Chris Baty's Blog, page 92

What’s your NaNoWriMo Horoscope?

What does your astrological sign say about your writing? What will help and what will hinder you on your journey to finish a draft of a novel? We’ve put together a fun chart to predict how your November will go, complete with writing prompts!

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Bold and determined, you dive right into every ambitious challenge—including NaNoWriMo. Sometimes you plan, but you prefer to charge forward into the month armed with nothing more than your pen. You may be tempted to throw the occasional writing-related temper tantrum, but remember: the first draft is supposed to be a mess. Just breathe deep and channel that fearless Aries within. You got this.

Prompt: Something explodes (literally or metaphorically) in your next scene.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

You enjoy the finer things in life. In a perfect world, you’d write your novel while reclining on a sofa, sipping cappuccinos and nibbling on dark chocolate. Heck, maybe you’d even dictate it. But you’re also not afraid to roll up your sleeves and type your way through a plot hole. What others see as stubbornness you see as persistence—either way, it’s going to take you to 50K. Just remember to treat yourself when the going gets tough.

Prompt: Channel your bull in a china shop—cram something big into a small space in your next scene.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

You’re so busy this month, it feels like you’ll need to double yourself to reach your word-count goal. But then again, you’re busy every month—it’s not your fault you have so many passions! Your novel is governed by Mercury, the messenger god, and you fly from one idea to the next, always racing ahead to the next plot point or twist. Stick to one novel, and you’ll wing your way to November 30.

Prompt: Gemini are known for being chatty, so in your next scene, give a character a non-stop monologue. Let no amount of interruptions stop their flow!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

You’re intuitive and caring. You pick up on feelings and vibes not everyone notices, and it’s important for you to create a safe, cozy space, both for living and for writing (pillow fort noveling den, anyone?). Just like you, your characters might take a little time and extra attention to open up, but keep at it! They’ll surprise you with hidden depth.

Prompt: Cancer is a water sign, represented by a crab. In your next scene, fully submerge a character (bonus points if you keep their eyes open).

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Look, was NaNoWriMo made for you or was made it for you? It’s the ideal opportunity to indulge your joy in the spotlight, while also flexing your secret superpower: loyal consistency. Draw on your natural storytelling ability when you’re confronted by the blank page. Be careful, though: it’s going to be incredibly easy for you to neglect your writing (and your creative self) for social events. This month, let your characters bask in your light. Your friends love you, and they’ll wait.

Prompt: Give a minor character some time to shine. Color in their backstory, give them a heroic moment, or even just a particularly fun piece of dialogue.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

You approach NaNoWriMo the same way you approach everything else: with a logical, practical determination and a schedule that has every detail planned out. But the skills that help you succeed can also occasionally hold you back: remember that this is a first draft, and it most certainly won’t be perfect. Learn to embrace the flaws of your writing and leave room for improvisation as you make your way to 50K.

Prompt: Throw your cautious side to the wind, and take your hero on a totally unplanned (and unexpected) side quest for a chapter.

Libra (September 23 - October 22)

You’re great at juggling lots of things at once: creative projects, social engagements, relationships, work, school… the list goes on. While you’ve definitely got things under control and are great at starting new initiatives, balancing so many things can lead to indecision or fizzling out when the shininess of a new project wears off. Don’t let yourself get distracted, Libra. Keep working toward your writing goal—it’ll be worth it, we promise.

Prompt: Write a scene with actual juggling (the weirder the juggling objects, the better!)

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

You may play it cool when people ask you about your novel, but deep down all you really want is for others to love your story as much as you do. Your writing is passionate and genuine, but sharing it sometimes makes you feel a little too vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help this month, writer. This is your year to get to 50K—and maybe finally finish that novel idea you’ve been mulling over for the past five years.

Prompt: Still waters run deep: Have a character who is usually very rigid or calm lose control of their emotions.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Never one to be tied down, your take on NaNoWriMo is one of constant surprises and plot twists that even you won’t see coming until you’ve written them on the page. Indulge your passions and let your novel take you on that journey you’ve always desired. Be wary, however, of getting distracted by every idea that comes your way. Success for you lies in finding a balance between everything that’s possible and sticking with something that you’ll truly love.

Prompt: Make your secondary character the protagonist for a chapter. How does their perspective change the story?

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)

You have never met a challenge you didn’t like. You know better than anyone that the hard work is what makes success so sweet, and you are poised to tackle your word count day after day. Use your joy in the daily grind to steadily achieve writerly success. Just be sure to tap into your awesome network of friends for encouragement and a reminder that—even in the midst of week 2 when your word-count gains don’t give you the same thrill—writing is, first and foremost, fun.

Prompt: Your character is taking a much deserved vacation. Where are they going? And what will be waiting for them when they get back?

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

Hands up if you’re a NaNo Rebel! Aquarian writers tend to be unconventional, offbeat, and nonconformist. However, you’re also as stubborn as they come, so you’ll get through November by sheer obstinacy. Remember to make time this month to enjoy the spirit of like-minded writers in your community and let that fuel your motivation to reach your goal.

Prompt: A character twists an ankle at an inopportune moment.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

You’re used to diving straight into your imagination and exploring the boundless world of your creativity! You know your characters as well as you know yourself: their triumphs are your triumphs, their struggles are your struggles. Remember not to get so swallowed up by your novel that you forget to take care of yourself this month. If you keep yourself grounded with realistic goals, you’ll make it to 50K with flying colors.

Prompt: Write a scene in which a character is not sure if they’re awake or dreaming.

Zodiac icons created by Andi asmara on Freepik.com. Background photo by Ferenc Horvath on Unsplash, with added text and logo.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2018: Day 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 2018 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

The White Darkness

A Mystery novel being written this November by NaNo participant Katja Wolf in Poland.

On June 18, 1928, Roald Amundsen and his companions set out on a plane to rescue the lost expedition of Nobile. That day they were seen for the last time, disappearing in the dense fog, somewhere on the Barents Sea. Since then, unsuccessfully tried to find any trace of the great Norwegian explorer and his companions. Until now. Most people thought that the solution to the mystery should be sought at the bottom of the sea. However, the Amundsen’s diary, recently discovered at the southern coast of Svalbard, may shed new light on what really happened ninety years ago. Did Amundsen, one of the most experienced polar explorers in the world, make a mistake, that ultimately cost his life and the people who were with him? Should the blame for the disaster be borne by weather, overloaded and not adapted to the ice conditions of the plane? Or maybe the truth is completely different? And much darker …

If you’re interested in entering your novel to the 30 Covers, 30 Days program, check out the instructions here.

Stay tuned for new covers every day of the month!

Cover Designed by Michael Braley

Michael Braley, Creative Director of Braley Design, has over 25 years of experience in identity, brand, print, visual systems, book and packaging design.
His work has been recognized internationally and is in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, The Denver Art Museum and  the Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, Germany. His work has appeared in publications and exhibitions including: British Design and Art Direction, The Clio Awards, Moscow Global Biennale of Graphic Design, Graphis, Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, London International Awards, The Art Directors Club of New York, The One Show, AIGA, HOW and Print.

You can find him online at www.braleydesign.com, on Facebook @BraleyDesign, and Instagram @thebraleydesign. 

6 Ways to Balance NaNoWriMo and Your Life

It’s not always easy to fit 1,667 words into a day already filled with work, errands, family, school, and a social life. Luckily, writer Gianna Maria has some valuable tips for finding the sweet spot between NaNo and the rest of your life: 

As a full time student, life can certainly get busy, with assignments and projects and reading due at the most inconvenient of times. This year, I decided to pick up two jobs on top of my course load. It’s hard work, but I am determined to power through, just like I did in the two years prior.

I’m here to tell you that, no matter the number of things crammed into your schedule, there’s always a way to make time for writing. Today, I’m going to share some of the tips that work best for me when balancing work and activities at the same time.

#1: Wake up early. 

As horrible as this one sounds to my fellow night owls out there, waking up early (even just 15 minutes!) can really give you a positive start to the day, and also gives you time to get 100 to 1,000 words in. I’m not going to lie, keeping up with this one is a real challenge, and there are days when I hit the snooze button and turn over despite being a thousand words behind. Still, try waking up a couple minutes early, at least on November 1st, and be prepared to feel like you’ve accomplished something before you’ve even brushed your teeth.

#2: Utilize all your breaks. 

Whether it’s lunchtime or just a 15-minute break, make the most of your time off. When you’re inevitably short on time, it all comes down to those breaks at work. If you’re writing on Google Docs, feel free to whip out your phone and type up a quick 100 words. Even if it’s just 100, you’re still heading on your way to 50k.

#3: Writing is cheaper than going out.

I don’t go out much myself, but during November, take a break from brunch with your friends. Use that time to stay home, eat an apple, drink some coffee or tea, and contemplate the next couple chapters of your story. It saves money and time! 

#4: Don’t delete ANYTHING. 

This might seem like a general NaNo rule (and it is), but it definitely applies to those of us short on time. Keep everything you’ve written on your document, it’ll help you make your goal faster, but it’ll also give you options when you go back and edit it later. You can always fix things in December.

#5: Write every single day. 

Trust me, this one works. It’s like running a race. If you stop running, it takes a lot of effort to start running again, and you’re less likely to continue. It’s the same with writing. Even if you’re only writing 100 words per day, that’s 100 words towards your goal, and 100 words to power you through to the next day. If you skip one day, it’s easier to justify another day off. That’s still 30 days of keeping up with something, and that’s something to be proud of. There were a couple days last year when I only wrote 10 words, but it was still enough to keep the momentum going.

#6: It’s OK to not hit 50K.

Sometimes we’re just too busy to make it work. Or sickness comes through. Or maybe you’ve spent the last week of November finishing a novel-length research paper for class. Remember that NaNoWriMo is a challenge to help you remember to write, and there’s no punishment for not being able to finish.

Overall, just remember that NaNoWriMo is a huge commitment, and writing every single day is a big accomplishment as it is! Happy noveling!

2018 is Gianna Maria’s third year doing NaNoWriMo. Her previous NaNoWriMo projects have included the genres of horror and romance. She most enjoys reading wilderness memoirs and other non-fiction. She enjoys photography, and has an Instagram page dedicated to books. You can follow her on Instagram. 

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2018: Day 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 2018 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Autumn’s Blessing

A Literary novel being written this November by NaNo participant FMH Ferland  in the United States.

At Autumn’s house, it’s always fall, the most perfect season. The leaves are always fiery and the air crisp. There’s always apple cider and pumpkin pie. It’s a little slice of heaven that exists outside of the river of time. Autumn Blessing, who sheds falling leaves behind her like a train, has been an upstanding member of the community since as long as anyone can remember. She and her three sisters guard the four corners of the town and make sure that life in Riverside, South Dakota is as peaceful as always, which means keeping it as static as always.

So if life in the tiny town is supposed to be so hostile to outsiders, why does passer-through, Everett Van Pelt, find that he can’t seem to leave the town limits? No matter which direction he goes, all roads somehow lead him back to Autumn’s house.

Cover designer Michelle Hobbs shared a few alternate designs for Autumn’s Blessing:

If you’re interested in entering your novel to the 30 Covers, 30 Days program, check out the instructions here.

Stay tuned for new covers every day of the month!

Cover Designed by Michelle Hobbs

Michelle Hobbs is an independent creative director and design consultant. She recently lead an in-house creative group at VEIC, an energy efficiency non-profit, in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to that work, she managed a Bleu Sky Creative, a design studio in Burlington, specializing in branding, packaging design and corporate identity for healthcare, specialty foods and non-profit clients. Michelle is past president of, and still active in, the Vermont chapter of AIGA. She can be found hiking, cheering at her kids’ sporting events and drinking the world’s best craft beer on the shores of Lake Champlain (sometimes in that order).

You can follow Michelle on Twitter @bleusky03 or on Instagram @bleusky.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2018: Day 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 2018 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Apologize

A Young Adult novel being written this November by YWP participant Mathias Cowley in the United States.

Jack has never been one to say much. From the young age of four years old, he has been completely mute. Well, not completely. If you catch him where he thinks no one is watching you might hear him mumbling to himself. But he doesn’t talk to anyone else. Those who knew him before his mom died would say he was a pretty confident, and spunky kid. His dad worries about his lack of personality, but from Jack’s perspective he’s doing just fine. He has made this lifestyle decision and his stubbornness won’t allow him to change his mind. That is until he meets Dawson. She turns his world upside down, and not in a good way.

If you’re interested in entering your novel to the 30 Covers, 30 Days program, check out the instructions here.

Stay tuned for new covers every day of the month!

Cover Designed by Jesse Hernandez

Jesse Hernandez is a senior graphic designer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) working with the alumni association. Jesse is a first-generation college graduate, and a third-generation immigrant. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where he was a double major in graphic design and animation. For over eight years Jesse has been an independent brand designer working with clients like Hasbro, the City of Providence, and Brown University. In addition to design, Jesse maintains a small urban farm with chickens, black raspberries, mulberries, and fresh flowers.

You can find Jesse online at jessehernandez.cc and on Twitter and Instagram @jessesans. 

Double-Up Donation Day Is Here!

Today is Double-Up Donation Day! 

Double-Up Donation Day happens all day long on Saturday, November 3. It’s an opportunity for our entire community to come together to write, inspire one another, and support our nonprofit programs… plus you get extra goodies and the chance to win some really cool prizes.

We’ll keep the party going with hourly writing prompts and prize giveaways on Twitter, all-day updates on our Instagram Story, plus three inspiring Virtual Write-Ins, including an hour-long webcast with best-selling author Marissa Meyer. Check out our full schedule.

How do I double up on Donation Day?

Doubling up is about pushing ourselves, doing more than we ever thought we could (ya know, kinda like NaNoWriMo itself). Here’s how you can participate:

Double your donation: give $25 and receive the $50 donor goodies—plus, an exclusive “Bound to Write” enamel pin. On this day only, you get more gifts without even trying!Double your donation (again): look for dollar matches from NaNoWriMo friends at key hours during the day.Double your current word count, or whatever you normally write in a day. Use the community’s shared momentum to get us to 130 million words. (Be sure to update your word count!)Double your noveling karma by gifting a halo. Just enter a friend’s username and they’ll be sporting new profile hardware within 24 hours. (You can do this as many times as you’d like! Be sure to use the #HaloSpree hashtag to spread the word.)

Join us today as we turn the volume up to 11 and double-up our awesomeness!

4 Tips to Help You Laser-Focus on Your Writing

Sometimes it’s easy for your writing to get off track, or to feel like you’re falling behind on your journey to NaNo success. Luckily, writer and Wrimo T.J. Rigg has some tips today about how to tame your inner editor and concentrate on your writing:

Whether it’s your first time or your tenth time participating in NaNoWriMo, participating in this challenge can be overwhelming. It’s as easy to get distracted and fall behind in your writing as it is to start a new story; but, if you find what works for you in accomplishing your goal, you’ll get the job done. 

Sometimes, all it takes is a little encouragement and tools to help you stay on track. Here are some hints and tips to help you plow through November and get those 50,000 words onto paper.

#1: Set aside time each day to write

Ideally, you want to set aside an hour of time to write every day in the month. Some people use more time, and others use less, but as a benchmark, try to get at least an hour in each day. You don’t necessarily have to write for one consecutive hour — you could write for ten minutes six times a day — but by setting a time goal and sticking to it, you can easily meet your word count goal.

Depending on how quickly you type (and make sure your inner editor is turned off – more on that in a moment), you can easily hit the target word count of 1,667 a day. When you do set aside time for an hour each day, make sure you…

#2: Minimize distractions

The best thing you can do to stay focused on your writing is to minimize your distractions. For some, this might mean secluding oneself in a room and hanging up a do not disturb sign on the door, so people know not to bother you.

Another distraction can be music or your TV. You might get suckered into belting out your favorite lyrics or watching a great movie when you should be focused on writing. While having on background noise can help you with your writing, make sure it doesn’t draw you away from the task at hand.

#3: Turn off your inner editor

Let’s face it: most of us are perfectionists. Our inner editors usually turn on when we’re trying to write, and they want us to edit our work. It can be tempting to reread what you’ve written for the day, and decide that what you’ve written is no good. Try to refrain from doing that at all costs!

You can always come back and edit your story at a later time. In fact, I am a firm believer in the idea that coming back to a story after some time has passed, so that you read it with fresh eyes, allows you to make better judgments in editing.

#4: Above all, do what works best for you!

You might have reached this point in my blog and disagreed with every suggestion I’ve made — and that’s totally okay! The best way to reach your goal(s) in NaNoWriMo is to do what works best for you.

From having on background noise or none, to having a detailed outline or starting from scratch, to writing daily or piling it on at the last minute, do whatever works best for you.

May the Force be with you, my fellow Wrimos. Let’s get ready to rock this November!

TJ Rigg is a writer disguised as an office assistant. His next NaNo project is a revisit of his old Star Wars fanfic, Birth of the Sith, which was originally written as a fan film back when he was a teenager. You can follow some of writing journey and meet his main characters on his website, tjrigg.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @_TJ_Rigg.

Photo by Tobias Cornille on Unsplash

30 Covers, 30 Days 2018: Day 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 2018 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

The Ghosts of Miller Manor

A Mystery novel being written this November by NaNo participant V.M. Isleifs in Iceland.

It was never a secret that Willow Anders could see ghosts. She never expected to spend her life hunting them, but with a knack for taking down vengeful spirits and an older brother with the means to fund her unusual hobby, it just sort of happened.

When her brother buys an ancient manor in the Scottish countryside, he enlists Willow to rid it of the things that haunt it. She doesn’t think much of it, but the haunting of Miller Manor turns out to be far more than she bargained for. Three ghosts roam the halls of the Manor, all of them murdered, and all of the dealing with it in their own way.

One is set on discovering who killed them. Another searches for a way to regain life. And the third wants nothing but the blood of those who dare disturb their peace. But the ghosts of the Manor aren’t the only ones with death on their mind. Whatever killed them is still around, and it won’t let Willow discover what really happened at Miller Manor, no matter the cost.

Designer Katie Manos shared some examples of what The Ghosts of Miller Manor would look like as a physical book:

If you’re interested in entering your novel to the 30 Covers, 30 Days program, check out the instructions here.

Stay tuned for new covers every day of the month!

Cover Designed by Katie Manos

Katie Manos is a graphic designer born in, living in and focusing on Los Angeles. Collecting and capturing the accelerated change her city is experiencing through existing systems such as Google Street View, Katie finds ways to distribute these digital observations using available printing methods. Katie sees the role of the designer as one of both authorship and intention, and strives to create a practice that incorporates social responsibility into the work she does. Find her at katemanos.com and rapidnostalgia.com.

National Novel Writing Month Has Officially Begun!

Start writing your novel with NaNoWriMo today!

It’s here, writers––the moment you’ve all been waiting for. It’s time to buckle down and start writing those brilliant, magical, powerful stories that have been swirling around in your head.

Don’t forget to create your 2018 novel on the NaNoWriMo website. (Otherwise, you won’t be able to update your word count!) If you’re new to the site, or need a quick refresher on how NaNoWriMo works, here’s how.

You can challenge yourself or your writing buddies to a word sprint, chat with other Wrimos on our forums, or join a Virtual Write-In. If you want to make some in-person writing buddies, be sure to join a region and check out your local events calendar!

Let’s start writing, Wrimos!

30 Covers, 30 Days 2018: Day 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 2018 novels-in-progress, and the cover designers, below.

Enemy Music

A Historical novel being written this November by NaNo participant J. Ducusin Hay in Canada.

Two siblings, one driven by anger and the other driven by his passions, find themselves on opposite sides of the same war. While rival jazz musicians meet racism and fascism in their pursuit of success and artistic freedom in 1930s Osaka and struggle to survive the battlefields of Okinawa, a girl seeking revenge joins the guerrillas against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. 

Cover designer John Hamilton had this to share about the design process:

I usually start with a list of words that will be springboards. For this title, “Enemy Music,” those words were jazz, 1930s, Japan, Filipino, conflict, culture, invasion, anger, peacetime, resolve, modern art, the Jazz Age, influence, and some others. Some of the design elements could be contrast between music, art, and war; contrast of cultures; symbols for Japan; symbols for the Philippines; 1930s Japanese photography or art. I also found out that jazz music was introduced to Japan in the 1920s, and as a result jazz clubs started popping up.

John shared several alternate cover versions:

Stay tuned for more covers every day of the month!

Cover Designed by John Hamilton

John Hamilton Design is a Fort Collins, Colorado graphic design studio specializing in book cover design with clients nationwide. John began his publishing career more than twenty years ago as the Art Director of Wycliffe Associates in Orange County, California. Prior to working with Wycliffe, John honed his skills with Ampersand in Pasadena, then led the design direction of Virtue magazine for three years. He has worked with many publishers since going out on his own in 2006, and his work has been featured several times in Communication Arts.

You can follow John on Twitter @johnhamiltondzn.