Chris Baty's Blog, page 230

How NaNoWriMo changed my life.

We talk a lot about the ways NaNoWriMo changes your writing. We don’t talk quite as much about the ways NaNoWriMo changes your life.

This week, the Office of Letters and Light and NaNoWriMo are in the running for the Chase Community Giving contest, an annual event in which nonprofit organizations can win a share of a five million dollar prize. The top vote-getter receives $250,000, an amount of money that would have a profound impact on an organization as small as ours.

We’ve heard from awesome and passionate writers who tell us they want to support NaNoWriMo but don’t have the funds to do it quite yet. We love you for that. We need you now.

We’ve talked in a lot of places about what the money would do for us. I want to talk about why NaNoWriMo matters to me beyond what it does for my writing.

When I started participating in NaNoWriMo, back in 2002, I was in my last year of my university degree in English and I was struggling. I felt like I didn’t really know where my life was going, which is obviously a ridiculously common feeling for people staring down graduation armed only with a liberal arts degree. But it was hard on me, and I was feeling adrift in life. My grades were slipping, my attendance was appalling, and my future was starting to feel a little bit bleak. I wrote as much as I needed to in order to barely skate by in my writing classes, but I’d forgotten that I used to write for the sheer joy of it.

And then I found out about NaNoWriMo.

My novel that year was pretty lousy, even by NaNoWriMo standards. But it wasn’t the story that changed me. It was the rediscovery of the joy I could find in something I was creating, the reminder that even when the real world felt a little bleak, there was always magic waiting for me in my imagination.

Over the next several years, as I tried to figure out what I was doing with my life, NaNoWriMo was my constant. It gave me something to look forward to during one of the darkest months of the year, and its community gave me a place to belong at a time in my life when everything else felt a little bit overwhelming. 

It’s changed my life in so many other ways, but it’s that sense of belonging that has probably meant the most to me. And it’s a story I hear from so many other people. What NaNoWriMo has meant to them. How it’s been a safe space, a port in a storm, a community in the truest sense of the world.

We want to help people write novels and rediscover their creative impulses. But we also want to help creative people find a place where they belong. 

Your vote for NaNoWriMo and OLL not only helps us win more money, but it shows the world the power of a community that begins in the virtual world and expands into the real world. It’s that combined power of the virtual and the physical that makes NaNoWriMo so magical, and we’re rallying our incredible, indispensable and unfailing community to get out the vote. 

Reblog this on Tumblr. Post about it on your Facebook wall. Tweet it to the world. Help us spread the word about NaNoWriMo and what it’s meant to you. We want to hear how NaNoWriMo has changed your life, and if it has, we hope it’s worth a vote.

— Sarah

Holy Smokes, I’ve Arrived in NaNoLand!

Hello Wrimos,

I’m happy to find myself in NaNoLand with a nifty computer, a staff of superheroes, and a sweets factory right next door! As one of the latest interns at the OLL, it feels like I’ve fallen into a foreign land where Wrimos rule the (imaginary) world,  where Campers hold sentences over a fire until the words reach that special marshmallow-y goodness, and where caffeine is… well, caffeine. I’m even learning the cool new language of Wrimo-verse (does that word exist yet?).

Let me tell you a little about myself.

I love to travel to foreign lands, both the imaginary ones and the real ones. I’ve backpacked through South America and Europe, and most recently returned from a three-month backpacking trip through the lush jungles and crowded chicken buses of Central America. Now, that I’ve settled back into my hometown of the Bay Area, I hope to gain inspiration for my imaginary world. I’m working on a novel about a 12-year-old boy named Dillon Pikne (AKA Dill Pickle) who learns that an earthquake might not be the best way to escape from a pickle jar. I’ll tell you a little more about that one day soon.

On the more professional side of life, I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara with a B.A. in English Literature and Psychology. I work part-time at the International House at UC Berkeley and volunteer at Room to Read, an organization that brings books to underprivileged children around the world. As you can probably tell, I want my life to stretch out into the world even while I’m enjoying the company of my furry sidekick Leila or strolling the story-filled streets of Berkeley. I blame it on growing up in San Francisco where zooming BART trains shoot you to all ends of the earth… or so it felt like when I was a kid.

And now I’m here in NaNoLand, ready for the adventure to begin! I’m here to tumble with you through this noveling journey. Are you ready?

— Andrea 

And We're Back!

Hey, it’s me again! As a NaNoWriMo intern for the second year in a row, I’m feeling a bit of déjà vu writing my new intro blog. It’s still the same Ari, but a little different. First things first: my hair! When I started interning at OLL last year, I sported a pixie cut. Now it’s longer. I find strands of it in the sink every morning, and I’ve realized my ambitions for it can never be fully realized because I don’t know how to do fancy stuff with it.

For those who are getting to know me for the first time, I’m Ari. On top of reading and writing, I have a love for tea, video games, blues guitar, typography, and technology. So what have I been up to besides growing my hair out?

I’ve made a game out of being a graduate of the humanities, and it involves acquiring as many part-time positions as possible! So far I got a gig as a graphic designer, and another as a contributing writer for a game website. I’ve also been copy-editing erotic fiction as a side hustle (using the term “hustle” pretty loosely, as copy-editing isn’t a particularly lucrative job). And finally, kittens!

This really needs no explanation, but I will provide one anyway. Due to financial reasons, I can’t actually own any animals. So I did the next best thing and have begun fostering kittens from the local SPCA. The one on my shoulder is named Scout, and he is sweet as can be. The one drawback about this arrangement is the part where I give them back. Way to promote some serious separation anxiety, SPCA!

I’m so excited to be sitting in this seat again. Being back at OLL is like coming across an old sweater in the back of your dresser, and finding it still has that fleecy warmth you thought you didn’t miss when you were running around in the August heat. I willingly wrap myself in it, and wait for a breeze to roll in. Come and join me by the fire. Sip a hot cocoa. I missed you guys.

— Ari

What Doctor Who Taught Me About Inspiration

I used to have this recurring dream as a kid. I’d be sitting in a park somewhere, or at the dinner table, or in a classroom, and suddenly the sky would blink open, or the roof would come apart, and this hand would reach out, palm open, waiting for me to take hold.

It sounds a little terrifying written down like that, but they were never nightmares. I always felt this excitement in my gut, because I knew that as soon as I took that hand, I would be flung into a new adventure: I’d wake up to find myself in an undiscovered Incan ruin, or the bowels of space.

I think those dreams are a part of the reason I fell so hard for Doctor Who. A show about a dapper, well-coiffed alien, with a twinkle in his eye, a time machine at his beck and call, and a firm belief in his companion’s innate greatness? Sold and sold.

The other part is that, as a writer, I think the Doctor personified the way I thought of inspiration. I would be going about my daily life when Dr. Muse would crash into my backyard, invite me onto his ship, and guide me toward discovering new lands. As the muse’s companion, I was always a writer waiting: waiting to be inspired, waiting to be shown incredible things.

Lately, though, I’m realizing that it might be okay to have greater ambitions. You can only be a companion for so long, after all. To aspire to be the Doctor himself—the eye-opener rather than the tourist—seems a little laughable, a little egotistical. Honestly, it’s a little scary. But, hey, so is deciding to write a novel in thirty days.

Besides, the Doctor has a lot to teach us about being our own inspiration generator:

1. Be curious about your world. Ask questions. The Doctor’s maintained a pretty boundless interest in things for someone around 900 years old. There’s a particular humility in approaching every situation as new, as an opportunity to learn something.

I have a friend who I admire because she’s so great at asking questions. Usually, in a conversation, I trickle down to silence within a few minutes, but she can come up with real, engaging questions without breaking a sweat. I told her once that I admired her for it, and she said, “I don’t know. If you try hard enough, you can make yourself genuinely interested in most people.” Haha, it felt like a sick burn at the time, but it’s stuck with me as one of the more valuable pieces of wisdom I’ve ever heard.

2. Keep your eyes open and soak in the details. Totally related to the above, yes. But what’s the point of venturing out if you don’t bother to actually observe? It’s the details that can set your inspiration alight, whether it’s noticing the tics and habits of the tattooed bassist at the bakery next door, or the window placement at Alcatraz.

Plus, practicing avoiding blinking will be useful if you ever come across a Weeping Angel.

3. Remember and record your observations. I have small flashes of insight when I’m formulating a story: snippets of conversation, or a character flaw, or the perfect setting for a confrontation. I never write them down, and always go on o regret it.

Don’t be me. Write these down, tell them to a friend, recite them to yourself over and over…whatever you have to do to preserve them. What can seem as innocuous as a crack in your bedroom wall can lead you to the perfect moment of crisis for the story you want to tell.

4. Have utter faith in your people. This counts for your characters hardcore. Whether they’re villains or heroes, saints or irredeemable, believing in them and knowing them as fully as you can could spell the difference between having them come through for you in a pinch, and being totally abandoned by them just as the Pandorica opens. Sympathize with their strengths and weaknesses. Find the gap in their morality, or the glimmer of light in their pitch-dark, Dalek soul.

Have faith in your future readers, too. Sometimes, it can be hard to believe that there’s someone out there who your words will speak to, who could have a little revelation because of a story you poured your heart into…

Don’t give into doubt. Take your readers away, Author. They’re waiting out there. Show them incredible things.

Photo by Flickr user ShellyS

The OLL-iverse: Starlog 12

Happy September! This Week in Review is brought to you by Ari! Who’s that, you say? More on that below.

NaNoWriMo

The 2012 swag is finally here! So far the office favorite has been the Nutritional Facts thermos, with a list of all the active ingredients that make for a great novel.
We also interviewed Nic Buron, the designer for this year’s NaNo shirts and stickers. In the meantime, NaNoWriMo draws closer. Sit tight, November. We’re coming for you!
Speaking of which, we’ve begun recruiting classrooms and libraries to take part with us this year. People can learn about Come Write In Libraries and follow the link to sign up!
And ML Applications are almost done. Hooray!

Facebook & Twitter

@NaNoWriMo has been weighing the option of acquiring an office lizard. One of our followers suggested the name Eddie Lizzard, which several of us found pretty endearing. We could even sew him little dresses! Cast your votes: Eddie Lizzard 2012.
Our beloved Program Director, Lindsey Grant, is getting married! This week’s writing prompt is a toast to the happy couple.

In the Office & Elsewhere

With the busy season upon us, OLL has acquired some fresh interns! Stay tuned for their intro posts. 
Visitors galore: Community Liaison Sarah Mackey has been in the office with us, and will be until late next week, and Chris Baty made an appearance on Thursday to sign some books. Hooray!

¡Bienvenidos!

Greetings and salutations, fellow Wrimos! My name is Hilary and I have the absolute pleasure of introducing myself as one of the newest interns at The Office of Letters and Light. (An organization whose name has been brought to my attention as sounding like it’s something straight out of Harry Potter… and I honestly couldn’t be more thrilled about that!)

I graduated from Texas Tech University (Wreck ‘em, Tech!) with a degree in English and a minor in music. I’m a native of El Paso, Texas and just became a resident of the Bay Area as of Saturday. As you can imagine, quite a few major changes have been happening in my life as of late; however, it’s easy to say that the most thrilling development is coming to work for the fine people of this office! I am beyond psyched to be a part of the team and can’t wait to delve into the festivities by helping you embark on your own NaNoWriMo adventures.

Enough of the formalities, you say? Fair enough! Let’s see, what else is there to know about me… I love all things pertaining to moose (although I am known to incorrectly say “meese”). I have to limit myself to reading only six different books at a time or else things get a little crazy. Like many others, music is my lifeline and I seem to perpetually have a song stuck in my head (at this very second it’s “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates, in case you were wondering). I can quote Arrested Development, Friends, and any Wes Anderson film like nobody’s business. I have yet to see a Disney movie that hasn’t made me cry. And I am legitimately freaked out by the plethora of spiders that seemingly reside in Northern California.

Obviously, giving an account of my entire life story would be a snooze-fest for most of you, so those are just some highlights. I’ll save the rest for my memoir or for any of you willing to ask! I’m very much looking forward to working with and getting to know all of you, so don’t be shy.

Now let’s get this show on the road! C’mon, all you Wrimos out there, let’s dance! (I mean figuratively of course, seeing as how I’m a horrific dancer… But if you ask nicely, I may bust a move in your honor.)

— Hilary

Camp NaNoWrimo 2012: Attack of the Stats

Stat attack! The sun has set on Camp NaNoWriMo 2012, and it was radical. Awesome. Kick-butt. Totally math.

We took the courtesy of creating a few infographics for your viewing pleasure. There are line graphs, bar graphs, a quote…there’s even a map highlighting the ten countries with the most NaNoWriMo participants. You can even hover over those countries to see hard numbers. It’s enough to make a data geek’s eyes bug out.

To consume Camp data in pretty visualized form, read on. Also, what do you mean ‘have we been pushing vitamins into your marshmallows all this time’? Ridiculous.

Photo by Flickr user Bob Elderberry

Your Story Matters

Last week, Chris Baty, Chris Angotti, and Grant Faulkner returned from their trip to Alaska. All they could talk about was the abundance of storytelling in that great state. Nikki Hyson, one of our favorite Wrimos, met them there, and wowed with her love for writing, then went on to win the Book Doctors’ Pitchapalooza.

We asked her to write a note to you, fellow storytellers. Read on for her mash note to the NaNoWriMo community:

Your story matters. Three little words wound together to form a spell capable of indescribable power to any daring to wield it. Power capable of granting freedom, faith and safety. Freedom to put pen to paper and step through a door of your own design. Faith in the twisting path under your feet as it leads you over mountains, through valleys and across oceans to an end that is yours in the telling. Safety in the knowledge that you don’t have to be alone if you don’t want to be.

Your story matters. Three champions step forward, gold nibs glinting with the first hint of dawn. As one they smile though each is uniquely different than the one beside him. They are the King that Was, the King that Is, and the Guardian of Young Possibilities. They have crossed realms far and wide to share their message, but more importantly they have come to listen because…Your story matters.

This bit of whimsy may have been the last thing Grant expected when he asked me to write a guest blog about my week with him, Chris Baty, and Chris Angotti in Craig, Alaska. Then again, it might be just what he wanted. After all, how else would a gal who writes “elf chick lit” see the world around her? And that is the point, isn’t it? That each of us is filled to bursting with our own unique stories to tell so that everyone can see, hear, and feel them. That our story…your story, matters.

I spent a week watching and listening to three utterly ordinary and extraordinary guys who are passionate about one thing. We went for walks through a fishing town. We shared meals and bounced along dirt roads between libraries. We even went fishing and shared a box of Bonine seasick pills. They each told great stories.

What will I remember most? Chris Angotti catching a really nice salmon? Grant Faulkner searching for the perfect birthday present? Chris Baty explaining how to eat sushi when he realized I’d never had it before? Tough choice, and I could never choose between them. Actually, it was when each one, in a quiet moment, asked me for a bit of my own story and then listened. 

Your story matters. It isn’t just three little words. It’s a way of life.

Q&A with Nic Buron, NaNoWriMo 2012 Designer

NaNoWriMo and YWP 2012 shirts, posters, and other goodies are now available, and are pretty spectacular. We have to tip our hats to Nic Buron, who was the man behind much of the design goodness on display. We sat him down for one of the OLL’s typically hard-hitting, in-depth interviews.

Read on to find out what inspired Nic while designing for NaNoWriMo, how the Big Bang plays into his future novel plans, and his ongoing relationship with Taylor Swift:

Nicky B. Let’s talk about your design influences. Be as pretentious as possible. 

Don’t dare me! The list of influences is very long. The Internet, in all of its glory, has been an amazing tool for me to connect with working designers all around the world. For this project one of my major influences was the aesthetic of the old UPA cartoons.

I owe so much to those who have come before me, and especially to the people making work now. I’m endlessly impressed by my peers (it feels weird even calling them peers).

You designed the NaNo poster, the YWP poster, the buttons, stickers, our t-shirts…I know they’re all your kids, but let’s be real, parents have favorites. Which is yours and why? 

That is a tough one. For me it’s between the buttons and the stickers. I’m an avid button maker, as you know [EDITOR’S NOTE: Fun fact, I have a Nic Buron button with Timbo Slice written across it]. But, like all parents I have a clear favorite—the stickers.  

You are making your own Venn diagram. What three things intersect in order to perfectly encapsulate you? 

Pizza, magazines, and North Indian classical music. 

Of the many things listed on our YWP Brain, which would you say occupies the most brainspace for you:

Dragon Eggs
Plucky Orphans
Mischievous Giraffes
Other 

Definitely Mischievous Giraffes! 

If you ever took the plunge and wrote your own novel, where would the big climactic moment take place? Explain yourself. 

The climatic moment would take place 14 billion years in the past, at the edge of our perceivable universe, moments before the monolith that formed said universe was splintered by the big bang—forming all that we know and will ever know.  

That, or a hot air balloon fight above the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Please tell your Taylor Swift story. 

I’m tempted to plead the fifth, but instead I’ll keep it vague (what happened will stay between Taylor and I).  

We met, and she made me blush in front of a crowd of 5,000 people. Side note: my favorite song for about the past 3 months has been “Safe and Sound” from the Hunger Games soundtrack. Seriously, it’s amazing.

The OLL-iverse: Starlog 11

We are now officially on the other side of August! Congratulations to all you Campers who won, and to all you Campers who strove valiantly to win. What is it you deserve? That’s right, a big ol’ gold star, slapped right across your forehead (the Camp poster will have to stand in your place for now).

Today’s recap is brought to you by Tim, who got a little gif-happy in his quest to properly convey our excitement at your Camp NaNo victories.

Camp NaNoWriMo:

Winning is for the cool folks, trying is for the best folks. Thank you to everyone who Camped with us this June and August!
Lindsey offered up a final pep talk as a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure. Did the shark/blowfish get you?
Ben, our beloved camp counselor intern, shares the many ways you can help to keep Camp NaNoWriMo going.

Facebook & Twitter:

It’s the last day of summer! Tell us what you did on your vacation. Or for those of you not in our hemisphere, tell us what winter shenanigans you got up to.
@NaNoWriMo gets pretty braggy about the 2012 NaNoWriMo merchandise. I mean, fair.

NaNoWriMo

Speaking of that merchandise! Fashion show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch!:
 
 

In the Office & Elsewhere:

We had a visit from the awesome Michaela (SP?) today, a Wrimo extraordinaire who stopped by during a trip to California won from Radio Disney. If you’re reading this, a super enthusiastic hi!
To round out this post’s gif-love theme, check out Nathan Bransford’s description of the publishing process. I will never, ever get tired of this one.