1. Forcing myself to write, regardless of inspiration or creativity, tends to crank out a lot crap. Yes, the idea is out there, and the story is complete, but the thirty days of tirelessly typing 1600-2000+ words a day feels (and reads) rather forced.
   
2. The idea that I can write 2000+ words a day is very satisfying. I didn't know I was capable of accomplishing that amount in a short time.
   
3. This process has taught me I have more support from my spouse than I thought I did. The cups of coffee brought to me, the respect of boundaries (and quiet) given to me, makes me truly appreciate marrying a terrific guy.
4. Joining the NaNoWriMo contest developed bonds between the local writers I know by all of us suffering through the same experience. In fact, a friend of mine lost 30,000 words in a single day with her computer crashing on day 10. Luckily she can re-write what she needs to do in the remaining time. (Don't forget to back up your work!!!)
5. With my personal blog online, and telling friends and family, also enlightened me to who cares about what I do in my life. Whether its an email giving me an 'atta girl' or a phone call with the shy "I'm not bothering you in your writing time, am I?" is a drastic comparison to those who do not connect at all, or who call to ask of me a huge chunk of time; writing time, I might add.

I've started NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and with two days into it, have managed my 1690 words a day quota. Not that I plan to always stop there. After all, if I write more than the 50,000 words in one month, that's okay too. I want to stay on top of things, to write out this story rattling in my head, and mostly to experience the contest as best I can.

I've discovered the important of shutting up my inner editor. Constantly going over to fix things holds a writer back. This is what editing is about; to do the fixing AFTER you write story. This is a first draft, and will be re-written at a later day anyway. Some editing should be done if you're doing changes to the story. For instance, I wanted to change the setting.

Another aspect I've discovered is that 1690 words a day is entirely do-able. I worried myself over nothing, managing the quota within 2 and a half hours. There's no big concern now, just focusing on getting this done early in the day to give me the afternoons with my family. I'm also managing to pull my son out of public school to homeschool, and am confdent I can tackle all of this with grace.

The story itself has an outline I'm following in my head. If I get stuck, I'll skip forward to another section and work on that to get the 50,000 count finished. I will do this.

Only six more days until NaNoWriMo begins on November 1st. I must admit my own trepdiation on starting an entire novel of 50,000 words and complete it within 30 days. Occasionally I'm thinking to myself "What was I thinking?". I think the process will do me good, however, by forcing me to face deadlines and to actually complete a novel.

One of my drawbacks as a writer is that a short story would end up compiled into a series of stories, many of which were novel sized, and none of which ever finished. Only the past three years have I managed to complete some short stories, and to get things completed. I found endings to some articles, short stories, and even managed a rather impressive amount of fanfiction. (too bad its not something I can sell) Just one of the fanfics is 150,000 words. This shows me I have the ability to write that amount. But to write 50,000 in thirty days?! Yikes!

Here are a few tips to consider with working on writing, deadlines, and 'getting it done'.

• Announce to everyone you know your intentions to writing, when you write, and for how long. Under no circumstance outside a disaster are you to be disturbed during writing. Hopefully friends and family will nag, place bets, and otherwise guilt you into finishing. 
• Allow for frequent breaks. Not only does this freshen your creativity, this helps prevent hurting yourself for sitting too long. Sitting and typing can be tiring on the wrists and back. Stretching and moving every half hour is a good thing.
• Have your writing Totem. This was an excellant suggestion in Chris Baty's No Plot? No Problem! book about the NaNoWriMo experience. A writing totem can be a number of things from hats, to gloves, to lighting a candle, to wearing a favorite shirt, or even doing a small ritual to set your mood to writing. I have candles set aside as well as my music playlists.
• Prioritize your time. If this means you get up earlier, stay up later, or give up something in your schedule, then this is what must be done. You make sure you write- no excuses.
• Make sure you have on hand the necessary reference material. Any good writer will research their facts. Among my resources are links to Thesaurus, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Google, Writer's Reference page, Elements of Style (online version), Refdesk.com, and other links compiled and set aside when I need them.
• Be sure to have a means to backup your work! There are not many things more tragic than losing chapter after chapter of hard work due to computer crashes, viruses, or 'operator error'. Back up to disk, flash drive, or even the Internet. I like using Zoho.com or even Google documents for this purpose. Another feature to back up is using MS Word or Openoffice to automatically back up periodically on its own. (You should still move a copy onto another physical drive)
• MS Word - Go to tools, options, then find the Save tab. Click on Autorecover and change the time to something like every 2 minutes.
• OpenOffice - Go to tools, options, then click on Load/Save, and select Save autorecover every XX minutes. Again, select the time to be 2 minutes or so.

I don't think it would break my heart if I don't finish in thirty days. Less than 50% of participants actually reach their goal. You often have a block of writing that can be completed after, and then try to publish after polishing it up. I joined mainly for the experience, and will post my thoughts, pain, and feelings on this process.

Anyone wanting to join me, visit http://www.nanowrimo.org and find me under Frootbat31 there.

Striving towards the goal of publishing is a noteworthy goal. The succes can be sweeter if you accomplish beyond your set goals. With the NaNoWriMo just around the corner, I find myself clearing space and organizing my office to 'get down to business'. Like a tempered blade, I shall cut through excuses and slash away my doubts. I have every intention of finishing the 50,000 words in thirty days. I've shared the news with friends and family, prepared myself mentally with the task ahead, and change my language to reflect this.

I don't tell people I will try to write 50,000 words. I will write 50,000 words. I will finish. I will publish what I write. As Yoda once said; 'Do or do not, there is no try'. Focusing on the doing and accomplishing helps in finding the end to your goals. It changes life from 'passive voice' to an active verb. Do no think "I will be a writer", consider instead "I am a writer". After all, a writer is exactly what he or she does, whether paid or not.

Allow no excuses. Become an achiever by learning to say no to others when they ask for your efforts. For the month of November, shut yourself away into the world of writing, and draw that line in the sand. "You cross this, you die!"

Some articles:

An organized day of writing by Amy Brantley

My Experiences with Five Writing Sites: WritingUp, Associated Content, Constant Content, Helium, and MyLot by Halina Z

Top Ten Blog Bling by Frootbat31

Douglas Adams once said "I love deadlines. I love the sound they make when they fly by." Deadlines however can be a writer's best friend, allowing an author to force oneself to do what they so often claim they love best. Writing!

Most professional writers will tell you that setting daily goals, or at the very least, that writing every day is crucial to the writing process. Journaling is one method I like, but the concept of forcing my brain to spew out 1600 words a day is also not unreasonable; that is, if I consider myself a writer. That number is about what you should be doing during the National Novel Writing Month, and doesn't really sway me. I type pretty fast after all.

Deciding on what your deadline will be can be tricky. You have to find the goal that is challenging to your level of writing. And don't be easy on yourself. By pushing skills, you sharpen them, revealing beneath the puffball of safety that you have more guts and can face that challenge. But nor do you break your own will. Even the NaNoWriMo Contest might not be best for some writers who can't type fast, or carry too much in their lives they can't dedicate the time and effort. Why take challenge that you will fail at, when you can take smaller, more reachable goal?

Some deadlines can be 1000 words in a week, or write a page a day. The best way I find is to simply use trial and error. Push until it hurts a little, then push a little more. See where you're at, and loosen the noose enough so that will be your deadline.

Ocober 1, 2007 (tonight) marks the first day for sign ups of the National Novel Writing Month contest. This is an annual contest held by the NaNoWriMo.org web site.  Although you don't technically start writing until November 1st, you can sign up to obligate yourself to crank out 50,000 words within a month's time.

The word count of 50,000 might seem short, more of a novella than an actual novel. Being that you have 30 days, however, makes this challenging enough while also enough to be worthwhile to publish after the allotted time is over. The actual focus of this contest is working with deadlines so no prizes are given out other than being able to say "Hey, I completed the contest!". Not impressed? Well considering in 2006 of last year, 79,000 people joined with only 13,000 reaching completion. Do you think you can survive the grueling ordeal and join the small percentage that make it?

Its the journey, not the destination. This is best described in Chris Baty's (founder of NaNoWriMo) in his book No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. The book is an entertaining, motivational read, packed with valid tips and technique on writing. I highly recommend any writer to read the book. My copy is infested with post it note bookmarks for later reference.

For script writing authors, there is this alternative: Script Frenzy. An offshoot from NaNoWriMo, this site caters to scriptwriters. Another offshoot is NaNoWriMo for young writers. This site specifically caters to students to kids as young as 12, and as old as collage aged students. You can also set the deadline for yourself and crank out a certain number of words within an allotted time just to see if you can do it.

I, for one, will be joining this year and cranking out the required 50,000. Whether they are 50,000 good words or not will remain to be seen. lol

So no more excuses. You are a writer, so write!

I learned years ago that in the area I live in, if there wasn't a group available for me to join, I'd simply start my own. So when I started looking around for a writer's group to join, there was no big surprise that most of them are located near the city. (Washington D.C.) Baltimore also had a few, yet most were an hour's drive with traffic reminiscent of a high speed video game. More importantly, they were not here.

Luckily I have the Internet; the wondrous technology that offers assistance and answers to most of life's little problems. My answer took the form of  http://www.meetup.com. This web site offers members an enormous list of groups you can join. You can also form your own group as well, with the monthly price between $12.00 -$19.95 depending if you have a coupon (which thankfully I do). Only organizers pay the fee, though some groups ask for membership fees, or donations.

Features include the invaluable calendar that allows organizers (and/or) members to post meetings with listing a venue, time, and text area for details. Members of the group then RSVP 'yes', 'no', or 'maybe', which then sends an email to the organizer. There is also a mailing list for all members, and a message board feature. Pages for your group include a file area, photo area, and member's list, poll page where you can create/list polls, and an About Us page.

Personally, I'd like to see the About Us page switch to the main page people will view when they first click on your links. Why add that extra step? After all, the about us page has a simple HTML/text editor allowing to make some interesting, eye-catching pages.

But I digress. I meant to focus on the actual writer's group I organized...

My writer's group has certainly grown since the shaky beginnings a year ago. Membership is open to all genres, and all skill levels. We have members who haven't officially completed a novel, to members who have printed books on the market. Some members sort of lurk in the group, never posting anything or showing up to the meetups. Occasionally I go through and delete them to maintain an active list. Others show up to every meeting and participate with enthusium.

I'm happy to say that the members who show up to the meetings and participate voice how the group inspires and provokes them to write. This is my main objective; to help fellow writers to WRITE! Other purposes include activities to explore methods to cure writer's block, to find creativity when it eludes us, and to form a tight community of writers where we can talk about our craft.

Meetings consist of various writing activities;

·        Freewriting. (See previous blog entry). This simple method helps provoke ideas and breaks writer’s block.

·        Sharing our work for feedback and constructive criticism. This could include poetry, short stories, or even excerpts from larger projects.

·        Discuss problems we have in the writing process. This includes a vast amount of questions such as How do you deal with laying out your plot? Do you use an outline? Where do you get your ideas?

The different styles of writing our members have add to our diversity, and even inspire one another to explore outside their usual genre. Many have more than one anyway, which is wonderful. Meetings are always interesting, and I look forward to our sharing moments, where you can catch a glimpse inside another writer and explore another world.

The other day I got my first rejection from Associated Content for an article focusing on weight loss tips. They claimed the subject was too broad. I then decided to visit the Associated Content message board, and discovered that a number of people were complaining about articles having been rejected based on a new criteria or editors on staff.

I can appreciate any business paying money for quality, so I don't take this rejection personally. It was bound to happen eventually. I take solace in knowing that primarily there wasn't much in the way of flawed writing in and of itself; but the subject matter. There's a lesson here, I'm certain of it.

Write for demand.

Writing encompasses not just entertainment value but informative as well. The words need to catch the attention of readers, while keeping them entranced to the end. I think this is truly an art. How often can you say that of any writing; that you were so caught up in a story that you couldn't put the book down.

I also find myself wondering about content versus style. Some writing impresses me with the sheer beauty of the words formed into eloquent sentences. Other times the content is that which catches me. True happiness is when I find both wonderful content intermixed with powerful words. This is when you set aside the words and just bask in the afterglow of what you’ve read. Ah yes!

Rejection leaves one feeling…well…rejected. Writers shouldn’t take anything so personally, but I can see why this is so difficult. Writing is a glimpse in one’s soul, where the author delves deep within him/herself to put what comes up to paper (or pixel). This is a creation, not just some drive! But when that is rejected; you’re left feeling hollow and unloved. To a reader, however, the words are just that; words.

Ideally, a formal rejection should provide some constructive criticism or at the very least, some reasons as to why your piece was not accepted. Take their advice to heart, but not to soul. Editors though excellent in knowing grammar and proper English, and the medium to which they focus on, are not experts in every field. You may find submitted the same piece to another publisher might end up accepted. Even J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter books had her work rejected by twelve publishing houses before finally being accepted. So even ‘great authors’ find the rejection letters in their mailbox.

So accept the rejection with quiet dignity, and try and try again.  

Something I learned today was the value of an easy activity known as 'freewriting'. What is freewriting? You start with a blank page, or word processing document, and write for 5-15 minutes. You write; just that. You don't worry about grammar, or sentence structure, or even dotting your 't's. You just write.

This activity was perfect for my writer's group I had today. I set the timer for a mere 5 minutes, and prompting the group with the idea of 'something frightening'. They can write anything they wanted, even if it wasn't about something frightening, but they had to start filling up their page within those five minutes.

I must admit, there was something very satisfying hearing the maddened scribbling of pens and pencils to paper as they jotted down whatever inspired them. One member admitted afterwards how she was surprised she found something to write about. This is exactly the purpose of this activity; to spark your writing muse.

The writing prompt is not necessary, but for those unsure of their ability to find something to write about; it helps. This exercise is often found on essential activities for a writer to do. Freewriting before tackling the 'real writing' can get your juices flowing, and warm up your brain. Try it, even just once. You'd be amazed at the results.