently enrolled to attend university in the fall, for creative writing and art. Follow her writing journey on her YouTube channel, WritingMime, where she talks about book editing and writing. Let’s get started; those words don’t write themselves, ya’ know!
Cherie M. is an eighteen-year-old girl who is constantly thinking about books, reading books, making videos about books, and writing books. She has participated in NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo, and won both times. She loves traveling, daydreaming, and has a severe cereal obsession. She is also studying Korean. Cherie’s YouTube channel can be summed up in two words: books and writing! Her channel is all about discussing good books (and some bad books) and tips for writing good books (and not bad books).
The WordNerds ramble about writing, publishing and all things YA books! They have daily vlogs about all the bookish topics, and every Sunday at 7:30pm EST all six of the WordNerds do a Hangout On Air where they answer live questions from their viewers. If you love books, then you’re their people! You can subscribe to the WordNerds here. The WordNerds include:
Calyn Morgan is a writer of YA science fiction and horror who is obsessed with the unknown and all three Back to the Future movies. She makes unintentionally inspirational vlogs, and has been known to submerse herself in the Supernatural fandom. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, daughter, and two fur babies. Catch up with her on Twitter @OhCalyn.
Erica Crouch is an author, vlogger, and an avid book hoarder obsessed with goats, the 1920s, and characters who don’t exist. She has a strange blended aesthetic of cute and spooky, and her books reflect her ever-changing mood. Read about the weird stuff she’s up to at ericacrouch.com.
Emma Gisclair is an aspiring writer, a library assistant, and an overall nerd located in Central Florida. When she isn’t nose deep in a book, she can be found at one of the many theme parks around her (and probably tweeting pictures of the Hogwarts castle). You can follow her on Twitter.
Kellie Sheridan is an author/vlogger/book manager from Ontario, Canada… it’s basically all books all the time. When not reading or writing she can be found online talking about reading and writing. Or curled up with her dog, watching far too much Netflix. Find out more at her blog.
Meghan Jashinsky grew up in the oldest city in the United States, and all of its local ghost stories fueled her passion for writing dark,twisty books. She received a B.A. in Linguistics, and creates educational children’s videos for her day job. You can follow Meghan’s bookish exploits at her blog.
Erin Latimer is a young adult fantasy writer who was born and raised in Victoria, BC and recently moved to Vancouver. She writes books, makes silly vlogs about writing and reads excessively. Find out more at elatimer.com.
June 24, 2015
You Inspire Me: To a Partner Who Always Makes Time to Write
Writing isn’t as solitary a pursuit as many think. Inspiration comes in many forms, but most often, it comes in the shape of people. All month long, we’re asking writers to write a Not-So-Secret-Admirer’s Note to the people who’ve inspired them to take up the pen. Today, participant Amanda N. Butler writes our final note to her NaNoWriMo supporter and fiancé:
Dear Matt,
A major factor of my exuberant “Yes!” to your proposal is our mutual support of each other. Since Day One, you have supported me through homework, internships, new jobs—and NaNoWriMo!
One of my favorite memories will always be sitting next to you, frantically scribbling the day’s word count goal (because I like to torture myself with manuscripts in long-hand) as you wrote your play next to me in silent support, stopping only for quick, intermittent kisses. With you and writing being my two passions, I am grateful for this synthesis.
I watch you come home from work every day and still make time to write. In this, you have inspired me to continue writing, no matter what. You support every story pitch and give me a giant hug after every project submitted. Because of you, I am inspired to do something for my writing every day, even if it’s jotting down a note for my works-in-progress.
And for all this, I am eternally grateful. I can’t wait for the rest of our lives.
Your fiancée and not-so-secret admirer,
Amanda
Amanda N. Butler writes fiction and poetry. She won NaNoWriMo 2014 as well as four Camp NaNoWriMo sessions under the username arsamandica. She likes mythology, Rapunzel, cupcakes, and daydreaming of saving the world from zombies. Her first chapbook, Tableau Vivant, will be published by Dancing Girl Press this fall. She can be found blogging at arsamandica.wordpress.com.
Top photo by Flickr user cogdogblog.
June 22, 2015
Camp NaNoWriMo & We Need Diverse Books Present: Your July 2015 Camp Counselors
Camp NaNoWriMo’s July session is nearly here, which means it’s time to introduce you to your new Camp Counselors! Just like in April, We Need Diverse Books and NaNoWriMo have partnered to ask four amazing authors to provide mentorship, encouragement, advice, and, sometimes, the occasional comfort after a particularly tough scene.
Find support through virtual Care Packages. You can find them in your Camp inbox! (We’ll also share those packages here on Tumblr.)Prepare to tackle your writing project by joining our #WNDBNaNo tweet-chat this Wednesday, June 24, at 3 PM PDT!
The Camp Counselors
WNDB and Camp NaNoWriMo are thrilled to introduce you to this month’s Camp Counselors:
Steven dos Santos is a Team Member of We Need Diverse Books. The first novel of his Young Adult post-apocalyptic “The Torch Keeper” series, The Culling, was named an ALA 2014 Rainbow List Top Ten Selection. The sequel, entitled The Sowing, was released on March 8, 2014. Steven is a passionate advocate of LGBT rights and is currently working on the third book in The Torch Keeper series.
Karen Sandler is the author of nineteen novels for adults, as well as Tankborn, Awakening, and Rebellion, a YA science fiction trilogy from multi-cultural publisher Lee and Low Books. An enthusiastic advocate of diversity in children’s literature, she is a founding team member of We Need Diverse Books.
B A Binns is an award-winning African American author of contemporary, multicultural YA novels and adult short stories, including the 2010 YALSA Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers novel, Pull. She finds writing the perfect follow-up to her life as an adoptive parent and cancer survivor and teaches classes to writers on inserting diversity into their works.
Dhonielle Clayton hails from the Washington, D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side. She is a librarian at Harlem Village Academies and co-founder of CAKE Literary, a creative kitchen whipping up decadent — and decidedly diverse — literary confections for middle grade, young adult, and women’s fiction readers. She is the author of Tiny Pretty Things with Sona Charaipotra, and her new fantasy series The Belles hits shelves soon from Disney/Hyperion.
More than just a hashtag, We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a grassroots nonprofit organization created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority narratives in children’s literature. WNDB is committed to the ideal that embracing diversity will lead to acceptance, empathy, and ultimately equality. Its future initiatives include a Diversity in the Classroom program, diverse author grants and awards, and the first ever Diversity Festival in 2016. Volunteer & sign up for its mailing list at diversebooks.org, or follow WNDB on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram!
June 19, 2015
You Inspire Me: To a Relentlessly Encouraging Writing Group Leader
Writing isn’t as solitary a pursuit as many think. Inspiration comes in many forms, but most often, it comes in the shape of people. All month long, we’re asking writers to write a Not-So-Secret-Admirer’s Note to the people who’ve inspired them to take up the pen. Today, participant Emily Anne celebrates a writing group leader who acts relentless creation enabler:
Dear Lauren,
When I moved to Boston almost three years ago, I knew I wanted to write more, and I knew I’d need support to do it. Finding Quite Write got me excited; the first time I attended a session, I knew I was home. You are exactly the kind of leader a writing group should have: supportive, welcoming, sympathetic to our setbacks and happy for our successes.
I’d never felt comfortable talking to about my struggles with writing before, but your honesty and energy have made Quite Write a safe space for all of us to acknowledge the challenges and frustrations of the writing life, and motivate each other to power through them.
But I have to be honest with you, Lauren—you’re not what you appear to be. No one would guess that behind your laid-back exterior lies a relentless enabler, and yet when the subject of NaNoWriMo came up in the fall of 2013, I learned first-hand how you refuse to take no for an answer. Now thanks to your persuasion, I have a draft of a novel that’s getting better and better with each revision, and proof that even 50,000 words in 30 days isn’t too big a hurdle as long as I don’t give up along the way.
I thought I was lucky just to find a writing group I felt comfortable participating in; I never expected to get a good friend out of the bargain.Thank you for the cookies, the commiseration, and the companionship, but most of all, thank you for believing in me. Your encouragement has helped keep my writing flame lit when I feared it was nearly extinguished, and I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without you.
Love and cannibals,
Emily
An alum of Mount Holyoke College, Emily hails from Boston, where she works for an education-reform nonprofit by day and writes genre-mashup urban fantasy fiction by night. She reviews books and discusses representation in various geeky media forms on her blog. What little spare time she has left is devoted to road trips with friends, crafts and cooking, and her cat, whose name isn’t actually Fatty Lumpkin, but it should be.
Top photo by Flickr user CJ Sorg.
June 17, 2015
You Inspire Me: To Teachers Who Give Kids a Voice
Writing isn’t as solitary a pursuit as many think. Inspiration comes in many forms, but most often, it comes in the shape of people. All month long, we’re asking writers to write a Not-So-Secret-Admirer’s Note to the people who’ve inspired them to take up the pen. Today, participant Heather Bennett thanks a teacher who gave her her voice:
Dear Mrs. Rascoe,
It started simply enough. You asked your first grade class to write a story. I remember writing a story about a little girl being sad that the leaves were falling from the trees until one of the falling leaves told the little girl not to be sad because she had so much fun twirling to the ground. It was short. It was simple; but you liked it so much, you brought me across the hall to read my story to the bigger kids in second grade.
That day you created a writer.
I’ve had amazing teachers along the way. My eighth grade teacher took my awful, angst-y, tween-before-there-was-such-a-thing stories and critiqued them in her “spare time” to encourage me to keep writing.
I went on to graduate college with a BA in English, with a Concentration in Creative Writing. Today, my job requires me to be creative on a daily basis. I’ve made friends all around the world because of the words I’ve written and the stories I’ve created. My life revolves around telling stories and if someone was to connect the dots, they’d trace it all back to you.
You showed me, a shy little six year old, that I had a voice. You made me feel important and like I could do something. You made me feel like I had something to say, and I haven’t stopped speaking since.
You made me a writer.
Heather Bennett is the Operations and Marketing Manager for the Philadelphia based nonprofit Career Wardrobe. She’s a transplant from West Sayville, NY to Philadelphia, PA. When she’s not in local coffee shops mimicking the expressions of the characters she’s writing for her current manuscripts, she is living up to her Crazy Cat Lady title by raising 3 cats and cheering on the Phillies. She’s a NaNoWriMo participant, completing the challenge five of six times and still working on the dreaded edits!
Top photo by Flickr user hellojenuine.
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