A Month of NaNoWriMo posts (highlights)

I've been putting up brief posts about National Novel Writing Month. Here are a few that are worth repeating.

November 1: Happy November! It's @NaNoWriMo time! Willyou join this year?

NaNoWriMo is ayearly event that challenges participants to write a novel in a single month.The #writingcommunity spirit, online tools, and generalcheering one another on can be awesome. But it's not for everyone.

Here's what I'll bedoing for NaNoWriMo: Cheering on my friends. I'll be finishing up revisions onthe next Darkover novel, Arilinn. Revising is a very different process fromdrafting. I find that drafting goes better when I do it quickly, so I don't getcaught in second-guessing myself or editing as I write. Both are recipes fordisaster and paralysis. Revising, on the other hand, does not reliably produceany measurable result in terms of pages or words. I dive into it and call itquits every day when my brain won't function any longer.

November 2: Happy @NaNoWriMo month!Whether you participate or not, this is a great time to review your writinggoals. If finishing a novel is too much, how about a single chapter? Or a shortstory? While it can be helpful to set ambitious goals, for many it's overwhelming.We fare better with short, manageable goals that allow us to succeed, sentenceby sentence, word by word. What are YOUR goals for this month?

November 3: Happy @NaNoWriMo!Candles, music, hot drinks, snacks, a purring cat on your lap... What helpsmake the words flow for you?

I like soft instrumental music, anoccasional spearmint candy, and lots of kitty vibes!

November 5: Happy @NaNoWriMo! Is itpossible to write a novel in only 30 days? What do you think?

1. Why stop at only one? Let's write atrilogy in 30 days?2. Hell, no! I can barely manage asentence in that time--but it's a perfect sentence!3. Yes, if the voices in my head keepdictating to me.

November 10: It's time for a break!Rest is important – even during @NaNoWriMo. Writing a novel in 30 days ispretty intense. Knowing when and how much to rest is tricky. Are you a fan ofrest or do you find it difficult to switch off?

November 12: Supporting characters can provide comic reliefwhen things get heavy. Do you have a favorite, one just begging for their ownstory What would a writing session look like if some of your supportingcharacters were keeping you company?

November 13: Doing something as demanding as @NaNoWriMo canteach you things you didn’t know about yourself. Tackling a novel, regardlessof time, teaches me humility and patience. And that I have a wacky sense ofhumor. Does this surprise you? What are you learning about yourself this month?

November 15: During a project as big as @NaNoWriMo, it’snormal to feel tired, to doubt yourself or run low on creativity. So it’s goodto have a few go-to accounts that lift you up, brighten your day or remind youwhy you’re doing what you’re doing. What nourishes you during those moments?What keeps you inspired?

November 26: @NaNoWriMo pals: Are youold school or ultra-modern? Whether it’s keeping track of your ideas, stayingon schedule or actually putting words on the page – do you prefer pen andpaper, your trusty typewriter, color-coded post-its, a giant whiteboard, cleverapps... or something else? Ask your readers: are you traditional or high-tech?

For organization, I use a writingpaper schedule and a spiral notebook for each novel. For writing, I mostly useWord (or Google Docs), but if I'm stuck, I write my way through with that handynotebook.

What about you?

November 27: Into the home stretch of@NaNoWriMo, there’s a good chance you’ll run low on energy at some point thismonth. When that happens, do you take a break or push through? What restoresyour energy and momentum?

November 30: On the last day of @NaNoWriMo, you mayneed a little extra help to get across the finish line. Feel free to be honestabout that and ask for #encouragement.

Here's some from me: You've done an awesome job, whetheryou finished a novel or not. Your words are precious, so keep writing!